Klabautamann – Smaragd Review
Music criticism doesn’t exactly have its own version of cinéma vérité, but here’s a poor substitute: earlier in the morning on the day I wrote the bulk of this review, I took my daughter to …
Walpyrgus – Walpyrgus Nights Review
Dear brothers and sisters, dear enemies and friends: it is okay to smile. Walpyrgus, the outstanding new(ish) project from members of Twisted Tower Dire, While Heaven Wept, and Daylight Dies that is more interested in …
Condor – Unstoppable Power Review
Genres can work a number of different ways. They can be a crutch, allowing uninspired bands a relatively easy foothold with a niche demographic. They can be a challenge, prompting ambitious bands to claw impatiently …
Hark – Machinations Review
If the life experiences and environment of an artist affect the music she creates, then it’s only natural that the life experiences and environment of a listener should also affect the way she experiences music. …
Immolation – Atonement Review
It’s little secret that your favorite moldy cheese-rinds here at Last Rites love Immolation to an almost unhealthy degree. Given not only Immolation’s narrowly squeaked-out win against fellow NY death metal titans Suffocation in our …
Unearthly Trance – Stalking The Ghost Review
Friends, here is an incomplete list of things for which I have a wafer-thin patience: – Fascist apologetics – The patriarchy – Typos and grammatical errors on businesses and in ad copy – Anthrax (the …
Ride For Revenge – Thy Horrendous Yearning Review
Sometimes a thing is just so wrong that it’s right. Cue Finland’s Ride for Revenge, entering from stage disgusting. Although the band has been fairly prolific throughout the last decade or so, much of their …
Dan Obstkrieg’s Best Of 2016 – Let Them Bells Ring
Has anyone ever asked you why you listen to heavy metal? It happens to me, from time to time, and I always find myself without an answer. It’s not that I’m indignant at the question, …