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 …
Originally written by K. Scott Ross. In the early days of black metal, certain scene leaders believed that the only true black metal was the Satanic kind. Some artists and fans still maintain that the …
We run the gamut of genres with the second installment of Fast Rites, as we review a variety of releases from both newcomers and veterans. We had a bit of discussion about the inclusion of …
I know there are many fans that take issue with the continued use of satanic imagery and lyrical themes in metal. They find it juvenile, silly, played out, and lacking in the shock value it …
Intentional or not, the title of the long-awaited fifth Arcturus album is pretty fitting. It was probably meant to have some deep meaning about the stars or something, but on the surface, it’s just a …
Originally written by K. Scott Ross. A lot of the music that we listen to as metal heads is extremely similar. When it really comes down to it, is there that much difference between Immolation and Incantation? Sure, …
This Civil War began in 2012 when two-thirds of Sabaton seceded. The opening shots were fired later that year in the form of a self-titled EP, and the first major engagement came in the form …
You ever get that feeling that music takes you to a dark place? Of course you do, you’re metal fans. Some darkness comes from the blackest of metals, leaving you cold and alone (Katharsis, Ayat); some …
In today’s underground, where perceived honesty and “trueness” are of the utmost importance to many, a new black metal band formed by guys that had done most of their time in hardcore and post-metal acts …
