CATTLE DECAPITATION – The Monolith Anthony Morgan May 2012 Cattle Decapitation (l-r): Josh Elmore, Dave McGraw, Derek Engemann and Travis Ryan From late September until early November 2010, San Diego, California-based death metallers Cattle Decapitation toured across North America as part of the California Blood tour package, pairing the outfit with supports like Dallas, Texas-based […]
EUROPE – Meant To Sing The Blues Anthony Morgan May 2012 Europe (l-r): John Leven, Mic Michaeli, Joey Tempest, John Norum and Ian Haugland Pic: Michael Johansson Touring September 2008 full-length Last Look At Eden – their eighth overall – Swedish rock outfit Europe penned the composition ‘Doghouse’. Once touring for that record concluded, vocalist […]
SARAH JEZEBEL DEVAMalediction EP Listenable (2012)Rating: 6.5/10 Malediction is the latest release from longtime Cradle of Filth alumnus Sarah Jezebel Deva. It comes on the heels of The Corruption Of Mercy (2011), her sophomore full-length under her own moniker. It features three songs with guest appearances by Dani Filth (Cradle of Filth) and Björn “Speed” […]
WITCHSORROWGod Curse Us Rise Above (2012)Rating: 5/10 Witchsorrow’s sophomore album, God Curse Us, is upon us. After turning heads with their 2010 self-titled debut, their reverb heavy, fuzz-laden, slow grooves return with an album that feels like what it must be like for younger folks to discover Black Sabbath in modern times. While it feels […]
ULVERChildhood’s End Kscope Music (2012)Rating: 6.5/10 If ever there was a band that did whatever it wanted, all the time, it’s Ulver. The Norwegian band started out building a solid fanbase in the extreme metal market, but quickly proved they had a lot more to offer than all things aggressive. The band has become well […]
MARDUKSerpent Sermon Century Media (2012)Rating: 6.5/10 Black metal is fast approaching its 30th anniversary and many of its founders and heroes have lived to see middle age. Though many of the truly great bands live short lives and die in glorious self-destruction, there is a place for bands like Marduk who march on with seemingly […]
GRAND MAGUSThe Hunt Nuclear Blast (2012)Rating: 8/10 Swedish metal titans Grand Magus return with their Nuclear Blast debut, The Hunt. While I’d never heard of this band prior to this, many of my friends have encouraged me to listen to them. I was quite surprised that all the “hype” was not only true, it was […]
CRYSTAL VIPER – Children Of The Flame Anthony Morgan May 2012 Crystal Viper (l-r): Andy Wave, Tomasz Dańczak, Marta Gabriel and Tom Woryna Frontwoman for Katowice, Poland-based traditional heavy metal outfit Crystal Viper, Marta Gabriel has always harboured an interest in history. Holy inquisitions are a particular interest, the topic additionally an inspiration through books […]
SONATA ARCTICA – Songs Grow Their Name Anthony Morgan May 2012 Sonata Arctica (l-r): Henrik Klingenberg, Elias Viljanen, Tony Kakko, Tommy Portimo and Marko Paasikoski Finnish metal outfit Sonata Arctica issued sixth studio full-length The Days Of Grays in September 2009, and began touring in support of the release that same month. Vocalist Tony Kakko […]
TESSERACT – Dream Brothers Anthony Morgan May 2012 On August 23rd, 2011, United Kingdom progressive metallers TesseracT publicly revealed the addition of vocalist Elliot Coleman, the man’s curriculum vitae boasting the names Zelliack, Omnon, Sky Eats Plane, Of Legends, and Haunted Shores. Previous vocalist Dan Tompkins parted ways with the outfit in July of that […]
