Brodequin
Much like formative act Cannibal Corpse before them Southeastern power trio Brodequin was a band with a clearly defined, singular focus. Like its more popular Buffalo-born/Tampa-residing progenitor the trio of Jamie and Mike Bailey with drummer Chad Walls set out on a very specific course. In the decade that
Brazil
Of all the early South American underground metal acts Belo Horizonte natives Sepultura would prove the most influential, and the most enduring. Along with local upstarts Armmageddon, Genocídio, Holocausto, Mystifier, Sarcófago and Vulcano they set the global scene alight with their highly aggresssive, unashamingly primitive early records. Launched towards worldwide
death metal
“Reduced to Ashes”, the fifth Deeds Of Flesh record, had the band comfortable within its more linear writing style. Since “Mark Of the Legion” the trio opted to increase the level of technicality, and “Reduced to Ashes” is the apex of that evolution. The increase in production values is both
Alberto Gaggiotti
“The Call Of the Wood” is the first of three Opera IX records with Cadaveria in the vocal slot. Of these three it is the least symphonic of the three, and most conventionally doom/death metal oriented in construction and pacing. Combining sweltering Mediterreanean mysticism with esoterica, occultism, and a
A.J. Magana
“Consuming the Forsaken” is the first Disgorge album to not feature long-serving vocalist Matti Way. In its classic constellation, which lasted from 1992 to 2006, Disgorge released four albums on a variety of labels, of which this is the second. The working title for the album was “Dissecting Thee Apostles”
Caedere
“Mass Emission”, the somewhat unassuming debut of Dutch death metal combo Caedere, lends itself to the assertion that it was inspired at least in part by American – and European institutions of the genre. In particular the likes of “Stabwound Intercourse” era Gorgasm and “Feasting On Blood” era Severe Torture. Not
Amaranthe
The most unlikely candidate for pop sentation of 2014 is Swedish-Danish band Amaranthe, who initially formed as Avalanche in 2008. Fronted by Elize Ryd and boasting a sound that combines the best of 90s Eurodance with throbbing rock riffs “Massive Addictive” is one of those pop albums that’s truly
Aaron Covarrubias
After "Decoding the Mainframe" (the 2010 remixed/partly re-recorded re-issue of its 2007 debut "The Architecture Of Oppression") the all-star line-up - that included former members of Forest Of Impaled, Luciferion, and Malevolent Creation – of Chicago, Illinois symfo death metal act Against the Plagues disintegrated. For
AFM Records
The second Fear Factory reformation led to the workmanlike “Mechanize”, but despite being a mild critical success the band wasn’t able to hold on to its lineup. Prior to the recordings of “The Industrialist” the new rhythm section of bass guitarist Byron Stroud and drummer Gene Hoglan took their
Berthus Westerhuys
In the Centurian canon “Liber Zar Zax” is special because it is the only record to feature Zi Xul members Jerry Brouwer (vocals, bass guitar) and Oskar Van Paradijs (lead guitar). Prior to the pre-production sessions Seth van de Loo (vocals), and Patrick Boleij (bass guitar) had taken their leave
Benjamin Marlin
After having parted ways with the demo line-ups drummer Ricky Myers rebuild Disgorge from the ground up. The recently dissolved Strangulation had two of its members pooling to Disgorge. The album is the recording debut of its newly established line-up. In this constellation, which lasted from 1992 to 2006, Disgorge
death metal
“Carven Of Old”, the second Zi Xul demo tape in its brief three-year existence, represents a considerable leap forward in terms of writing, while being a gigantic step backward as far as production is concerned. The band is still centered on Jerry Brouwer (vocals, rhythm guitar) and Oskar Van Paradijs