Author: Sean Palmerston

  • Turisas/ Alestorm/ Ex Deo/ Arkona/ Huntress/ Protokult @ The Opera House, Toronto ON, April 2nd, 2012

    Turisas/ Alestorm/ Ex Deo/ Arkona/ Huntress/ Protokult @ The Opera House, Toronto ON, April 2nd, 2012

    “There is something about Paganfest that is magical. Someone on my Twitter feed referred to it as “the Comic-Con of metal shows” and I can’t think of a more apt description. The cosplayers were certainly out in force, from warriors carrying drinking horns and wearing utili-kilts to pirate wenches in striped tights. Before a single…

  • Accept – Stalingrad

    Accept – Stalingrad

    What we have on our hands is another classic 21st century record from one of my favourite 80’s metal bands, and I sure as hell ain’t complaining!

  • Eluveitie – Helvetios

    Eluveitie – Helvetios

    Swiss death folk leaders Eluveitie return with a rustic record of wood-burning, raw depth. Helvetios fuses century old elements with a modern metal tone that support each other like a horde facing battle.

  • Paradise Lost – Tragic Idol

    Paradise Lost – Tragic Idol

    By Raymond Westland Paradise Lost is one of the true pioneers of the early UK doom/death metal movement, together with Cathedral, My Dying Bride and Anathema. As with many long serving bands they had their bit of success and adversity. However, nowadays Holmes and co are perfectly happy in their own niche, releasing a string…

  • Church of Misery –Master of Brutality

    Church of Misery –Master of Brutality

    By Gruesome Greg Japanese murder doomsters Church of Misery are finally coming to North America for the first time, playing Maryland Deathfest and a dozen other US dates, which makes this the perfect time for Metal Blade (via Rise Above) to reissue their first two full-length albums. The band had already been around for a…

  • Alcest / Deafhaven @ The Casbah, Charlotte NC, March 25, 2012

    Alcest / Deafhaven @ The Casbah, Charlotte NC, March 25, 2012

    On March 25th Alcest and Deafhaven played The Casbah, the smaller stage at Charlotte NC’s Tremont Music Hall, and Justin Richardson was there to soak it all in. Here is his review of the show.

  • 16 – Deep Cuts from Dark Clouds

    16 – Deep Cuts from Dark Clouds

    “Progressive post-sludge” this is not, as not a single one of the ten Deep Cuts on here exceeds 5 minutes in length. But if you’ve always been partial to the term slow-core, you’ll probably wanna give this one a listen.

  • Greg Mackintosh of Paradise Lost: The Hellbound Interview

    Greg Mackintosh of Paradise Lost: The Hellbound Interview

    Raymond Westland speaks with Paradise Lost guitarist and founding member Greg Mackintosh on the eve of the release of their new album Tragic Idol.

  • Mares of Thrace – The Pilgrimage

    Mares of Thrace – The Pilgrimage

    There are a handful of bands, rarer still in metal, whose sophomore record manages to trump their first effort, but Mares of Thrace have done that in spades with The Pilgrimage.

  • Psycroptic – The Inherited Repression

    Psycroptic – The Inherited Repression

    Upon first listen, Psycroptic sound like the spawn of Decapitated and Nile, which is why it’s no surprise that they’ve toured with both. Yes, this sound has been practiced and produced times before, but the recycling process doesn’t make the record a boring listen. Psycroptic respect the art of their progenitors in an attempt to…