Author: Sean Palmerston
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Meshuggah – Koloss
The band’s true pioneering days may be over, they still manage to deliver the goods on Koloss. The songwriting is impeccable and the album still contains new elements to keep things fresh and exciting.
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Children of Bodom/ Eluveitie/ Revocation/ Threat Signal @ Sound Academy, Toronto ON, February 27, 2012
“I’ve always credited Finland’s Children of Bodom with helping to further my interest and involvement in metal, and in all those years I’ve seen them live a countless number of times. Somehow though, this show felt different. It felt special. Whether it was the ravenous crowd, my nostalgic mood, or the fact that this was…
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Steve Earles’ book reviews: Worldwide Gothic & Crazy Train:The High Life and Tragic Death of Randy Rhoads
Two fine books to review this month.
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Melvins – The Bulls & the Bees
This band just keeps on rolling, even if their former touring vehicle will remain parked for a while.
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Orthrelm – 20012
Orthrelm appeal to that side of your nature that makes you recheck you’ve locked the door 10 times and pick at scabs best left alone. It’s obsessively intricate, maddeningly torturous, and absolutely brilliant. The very best thing about 20012 is that it’s just two bite-sized chunks of noise to digest
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Soulfly – Enslaved
Soulfly may not be the cutting edge band it once was, but it’s still a relevant bulwark of power in today’s metal scene. Enslaved is a poignant celebration of Max Cavalera’s musical vision and his longevity.
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Primal Rock Rebellion – Awoken Broken
Right off the top, before anything else is said here about Primal Rock Rebellion or their debut, Awoken Broken, it needs to be said that this record stands as proof that old dogs can indeed learn new tricks.
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Desaster – The Arts of Destruction
With a few defeats and changes of members along the way, along with a fairly lengthy discography, Desaster are still campaigning like true survivors. Having never gained the sort of popularity or visibility of many of their German brethren, the band have remained a cult act, and their new album, The Arts of Destruction, isn’t…
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Les Discrets – Ariettes Oubliées…
Without taking Les Discrets’ sound to a more adventurous place, Ariettes Oubliées… unfortunately ends up sounding like an adequate but less inspired version of the band’s debut.
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Goatwhore – Blood For The Master
Blood For the Master isn’t a radical step forward, but nor, given its traditional metal underpinnings, is it a step back. It is exactly the album Goatwhore needed to make right now.