electronica
As a critic every few years you stumble upon bands that defy easy categorization. This can happen for any number of reasons. Some bands end up combining so many disparate elements that none of it resembles anything recognizable, other bands – as is the case with folk/rock band Serpentyne – fuse
Aurora Borealis
Upon completion of “Time, Unveiled” Waldorf, Maryland death/black metal unit Aurora Borealis had perfected its brand of Scandinavian underground metal. Aided by a new drummer with Tim Yeung mainman Ron Vento set to write the band’s most concise effort. To the point is exactly what most fittingly describes
Benjamin Joubert
France has a well-established history in electronic music, especially the French Touch movement that was pioneered by the likes of Jean-Michel Jarre and Cerrone. In the late 1990s and early 2000s the French Euro dance substyle was prevalent everywhere thanks to the success of diverse artists as Air,
Burton C. Bell
By the time “Digimortal”, the fourth Fear Factory record and last in the classic constellation, hit the market the band was riding on a wave of increased popularity and visibility. They were a beacon of hope in a creatively bankrupt subgenre. What should have been the band’s ultimate statement
black metal
By the time “Nightwing”, the fifth Marduk album and second with vocalist Erik Hagstedt (Legion) behind the microphone, hit the market the band had become familiar with its new style. Released a year after “Heaven Shall Burn…” it is a continuation of that album’s sound with overall increased levels
Caedere
“The Lost Conveyance”, the third Caedere album since their formation in 1998, has the band maturing musically and lyrically. Adopting scathing socio-political subject matter, and further embracing its musicality along with its increasing technical skill. “The Lost Conveyance” merges old – and new genre traits and is helped by a
death metal
Years of hard work and extensive touring paid off for Vader in the early 2000s as they were offered a recording contract by Metal Blade, the label that released the early records of Slayer, one of the band’s most audible inspirations. After proving to be the most reliable underground
Ancient Rites
The fourth Ancient Rites album sees the band fully cultivating the epic power metal sound they first debuted on “Fatherland”. Being the second record of the band’s international phase, it fully embraces the influence of its guitarist duo – and builds upon the atmospheric keyboard embellishments and medieval interludes that
Alex Kurtagić
In the two year layoff in between records Norwegian outfit Dimmu Borgir switched a few people around, and kept practicing their instruments. Often dubbed the band’s finest moment “Stormblåst” is a slightly better paced, but still entirely confused folk-tinged dark metal album that is high on atmospherics but
Dan Seagrave
The prematurely aborted “Abominations Of Desolation” session put back Florida death metal mavens Morbid Angel by a good three years. Interpersonal troubles, and an unsatisfactory studio experience in North Carolina had Azagthoth licking his wounds as he put together a new line-up for his project. “Altars Of Madness” is
Aurora Borealis
On its second album Aurora Borealis settled into its own. Retaining the services of drummer Derek Roddy, the duo was now operating as a self-contained unit. Crafting “Northern Lights” on its own terms and in its own time, it is a refining of the sound first heard on “Praise
black metal
After the band imploded due to the extracurricular activities from its members in the wake of the “De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas” release – it was surprising to see Mayhem resurfacing so unpredictably quick after what would have killed any lesser underground band, or any band whose history or its alleged legend