Staff picks
Seattle's Demon Hunter exploded onto the scene a decade ago and helped to breathe new life into the Christian Metal realm. The combination of breakdowns and ballads creates a astonishing fifth record for these guys. Their signature sound is aided by some great guest vocalists like Christian Älvestam of Miseration (ex-Scar Symmetry), Dave Peters of Throwdown and Björn "Speed" Strid of Soilwork.
Even after the band has seen some drastic line up changes there is no sign of them slowing down with this record. Demon Hunter has found their sound and continue to kick the devil's ass.
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Dane Train |
Murmuüre is Black metal made by aliens, weird aliens at that. Harsh, noisy and soulless Black metal. And with plenty of empty, starless cosmic plains. Err, plains? What do they call those, ehm, empty and ehm, starless spaces high up in the air?
Either way, check it out. Murmuüre will surprise you, promise! If not, your loss. Unless you like Power metal or fancy-pansy metal, then you'll probably hate it.
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Lucas !J.O.O.E.!, Mr. Doctor |
Project: Failing Flesh are able to indulge in some of the most exciting experimentation of 2010, while still remaining respectful of the classics (Voivod, Fear Factory, Godflesh) that went before them. Quite a feat indeed!
Count Back From Ten is the perfect album for those of us who love proper industrial metal.
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jupitreas Darkside Momo |
So the biggest metal band on the planet is turning 30 this year.
As the story goes, back in 1981, some dude called James Hetfield answered a newspaper ad by a certain Lars Ulrich... and the legend was born. 30 years later, the success story that is Metallica still remains unequaled.
Happy 30th birthday, Metallica!
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Thryce |
Marking seven years since the incredibly unfortunate death of Valfar. This album is perhaps his best work, with the chilling and unsettlingly real "Journey To The End" to mark the end.
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Baz Anderson !J.O.O.E.!, Promonex, Raiden, daniell_p, Angelique, Fat & Sassy!, Mr. Doctor, Troy Killjoy |
Everything you need to know about this album and why you should listen to it, is clearly explained in this review... Jeez, how lazy can you get?
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Thryce |
Doom, served up traditional Chilean-stylee. Powerful, emotive vocals paired up with awesome riff after awesome riff after awesome riff. We had lots of nice things to say about their 2009 E.P. "Cult of Disease", which set the bar high for this release... and they exceeded those expectations.
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BitterCOld Marcel Hubregtse, !J.O.O.E.!, daniell_p, dismaleuphony, White Winter Sun, Nefarious, Mr. Doctor |
The cover already shows that Todtgelichter aren't your average panda black metal band anymore. With elements of black metal, progressive metal, post-metal, new wave, shoegaze and alternative rock (and a short passage reminiscent of proto-dubstep), Angst is a bleak yet strangely beautiful vision of post-modern life. Highly recommended for fans of Enslaved, Amesoeurs, Alcest and Agrypnie.
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Promonex dismaleuphony, BitterCOld, Thryce, !J.O.O.E.!, Ag Fox, Fat & Sassy!, Mr. Doctor |
Well this is a strange one. Predominantly black metal, these Englishmen have delivered a perplexing album that seemingly knows little in the way of boundaries. It isn't a very polished or musically tight album, but it is very interesting in the journey it provides, with maybe just a glimpse of greatness in there hiding.
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Baz Anderson !J.O.O.E.!, Mr. Doctor |
Some skull-crushing, filthy, oppressive sludgy doom metal to get you through the endless string of holiday hangovers...
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Thryce BitterCOld |
Groovy, gritty, alt-prog album you'll be spinning long after your "Best of 2010" list is forgotten. It'll remind you a bit of classic Tool, but Klone has crafted their very own mesmerizing world of darkness... Black Days are ahead indeed.
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Lyrinan Jeff, Dane Train, Ag Fox, Mr. Doctor |
Releases like this are few and far between for me. Mandrake continue to refine their gothic metal style, walking their own solitary path throughout a city of antiquity, traveling on paths left oft-unexplored, hidden between the shadows of overproduced and commercialized albums. They reveal a sorrowful, passionate song writing, full of coarse male vocals and sincere female vocals, ready to slowly haunt you with its own honesty and yearning for a release from own our psychological seclusions. This is easily my Gothic Metal album of 2010!
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dismaleuphony Lyrinan |
Some cheerful Christmas carols to get you through the worst time of the year...
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Thryce !J.O.O.E.!, Mr. Doctor |
This album is a contradiction. four tracks spread across over 50 minutes, yet Bongripper find no time for vocals/lyrics. Nor do they find time for solos. Hell, they barely have time to create song names... the four tracks are simply titled:
1. Hail
2. Satan
3. Worship
4. Doom
All they have time to do is beat you about the head and neck with riff after riff after riff for nearly an hour.
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BitterCOld Thryce, Marcel Hubregtse, White Winter Sun, Mr. Doctor, ScreamingSteelUS |