Killing Joke – MMXII
In short, MMXII by Killing Joke is one mighty fine follow-up record to its illustrious predecessor. The album has all the hallmarks of a great record. It has the songs, boundless energy and all the apocalyptic themes to do for.
Reviews
A Metal Blade quartet
Metal Blade celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2012. While the label has already released a plethora of classic and genre-defining albums, and fostered and supported our dearly loved heavy metal community, it remains, to this day, as active and energetic as ever. What the metal realm would have looked like without Metal Blade’s steely presence over the past three decades is a frightening thought indeed.
To help celebrate this, here are four new reviews of new Metal Blade titles by our New Zealand based writer Craig Haze, who tackles the new releases by Angel Witch, Exhumer, Ram and OSI
Jay H. Gorania’s SXSW 2012 – Part 2
By Jay H. Gorania Friday, March 16 It seems likely only in some perverse, alternate universe that a former member of Today is the…
Castevet/ Æsahættr/ Sound Asleep/ The Sustained Low ‘C’ of Richard Strauss’ ‘Also Sprach Zarathustra’ @ Soybomb, Toronto ON, March 24th 2012
Hoping to inspire venom, Castevet found themselves facing a crowd that was listening intently, but far more interested in passive osmosis that an active confrontation. With no other weapon, Castevet responded by wielding their music like fists and broken bottles, bloodying the crowd as much as they could.
Black Space Riders – Light Is The New Black
If I was heading to a pub in space, there is no doubt in my mind that I’d be picking the one that uses Black Space Riders as its house band. This is dirty psychedelic space sleaze at its finest.
Anathema – Weather Systems
By Raymond Westland With the release of We’re Here Because We’re Here UK-based progressive/alternative rockers Anathema managed to get back on top of their…
Jay H. Gorania’s SXSW 2012 – Part 1
1808, on the “other side” of the highway, where a crack dealer is literally in sight, the ghetto neighborhood was a fitting home for br00tal music.
Albatross/Vestal Claret split
By Gruesome Greg A neat little split out on Indian label Roadcrew Records between countrymen Albatross and Vestal Claret, one of Phil Swanson’s many…
Job For A Cowboy – Demonocracy
By Raymond Westland Within a relatively short amount of time Arizona-based Job For A Cowboy became one of the major forces in extreme metal…
On Top – Top Heavy
Overall barring the vocals this is a well done album, where fans of this style will find enjoyment. The guitar work is excellent, the vocalist has his moments of greatness, and the songs are catchy enough. This isn’t the best traditional metal release you’ve ever heard, but it does have some worth.