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?

  • Deadbird – III: The Forest Within the Tree

    Deadbird – III: The Forest Within the Tree

    I guess they’re back from the dead? Roughly 10 years since their last album, Arkansas outfit Deadbird, featuring a few guys from Rwake and the current bassist of The Obsessed, has returned with their third full-length installment of southern-fried sludge, offering up eight tracks in a little under 40 minutes. Fans of Rwake, or even…

  • Iomair – Iomair

    Iomair – Iomair

    One of the most important elements of music is sincerity, and Iomair have that in spades. Think of a folky Opeth and you aren’t even half-way there. What I like most about this album is its heartfelt emotionality. This is really music for the inner you, not for the face you put on for the world. Strange…

  • We Hunt Buffalo – Head Smashed In

    We Hunt Buffalo – Head Smashed In

    As a kid growing up in Calgary, I know I visited Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, in nearby Fort McLeod, at least once or twice. Pretty sure that’s where I had my first bison burger, too.  So I am loving the cover of We Hunt Buffalo’s latest album before I even push play. Album number three from…

  • Sunrunner – Ancient Arts of Survival

    Sunrunner – Ancient Arts of Survival

    Despite their Native American inspirations, Sunrunner have a lot in common with European power metal bands, in the sense that their music is melodic, well-played and optimistic. This then is a concept album, and an interesting one, though the songs would work equally well on their own. Different, but all the better for it. http://www.sunrunnermusic.com/ https://www.facebook.com/sunrunnermusic/…

  • Anathema – Internal Landscapes 2008-2018

    Anathema – Internal Landscapes 2008-2018

    In 2008, Anathema were one of the first bands to sign to progressive label KScope. Which makes sense as their music has constantly progressed, with founders Vincent and Danny Cavanagh being the constant factors. In 2018, Anathema are very different to the band that signed to the mighty Peaceville Records almost two decades previously. Then,…

  • Esoctrilihum – Inhüma

    Esoctrilihum – Inhüma

    The mysterious one-man black metal project from France known as Esoctrilihum, has released the third album in his career and his second full-length of 2018. There isn’t much known about the man behind this mysterious project, Asthâghul, save for the fact that he creates some of the most haunting, experimental and truly innovative black metal…

  • Striker – Play to Win

    Striker – Play to Win

    Striker has spent the last decade forging their unique blend of Hard Rock and Metal. Play to Win is Striker’s newest release and exceeds every standard that they set with 2017’s award-winning self titled masterpiece. Each track is overflowing with riffs and hooks that captivate the listener. Each track stands strong enough on its own,…

  • Transmaniacon – The Strange World of Suzie Pellet

    Transmaniacon – The Strange World of Suzie Pellet

    This a concept album telling the Furiosa-esque tale of a street survivor named Suzie Pellet in a dystopian future world. The concept is the brainchild of Ian Miller, a very talented writer and artist; indeed, if he were to do this concept as a graphic novel he would be well able to both write and illustrate…

  • Akitso – Credo

    Akitso – Credo

    Legendary Canadian black metal duo Akitsa have returned yet again with a brutal black metal record that has turned out to be their most accessible, consistent and crushing record to date. All six tracks are completely brutal in their own unique way leaving this plenty of replay value. Every aspect of this album is either…

  • Skull Fist – Way of the Road

    Skull Fist – Way of the Road

    Quite possibly one of my most anticipated releases of the year, Skull Fist are set to release their third album Way Of The Road on October 26th, 2018 through Napalm Records. The album opens with “You Belong To Me,” a barn burner of a track that is sure to keep heads banging as the band…