Evergrey – Glorious Collision Review
Modern Evergrey presents something of a conundrum – they are several things, and yet they are none of them. They are a progressive metal band that has completely stopped progressing, has, in the eyes of …
Brian Robertson – Diamonds And Dirt Review
In 1974, alongside Scott Gorham, an 18-year-old Scottish guitarist named Brian Robertson replaced Gary Moore (R.I.P.) in Thin Lizzy, solidifying the best and most popular incarnation of that perpetually underrated outfit. As a member of …
Drugs Of Faith – Corroded Review
DC-based “grind’n’roll” outfit Drugs Of Faith was among the highlights on last year’s Relapse-released This Comp Kills Fascists 2. That record spotlighted underground power-violence, grindcore and hardcore bands, all handpicked by Pig Destroyer / Agoraphobic Nosebleed …
Jag Panzer – The Scourge Of The Light Review
Thirty years ago, a fledgling Jag Panzer helped lay the groundwork for the American power metal sound, releasing early highlights in 1983’s Tyrants EP and follow-up full-length Ample Destruction before losing vocalist Harry “The Tyrant” …
Grave Digger – The Ballad Of Mary Review
Last year’s The Clans Will Rise Again served as something of a sequel to 1996’s Tunes Of War, continuing the Scottish-history theme that Grave Digger began on that earlier album. Again furthering the band’s return …
Embryonic Devourment – Vivid Interpretations Of The Void Review
The last few years have seen an explosion of tech-death bands, some exciting and some not-so-much. California’s Embryonic Devourment (whose gore-grind-esque moniker belies their robotic technicality) isn’t quite new—Vivid Interpretations Of The Void is their …
Complete Failure – Heal No Evil Review
Originally self-released in limited quantity in 2009, this second Complete Failure record found itself picked up by Relapse for a Fall 2010 re-release. Entirely self-recorded, Heal No Evil was a conscious effort by the band to distance …
Astral Doors – Testament Of Rock: The Best Of Astral Doors Review
Sweden’s Astral Doors was founded with the stated purpose of revisiting and reviving the trad-metal sounds of Dio, Rainbow, post-Ozzy Black Sabbath, et al. And that sums up their sound in more succinct fashion than …