Category: Reviews

  • Svarti Loghin – Drifting Through the Void

    Svarti Loghin revels in fusion of the most banal kind. It does not have a musical vision. It simply blends the visions of others into something that it tries to pass off as art. What it forgets is that hybridization requires a vision if it is to fuse disparate elements into a cohesive artistic statement.…

  • Rhapsody of Fire – The Frozen Tears of Angels

    The Frozen Tears of Angels is a solid, fun record that need not apologize for being metal.

  • Blackwolfgoat – Dragonwizardsleeve

    Suffice to say that this album is a long, difficult slog, even though it only has six tracks.

  • Woods of Ypres/ Battlesoul/ The Great Collapse-The Womb @ The Blue Moon, Toronto ON, July 16 2010

    “However long and difficult the journey, Woods of Ypres give themselves no breaks and indulge in no excuses. Every single member of the band poured all the heart and energy they had into their performance at the Blue Moon, led by the apparently indefatigable David Gold. They are incredibly generous performers in this regard, never…

  • Wolvhammer – Black Marketeers of World War III

    In the end, Black Marketeers of World War III is an enjoyable but standard album that doesn’t make a long-lasting impression or distinguish itself from its musical brethren. Wolvhammer’s hearts and minds are obviously in the right places, but this fact plus a few memorable musical moments isn’t enough to make for a record that…

  • Ufomammut – Eve

    Eve—the song and the album—sounds like it’s been shaped from molten rock. Ufomammut have dug deep; crafting elusive, unruly elements into something inspired and monumental

  • Skeletonwitch/ Priestess/ High On Fire @ The Opera House, Toronto ON, July 16, 2010

    “By the time High on Fire hit the stage, the venue was thankfully almost at full capacity and despite not yet turning on the stage lights, when the crowd saw frontman Matt Pike stroll out in the darkness, bare chested, snaggle-toothed but still sexy as all hell, the crowd went nuts. While the trio had…

  • Jameson Raid – Just As the Dust Had Settled

    Ultimately, we can certainly see the past though rose coloured glasses, and Just As the Dust Had Settled does indeed provide a loving tribute-lyrics, notes, photos and all—to a band which some might feel didn’t quite get the recognition they deserved during their day. At the same time, however, some bands should just remain cult…

  • Sabaton – Coat of Arms

    I dare say that Sabaton make the most uplifting songs about war this side of ‘The Trooper’! On Coat of Arms, the sixth record for the Swedish warriors but first with a proper North American release, Sabaton focus on the battles of World War II.

  • Humo del Cairo – s/t

    Humo del Cairo (Egyptian Smoke!?) is a primarily instro trio from Argentina, with occasional vocals provided in Spanish. You can hear shades of Kyuss (check out “Panorama”), The Jimi Hendrix Experience (“Nimbo” and the opening of “Fuego de San Antonio”), their Argentinian countrymen in Los Natas—or even Sergio Ch’s side-project Ararat (the harmonica and chanting…