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 Rae Amitay Hailed as Fleshgod Apocalypse’s masterpiece, one thing is certain: Agony is undeniably epic, incredibly well-written, and a brilliant sophomore effort. There are a few aspects of the album that, for …
Before reading anything else, readers should know that Behemoth‘s latest compilation, Abyssus Abyssum Invocat, is merely a combined version of both the Conjuration and Slaves Shall Serve EPs, with a few extra bonus tracks and …
Jumping right back in, folks: Here we have Volume 2 of MetalReview’s Most Essential Albums Of The 1990s. (Click here for Vol. 1) With some bitchin’ buzzsaw action, a thrash classic, a nice reminder that …
originally written by Jim Brandon Although I’m not alone in feeling that the word “brutal” has been used to the point where you almost can never use it in a review anymore due to having lost …
Originally written by Rae Amitay Svartsot formed in 2005, and is a relatively young band in the sword-slinging folk metal scene compared to seasoned veterans such as Moonsorrow, Falkenbach, and Ensiferum. Until now, they’ve also …
originally written by Jim Brandon With all these genres being bent and twisted to the point where they become unrecognizable in some instances, it’s nice to have a band around like Cruxifiction, despite their rather …
One thing that I’ve found constantly puzzling during this whole thrash revival thingy is why nearly all of the bands forego the epic and cerebral side of thrash in favor of mostly speed, a punk …
Not long after Code666 brought attention to yet another excellent not-quite-avant-garde blackened metal band in Johann Wolfgang Pozoj, here comes Ahdistuksen Aihio Productions with Germany’s Ave Maria. Both compellingly odd and oddly compelling, Chapter I …
