Tag: Metalville

Nils Patrik Johansson – The Great Conspiracy Review

Like the oblivious American that I am, I must concede that I was wholly unfamiliar with the killing of Swedish Prime Minister Olaf Palme back in 1986. Catching up now (read: I researched it on

Missing Pieces: The Best Of What We’ve Missed In 2018 So Far, Part 4

Here at Last Rites, we listen to a metric shit-ton of heavy metal—it’s just what we do. But even then, every year, there’s so much great heavy metal that gets released that we simply don’t

Astral Doors – Black Eyed Children Review

Traditionally, Astral Doors has never been my favorite of Nils Patrik Johansson’s projects, but with his abrupt departure from Civil War earlier this year, I guess it is now. Formed fifteen years ago as a

Astral Doors – Jerusalem Review

Astral Doors began life with the stated intent of paying homage to the likes of Dio, Dio-fronted Black Sabbath, and Dio-fronted Rainbow. So it’s safe to say that they sound a lot like Dio. But

Astral Doors – Testament Of Rock: The Best Of Astral Doors Review

Sweden’s Astral Doors was founded with the stated purpose of revisiting and reviving the trad-metal sounds of Dio, Rainbow, post-Ozzy Black Sabbath, et al.  And that sums up their sound in more succinct fashion than