ALBUM REVIEW: Magnolia Park – Vamp


The press release can call it “neo-gothic” or whatever they want, but Magnolia Park‘s Vamp (Epitaph Records) is Nu Metal, landing somewhere between Linkin Park, and Oh! The Horror.  What that means in this context is that I really dig it. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Manntra – Titans – Napalm Records


This record is BIG. Titans is suitably apropos for Manntra‘s Napalm Records debut. Titanic in size and scope. Billed as “Croatian Folk Metal,” the “folk” element is a much smaller element than, say Tengger Cavalry.  This thing is an  NWOBHM/ Power/Symphonic Metal tour de force (emphasis firmly on “force”.)  Even the cover is huge: Lord of the Rings meets Templar Knights in a pitched battle.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Hirax – Faster Than Death


Google “Hyrax.” 

Go ahead. I’ll wait. 

That little guy sure was cute, wasn’t he (or she)?  

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ALBUM REVIEW: ALT BLK ERA – Rave Immortal


It’s a cliche, but this album blew me away. Blew me away like the guy in the old Maxell ads. But that’s not right because you cannot listen to ALT BLK ERA’s Rave Immortal (Earache Records) without legit dancing. Finds like this are why I love doing these reviews. Let me do a reset to where I first hit “play”.Continue reading