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 Chris Redar Lot of shit happened this year, huh? Let’s talk about some fuckin’ music. • • • • • 10. KATALEPSY – AUTOPSYCHOSIS This was described more than once as tech. …
First of all, the nerve of these dudes to release such a good album so late in 2013. They must know that most year-end lists are finalized by the first day of November. DON’T LIE …
Primitive: adjective, \’pri-m?-tiv\: 1, assumed as a basis; 2, belonging to or characteristic of an early stage of development; 3, naïve, self-taught, untutored. [Definition borrowed, with a few edits, from the Merriam-Webster dictionary.] Nearly thirty …
In addition to ringing up some top notch black metal, Dutch act Fluisteraars brings an interesting little what’s-in-a-name situation. On one hand, they missed the boat just a tad. “Fluisteraars” is Dutch for “whisperers,” but …
Originally written by Ian Chainey It’s a critic-cliche to stare at an album cover and utter, “Holy shit, that’s it!” Do it and you’re asking to be dubbed Dumb Profundity Incarnate, in jeopardy of getting …
Well, this has certainly been an interesting year. In late 2012, I became a father; in June, I said goodbye to KSJS-FM after 13 years of bringing metal to the Bay Area (not that anybody …
Originally written by Matt Longo Before I came to Last Rites (then Metal Review), I was still writing fairly regular articles on my site, Mind over Metal. I compiled an article twenty months ago with an animal …
Originally written by Jordan Campbell 2013 was the year when I became That Guy. Back in the day — when there was actually a reason to read print ‘zines — I’d pore over the staff …
