Generally Impressed With Riffs
[Cover artwork by Old Hag] When I initially realized that Arckanum’s first album after a long hiatus—and, technically, its breakup—would be released on All Hallows’ Eve, I devised this rather cutesy and far-fetched idea to compare the entire album to …
[Album artwork / art direction by Joseph Niet / The Creative Corporation] Offering up a textbook definition of “holy crap, time flies,” Black Sabbath’s swan song, 13, was released 13 years ago, on June 7th, 2013. In a curious move, …
If you’re just now catching up, well, we’re just now catching up. Seth Buttnam and I (plus one uninvited guest) are rounding up some of our favoritest grindcore (or grind-adjacent) releases of the past however many months, since we (read: …
[Album artwork by Truls Espedal] It’s 17 albums for Enslaved now, comprising a discography I find exceptionally challenging to wrap my arms around. What’s going on here? Does anyone else forget that the relatively rote and by-the-numbers Frost is actually …
If the life experiences and environment of an artist affect the music she creates, then it’s only natural that the life experiences and environment of a listener should also affect the way she experiences music. …
At first glance, Germany’s Lunar Shadow occupies the same epic, sweeping terrain as Atlantean Kodex, and the comparison is certainly not without merit. After all, debut full length Far From Light certainly feels grandiose through …
Since 2010, Edmonton, Alberta’s Striker has released five records – including its latest self-titled disc – and Last Rites has not reviewed a single one of them until now. Shame on us, because Striker is …
Irish doombringers Dread Sovereign feature the immortal Alan Averill aka A. A. Nemtheanga (Primordial) on bass and vocals along with Johnny King aka “Dubh Sol” (Malthusian) on drums and “Bones” (ex-De Novissimis) on Guitar. That’s …
It’s little secret that your favorite moldy cheese-rinds here at Last Rites love Immolation to an almost unhealthy degree. Given not only Immolation’s narrowly squeaked-out win against fellow NY death metal titans Suffocation in our …
I promised the boys and girls over here I wouldn’t do this. I swore I wouldn’t start by talking about leather. But, here we are, and here I am about to drone on about leather. …
We have lots for you to chew on once again in this installment of Fast Rites. For example, we have a holdover or two from late last year, plus a few reissues that are well worth …
Fossilized sci-fi and fantasy nerds such as yours truly who got into metal in the early-to-mid 80s forged a peerless bond with the unique sounds put out by Fates Warning. Night On Bröcken, The Spectre …
