Author: Matt Hinch
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Bloody Hammers – Under Satan’s Sun
The creative spirit must run pretty deep in Bloody Hammers mastermind Anders Manga. The latest release from this North Carolina-based outfit is Under Satan’s Sun and it just happens to be their third release in three years. Releasing material at such a clip doesn’t necessarily leave much time for a change of style. As such…
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Conan – Blood Eagle
I hope that when you hear the word “Conan” you don’t think first of the comedian. Arnold Schwarzenegger or the Robert E. Howard novels are acceptable answers. But this writer’s first thought goes to the English (mega)power trio Conan. Blood Eagle picks up where Monnos left off – which is somewhere ancient where everything is…
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The scene’s softer side: Metal Cats by Alexandra Crockett
In general, metal gets a bad rap as being the Devil’s music or evil in nature. This in turn leads to the assumption that metal musicians (and their fans) are also guilty. Now, most of the readers of this site know that to be untrue, but the Metal Cats book sheds a different light on…
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The Oath – The Oath
What do you get when you combine some of the trendiest current styles in metal in retro, occultish and female-fronted doom? You get The Oath. And I swear if this eponymous debut isn’t the catchiest thing you’ll hear this month, I’ll eat my hat. (No I won’t.) The Oath is the result of the alchemical…
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Mount Salem – Endless
Originally released in 2013, Endless comprised the first six tracks the spankin’ new Chicago band Mount Salem wrote. That caught the attention of Metal Blade, who’ve reissued the release with two new tracks. This powerful doom-rock quartet consists of guitarist Kyle Morrison, bassist Mark Hewett, drummer Cody Davidson and vocalist/organist Emily Kopplin, whose voice measures…
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Coffinworm – IV.I.VIII
A double dose of Coffinworm reviews – Gruesome Greg and Matt Hinch both weigh in on IV.I.VIII. The Indiana band’s second full-length album is out on Profound Lore. It’s been nearly four years in the making for album number two from this Indiana sludge crew, and I was hoping it’s been worth the wait. I’m one…
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Psalm Zero – The Drain
Profound Lore has become known over the years as a go-to label for some of the best and most extreme black and death metal bands. But with the release of Vaura‘s The Missing last year, the label opened up another avenue of exploration. Somewhat in that vein comes Psalm Zero. The collaboration between Castevet‘s Andrew…
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Grand Magus – Triumph and Power
When I first popped Triumph and Power, the 7th album from Swedish trio Grand Magus I was taken aback. It had been a long time since I’d listened to them and their style has changed significantly in the last decade. Back in the early ’00s all I listened to (pretty much) was considered “stoner rock/metal.”…
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Thou – Heathen
By Matt Hinch “Only amidst the sea of refuse shall we find enlightenment pure.” — from “Immorality Dictates” The ever-prolific Thou continue what has thus far been a stellar 2014 with Heathen. Their fourth full length and first since 2010’s Summit is simply stunning. The Louisiana doomsayers are sure to grab the rapt attention of…
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J.P. Gaster of Clutch: The Hellbound Interview
“I think they would see the band touring and we had a very solid touring fanbase and we would sell a consistent amount of records album to album. And I think the record label saw that and they’d get excited about that and they thought to themselves “Well surely this band can sell this many…