VICTIMS OF CREATIONSymmetry Of Our Plagued Existence Cyclone Empire (2013)Rating: 7/10 I was rather stunned to find out that these guys formed in 1992 and Symmetry Of Our Plagued Existence is in fact their debut opus. The country of Malta isn’t exactly known for its extreme metal, and while this quartet has been toiling away […]

ORCHIDThe Mouths Of Madness Nuclear Blast (2013)Rating: 6.5/10 I have to admit that I was a bit hesitant about reviewing The Mouths Of Madness, the second full-length opus from San Francisco doom metallers Orchid. The reason for my caution in reviewing this nine-tracker is the fact that so many doom bands have emerged over the […]

AMORPHISCircle Nuclear Blast (2013)Rating: 7.5/10 Finland’s Amorphis return with their 11th studio album, Circle. Recorded by Peter Tägtgren (of Hypocrisy and Pain), the album is tied together by a story penned by lyricist Pekka Kainulainen. Whereas, The Beginning Of Times (2011) had flashes of brilliance that were debilitated by it being so long in the […]

DUST – Rising Again! Mark Fisher April 2013 Dust 1972 (l-r): Richie Wise, Kenny Aaronson and Marc Bell In the late 1960s plenty of bands were experimenting with guitar sounds and musical rhythms, but a few were dabbling in the heavy, aggressive sounds that would be the seeds of heavy metal music. Dust was one […]

DUSTDust / Hard Attack (Reissue) Legacy (2013)Rating: 8.5/10 Formed in the late 1960s by guitarist / vocalist Richie Wise and New York teens Kenny Aaronson (bass) and Marc Bell (drums, whose post-Dust career would include becoming a Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer under the stage name Mark Ramone), Dust are considered by many old […]

CULTES DES GHOULESHenbane Under The Sign Of Garazel Productions (2013)Rating: 8/10 Featuring one of the best album introductions put to wax, Henbane is the stifling second opus from Polish black metal messiahs Cultes des Ghoules. Having spent most of the 90s collecting all manner of black metal albums (and then getting rid of most of […]

PROGENIE TERRESTRE PURAU.M.A. Avantgarde Music (2013)Rating: 8/10 It’s no wonder this duo were signed to the aptly titled Avantgarde Music label, such is their cosmic sound. Progenie Terrestre Pura is the weird brainchild of Eon[0] and Nex[1], who are clearly cyber geeks of the highest order. This Italian pair have been active since 2009 but […]

RANCORDark Future Xtreem (2013)Rating: 7.5/10 One of several bands to have taken on the Rancor moniker, this bunch of Spanish thrashers has risen out of the shadows of Madrid. Dark Future is the second opus from this quintet, who are fronted by Dani Löpez. Löpez is joined by guitarists Vasco and Ricky, with bassist Serra […]

KADAVARAbra Kadavar Nuclear Blast (2013)Rating: 7/10 This German trio are yet another of those revival rock bands doing the rounds, making a career out of aping the creaky, cobweb-ridden 70s rock scene, but this is a band I can put up with. Thankfully, not as annoying as labelmates Orchid, Kadavar have more diversity to their […]

CATHEDRALThe Last Spire Rise Above (2013)Rating: 8.5/10 And so it has come to pass, the final curtain descends, the last nail driven into the oaken coffin. Mighty doom metal kings Cathedral have spoken their last words, ending a dazzling career that has taken them from the crushing weight of their 1991 debut Forest Of Equilibrium […]