The Joutsen-fronted era of Amorphis is certainly consistent, even if these Finns haven’t released anything that truly captures the groundbreaking and game-changing magic of Elegy since... well, Elegy. After swapping Pasi for Tomi some eight years ago, Amorphis has released five full-lengths, plus the unnecessary re-recordings on Magic And Mayhem. Each of those discs exhibits only...
Read Review →
Dream Death was one of those bands that didn't fit neatly into any particular metal scene or sub-genre. Even in the less rigidly subdivided metal landscape of the late 1980s, Dream Death was a square peg. The band was too slow and dark for thrash, not quite extreme enough for death metal, and a little too extreme for doom. Consequently, the group spent its brief career toiling in obscurity. The band released one LP, 1987’s Journey Into Mystery,...
Read Review →
Some might balk at reducing an album review to Six Thoughts, but believe me; it's due not a lack of effort on my part. Okay, I'm lying. I’m being a little lazy with this one. But at least I'm putting more effort into these Six than The Resistance did in packaging their debut. One “Whatchoo mean, Rev?” Well,...
Read Article →
I can imagine the band meeting that must have taken place when Howl formed: Member 1: “So, what kind of music shall we play? You all know I’m into Swedish death metal.”Member 2: “Well, I like Lamb of God and Black Label Society.”Member 3: “I’m into doomy stuff like Electric Wizard and Candlemass.”Member 4: “I think it’s cool how bands like Celtic...
Read Review →
Normally, a quick two-song EP probably doesn’t merit much more than a blurb, but, when Lair Of The Minotaur is concerned, an exception should be made. A loud and abrasive combination of sludge, thrash, and very rough death metal, Lair Of The Minotaur not only sports one of the best names in metal, but is ornery as all hell to boot. Witness the band’s finest hour, the album War Metal Battle Master from 2008, and the DVD that...
Read Review →
One Of Us Is The Killer is a commendable continuation of the experimentation from Irony is a Dead Scene turned into a full-length, an improvement upon Option Paralysis, and rife with plenty of the poisoned pop hooks Dillinger created on Ire Works. The guitars are blistering, virtuosic, and razor-sharp; Puciato contributes volumes to the album’s dynamics with his one-of-a-kind...
Read Review →
Don't be fooled by Iron Bonehead's sexy moniker and state-of-the-art website; there's plenty of tasty gristle beyond their flash n' sizzle. This German label specializes in "UNDERGROUND METAL SUPREMACY," and, judging by the slate of rawer-than-thou death, black, and thrash that rounds out their roster, it's tough to tangle with...
Read Article →
Those of you that may have stopped by Metal Runs In My Veins over the years have probably figured out that my alter ego is that of a high school physics teacher, a profession to which I am passionately devoted. The high school that I teach at is located in semi-suburban Los Angeles, and lies in a picturesque location; hence,...
Read Article →
It seems like everybody has a high school friend who has a band. They play covers down at the local bar at open mike; mostly classic metal from the 80s—Iron Maiden, Metallica, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath—but also the 90s hard rock they grew up hearing on the radio—Foo Fighters, Creed, The Offspring, The Smashing Pumpkins. Eventually, they start...
Read Review →
THE INTRO TO SKIP: If your ma is still nagging you about growing up, I hope you wished her a happy one. And, if you're an animal or a fucker, I hope you had a good one too. Me? Well, I was trying to rack my brain for a tie-in, thinking there wasn't much metal in a champagne brunch. Never count me out if I have compilations to pick through. Is...
Read Article →