Category: Reviews

Houkago Grind Time – Houkago Grind Time 2: The Second Raid Review

I’m now on my third Houkago Grind Time review, and in each of the previous two, I declared that I would brush up on anime so that I would better understand the inside jokes and …

Threshold – Dividing Lines Review

[Cover art by Masiha Fattahi] It’s cliche by now, the uncertainty of our time. It’s pervasive, coloring every aspect of popular culture from social media to TV and movies and maybe especially music. Entertainment certainly …

Hammers Of Misfortune – Overtaker Review

[Album artwork by Saprophial] John Cobbett is a hell of a dungeon master. Before we get to that, though, please accept the following disclosure: The only heavy metal band (the word “band” being used rather …

Epica – The Alchemy Project Review

Epica could record an album of Karol G covers and no one would bat an eye. So the fact that the band is collaborating with musicians from Shining, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Soilwork, Aborted, Insomnium, Uriah Heep, …

Devin Townsend – Lightwork Review

Years ago, in another life, I remember talking about the philosopher John Rawls with a grad school classmate. Having read too deeply in poststructuralism and critical theory, I made some sneeringly insufferable attack on Rawls, …

Deathsiege – Throne Of Heresy Review

Fast Rites: because sometimes brevity is fundamental. Sometimes you want bands with nuance, and sometimes you just want a band to roll over you with the force of 10,000 hammers wielded by 10,000 cloned Donnie …

Blast Rites: Septic Vomet – Infected Cadaveric Slaves Review

The film sample is a tradition in goregrind, but very rarely has any been used as awesomely as on the opening to Septic Vomet’s Infected Cadaveric Slaves. Taken from the 2013 Evil Dead remake – …

Sickrecy – Salvation Through Tyranny Review

Familiarity breeds contempt, I’ve heard, and I certainly understand the meaning of that aphorism, but it’s not always true. Sometimes familiarity is a warm blanket, a well-worn pair of boots that fit just perfectly, a …