Beginning life as Paradox, Dogz, and slightly more embarrassingly, Dredlox, Flotsam and Jetsam has enjoyed/endured somewhat of a staggered career trajectory since 1984. Taking the Metal world by storm with Doomsday For The Deceiver in 1986, the Arizona thrashers delivered the equally impressive No Place For Disgrace a couple of years later, and the world, as they say, looked to be their oyster.Continue reading
Tag Archives: Speed Metal
ALBUM REVIEW: Cavalera – Schizophrenia
There is something about the Sepultura sound which has rightfully allowed it to stand the test of time. It could be the bombastically frantic stringwork which has the capacity to power some cities. It could also be the cavernous, cacophonous screams and shouts. The drums never disappoint, and the production is mischievous yet meticulously guided.Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Holycide – Towards Idiocracy
Having passed away during the nineties, the once thriving Thrash Metal scene didn’t stay dead for long and the early aughts saw a gradual, but noticeable shift back to life. By 2004, the genre’s overdue re-animation was in full swing and a slew of new acts crawled out of the crypt, desperate to make an impression on the next generation of thrashers.Continue reading
PODCAST: 5 Minute Review: Kerry King – “From Hell I Rise”
Check out Keefy’s video review for Kerry King’s (Slayer) debut solo album – From Hell I Rise, out now from Reigning Phoenix Music!Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Midnight – Hellish Expectations
The ever-belligerent Cleveland-based one-man unit Midnight returns with a prolific sixth full-length entitled Hellish Expectations, out via Metal Blade Records. Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Traveler – Prequel To Madness
It’s no secret that Canada has a long and storied history of producing quality Heavy Metal. From classic bands such as Anvil, Annihilator, and Exciter to more recent acts like 3 Inches Of Blood, Cauldron and Unleash The Archers, Canadians always seem to hit the traditional Metal mark. Continue reading
EP REVIEW: Slower – Slower
Covering Slayer is a tricky business. Many bands have tried and failed, and despite displaying obvious reverence to the Californian Thrash legends, only a handful have ever really been able to do real justice to the source material. And of those, it’s the ones who arrive from left field that remain in the memory the most.
From Finnish cellists Apocalyptica to LA rap-metallers Body Count, it’s US singer/pianist Tori Amos who produced arguably the most innovative cross-genre take back in 2001 when she gave the world a very different version of “Raining Blood”. And now it’s the turn of Fu Manchu guitarist Bob Balch, the stoner metal legend getting the idea after teaching a student how to play “South of Heaven” in a different tuning and, well… Slower.Continue reading
CONCERT REVIEW: Exodus – Exploding Zombies – Jesus Wept Live at The Machine Shop
The nights are getting colder in Michigan, but that did not deter devoted metal heads from trekking out to Flint’s revered venue, The Machine Shop last week. Thrash legends Exodus came to town gifting us with a headlining show. The band just wrapped up a month-long run with deathcore outfit Fit For An Autopsy and they seemed more than thrilled to play a much longer set. Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Art of Shock – Shine Black Light
Like many other bands, Los Angeles-based Art of Shock were hit particularly hard by the Covid-19 pandemic back in 2020. Having just released their second full-length, Dark Angeles, the band was forced to cancel pretty much everything including all touring plans but instead of letting frustration get the better of them, they set to work writing material for what would become Shine Black Light (Century Media Records).
CONCERT REVIEW: Death Angel – Exploding Zombies – Die-Sect Live at The Machine Shop
The unexpecting town of Flint is home to one the nation’s most celebrated independent music venues. The Machine Shop is a nationally acclaimed medium-sized concert hall that has been hosting, supporting, and celebrating bands for over twenty years. They accommodate a variety of acts and tend to favor heavier genres. This diamond in the rough was the perfect spot for Thrash Metal legends Death Angel to put on a headlining show. The boys from the Bay Area brought their magic to Michigan on one of their off days from the Klash of the Titans run. Kreator and Sepultura teamed up for a thrash-filled tour with Death Angel and Spiritworld as special guests. The hard-working quintet sprinkled in a few headlining gigs during the month-long tour and The Shop was lucky enough to snag one of them. Continue reading