ALBUM REVIEW: Nytt Land – Torem


Nytt Land rip the balls off a Siberian tiger (no wild animals were injured for the purposes of this review) with the adventurously ambient, spirited and spiritual Torem (Napalm Records). Elemental, wild and ancient. Throat singing, Finno-Ugric languages. The kind of old-world wisdom the new world craves.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Svalbard – The Weight Of The Mask


 

I’ve been looking forward to wrapping my ears around Svalbard’s new material after catching snippets of what was to come when I caught them live supporting Russian Circles and Cult Of Luna over in Berlin earlier in 2023. And landing that European tour signified a fine start to a year which has also seen the Bristol based band sign for Nuclear Blast Records, with The Weight Of The Mask their first album for the prestigious new label and their first collection of new songs since the excellent When I Die, Will I Get Better? which was released on Church Road Records back in 2020.

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CONCERT REVIEW: Avatar – Orbit Culture – The Native Howl Live at The Intersection


The streets of Grand Rapids were buzzing with Friday night festivities when a long line started to form outside one of the city’s favorite music venues. The lengthy queue of matching black hoodies at the Intersection moved along nicely so that the early arrivals were able to catch the opening act. Everyone was in a jovial mood and heartily cheered because the Swedish metallers, Avatar had brought their Chimp Mosh Pit Tour to town. With support from fellow countrymen, Orbit Culture and Michigan’s own The Native Howl. The bill contained varied acts with each one delightfully heavy in their own way which made for a thrilling evening ahead. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Carnifex – Necromanteum


 

If there’s one redeeming quality to Carnifex’s new record, it’s guitarist and relative newcomer Neal Tiemann. The string slayer’s adept finger-tapping during boisterous guitar solos does its best to keep Necromanteum (Nuclear Blast Records) afloat despite a myriad of deficiencies.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Prong – State of Emergency


 

Tommy Victor is an unsung hero of Rock. The Prong frontman (and the band’s only constant) has been putting out great records under the Prong banner since 1989’s Force Fed. Between then and the band’s latest — thirteenth studio album State of Emergency (Steamhammer / SPV) — there’s been a brief flirtation with commercial success in the early-mid nineties, an extended hiatus before and after the band’s unfairly-maligned Scorpio Rising album from 2003, and a steady stream of quality material over recent years.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Tomb Mold – The Enduring Spirit


 

Technical progressive Death Metal trailblazers Tomb Mold must have known they had something remarkably special on their hands when label 20 Buck Spin announced out of nowhere on social media that The Enduring Spirit would be released.

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CONCERT REVIEW: The Babyklok Tour: BABYMETAL – Dethklok – Jason Richardson Live at the Hammerstein Ballroom


The Hammerstein Ballroom served as the ideal venue for this extraordinary lineup, amplifying the raw intensity and intricacies of each performance. It was the perfect backdrop for this monumental night of music.

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CONCERT REVIEW: Cryptopsy – Abysmal Dawn – Visceral Disgorge – Reaping Asmodeia – Warforged Live at El Corazon


 

30 years ago, I hadn’t heard of Cryptopsy. When a friend played them for me 20 years ago, I did not like what I had heard. I knew it was good, but there was no way I was going to listen to it, or ever see that band live. 20 years later, I was thrilled to see Cryptopsy perform at last.Continue reading


CONCERT REVIEW: Chat Pile – Nerver – Empire State Bastard Live at Le Poisson Rouge


 

Le Poisson Rouge (LPR) is one of the great music venues in Greenwich Village, Manhattan. Located on Bleeker Street, just a block and a half south of Washington Square Park, it plays host to a wide variety of musical acts ranging in style from Disco to Punk to Hip Hop and some Heavy Metal. Wikipedia notes that the room capacity is 700 but that likely includes a hallway bar and other spaces. In anticipation of a crowd heating the place, the air conditioning is always set on arctic and the room stays fairly comfortable. No food is served there but Bleeker is almost entirely made up of restaurants, so there will be something available for any taste. Something very interesting happened at LPR recently, and three bands rattled the windows of the entire neighborhood for a night.

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