Suicidal Tendencies first album in thirteen years is the culmination of the legendary hardcore punk/crossover/thrash bands’ resurgence the last few years. The reason the band reached icon status in the first place was their ability to innovate and lead in the early days, change with the times and still be relevant years later. What separates ST from many bands of that era, is that now that they have finally delivered new music, it is as refreshing to hear as it is vital. That’s what makes 13 so very special.Continue reading
Category Archives: Album Reviews
The Amenta – Flesh Is Heir
It’s coming up on five years since Australian death metallers The Amenta’s last album. Flesh Is Heir is the follow-up to 2008’s n0n and since then, more than half of the line-up has changed, with a new vocalist, drummer and bassist in tow. A slew of EP’s releases in the interim has been the Australians’ attempt at ensuring everyone that they are strong as ever but Flesh Is Heir is their real test now.Continue reading
Aborym – Dirty
Dirty is a pretty apt name for this record. Not in a sleazy glam rock sense or in the way of sloppy crust punk, ‘dirty’ remains a pretty open term, but with Aborym’s sixth album, it accurately captures the clustered malaise at play here.Continue reading
The Levitation Hex – The Levitation Hex
After the collapse of Alchemist back in 2010 musical mastermind Adam Agius wasn’t quite ready to hang up his guitar and, thus, The Levitation Hex was born.Continue reading
Nonexistence – Antartica
Austrian musician Philip Santoll bore his solo project Nonexistence into this world with the excellently received Nihil back in 2007 but since then he has been a little on the quiet side. Thankfully, that silence wrought the impressive Antarctica; a work in which Santoll brought on board Finnish artist Tuomas Saukkonen (Before the Dawn, Black Sun Aeon) in order to produce and offer creative input for the first time in Nonexistence’s life. Saukkonen also lends his talents to the bass and drums on the record and the effect of the collaboration is felt across the entirety of Antarctica – from the steady thrum that the bass injects to proceedings to the monolithic weight of the work as a whole.Continue reading
Control Human Delete – The Prime Mover
Despite being active as a band for over a decade, this is only the second release from Dutch electronic black metallers Control Human Delete. The Prime Mover is a collection of razor sharp production, traditional black metal themes, drum programming, samples and synthesizers.Continue reading
Wardruna – Yggdrasil
Wardruna, despite having released only two albums, enjoy esteem within the world of folk music for their use of traditional, handmade instruments and themes of Norse spirituality. Yggdrasil is the second instalment of their rune triology Runaljod. The album picks up where first record Gap Var Ginunnga left off, exploring the individual runes of the elder futhark.Continue reading
Filter – The Sun Comes Out Tonight
Richard Patrick is a veteran in the industrial rock and metal world. His rise to prominence came with his involvement with Nine Inch Nails. After his stint with NIN he formed his own band, which he christened Filter. With this formation he has released five studio albums so far. Now Patrick and Co. are back with a new record, entitled The Sun Comes Out Tonight.Continue reading
Ghost – Infestissumam
Since their Opus Eponymous debut dropped three years ago the nameless ghouls have enticed the greats of rock into their diabolical trap with a combination of a lavish stage show and the catchiest tunes Old Nick has given us in years. Yet by 2013 surely we’ve all gone back to our King Diamond and Blue Öyster Cult albums and cooled off. Not likely! Continue reading
Kvelertak – Meir
Norse trailblazers Kvelertak split open the metal scene with their incendiary self titled debut not to mention a fierce reputation on the live front. A mash up of furious punk rock, searing black metal and rock n’ roll swagger the first record was indeed something very special. Having returned to Converge guitarist Kurt Ballou and God City studios for this sophomore effort Meir contains all the characteristic of what made Kvelertak such a shot in the arm.Continue reading