Category: Reviews – Audio

Glorious metal in all its earthly forms, compressed onto shiny plastic discs or into digital files. Which ones will become the soundtrack to your life?

  • Six Feet Under – Graveyard Classics III

    The concept of the covers album is a risky one. Nothing wrong with slapping one on as a B-side or extra track. But to propose a whole album of covers often begs the question, “What? Have they run out of their own material already?” When you decide to make the cover album an ongoing series,…

  • Vasaeleth – Crypt Born & Tethered to Ruin

    The concept is simple, the execution unyielding, the principle uncompromising. Concept, execution, and principle may be summed up quite simply: death metal. Welcome to the macabre underworld of Vasaeleth. To pinch a famous phrase: abandon hope all ye who enter. Tate Bengston reviews the Profound Lore debut album by Texan death metal duo Vasaeleth.

  • Postcards From Natalie Zed, Part 1

    Hellbound readers, please welcome aboard Natalie Zed! Natalie was our big grand prize winner back in January, taking home more than 50 CDs + and shortly after she received her huge box ‘o CDs, Ms. Zed asked us over at Hellbound HQ if we’d be interested in running reviews of her winnings if she did…

  • Armored Saint – La Raza

    Symbol of Salvation will always go down as Armored Saint’s definitive album, but you’d be hard pressed to find a record more concise, focused, and flat-out fun than La Raza.

  • Semen Datura – Einsamkeit

    Germany’s Semen Datura have returned with their latest full-length album Einsamkeit. It’s an eclectic archive of black metal-influenced noise that isn’t afraid to go in some unexpected directions. With the band avoiding familiar pagan or satanic imagery in favour of pursuing the “intellectual aspect” of “this art” (as stated in the liner notes), Einsamkeit opts…

  • Primordial – Imrama (expanded reissue)

    By Navjot Kaur Venturing into the turbulent realm of Celtic meets traditional black metal (streaked with essential melody) is Primordial. None too surprising, as the group’s re-released debut album, Imrama, translates roughly into “voyage” or “rowings about.” In a country like Ireland, where English has become the mainstream language, the band asserts its roots by…

  • Nile – Those Whom the Gods Detest

    Nile has proved that they really have their shit together, and you can hear this in the band’s strength in creativity.

  • Wolfbane – s/t

    Shadow Kingdom Records is like the Energizer Bunny. It keeps going and going and going with great releases one after another. One of their newest gems is this compilation by Wolfbane.

  • Burzum – Belus

    However unsettling his crimes, however indefensible his comments and views, Varg Vikernes is one of the most creative forces in Norwegian black metal and Belus ample proof of his talent.

  • Heathen – The Evolution of Chaos

    The band’s energy is admirable, though, and as flawed as this album is, it’s still nice to hear them performing with passion once again.