Sanctuary – The Year The Sun Died Review
I’ve been looking forward to a new Sanctuary album for a long time. It’s been twenty-five years since the last one, since 1989’s Into The Mirror Black. Mirror and its predecessor, the Dave Mustaine-produced Refuge …
Rigor Mortis – Slaves To The Grave Review
The death of Mike Scaccia in late 2012 was a terrible loss, for multiple reasons. Amid the obvious myriad personal tragedies attached to someone’s death, one of those reasons was that the classic line-up of …
Pig Destroyer – Mass & Volume Review
Mass & Volume was originally released in 2013 as a “limited edition” EP, only available as a Bandcamp digital download. All of the proceeds from that initial offering went to the family of the late …
Butcher Babies – Uncovered Review
You know you’ve got a winner of a record when the best thing about it is the thinly-veiled pun in the title, this one of course alluding to the fact that this band’s primary appeal …
Gust – Gust Review
I know this may sound crazy, but this is a Southern Lord release. And it’s crusty hardcore. (insert the sound of an audience gasping) Sure, son, whatever. Next you’ll be telling me Blake Judd never …
Unisonic – Light Of Dawn Review
Two years ago, the eponymous Unisonic album marked the first time that guitarist Kai Hansen and vocalist Michael Kiske had worked together since the former departed Helloween after that band’s landmark Keeper Of The Seven Keys, …
Iron Reagan – The Tyranny Of Will Review
Crossover may well be the most fun of extreme metal subsets. There’s just something in the tried-and-true combination of thrash and hardcore that, even when lyrically serious, feels irresistibly spirited, perfectly energized and yet possessing …
Death Penalty – Death Penalty Review
I won’t pretend I’ve kept up with the wave of female-fronted doom bands over the past few years. I won’t pretend I’ve even cared enough to try. But what brought me to Death Penalty is …