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 …
Onslaught – Sounds Of Violence Review
Despite their longevity, I first truly crossed paths with British thrash outfit Onslaught with their reunion disc, 2007’s Killing Peace. I’d heard of the band, as punkers and then as thrashers and most notably as …
Kill The Client – Set For Extinction Review
As I listen to this record, one word keeps coming to mind: “destructive.” That word gets tossed around in reference to many a record by all types of metal acts. I myself am guilty of …
God Dethroned – Under The Sign Of The Iron Cross Review
Last year’s Passiondale put this Dutch death metal outfit back on my radar—that one was a damn solid slab of melodic World-War-One-themed metal; it was the best record God Dethroned had done in quite awhile …
Holy Grail – Crisis In Utopia Review
California’s Holy Grail is comprised of the majority of a previous White Wizzard line-up—vocalist James Paul Luna, guitarist James J. Larue and drummer Tyler Meahl all abandoned that project in 2008 after the release of …
Sacred Oath – World On Fire Review
Once upon a time, this New England outfit dropped something of a lost classic in 1987‘s A Crystal Vision, a record that succeeds as much through youthful exuberance as through the band’s nascent talent. That …
Phobia – Unrelenting Review
Seventeen songs… Fourteen minutes… If you didn’t already know what you’re getting from a Phobia record, that alone should tell you: this is grindcore, pure and simple; it’s d-beat-fueled, blast-filled and violent. This SoCal four-piece …
Panzerbastard – Centurion Review
Given the presence of twin Celtic Frost covers, the seemingly unofficial “Into The Panzermonium” subtitle of this new EP from Boston punk-thrash outfit Panzerbastard is both amusing and apropos. (That addendum came along in my …