black metal
One of the few good things that could be said about “Enthrone Darkness Triumphant”, outside of how catchy it was, is that it had a modicum of restraint and the good taste to rein in the band’s pompousness. The follow-up to that ill-fated record fares less well, as what
Aad Kloosterwaard
“Hate” is Sinister’s ultimate statement, it is the band’s most conceptually complete, musically savage and their most technically refined album. Mike van Mastrigt delivers his most spirited vocal performance, Bart van Wallenberg shines on both guitars and bass guitar, while Aad Kloosterwaard hammers out what is by all
death metal
The continued (or rather continuing) existence of a band like Mortician is a question for the ages. Where the death metal genre, and its key bands, have constantly evolved and taken risks, Mortician remain in a stubborn creative stasis and is apparently happy to revel in stagnation. Where others grew,
Boudewijn Bonebakker
Gorefest was a totally different band, in both style and mindset, by the time they cut their third record “Erase”. Boudewijn Bonebakker (lead guitar) and Ed Warby (drums) had been in the unit for a couple of years by now, and both seemed to bring out more of lead guitarist
black metal
If one was to look at the blueprints for the Norsecore style, three records come to mind instantly. Marduk’s “Heaven Shall Burn…”, Immortal’s “Battles In the North” and Dark Funeral ’s “The Secrets Of the Black Arts”. All three laid down the tropes and conventions and are historically
black metal
Immortal’s entry into the then-emerging world of black metal was as typical as many of their fellow bands. Coming from a death metal background with Old Funeral (in which both members spent time), and before that Amputation – it was at the behest of Oystein Aarseth from Mayhem that these
Chief Spires
It speaks volumes of the amount of confidence that Relapse Records had in their newest signee to release this demo compilation as early as they did. Released in 1999, just one year after “Amongst the Catacombs Of Nephren-Ka”, and one year before “Black Seeds Of Vengeance” this compilation houses both
black metal
Mutant was the studio side-project of Theory In Practice lead guitarist Peter Lake and drummer/vocalist Henrik Ohlsson. The studio project was started originally for both members to get away from the complex instrumentation and songwriting of their main band Theory In Practice. The duo opted for black metal as
Aantar Lee Coates
Tampa, Florida outfit Diabolic was what you call a “stock” death metal band. There’s nothing truly bad about them, but they aren’t the prime example of the genre either. Their work is enjoyable and crafted with a respectable amount of skill and dexterity, yet nothing of it is
Allen West
In the early ‘90s things started brewing in the Sunshine State of Florida. Cannibal Corpse had released the critically acclaimed “The Bleeding” and Obituary had just put “The End Complete” on the market, the logical culmination of their earlier sound, on the once-relevant Roadrunner Records. Massacre had already released their
black metal
Portugese black/death metal formation Decayed and myself have somewhat of a long history. I remember first hearing this band, when some kind of obscure label two people heard of re-released their 1996 album “Resurrectiónem Mortuórum”. Since those days I have heard much (but certainly not all) of their discography
death metal
If there is one Mortician album that could be recommended in good conscious to any fanatic of the death metal genre, “Mortal Massacre” would be it. Functioning both as a studio outing and an early live document there’s a simple and brutish charm about this EP. Capturing Mortician in