All posts by Old Guard

The retired elite of LastRites/MetalReview.

Pyrrhon – Abscess Time Review

[Artwork by Caroline Harrison] I could just say, “Pyrrhon has just released their new album, Fuck You, The Musical,” and it would be a 100% correct and sufficient review. But I get paid by the

Tristwood – Blackcrowned Majesty Review

It’s been almost 14 years since Tristwood graced the digital pages of Last Rites with their 2006 sophomore album, The Delphic Doctrine. Because there is just too much damn music out there, subsequent releases went

Earthbong – Bong Rites Review

On April 20th, I wrote a lot of words about Bong Metal, a very arbitrary but surprisingly expansive subgenre of stoner metal. Many people have said that I wrote too many words, questioned the entire

Bong Metal – A Special Primer

Oh, high there! On this special and holy day, let us look squarely down the barrel of the bong at a specific subset of stoner metal. We could have grouped by region, or sub-subgenres, but

Ritual Dictates – Give In To Despair Review

I’m sure that when Ash Pearson and Justin Hagberg chose to name their debut album Give In To Despair, it probably just sounded really metal and maybe tied some lyrical themes together. But here we

Wake – Devouring Ruin Review

Raise your hand if you thought that 2018’s Misery Rites was a monstrous grind album, both a high-water mark of the genre and for the band? Our own Mr. Edmunds saw the light and recognized

Kult Of The Wizard – Gold Review

It’s hard to believe that heavy metal was invented 50 years ago, but it’s not at all hard to believe that Black Sabbath would continue to influence and inspire bands today. Sabbath always sounded best

Sallow Moth – The Larval Hope Review

Creativity seems to spill out of some people. Garry Brents is one of those people who couldn’t stop the music and mythology pouring out of him, even if he wanted to. If you like metal