Sovereign – Altered Realities Review
[AWESOME cover art by Skaðvaldur] Sovereign is a thrashy band from Norway. They intermingle with other thrashy bands from Norway (one member has even played live with scene kings Nekormantheon). But Sovereign does not necessarily …
Best Of 2023 – Zach Duvall: A Wholly Nonsensical Display Of Glory
Welcome back, one and all, to another wrap-up of another exceptional year in heavy music. No long editorial to start this time. Instead let’s hand out some “awards” for all (some) things good, bad, and …
Elitist – A Mirage Of Grandeur Review
[Cover art by Tobias Holmbeck] On debut A Mirage of Grandeur, Copenhagen’s Elitist are a whole lot of things and also not a lot of things. For example, they play Danish death metal that is …
Hebephrenique – Non Compos Mentis Review
Considering the militant sound of certain types of industrial and black metals, it’s surprising that we don’t hear more of the merging of the two. The heyday was likely in the late 90s and early …
Autopsy – Ashes, Organs, Blood And Crypts Review
[Cover art by Wes Benscoter] Chris Reifert sure has been busy, eh? Two Autopsy albums, two Static Abyss albums, and a Siege of Power album all released in the last two years. But hey, Greg …
Malokarpatan – Vertumnus Caesar Review
[Cover art by Astrid Bergdahl] Malokarpatan is an incredibly rare breed of band. Not so much in style, as their medieval, folklore-charged, melodic and progressive black metal isn’t all too rare over metal’s history, but …
Disguised Malignance – Entering The Gateways Review
There are countless ways for bands to get going, but a couple that tend to prove smart sit at the opposite end of a certain spectrum. First, and most common, is taking established style and …
Blood Oath – Lost In An Eternal Silence Review
[Cover art by Nox Fragor Art] We here at Last Rites are big believers in Chilean metal, with Mr. Tysinger in particular championing the scene. Something really tying a lot of the active acts together, …