So much attention is paid to “The Big Four” (Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, and Slayer). But this designation leaves out many important and influential bands from the two waves of thrash metal that swept through the country (Metal Church, Exodus, Overkill, and Death Angel, etc.). Testament is one of these bands, which had a huge effect … Continue reading New Album Review: Testament – Titans of Creation
album review
Album Review: Sepultura – Quadra
Quadra (Nuclear Blast), the 15th studio album from Brazil’s own Sepultura, dropped on February 7, 2020. And the offering proves to be a solid record! The diehard Max (vocals/guitar)/Igor (drums) Cavalara era Sepultura fans, looking for a continuous remake of Arise (1991), Chaos A.D. (1993), or Roots (arguably the band’s best record; 1996), will find … Continue reading Album Review: Sepultura – Quadra
Album Review: Cattle Decapitation – Death Atlas
Released on November 29, 2019 (Metal Blade Records), Death Atlas is Cattle Decapitation’s eighth studio album. The band has been issuing beat-downs for two decades. Whether or not subgenres are important to you, they do help describe a band’s sound; originally categorized as Grindcore or Goregrind (Deathgrind), Cattle Decapitation’s sound and song structure made a … Continue reading Album Review: Cattle Decapitation – Death Atlas
Classic Album Review: Van Halen – Van Halen
The band’s self-titled debut album, Van Halen was recorded at Sunset Sound Recorders, Hollywood, CA from August 30 – September, 1977 and was released by Warner Bros. Records on February 10, 1978. “Diamond" David Lee Roth is the vocalist (and acoustic guitarist on Ice Cream Man), Eddie Van Halen plays the (groundbreaking) guitar and sings … Continue reading Classic Album Review: Van Halen – Van Halen
Album Review: Kublai Khan – Absolute
All I can say is… WOW!!! KUBLAI KHAN REALLY DIDN’T HAVE TO GO THAT HARD. This is a masterpiece of a record, in my opinion. This entire album is pure anger and aggression and I am here for it. The listener gets a taste of what is to come on this record with the opening … Continue reading Album Review: Kublai Khan – Absolute
Album Highlight: Highway to Hell – AC/DC
The title track to this record is a rock-‘n’-roll / hard rock anthem! It’s opening riff is recognizable instantly! And stadiums, arenas, and ballparks around the world play this great song! Highway to Hell, unlike AC/DC’s previous five albums (and one LP), was produced by “Mutt” Lang, a legendary producer even at this early stage … Continue reading Album Highlight: Highway to Hell – AC/DC
Album of the Week: Metal Church – Metal Church
Metal Church shot out of the gate with their self-titled debut, Metal Church! Although this record is from the early `80s, squarely in the upswing of Glam / Big Hair Rock, it sets the pace for what Thrash Metal would become. Originally released on independent label, Ground Zero, in 1984, the album sold so well … Continue reading Album of the Week: Metal Church – Metal Church
Knocked Loose – A Different Shade of Blue
A Different Shade of Blue is the second full length album that Knocked Loose has put out and god damn, its heavy. This hardcore/metalcore or whatever genre you want to put them in, I don’t care. Either way, it’s dark and heavy, just the way I like it. When Knocked Loose first hit the scene … Continue reading Knocked Loose – A Different Shade of Blue
Album of the Week: Deep Blue – Parkway Drive
It was 9 years ago, today (6/25/29), that Parkway Drive released Deep Blue, one of my favorite Parkway Drive records. This was one of the first metalcore albums that I heard when I was first getting into heavier types of music. To me, Parkway Drive has always been a veteran within the subgenres of heavy … Continue reading Album of the Week: Deep Blue – Parkway Drive
Album Review: Amon Amarth – Berserker, 2019 (Metal Blade)
The Swedish kings of Melodic Death Metal, Amon Amarth, have delivered again! 2019 sees the arrival of Berserker, the band's 11thstudio album. There is no other metal band like these veterans – the near perfect combination of (seemingly) opposing concepts of melody and crushing brutality, harmony and roaring gutterals – and this record exemplifies that … Continue reading Album Review: Amon Amarth – Berserker, 2019 (Metal Blade)
