Back in 1999, Italian guitarist/vocalist Ferdinando Merchisio a/k/a “Herr Morbid” made a savvy career decision, turning his hatred inward and transitioning from early and unremarkable bland metal to a pitch-grey blend of doom ‘n’ gloom dark metal heavily influenced by classic era Katatonia and Bethlehem. Eventually perfecting his take on this sound, and in the […]

Sweden’s Grand Magus occupies an elite place in the world of heavy metal. Every album is filled with the spirit of classic heavy metal and comes with those doomy shades that make the band somewhat of a unique entity. Bassist/backing vocalist Fox Skinner, guitarist/vocalist Janne “JB” Christoffersson, and drummer Sebastian “Seb” Sippola are ace players, the songwriting – great riffs, deep lyrics, catchy choruses – are built to last, and the albums are ones that are best heard as start-to-finish experiences. It was 2008’s Iron Will that knocked me off my feet, but the more I listen to Hammer of the North the more I think that it is at least on par with it, and when all said and done I may end up dubbing it the trio’s best work. Time will tell. But for now I thought it best to let JB tell the story of the album, including the track-by-track commentary that you’ll read below. By all means, proceed.

I’ve been extremely grateful for each new Amorphis album since Far from the Sun, considering that I basically gave up on the band with that one. Luckily for us, they realized how to play up their strengths and deliver what the fans want, and they’ve done a fantastic job of it ever since. And now, […]

There are those out there that think death metal is dying or dead. That the once proud genre has succumbed into a riffless, soulless, pro tool pandemic and become full of stagnant clones or simply fallen into pure homage and worship. For the record, I am not one of those people. However, if I were, […]

The chances of one liking Emmure is determined if they can withstand an album chock full of breakdowns. Not just a breakdown here or there–no way–this is a situation where the album is one giant breakdown that also gave birth to little breakdowns and… hell, you get the picture. Anyway, Emmure are back with another […]

FoR have always been a well honed and eclectic American black metal band, but as they have progressed, their art has taken on an even more impressive and beautiful atmosphere as their songs developed and writing style grown to carry the listener deep into the woods with classical and folk elements. The bands first full-length […]

With 2005’s The Gathering Wilderness, Primordial turned the tide and rose from minor obscurity into everyone’s playlists. Two years later, To the Nameless Dead refined the band’s sound even more. Some bands become content and start to follow a formula, but with Redemption at the Puritan’s Hand, Primordial once again thrusts their sound forward, much […]

I so rarely get a physical product these days with review copies that I think I get way too excited when I get a nice one in the mail. The trappings of Three Thirteen’s Full Tilt aren’t all that elaborate – it’s a folding slipcase, designed a bit like an old LP cover, with a […]

Chaos Records is proud to announce the debut album from Mexican Death Metal origniators CENOTAPH. For the first time on vinyl we present the debut masterpiece The Gloomy Reflections of Our Hidden Sorrows coupled with two bonus tracks “Repulsive Odor to Decomposition” and “Larvs of Subconscious.” Formed in 1989, CENOTAPH was one of Mexico first […]

Dark Descent Records is proud to announce the reissue of Death Strike’s Fuckin’ Death on CD and vinyl. Active from 1984 to 1985, Fuckin’ Death represented one of death metal’s earliest recordings. Death Strike disbanded after 1985’s Fuckin’ Death demo and Paul Speckmann went on to front the legendary Master. Fuckin’ Death was eventually re-released […]

So I had this dream that Origin was playing in a venue that appeared to be part American Legion hall and part ornate concert theater. As weird as that sounds, Origin was performing as a seven-piece, including guys playing traditional string instruments. If I recall, it was some kind of record release party and nobody knew what to say about the new material. It didn’t end up mattering because the cops raided the place. I escaped in the confusion, but have no idea where I went next because I woke up and figured I better write this stuff down. Mission accomplished.

The tombs are closed and the coffins are lowered. The sun bleaches the gravestones and the flowers wither. The sun settles and the darkness rises. The stench of death still lingers and the presence of doom is inimitable. The ritual preparation of the dead is complete. ENCOFFINATION arises from the crypts to worship this ritual […]

1. A noxious atmosphere or influence: “The family affection, the family expectations, seemed to permeate the atmosphere . . . like a coiling miasma” 2. a. A poisonous atmosphere formerly thought to rise from swamps and putrid matter and cause disease. b. A thick vaporous atmosphere or emanation Fucking perfect… Considering Dark Descent’s obsession with […]

When I got a CD in the mail, by a band called Monsterworks–whom I had never heard–I really had no idea what to expect. I was maybe expecting a new band doing some sort of new metal. Boy was I wrong. It turned out that Monsterworks is a UK/New Zealand collaboration that plays a form of experimental thrash/death/heavy […]

This is the type of stuff I wish every jam band loving hippie would abandon their Phish bootlegs for; straightforward, no-shit instrumental stoner doom jams.  These dudes are riff machines, knocking out killer riff after killer riff, weaving twin guitar harmonies between blues infused, southern fried stoner rock n’ doom. Like many instrumental albums, however, […]

Taking over the metal and post-hardcore scene by storm with a consistently massive ever-growing fan base, Minnesota’s After the Burial is quickly rising pretty high in the ranks. It’s not too often you see a crowd go completely nuts over the opening acts rather than the headliners of a tour, but that was exactly the case when I had a chance to catch up with ATB bassist, Lee Foral on their latest tour with As I Lay Dying and Winds of Plague.

Welcome to the blackened, blasphemous, and incendiary world of Hells Headbangers. Welcome to the blackened, blasphemous, and incendiary world of Flame. You’re familiar with the phrase “fits like a glove?” Welcome to Hell. You’ll make all those connections within seconds of raging inferno opener “Black Realm of Satanas” from March into Firelands, a collection of […]

If you like electronic music, particularly proggy synth music, and especially synth-based horror and sci-fi soundtracks from the late ’70s and early ’80s, then you’ll love Zombi. Simple as that. Cosmos, the Pittsburgh-based duo’s 2004 debut, was heavily influenced by Goblin (Dawn of the Dead, Buio Omega, Suspiria) and Italian giallo horror soundtracks in general. […]

Ibex Moon Records is set to release the brutality-laden soundtrack to this year’s bloodiest and most gore-filled film of the year, Afterparty Massacre. Featuring music from the likes of DENIAL FIEND, INCANTATION, CARDIAC ARREST, GRAVEHILL, FATALIST, GOREAPHOBIA, FUNERUS, FERAL, SOULLESS, LIFELESS & ESTUARY, this soundtrack threatens to incite as much bloodlust and violence as the […]

The differences between the last four records from the UK’s preeminent black metal duo, Anaal Nathrakh, have been subtle and nuanced; so much so that it can really make a reviewer feel like a complete nitpicker. This is where being a fan of the band’s abrasive-yet-dynamic black metal shredding, and perceiving their subtle shifts under […]

Please pardon the pedestrian nomenclature, but this is one of the coolest albums I’ve heard in some time. Honestly, every time I spin this sucker it never fails that at some point along the way the words “this is such a cool album” enter my mind. Is that so wrong or should I be showering […]

It’s a shame to see Von of Liturgy end his label/distro Epitomite Productions, though not a high end label, they released some solid stuff throughout the years, recently releasing decent CDs from the likes of Abacinate and Domination Through Impurity. However, there is a silver lining to every cloud and for me it’s the massive clearance sale that Epitomite Productions had, getting rid of their stock ate ridiculous prices, and while most of the good stuff went early I was able to pick up a couple of older CDs for $3 including Axamenta’s Ever-Arch-I-Tech-Ture and the as yet only released from Polish Death metal act Angerpath, 2007s Forgotten World.

Eternal Helcaraxe came to be in May 2003. Between then and February 2004 began writing for a black metal project based on raw emotion and atmosphere. After several line-up changes both founding members decided to continue as a two piece and in March 2008 released the first MCD entitled Palest Kingdom. Shortly after this release […]

Candlelight Records confirms the worldwide signing of FALLOCH. Andy Marshall and Scott McLean joined their talents together only a year ago but have already found a curious and growing audience. The band, who combine a wide variety of styles including metal, post-rock and folk, are completing details for their debut album, Where Distant Spirits Remain, […]

SERPENTCULT was born in the summer of 2006 by Frédéric Caure, Steven Van Cauwenbergh and Frederik ‘Cozy’ Cosemans in a classic power-trio setup. A few months later, Michelle Nocon joined the ranks on vocals and soon thereafter, the first EP Trident Nor Fire was recorded and released. The first European live appearances started in 2007, […]