folk
On her fourth album “Rabbits On the Run” mainstream hopeful Vanessa Carlton underwent a staggering artistic transformation from bright-eyed piano pop star into something altogether more interesting. “Rabbits On the Run”, Carlton’s fourth record on her third label partner, was the first manifestation of her artistic reinvention and resurrection
Dan Swanö
“Storm Of the Light’s Bane”, the only album to be released through German conglomerate Nuclear Blast Records, was supposed to be the breakthrough effort for Swedish melodic death metal hopefuls Dissection. In comparison to “The Somberlain” the record went for a more traditional and streamlined death metal sound. Much
Brian Hoffman
The deterioriation that surfaced on “Once Upon the Cross” is allowed to fester on “Serpents Of the Light”. It is but a whitewash of the preceding “Once Upon the Cross”. Indifferent and uninterested in bettering themselves Deicide persevered with its simplified formula. Even though slightly more eerie melodies are sprinkled
black metal
Destined to become one of the more comically over-the-top black metal bands of the genre Dark Funeral managed to persevered where lesser bands would have fallen by the wayside and into eventual obscurity. After the unceremonious exit of founder David Parland forced remaining founding member Mikael Svanberg to exert his
Andreas Kisser
After stretching its wings with the exercise in technicality and experimentation that was “Schizophrenia” Sepultura streamlined its sound for maximum effect and impact. On its Roadrunner Records debut from 1989 Sepultura perfected its death/thrash metal sound to widespread acclaim and accolades. Structured in the same way as the legendary
Dulce Robles
Formed in México City, México in 2006, originally as a reunion of an earlier band called Erógena. Upon auditioning singers, and the eventual hiring of Dulce Robles, the Vitruvius concept came into being. After releasing its self-titled debut in 2011, the band relocated to Xalapa, Veracruz. "Above the Silvered
Cradle Of Filth
“Dusk… and Her Embrace”, the second official Cradle Of Filth album, was significant from moving the band out of its death/thrash metal roots, and squarely into symphonic – and gothic metal territory. Where the previous outing at least attempted to infuse its metal with a Hammer Horror atmosphere, “Dusk… and
David Vincent
“Illud Divinum Insanus”, the first Morbid Angel effort in eight years and the follow-up to 2003’s critically savaged “Heretic”, rightly continues to be subject of widespread scorn and derision. Dubbed an “experimental” and “genre-defining” masterpiece by the sycophantic metal press, it is a desperate attempt from a band well
Dan Swanö
Recognized as one of the early progenitors of the melodic death metal sound together with At the Gates, Dark Tranquillity and In Flames, Dissection was a band destined to reach soaring heights of success. Instead of cultivating its potential the band fell apart due to interpersonal trouble at the height
Alberto Gaggiotti
“The Black Opera” is the final of three Opera IX records with Cadaveria in the vocal slot. Of these three it is the most conventionally symfo with lush gothic overtones. It is by far the most streamlined and concise in writing of the trilogy, on top of being the best
Brian Hoffman
Upon the completion of their most accomplished and complete vision Tampa, Florida bruisers Deicide realized they had fulfilled what little potential they had. Realizing that they couldn’t top the unhinged primal ferocity and abstract technical songwriting of “Legion” Deicide scaled down its assault into a more accessible format. Above
Emily Lazar
One of the unlikeliest label partners that Vanessa Carlton ended up working with was The Inc. Records, presided over by R&B mogul Irving Domingo Lorenzo, Jr. (Irv Gotti). The album that resulted from the partnership signaled the surfacing of Carlton’s idiosyncratic songwriter side. On the album Carlton