Category: Reviews
Scorpions – Rock Believer Review
From the moment they started doing interviews for their 19th album Rock Believer, the Scorpions made a point of mentioning records like Lovedrive and Blackout, and of saying that they wanted to return to just …
Voivod – Synchro Anarchy Review
[Art by Michel “Away” Langevin] By all reliable accounts, Voivod’s last album, The Wake, was a resounding success. That record continued an upward trajectory begun with the addition of Daniel “Chewy” Mongrain on guitar in …
Saxon – Carpe Diem Review
I’m tempted to open this particular scribbling with some proclamation like, “Saxon probably shouldn’t be making albums this strong this late in their career.” But then again, who am I to say what a metal …
Karmanjaka – Gates Of Muspel Review
Black metal can often feel and sound triumphant. That triumph, however, is still very often connected to grimness, darkness, hell, war or any other sentiment rooted in capital E evil. Karmanjaka’s third album Gates of Muspel is …
Blast Rites #2: Human Cull – To Weep For Unconquered Worlds Review
Way back, oh… like a month ago, when we here at the Last Rites Emporium Of Fine Musical Tastes were compiling our Most Anticipated Releases Of 2022 features, I was narrowing down my short list …
Deathless Void – Deathless Void Review
It takes a lot to summon a whole root system of possibilities in 14 minutes, but that’s precisely what the Dutch outfit Deathless Void accomplishes on this ferocious debut EP. The opening track writhes and …
Schizophrenia – Recollections Of The Insane Review
Remember the good old days, when thrash metal was just crossing the bridge into death metal? Pepperidge Farm remembers. And so does Belgium’s Schizophrenia. Taking their name and some musical cues from early Sepultura, Schizophrenia’s …
Immolation ‒ Acts Of God Review
[Cover artwork by Eliran Kantor] Most Immolation fans would agree that their genre defining classics are behind them, and that’s okay! This is a band whose floor includes very good records that can’t possibly hurt …