ALBUM REVIEW: Age of Apocalypse – In Oblivion


Someone needs to check what’s in the water in the Hudson Valley, New York, and how many gems that scene has produced over the last several years. Age of Apocalypse has dropped their sophomore full-length, In Oblivion (Closed Casket Activities), which does not disappoint. Ten tracks with epic sing-alongs and bone-snapping breakdowns will crush your soul, but you want more.Continue reading


CONCERT REVIEW: L.S. Dunes – From Indian Lakes – Plague Vendor Live at The Majestic


 

Going to concerts on a Tuesday night may seem like a young man’s game. So does enduring a mosh pit for three songs to get some photos.

But I am over 40 and still here to tell the tale, just a bit worse for wear.

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Jeff Hanneman of Slayer Died Twelve Years Ago Today


Jeff Hanneman, legendary guitarist of Slayer passed away on May 2nd, 2013, twelve years ago today. Ghost Cult continues to fly the flag of Slayer high, and customarily we celebrate the life of Jeff, the music he made and the stages he left scorched. His legacy as a riff maker, songwriter, soloist, and metal personality has not been dampened since his death. In the time since he passed, Ghost Cult covered Slayer just as heavily in Jeff’s life, as they released a final studio album with Jeff’s contributions (Repentless), had a legend and friend hold down his spot live (Gary Holt of Exodus), released a comic book with Jeff’s likeness, completed their final world tour ever of two years, released an incredible film/music video trilogy (The Repentless Killogy), and so much more. At the time of Jeff’s passing, many friends and peers, such as, former bandmate Dave Lombardo wrote a loving tribute to his fallen friend, and we have created two career-spanning retrospectives (read them here and here) on the end of the band, back in 2019. From the time Jeff passed and every night on that final world tour, Slayer honored Jeff during ‘Raining Blood’ with the “still reigning” banner. The unlikely Slayer comeback of 2024 (we were quoted in the press release!) and continuing this year is done with love and appreciation for Jeff, always. In addition to the Talking Slayer podcast, and check out the 4th edition of Slayer 66 2/3: A Metal Band Biography… Or, How Fuckin’ Slayer Kicked Fuckin’ Ass, both by our pal D.X. Ferris. As we say every year at this time: Hail Jeff and hail Slayer!

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ALBUM REVIEW: Misfire – Product Of The Environment


Having undergone a major upheaval in 2022, Illinois thrashers Misfire return with a very different line-up and some of the gnarliest ’80s San Francisco Bay Area riffs to come out of modern-day Chicago. Second full length studio release Product of the Environment (MNRK Heavy) not only finds the band in devastating form, but also boasting guest performances from the likes of Rob Cavestany from Death Angel, and Rob Dukes (both formerly and currently of Exodus).Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: EYES – Spinner


It’s not enough for Scandinavia to export the world’s best black metal; the region is pumping out great punk and hardcore as well. Perhaps it’s the confrontational outsider approach both genres have in common. Denmark’s EYES are stepping up to bring their take on hardcore to a larger audience with Spinner (Prosthetic Records). This does not mean they are compromising but balancing out their volatile nature with Deftones -like grooves that put them on the metal-core side of the equation, yet they are not making pop music with the occasional scream but retaining an in your face aggression that builds up into spastic outbursts at times. Are there underlying nu-metal vibes? Yes, but without any of the Adidas swagger. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Niis – Niis World


Los Angeles-based hardcore punk group Niis released their debut full-length album, Niis World, via Get Better Records. After signing on with the label last year they released the single “Lovesick” in November 2024, conveying a grungier new era for Niis. At the beginning of this year, the band announced that their inaugural LP, Niis World, would soon arrive.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Jivebomb – Ethereal


Baltimore-based hardcore punk group Jivebomb released their debut full-length record Ethereal via Flatspot Records. Clocking in at just 15 minutes, the group’s inaugural LP is a heavy-hitting, unrelenting body of work that cements the group as one of the genre’s most brutal and poetic up-and-coming acts. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Spiritworld – Helldorado


If you believe Hardcore has little to offer outside of the fairly narrow musical alleyway it usually occupies then today might just be the perfect time to take a listen to SpiritWorld. Combining Country Music and bedazzled outfits with Punk aggression and Thrash Metal riffs, the Las Vegas act are a sight to behold and they return with a vengeance on third full-length album Helldorado (Century Media Records).

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EP REVIEW: Iron Form – Cut From Cold Blood – Church Road Records 


The new EP from Church Road Records artists Iron Form titled Cut From Cold Blood is a five-piece band showing off their musical influences and technical merit. Another example of a band breaking through genres by just playing what comes naturally to them in their songwriting process.Continue reading


EP REVIEW: Fomented – Bitter And Miserable Beings


If you ever find yourself wanting to listen to something so heavy and disturbingly unhinged that it almost defies description then let this to be your introduction to Fomented. A two piece act from the West Midlands consisting of ex Savage Messiah guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Sy Taplin, and Kieran Scott, the voice behind death metal sluggers DeathCollector, the duo’s independently released debut EP Bitter and Miserable Beings is the musical equivalent of violent nipple torture and ten times more uncomfortable.Continue reading