Encorion - Our Pagan Hearts Rebort
Review by Susan
7.0
Lots of bands can make a musically pleasing album in the Viking metal style but it is rare for anyone to so precisely capture the physical atmosphere. Our Pagan Hearts Reborn envelops you in a warm fur while the cool winds brush across your face. I feel like I'm sitting outside, in the middle of a Viking encampment; the sea is not far, and everyone is loading the ship and preparing to set sail. I can smell the salt water and hear the sea gulls...

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Mental Torment - On The Verge
Review by BitterCOld
7.4
Doom, like all music, can be an odd thing. The gradations between good and, well, not so good can either be just minute shades of grey or clear as day. Take Ukrainian death doomsters Mental Torment. Aside from the fact their album cover isn't likely to medal if MS runs a sequel to our "Best Album Art" contest, their first album, On The Verge doesn't do anything that stands out as particularly innovative or new. In their PR...

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Shining (NOR) - One One One
Review by Ivor
 
Good grief, Shining (NOR)! What is this nonsense with suddenly sounding all so logical and normal? What gives, men?

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Trials - In The Shadow Of Swords
Review by Susan
9.0
In The Shadow Of Swords is some excellent thrash with strong groove. Now, I don't listen to a ton of thrash but it's albums like this that make me really think I should. This album is very well written, strongly performed, professionally produced, and of course, ass kicking. Wrapped into the grooving thrash base is plenty of melodic variety and some sweet hints of death metal on a few tracks. All of these elements are tightly bound, though,...

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Aosoth - IV: An Arrow In Heart
Review by wormdrink414
7.7
When it comes to making metal that conjures feelings of being perched on a cliff, gesticulating to control storms and Dothraki hordes and the like, titty-glittered Herman Li-like melodiousness is, mercifully, not the only kind of thing that can be made use of. Sometimes dissonance--sweet, sweet, sour dissonance--can do the trick nicely. Aosoth prove that's the case on this, even though IV never feels so cheap (and badass) as to suggest that...

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State Urge - White Rock Experience
Review by Ivor
 
The amount of good music that some countries seem to produce sometimes baffles me. However, if there is a country that has ever gone past the point of no surprise for me, it has to be Poland. "Hey, listen, man, I've just found this great prog band! - Let me guess, Poland, right? - Umm... Yeah!" I really have no idea how they do it. Now, once again, I've come across a prog band to my liking and, yes, they are from Poland.

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Ortega - The Serpent Stirs [EP]
Review by BoxCar Willy
7.8
What is music? Seriously, what is music? Many "academic" sources state many different answers to what seems like and easy question: But when you actually take a minute to think about it, what would you say it is? I was asked this in my physics class earlier this week and it made me think. I took an analytical route and decided that it is "the arrangement of sound in a creative manner." Simple right? Simple, but effective. Another...

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Hammerforce - Access Denied
Review by psykometal
 
The Russian Federation seems to be producing more and more good, quality metal of various types in the last half decade or so. At the moment I am more familiar with their brutal death scene but over the years I have run into several highly talented bands from Russia playing other genres: Tvangeste (symphonic black), Dominia (symphonic melodeath), Illidiance (industrial), and SunLess Rise (extreme power) to name a few. I'm thinking I need to delve more into their overall metal scene though rather than just the brutal scene.

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Supported event

Devilstone Open Air 2013

Lithuania, Anykščiai
11-14 July 2013

Enslaved
Vomitory
Orange Goblin
(+13)
http://www.devilstone.net/
 
Metallica - Debut Upcoming 3D Movie Trailer 23.05

Last year, Metallica confirmed that a 3D movie was in the works for release in 2013. At the beginning of this year, the band revealed more and confirmed that the movie would be titled Metallica Through The Never. Now the band has released the official theatrical trailer of the movie and you can have the first taste of Metallica Through The Never here. It will be shown on IMAX theatres in North America on September 27th and will roll into additional theatres in full 3D one week later on October 4th. (by BloodTears)   Read more ››
 
Hour Of Penance - Announce European Tour, New Album In 2014 23.05

Hour Of Penance will embark on a European tour this fall alongside Australian tech-death act Psycroptic and UK death metal outfit Dyscarnate. Prior to the tour, which kicks off in Belgium on September 20th, the band will be seen appearing at several of the summer's international festivals. All upcoming dates are listed below. The death metallers have also announced that they have begun working on their next release, expected out in early 2014. (by BloodTears)   Read more ››
 
Candlemass - To Release Vinyl Only Live LP 23.05

Doom legends Candlemass will see the release of the vinyl-only Epicus Doomicus Metallicus - Live At Roadburn 2011 album through Svart Records on June 14th. Candlemass' debut LP, Epicus Doomicus Metallicus, is a genre-defining classic. (by Bad English)   Read more ››
 
Blaze Bayley - To Release 30th Anniversary Booklet 23.05

Blaze Bayley (Wolfsbane, ex-Iron Maiden) will release a booklet with career information, albums, personal comments and stories, tour dates and pictures to celebrate his 30 years as a singer next year. The singer is also asking fans to share fan pictures to be included in the booklet. (by Bad English)   Read more ››
 
Porta Nigra - New Video Released 23.05

Decadent black metal duo Porta Nigra released their debut album Fin De Siècle last November through Debemur Morti Productions. "Fin De Siècle", their brand new video directed by Håkan Sjödin, has made its debut online and can now be enjoyed below. If you never heard of the band, this is the perfect opportunity to discover it. (by BloodTears)   Read more ››
 
Rammstein - Ljubljana, Slovenia - 30th April 2013 21.05

During their "Made In Germany European Tour", the path of mighty German industrialists Rammstein led to the Slovenian crime scene once again, their second appearance here (the first was back in 2005). These fellas are uniquely famous for their spectacular live performances, leaving nothing to coincidence. Explosions, fire, lovely multi-colour flames, all kinds of pyrotechnics that you cannot think of, burning people, etc. On the other side they are masters of interpreting love and hate in the way of excessive perversion and bizarreness. All of that combined with a heavy sound of more... (by Abattoir)   Read more ››
 
Clandestine Cuts Vol. 3 #4 - The Best Demos And EPs From Around The Metal World 13.05

Is independent, unsigned, and underground metal what you seek? Weary traveler of the metal world, rest a while here. Clandestine Cuts are the best demos and EPs from these bands, the heart and soul of metal music. These musicians are slaves to their passions, and their blood keeps the metal machine alive and turning. Support them with a simple listen, and discover the future. This issue features music from Evilhorse, Enmity, Ancient Ascendant, 00y 18, Enceladus, and Red Rebel Patriots. (by Susan, BloodTears, Nefarious, Abattoir, BoxCar Willy, R'Vannith)   Read more ››
 
Helloween, Gamma Ray - London, England, 16th April 2013 27.04

Over five years ago Helloween and Gamma Ray embarked on the first Hellish Rock tour; the first tour to bring together these two bands that have shared so much history with each other. As with 2008 the UK has to make do with just the one London date, and so we have to embark on that pilgrimage saved for only the special shows such as these. (by Baz Anderson)   Read more ››
Random stuff
  Random album
Crystal Viper - Crimen Excepta (2012)

Hailing from Poland, Crystal Viper brings us their semi-unique (not Judas Priest derived) brand of heavy metal, in form of their fourth studio album, Crimen Excepta. If you have heard their prior releases, this one might be a bit off-putting, since any traces of "German-ness" or speed metal are gone. In other words; this is not another Metal Nation. But it's not exactly a return to their unashamedly '80's and killer 2007 debut album The Curse Of Crystal Viper either. ... (by D.T. Metal)   Read more ››

Reviewer: 7.8      Users: 7.7 | 19 votes
  Random trivia
Avantasia

Tobias had actually wanted Tarja Turunen, former Nightwish vocalist, to sing the role of Anna on his Metal Operas but she declined. Sharon den Adel (from Within Temptation) took the role instead.

# Edit | More Avantasia trivia

Fozzy

Groove Thrash

Unleash The Archers

Melodic Death

Graveyard

Hard rock

Maudlin

Post-metal
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