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 Jim Brandon As spring draws near, I’m reaching back into the bag o’ tricks to grab onto some cold, frosty Scottish black metal to indulge in as the season that best suits it …
Originally written by Jordan Campbell According to the soft-spoken word on the street, Machinae Supremacy were/are a melodeath-styled outfit with a serious SidStation fetish. Those without extensive knowledge of computer history or Timbaland’s exploits in noisemaking probably …
Originally written by Chris McDonald Few bands active today, if any, polarize the metal community quite like Meshuggah. Throughout the band’s existence, the Swedish outfit has inspired as many adoring fans as vehement, and I …
Originally written by Jordan Campbell Alright, Ekser. This is some peppy, new-school, Americans-channeling-Sweden execution. It’s punchy, precise, and…ah, predictable; extremely predictable. In spite of their skill, this band’s straightforward, paddleslap melodic death metal attack cannot overcome a huge hurdle: …
Originally written by Brady Humbert. Marijuana. Sourvein is one of those bands that I root for. Every release gets gradually better and the band’s style morphs, while simultaneously becoming more of their own. Ghetto Angel is the 2nd installment in …
Originally written by Michael Roberts. In the short time I’ve spent with Draconian and their new album, they’ve very quickly won me over. Turning Season Within is nothing less than a sterling example of expertly-written death/doom from this Swedish …
“Marine, what is that button on your body armor?” “A peace symbol, sir!” “What is that you’ve got written on your helmet?” “Born to kill, sir!” “You’ve got ‘born to kill’ written on your helmet …
Originally written by Erik Thomas. Synopsis: While the majority of US black metal seems to be steeped in the form of one man despondency, Texas’s Averse Sefira has risen from the gloom and delivered a seething, vitriolic …
