ALBUM REVIEW: King Yosef – Spire of Fear


King Yosef has always leaned into the more abrasive end of their music, and Spire of Fear (Bleak House Records) has pushed it even further into that direction with an increasingly confrontational aggression. Sonically harrowing with the genre-defining mechanical stomp. That is not to say the entire album just grinds with a robotic pulse, as there are moments like “Glimmer” to provide a more melodic contrast. It’s a darker song with a very reverb-drenched mix that sets the vocals at the end of a dark tunnel. It tapestry of cool sounds that don’t hook into years but serves stark monument of sound.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Deftones – private music


Five years can seem like an eternity if one is a big enough fan of a band, and waiting half a decade for new music from Deftones has certainly had fans chomping at the bit. Deftones’ 2020 album Ohms (Reprise Records, review here) took on a heavy and reflective tone that mirrored the emotional distress of the pandemic and lockdown. Now, Deftones followers can rejoice, as the band have emerged with private music (via Reprise and Warner Records), with eleven tracks of silver lining to what’s been a tense 2025. Co-produced and recorded in California and Nashville with producer Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Korn, Alice In Chains, Mastodon), who worked on 2010’s Diamond Eyes and 2012’s Koi No Yokan (both also Reprise/Warner).Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Lord of the Lost – OPVS NOIR Vol. 1


Lord of the Lost is back with OPVS NOIR Vol. 1 (Napalm Records)  which is a grandiose take on Metal that feels like it’s gotten bigger this time around. Midway into the opening track, you can hear how they ae moving up the bill on European festivals with this album. This album comes on the heels of opening slots for Iron Maiden, which forced them to step up their game. They have not dumbed things down for an American audience, so you are either into this or you are not. Yes, the harsher vocals might appeal a little more to Western audiences, but they’re only one aspect. 

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ALBUM REVIEW: Red Brick – Thrown


Just one quick look at the cover of Thrown (Horror Pain Gore Death Productions), the debut album from Philadelphia duo Red Brick, tells you everything you need to know. The next twenty minutes or so is not going to be an easy ride.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Drouth – The Teeth of Time


Best known as a meticulous blend of Black and Death Metal that caters to the specific niche of Enslaved, Blut Aus Nord, and Spectral Wound fans, Drouth has been around for some time presenting apocalyptic sounds with brutal precision. Recently, they returned, delivering ferocious aggressions with the release of their third full-length entitled The Teeth of Time–out now via Eternal Warfare Records. Conceptually, this album narrates existentially profound topics and contemplative discourses such as the idea of decay, fate, and entropy, as well as defiance against the corrosion of time. It is also an album that exists as a form of revolt against the idea of nihilism, as a means of creative rebellion coming from Drouth.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Winona Fighter – My Apologies To The Chef – Rise Records


Nashville rockers Winona Fighter are rapidly making their name known in the scene with their upbeat and widely accessible brand of Punk. Combining catchy melodies with rollicking guitars, the trio have proven their collective musicianship with their debut album, My Apologies To The Chef (Rise Records). At a whopping fourteen tracks, it is clear the group put their all into making a strong impression that includes both quality and quantity. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Spiritbox – Tsunami Sea


 

Strike up a conversation with anyone about the current top bands in metal, and Spiritbox is sure to be mentioned. Ever since blowing up in 2020, the group has been consistently on the rise with a clear path ahead of them. However, with the release of their second record, Tsunami Sea (Pale Chord Records/Rise Records), that path has become clearer than ever.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Arch Enemy – Blood Dynasty


Perennial all-stars Arch Enemy are back at it with their twelfth studio offering titled Blood Dynasty (Century Media Records). With this new cut, the band stays true to form delivering a blistering lineup of eleven cuts of pure brutality. Track after track we are bludgeoned with instruments wielded at virtuosic levels. Guitars are on full blast in every respect, from driving riffage that hits full throttle to solos that divebomb and shred everything in sight, one-second soaring in the clouds and the next stomping holes in the earth. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: ARCTIS – Arctis


Hailing from Finland, five-piece band ARCTIS makes a strong first impression with their debut self-titled album (Napalm Records). The band combines triumphant Rock with upbeat Pop melodies and Metal undertones, giving an edge to their overall family-friendly sound. The album is dramatic and moving, with a collective musicianship that shows a promising future for the group.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Mugger – Luck Forever


Rising from Austin, Texas, Mugger are turning heads with their familiar yet fresh brand of Hardcore Punk. The four-piece band makes a promising first impression with their debut album Luck Forever (Quiet Panic Records).Continue reading