Generally Impressed With Riffs
[Artwork by Caroline Harrison] “Nonsense” opens with a slow fade-in of distorted guitars and seismic drums — the chaos before the swarm. It’s a trick of the trade, the extreme metal equivalent of a camera operator calling out “speed” before …
[Cover artwork by Luca “Zeero” Zironi] There was always something uniquely charming about Konquest’s brand of traditional heavy metal—an almost whimsical breeziness that still felt like a near perfect balance of playful and substantive. A long-lost Italian cousin to Sweden’s …
[Cover art by Beyond Art] There are bad musical moods, and then there’s Mylingar. Over the course of the last decade this group of anonymous Swedes has concocted the type of ill-meaning black/death that makes Diocletian seem like a Care …
[Cover artwork by Subhuman at Desert Dungeon] Let’s talk about our love for quirky metal. Okay, sure, any definable level of ‘quirk’ is obviously subjective, but I’m guessing you know we’re not talking about the guy who loves The Black …
originally written by Chris McDonald Orcustus. The name just sounds so slippery and unclean. Diseased, even. “Orcuuuuustusssss.” Like a snake was meant to say it, or maybe a diabolical wizard perched atop his throne and …
originally written by Chris McDonald Spending most of their career as another quality Scandinavian folk metal band, Sweden’s Thyrfing have completed their progression into something leaner, heavier, and darker with Hels Vite. Eschewing much of …
Originally written by Ross Main. I don’t care for grindcore. In fact, when I applied to be a writer for Metal Review I specifically mentioned that I don’t care for grindcore, and I remember it well because …
Sasha Horn’s take: “Resurrected to rot once more….” ‘Nuff said. “Singer”/Guitarist and all-around Pestilence owner, Patrick Mameli, sums it up best when phlegming out this first line in the title track, and to me that …
Originally written by Jordan Campbell A death metal band on Victory Records already has built-in credibility issues; throw in a pink logo and a healthy swoopy-haircut-thing ratio, and you’ve got a band guaranteed to be …
Originally written by Jordan Campbell A black/death metal band comprised of dudes that spent time with G.G. Allin and Thornspawn? While certainly less than appealing on paper, Hod is actually a pretty wicked beast. Not “tear down your walls of …
Originally written by Erik Thomas Why are we reviewing an album that’s over a year old? Because it’s fucking worth it, that’s why. Indisputably one of the more respected Danish bands around and arguably the …
While the incorporation of ethnic musical influences and lyrical themes is nothing new to metal, its practice seems to have become more popular in the last five years or so and there appears to be …
