Author: Garren Ustel
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Enfold Darkness – Adversary Omnipotent
After a lengthy hiatus, the mighty Enfold Darkness return, fronted by a new vocalist, delivering their long awaited sophomore effort. Technical, brutal, symphonic and most certainly blackened, Adversary Omnipotent is sure to dazzle fans of death metal looking for something fresh and yet familiar. Despite a lengthy departure from active duty, this new roster seems to…
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Iapetus – The Long Road Home
There is something really special about Iapetus‘s latest offering, The Long Road Home, a vortex of everything good that exists in technical, progressive metal. Honestly, this record floored me the first time I gave it a full spin. This is not a difficult album to enjoy; it is in fact a pleasure to listen to,…
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Faith No More – Angel Dust
Where would hard rock and heavy metal be today without Faith No More‘s 1992 classic Angel Dust? This question brings shivers to my fragile old soul and I prefer not to even think about the answer to that blasphemous query. Twenty-five years after its release, I don’t think any fan of Faith No More would argue…
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Dying Fetus – Wrong One To Fuck With
Catchy and brutal as ever Dying Fetus return to the forefront of brutal american death metal, a genre that they arguably ruled for nearly a decade. Unloading a full clip of ammunition on the world in the form of Wrong One To Fuck With the Maryland metalheads do not extend any level of mercy on…
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Origin – Unparalleled Universe
“Oh, wow” were literally the first two words out of my mouth when I hit play on this behemoth of bombast. Fans of Origin, death metal, technical precision and speed will have found their new canon in Unparalleled Universe, the band’s Nuclear Blast debut. Seriously aggressive and technical are obvious descriptors for any of Origin’s…
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Harvestman – Music For Megaliths
Get ready. Get set. Get stoned. This latest offering from Harvestman, the alter ego of Neurosis alumni Steve Von Till is a trippy, psychedelic offering. Soulful and searing Music For Megaliths is crushingly dense but only in the most atmospheric of ways. This is the same Steve Von Till of Neurosis but you’d be a fool…
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Aaron Turner – “The Lost Interview” – November, 2012
Hydra Head Records is an independent label that first captured my attention when I was a young man just getting into hardcore and more underground metal. The outfit prides itself on its stellar roster and discography of extreme metal music. HHR was founded in New Mexico by Aaron Turner of Sumac (and Old Man Gloom,…
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Enslaved – Roadburn Live
Enslaved have been around for close to three decades playing their brand of Pagan influenced, blackened and progressive tinged death metal. In all those years they have never released an official live album, until now that is. Serving as a chance to sample the band in a live setting without needing to leave the comfort…
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Say Hello 2 Heaven – A Tribute to Chris Cornell
Right now I shouldn’t be writing these words down for you. It doesn’t makes sense. In fact nothing about the night of May 17th, 2017, seems to make much sense in hind site. Chris Cornell, lead vocalist and guitarist of Soundgarden and super group Audioslave took his own life that night. We may very well…
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Artificial Brain – Infrared Horizon
Knowing where to start when describing Artificial Brain‘s newest release Infrared Horizon is no easy task. There is something truly refreshing and yet totally familiar about their take on technical death metal. It has melodies that are both haunting and soaring, consequently they are inviting and revolting at the exact same time. It crushes and…