Author: Sean Palmerston

  • Fleshgod Apocalypse – Agony

    The approach Fleshgod Apocalypse take to succeed in an extremely intricate sub-genre is successful as they combine balance, precision and experimentation for an intriguing listen that pushes past a world of concepts already tackled.

  • Politics not quite as usual: Jedrzej Wijas’ Polish death metal campaign ad strays from the norm

    Exploiting the turbulence of the world in every way imaginable, the political campaigning cycle in the United States has become a nauseating, 24/7 machine that simply never stops. Any break from the monotony of prudish American political ads would be an event worth welcoming. Sure, we probably won’t find that any time soon stateside, but…

  • Absu – Abzu

    Without doubt, one of the best records I have heard this year.

  • Black Tusk – Set the Dial

    “These guys have definitely got the Georgia sound (Kylesa, Baroness, Zoroaster et al), though they mould it into shorter, faster and maybe not quite as loud tunes. Still better than most.”

  • ProgPower USA 2011 @ Center Stage, Atlanta, GA September 15th to 17th, 2011

    Although he almost missed it – please see inside for all the details – Hellbound’s Rob Kachluba finally made it back to Atlanta GA earlier this month for this year’s edition of the ProgPower USA Festival. Here is Rob’s recap of the three days that he was in attendance at the fest, which included performances…

  • Weedeater / Saviours / Bison B.C. / Fight Amp @ Lee’s Palace, Toronto ON, September 13, 2011

    “When headliners Weedeater began to play, I was immediately struck by how much effort they put into differentiating their sound from every other group on the bill. Their tone was harsh, ugly, abrasive and super-filthy, the guitars and bass drenched in feedback. Vocalist Dixie Dave Collins matched this perfectly, sounding like he’d been gargling with…

  • Blasphemous Meals #4: Hail The Goatfish

    Now home in Canada and back in school for another year, our favourite university journalism student has recently sent us her fourth installment in her Blasphemous Meals series, where she makes meals for her family taken out of the pages of the Bazillion Points book Hellbent for Cooking. Here are three more inspired meals that…

  • Falloch – Where Distant Spirits Remain

    Where Distant Spirits Remain is not the strongest release of its ilk this year, but overall it’s a good debut that shows much future potential and talent. The biggest issues found here (vocals that don’t always fit in as well as tendencies toward being long-winded) are hazards of the band’s chosen style, and both are…

  • Katatonia: Twenty Years Down the Road

    Days after kicking off a North American anniversary tour, with headlining dates tucked in between dates opening for Opeth, guitarist/songwriter Anders Nyström enthusiastically answers Laura Wiebe’s questions about Katatonia’s latest activities and current travels on this side of the Atlantic.

  • Tyr – The Lay of Thrym

    This album isn’t breaking any new ground, but if you’re a fan of clean-voiced heavy/melodic/viking metal (with some power metal mixed in) this album is for you.