Composer and multi-instrumentalist ARJEN LUCASSEN has firmly established himself worldwide as driving force in progressive rock. While best known for his rock opera project AYREON, the multi-talented Dutchman also regularly embarks on musical side projects, which explore different aspects of Lucassen’s musical personality. As his previous project (GUILT MACHINE’s “On This Perfect Day” 2009) was […]

Dutch Death Metal Masters HAIL OF BULLETS have announced On Divine Winds as the title of the band’s upcoming full-length studio album to be released October 12th via Metal Blade Records! HAIL OF BULLETS’ debut album ‘…Of Frost and War’ was a concept album about the Eastern front war of Germany. ‘On Divine Winds’ is […]

Holy Shit! This album is fucking evil. Seriously, The Funeral Pyre knows how to create some sick tunes. I love how their riffs have the tendency to dig and crawl underneath your skin. I swear every time I play these guys on my stereo, I feel as if a portal to hell is surrounding me […]

The four years since Black Label Society’s last outing, the lackluster Shot to Hell, have been quite tumultuous for bandleader Zakk Wylde. He’s had some pretty serious health issues, been forced to give up the booze and been kicked out, then brought back in, then kicked out again of Ozzy Osbourne’s band. The good news […]

Years ago, while working in a hobbit cave otherwise known as a CD store, I came across a disc by Rhapsody, whose name was unknown to me at the time.  The cover depicted an imp guy with a scythe riding a demonic-looking dragon through a bubbly purple sky, and, written in a sword, the album […]

While certainly getting inundated with digital promos for the latest and greatest and most anticipated releases from large bands and labels is a perk of this ‘job’, one of the more pleasurable elements is getting set stuff from honest to goodness, hardworking bands that actually want a review. Bands that send you emails, thanks and […]

Dew-Scented are one of those bands that I feel I should be raving about, but for whatever reason I’ve never made it past casual fan status. They’re brand of modern death/thrash should be right up my alley, sharing many similarities to bands I love such as The Crown or Hatesphere, but I can’t quite pinpoint […]

Festivities ahoy! The 13th Tuska Open Air festival was to be held, for the last time, right in the middle of Finland’s capital Helsinki. Three days of metal with a strong line-up meant that the metal gathering held in Kaisaniemi park was going to be sold out: The 33,000 (and then some) visitors made sure the area was crowded. Cramped like sardines in a can. Compared to Sauna Open Air in June, the weather too was also different – pretty much the complete opposite as the temperature was lingering between 77 and 84 Fahrenheit. So, what happened?

Uh-huh! Israel’s Winterhorde’s new concept album Underwatermoon delivered, what some might call, a curveball straight to the balls. Without concerning myself with details, as the first few songs had passed, I was going to pinpoint the band’s take on melodic—if not lightly symphonic—blackened death metal somewhere between Western and Northern Europe; Germany, Italy, Scandinavia… but […]

If a band contacts me or the site and politely asks for a review of their self-released record, and sends me a copy of their record from Portugal, you know what? Even if it’s from 2009, when it’s this solid, I’ll review the damn thing and give the Teeth of the Divine readership some exposure […]

Expectations are high for Decrepit Birth’s third album. The wide spread acclaim for 2008’s Diminishing Between Worlds set the bar high, and many, including myself, thought the band simply peaked at the right time with their choice to add melody to technical death metal. Throw in a shift from Unique Leader to Nuclear Blast and […]

 Chicago’s reigning gods of heavy instrumental rock, PELICAN, have announced plans to play two very special shows in celebration of their 10-year anniversary box set release, out October 19th on Berlin, Germany’s Viva Hate Records. The elegantly packaged wooden-box set will be limited to a run of 500 copies and will encompass material from their […]

In recent years, a few hard rock efforts from members of black metal groups have crossed my desk. I’m not really sure what the connection between black metal and old school hard rock is, but apparently there is one. The latest is Black ‘n’ Roll from Black River, featuring members of Behemoth, Dimmu Borgir, Neolithic […]

Selfmadegod Records is proud to announce the release of the CD version of the debut album by the U.S. death metal/doom band ENCOFFINATION, entitled Ritual Ascension Beyond Flesh. Formed in 2009, ENCOFFINATION is the sepulchral embodiment of rancid death. Crushing, suffocating death metal doom of the lowest caliber. Named for the ritual preparation of the […]

After days or weeks of reviewing band after band and reviewing album after one can get a little jaded and burnt out on the music scene. Then you come across a band that is raw, passionate and honest with their music. This was my situation, I was getting a little burnt out, a little jaded…and […]

In the 11 years since Ratt‘s last (and quite poor) album, the band has had several up’s and down’s. Lead singer Steven Pearcy has been in and out with Jizzy Pearl taking his seat in his absence(s), a few guitarists have attempted to take Robbin Crosby’s place (may he rest in peace) including ex-Motley Crue […]

Candlelight Records today confirms October 12 as the North American release date for Quietly, Undramatically, the new album from WOE. Recorded at Gradwell House in Haddon Heights, New Jersey with additional tracking completed at frontman Chris Grigg’s BS1 in Philadelphia, the album is the first to feature a full band ensemble comprised of members from Absu, […]

If your version of industrial metal starts with Ministry and ends with Rammstein, then you haven’t heard Front Line Assembly – particularly their pulverizing 1994 release Millennium. On that album, Bill Leeb and Rhys Fulber (yes, the same electronic wizard who collaborated with Fear Factory on Demanufacture and Mechanize) took riffs from Sepultura’s Arise and […]

Infectious Grooves are back on the road, taking their own special brand of Funk, Punk and insane musicians, starting with the SOUNDAWAVE festival across Australia! I had the pleasure of talking to guitarist, Dean Pleasants about Infectious Grooves, his projects and any of their plans in the near future.

You are witness to a unique event. This review is literally written at the end of what is known as a ‘bender’. According to the urban dictionary: “A term commonly used to describe a period of time (preferably more than 24 hours) spent escaping life’s harsh realities (marriage, work etc) Consumption of alcohol and drugs […]

I’ve handled a lot of atmospheric, forward-thinking material on the site in the past few years, so by now, I know if I get a black metal assignment, it’s going to be something interesting. Or, at least I hope so, because it’s those gems, twinkling in the darkness, that really make this gig enjoyable. So […]

When Sepultura and Max Cavalera parted ways in 1996, fans were the ones who got the shaft. Instead of the thrash powerhouse we’d had up to that point, we got two mediocre acts that, while both having their moments, never came close to delivering anything with the power of Arise or Chaos A.D. Over the […]

Helstar is one of those bands that should have been much bigger than they were. Whatever the reason, they just never seemed to rise above club Metal status. This particular crumbling of the cookie never hindered the band from putting out what are arguably absolute classics in the realm of American power metal. I am […]

A benefit and memorial show has been planned for Makh Daniels, vocalist of EARLY GRAVES, who tragically passed away on Monday in a van accident, while on tour in Oregon. Everyone is encouraged to come and show support for someone who dedicated his life to touring and the metal scene, and help his family with […]

Melodic Death Metal is still alive and kicking it seems. Hell, even Soilwork released a surprisingly good record just the other day. Yet, the stagnation and overcrowding of the genre doesn’t keep newcomers away, as Germany’s Cypecore want their piece of the cake with Innocent. Apparently released two years ago as a demo, now reissued […]