Author: Sean Palmerston

  • Marduk/Nachtmystium @ Annex Wreckroom, Toronto, ON, November 22, 2009

    Late November seems as good a time as any to take in a performance by Swedish metal veterans Marduk. A concert centered around a black metal band known for its own distinct take on imagery and songs centering on everything from war machines to religious blasphemy to paganism seems strangely appropriate for a grey month…

  • Swallow The Sun: New Moon

    At its core, New Moon is about what Swallow The Sun have been doing at their best — infectious, melancholy, and swaying lead guitar melodies eventually overwhelmed by crushing fuzz surging against the backdrops of subtle keyboard ambiance. It’s quite possible that there will be time when Swallow The Sun’s sound is in need of…

  • Grave Miasma: Exalted Emanation

    Grave Miasma is the latest proponent of death metal done right. This is nasty, ugly stuff. While not as sharp in attack as Dead Congregation nor as profoundly murky as Mitochondrion nor as surreal as Portal, Grave Miasma entrenches itself in something of a middle ground. Tate Bengston investigates the new EP by British death…

  • Otargos: Fuck God-Disease Process

    By Ola Mazzuca Whether you feel that black metal bands of today are becoming increasingly predictable or losing their touch, there’s always going to be something for everyone even if it just passes the bar of mediocrity. Thus we have Bordeaux, France’s Otargos, blast beats and all. They may not be Scandinavian, but are talented…

  • Various Artists:Swedish Death Metal

    This massive three-disc compilation gives the listener a sonic taster of all the flowery praise thrown around Daniel Ekeroth’s book and if that listener is a seasoned Sverige-phile, then Swedish Death Metal Compilation acts as a 3+ hour trip down the left hand path of memory lane. It’s all here, the good, bad, ugly, awesome,…

  • VIDEO INTERVIEW: Sacrifice at Hellbound Radio (Parts 3 & 4)

    Here are the final two parts of the Sacrifice interview on Hellbound Radio, in which the band answers some listeners questions, talks about the new album, the show this weekend in Toronto and the upcoming vinyl reissues due out in 2010. You don’t wanna miss it!

  • VIDEO INTERVIEW: Sacrifice at Hellbound Radio (Part 2)

    In the second part of our interview with Sacrifice, the band discusses the Soldiers of Misfortune album, recording at Phase One Studios, their stance on bootlegs recordings, their upcoming live concert DVD (!!!) and more.

  • Shrinebuilder/Rwake/Liturgy @ Le Poisson Rouge, New York City, November 15th, 2009

    I could barely contain my excitement when Scott Kelly, Al Cisneros and Dale Crover quietly joined Wino, set up their stuff, pointedly ignored the choruses of cheers and the prerequisite ‘I love you, man’ from some drunk/high audience member and just started playing.

  • Secrets of the Moon: Privilegivm

    Germany’s Secrets of the Moon win this year’s award for most black on an album cover. Luckily for listeners, there’s as much inky depth to Privilegivm as the packaging’s colour pallette suggests.

  • Paradise Lost: Faith Divides Us – Death Unites Us

    I lost interest in Paradise Lost sometime in the mid-90s, and one opening slot for Opeth several years later did nothing to change my mind. But listening to the band’s latest album, Faith Divides Us – Death Unites Us did.