Articles
Album Review: Immortal Guardian – Age of Revolution
Soaring power metal vocals, wailing guitars, triumphant melodies, and just enough distortion to hint at thrash and death metal influences. Shredding solos, double pedal drumming, and heart racing rhythms make this a solid metal album. These traditional metal themes match up with progressive rock. This band experiments with several unexpected genres, including folk music and flamenco. Somehow, it works. The album art is reminiscent of classic Iron Maiden record sleeves. The logo is another … read...
read moreAlbum Review: Imperial Triumphant – Vile Luxury
I’m listening to Imperial Triumphant- Vile Luxury put out by Gilead Media, and it is one of the most twisted and decadent metal albums I’ve heard in awhile. I haven’t heard any of their previous work, but its imaginable to see that it is probably just as dark and foreboding. The band is from New York, and it is fitting since this album paints a grim tableau of urban decay and societies’ plead for … read...
read moreAlbum Review: Collector – Liberation’s Fall
Collector is an indie metal band from Boston, MA. They have recently self-released their debut album, Liberation’s Fall. This record features fantastic guest musicians like Chris Broderick (Act of Defiance, Ex- Megadeth), and Vicky Psarakis (The Agonist). The band has continued to persevere, even after the loss of their collaborator, colleague, and friend, Warrel Dane (Nevermore, Behemoth, Sanctuary), who passed away in December 2017. This heavy, emotionally charged album does justice to his legacy. The … read...
read moreBand Profile: LostPray
Lostpray have recently uploaded a new music video for their song, Cyberblood. This new music video was released on July 1st, 2018. The morbid humor of the music video is fittingly conveyed with an animated cartoon. There is a serious message behind the comical imagery. Cyberblood is about the irony that we are divided and isolated from each other by the very technology that was intended to connect us. The internet is … read...
read moreBand Profile: Universal Theory
Universal Theory is a multifaceted, complex band. Their songs feature raspy gothic vocals punctuated with black metal screams. The female voice also shines with clean singing. All of these disparate vocal styles are united by the poetic lyrics, which are dark yet romantic. Moody piano melodies create an atmosphere of introspective melancholia. Some songs even have the ambience of a cathedral choir, with sustained notes, slow rhythms, and subtle echoing. This music is very emotional. … read...
read moreAlbum Review: Deforme – God-Like Strength
(Photo via Moshpits and Movies.) Deforme is a conglomeration of brutal death metal and grind. The gutteral vocals are especially gruesome, with lead vocalist Juan Martinez growling and grunting like a demon from hell. The guitarwork of both Alex Camacho and Joe Baca shreds violently. The bassline from Blair Robey is strong and solid. The drumming is a sturdy skeleton for the whole musical package. No wonder their drummer is called “Beast”. I love how … read...
read moreAlbum Review: Amorphis – Queen of Time
The brilliance of Amorphis is their ability to intertwine several complex themes. Even before listening to the music, the album art and title are intricate fusions of multiple abstract concepts. The Queen of Time is a similar name to that of a previous album, The Beginning of Times. This is almost like a self-aware breaking of the 4th wall. The melodic music of their past is bleeding through into this futuristic new record, … read...
read moreAlbum Review: Divided Inside – Beyond The Gates of Death
Divided Inside are a thrash metal band hailing from Albuquerque, NM. True to the old school masters, their music cuts to the bone with raw aggression. Their surly songs waste no time. They hit the ground running with beefy guitar riffs, solid bass lines, double kick drumming, and gruff vocals. This style is a nostalgic throwback to 80’s heavy metal, when death metal, thrash metal, and punk were breaking new ground and gaining mainstream traction.… read...
read moreEnviro-Metal : 6 Bands to Jam on Earth Day
Before metalheads earned their reputation as total badasses, they were stereotyped as a bunch of geeks and nerds. Consider the 80’s trope of an awkward teen who listens to creepy music. Now in the year 2018, we as a society are much wiser. It is obvious that you can be a radical dude, who is also an activist and intellectual. These different lifestyles aren’t mutually exclusive. Here to prove it are some brutal musicians who … read...
read moreAlbum Review: Distances- Diableries
Alburqurque based progressive metal band, Distances, are back with a vengeance. Their new material is even heavier and louder than ever before. The screamed lyrics and tremolo riffs are reminiscent of black metal. Violas and wind instruments provide a stark contrast to the crushing dissonance of the distorted guitars and guttural vocals. Far from clashing, these disparate musical styles highlight the multifaceted talents of the band. Their sound is powerful but sophisticated. There is a … read...
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