black metal
As historically (and retroactively) important as this EP is for the genre it helped define, its actual musical content and quality is open for debate. “Deathcrush”, the first real Mayhem release after a string of demos, is – despite its truly hostile and aggressive nature – a rather standard, and conformist exercise
breezy
Los Angeles pop duo Polaris Rose set the world alight earlier in the year with the exciting “Ocean Songs” EP. “Telescopes”, the duo’s long-awaited full length effort, finally arrives after the advance single ‘Perfect View’. The album picks up where “Ocean Songs” left off, while keeping its established elements
Burton C. Bell
The first Fear Factory album stands in stark contrast to the rest of its catalog. Mostly sounding as a groovier inclined version of Napalm Death circa “Utopia Banished” and “Harmony Corruption”, it is catchy and aggressive in equal measure. The dichotomy between extremity and mainstream accessibility is already present here.
Alice Collins
“Tides Of Malediction”, the debut from UK romantic dark metal band Swords Of Dis, conclusively proves the strengths of angelic female vocals within a metal context. Traditional in genre and composition but technical in delivery the album manages to combine two unlikely subgenres in a cohesive whole. One part Death,
Andreas Axelsson
It is often forgotten in the mainstream metal consciousness that Marduk, arguably one of the hardest working entities in the industry, was once one of the many darker sounding death metal upstarts hailing from the ever-fertile soils of Sweden. The band at this time consisted of founder/lead guitarist Morgan
Brazil
“Males Infestus”, the debut EP of Brazilian death metal trio Cauterization, mostly sounds torn between two worlds. On one hand it relies heavily on the template set by Krisiun while infusing it with a dose of thrash – and groove sections. Cauterization was formed in 2008 in Presidente Prudente, São Paulo.
Dan Seagrave
Vader is one of the earliest death metal bands of note from behind the Iron Curtain, and one of Poland’s most enduring institutions along with Behemoth. Theirs is a story marked by perseverance, strife and the unrelenting will to succeed no matter what the odds. The band formed in
Afterdark Records
As one of the earliest black metal bands in Belgium (forming in 1988) Ancient Rites is also the most interesting of the country. In constant evolution the band has shed members and sounds over the years to arrive a concoction of popular styles without abandoning artistic integrity or musical merit.
Black Sabbath
The 2013 demo recording of Slovenian all-girl doom metal combo Mist, aptly called “demo” to avoid unnecessary confusion, is a worthwhile demonstration of a young band taking a traditional and classic approach to a genre to its logical conclusion. The demo is significantly heavier than most of its more marketable
death metal
“Heretic” is on all aspects a milestone is the career of Tampa, Florida death metal institution Morbid Angel. It was the third and final album to feature Steve Tucker on vocals and bass guitar, it was the last for them on long-time contractor Earache Records (its lacking sales figures led
Dallas Toler-Wade
After the lukewarm “Annihilation Of the Wicked” Nile signed to Nuclear Blast Records. To say that the resultant album didn’t meet expectations would be an understatement. Whereas up to “In Their Darkened Shrines” the band had continually refined and honed its sound, here they are seemingly on autopilot. The
Bill Robinson
The second Decrepit Birth record is where the band finally decided to capitalize on the instrumental skill of its (now solidified) membership. Where the preceding album was a lovenote to Deeds Of Flesh and “Despise the Sun” era Suffocation; here lead guitarist Matt Sotelo plundered the catalog of Atheist, Cemetery,