David Vincent
On their second album Morbid Angel defied expectations and went in the exact opposite direction of what was expected from them. Much more deliberately paced, and downright doomy in parts, “Blessed Are the Sick” is a much more ambitious and conceptually stronger release than its predecessor. Where “Altars Of Madness”
Berthus Westerhuys
“The Feast Begins At Dawn”, the debut record of Dutch technical thrash metal mavens Dead Head, was one of incredible controlled chaos and awe-inspiring musicianship, it was also marred by a rather dry and overly processed production. Dead Head formed in 1989 in Kampen, the Netherlands and played technical thrash
Adorior
It is the little heard bands that are often the best. Adorior is one of the earlier female-fronted underground metal bands to rise to prominence before the genre’s explosion in the early millennium. Having formed in 1994 in Sutton, they are half a decade late to be considered of
Candlelight Records
When “Genocide” hit the marketplace the Polish death metal scene was well established, and internationally known for its craftsmanship and impressive technicality. Yattering, the band to name itself after a demon from a Clive Barker novel, had always been a tad different than most. While more conventional and straightforward than
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, Cassius, Daft
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 meatier,
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