BENEATHThe Barren Throne Unique Leader (2014)Rating: 7/10 Armed with a new vocalist in Benedikt Natanael Bjarnason, Icelandic death metallers Beneath have returned with their sophomore outing The Barren Throne. The album follows on from the 2012 Enslaved By Fear debut, and opens with the acoustic strains of ‘Depleted Kingdom’ before the quintet explodes ravenously into […]

FORGOTTEN TOMB Release Concert DVD April 29th, 2014 Italian black / doom metal group Forgotten Tomb issued concert DVD Darkness In Stereo: Eine Symphonie Des Todes – Live In Germany on April 29th, 2014 through Agonia Records. The DVD featured three professionally shot live performances, the performances in question filmed at the 2012 Kings Of […]

SACRIFICIOSacrificio EP Iron Bonehead (2014)Rating: 7.5/10 Forget the fact that this Spanish trio shares its name with numerous other extreme metal bands; what distances these guys apart from the others is their ability to breath fire!! Okay, so that’s merely a suggestion in one of the band photographs I’ve seen, but this is still a […]

PRONGRuining Lives Steamhammer (2014)Rating: 9.5/10 Formed in the late 80s, Prong’s original run (which lasted until 1997) is considered to be the inspiration for the nu metal movement. While bands like Primus and Faith No More were able to eventually outrun that distinction, Prong doesn’t seem to be able to shake it thanks in no […]

INSOMNIUM Release Sixth Studio Album ‘Shadows Of The Dying Sun’ April 28th, 2014 Joensuu, Finland-based melodic death metal group Insomnium issued sixth full-length studio album Shadows Of The Dying Sun on April 28th, 2014 in Europe through Century Media Records. The label also scheduled North American release for the 29th. Shadows Of The Dying Sun […]

VANHELGALängtan Art Of Propaganda (2014)Rating: 7/10 Längtan is the third instalment from this bunch of Swedish black metallers who enjoy dabbling with the depressive side of metal. As the band name translates as “desecrate” it’s no real surprise that this weird bunch are a tad deranged when it comes to their rather unusual brand of […]

WHITECHAPEL Release Fifth Studio Album ‘Our Endless War’ April 28th, 2014 Knoxville, Tennesee-based metalcore group Whitechapel issued fifth studio full-length album Our Endless War on April 28th, 2014 in Europe through Metal Blade Records. The label scheduled North American release for the 29th. The outing was tracked by Mark Lewis. Cover artwork duties fell to […]

LOUDBLASTBurial Ground Listenable (2014)Rating: 7.5/10 Now here’s a band who wouldn’t mind me calling them veterans of the metal scene. Having first formed back in 1985, Loudblast were arguably the first real death metal band to emerge from France, and have been responsible for some decent if not mind-blowing albums over the years, the last […]

INSOMNIUMShadows Of The Dying Sun Century Media (2014)Rating: 7/10 Three years short of being in the business for some 20 years, Finland’s Insomnium have consistently thrown out solid melodic rock records. Shadows Of The Dying Sun is their sixth outing. I’ve only experienced a couple of their records – those being the 2002 debut In […]

METAL CROSSMetal Cross Horror (2014)Rating: 7.5/10 Horror Records has most certainly one of the most impressive rosters around at the moment and responsible for some cracking new albums from the likes of Hands Of Orlac (Figli Del Crepuscolo) and Evil Spirit (Cauldron Messiah). Well, now may I introduce to you another fine metal mess in […]