ALBUM REVIEW: Blue Oyster Cult – 50th Anniversary Live – Second Night


Majestic, mysterious, magical Blue Oyster Cult career once again down “Hot Rails To Hell”. Join the latest celebration of the most supernatural, sinful and iconic rock ’n’ roll outfit from the Lovecraftian woods, mists and shores of Long Island.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Carnophage – Matter Of A Darker Nature


In thirty-three minutes, Carnophage balance some of the most fetid vocals with cheeky technical bluster, leaving a mark on Matter Of A Darker Nature (Transcending Obscurity Records) which leaves an enthusiastic Brutal/Tech-Death impression.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Adon – Adon


Decapitated drummer James Stewart bolsters Adon’s self-titled album (Neuropa Records). He adds more titanic depth to the stomp of the band’s larger-than-life grooves. The vocals are marginally more sinister than your standard Death Metal, with a cruel-hearted rasp that brings  Deicide to mind in this regard. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Laceration – I Erode


See-sawing from old-school Death Metal to ferocious Thrash Metal, Laceration pack nine tracks into I Erode (20 Buck Spin), showcasing both proficient musicianship and in-sync performances.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Uprising – III


The artist known simply as W. may not reveal much in the way of an identity, but their musty Black Metal outfit Uprising hits the mark on so many different occasions on III (AOP Records). The strong synergy results in songs that sound like they’re performed by an entire band.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Orange Goblin – Science, Not Fiction


Following the path blazed by bands like Kyuss and Monster Magnet who emerged from the Grunge scene, Orange Goblin was one of the main bands who kept the bong songs in rotation to help cement the sound we think of today as Stoner Metal.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Through Mists – Branches


Even after nearly half a dozen playthroughs, it’s still a challenge identifying a common thread in which to weave together the five tracks of Branches (Self-Released), the latest output from Through Mists’ mastermind James Aniston.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Akhlys – House Of The Black Geminus


Over the past nine years since releasing The Dreaming, things changed for this band. Changed in the best way possible as Akhlys’ new album House Of The Black Geminus (Debemur Morti Productions) features a darker, more intricate layering of sounds, at least on the opening track of their new album. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Maudissez – Maudissez


What Maudissez are able to do with instruments (at least I assume they’re instruments) is unsettling to the nth degree.

The anonymous and self-described anti-Christian blackened sludge-cum-Death/Doom entity doesn’t simply make music; the four tracks featured within Maudissez (Sentient Ruin Labs) are as raw as a mooing filet mignon. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Xasthur – Disharmonic Variations


Dark folk is an all-around enthralling genre with a wide range of well-known names, from Vàli to Ulvesang, but recently, what especially has been catching my attention is the new release from Xasthur – namely Disharmonic Variations, out via Lupus Lounge. Specializing in Black Metal and avant-garde releases, the label has worked with various names of note, including Nachtmystium and Austere.Continue reading