It doesn’t get more succinct than that title for the third album from Australia’s down-tuned, grind masters, The Day Everything Became Nothing. Plain white cover, 10 unnamed numbered tracks and 27 minutes of gurgling, groove filled, monstrously mid paced grindcore. While admittedly this sort of stuff appeals to a niche audience that laps up the […]

Pittsburgh melodic thrash metallers Crown The Lost have signed a worldwide deal with Italy-based Cruz del Sur Music for the release of their Blind Faith Loyalty album, set for a March 2009 release. Commented guitarist David E. Gehlke: “Obviously, we’re enthused to be working with such a reputable label like Cruz del Sur. We’ve heard […]

As a stop gap between albums, Obituary and Candlelight have given us this tasty little 4 track EP; two new tracks (“Forces Realign” and “Left to Die””), a recording of the posthumous debut album’s title track, “Slowly We Rot” and a cover of Celtic Frost’s “Dethroned Emperor”. There’s also video for “Evil Ways” from the […]

Texas-based mythological occult metal outfit ABSU has announced the addition of bassist/co-vocalist Ezezu (ex-Panzram) to the group’s ranks. This is the first time the band is experiencing a permanent quartet-type line up since the band’s debut album Barathrum: V.I.T.R.I.O.L. Drummer/vocalist Proscriptor says of the latest addition, “We are very proud to welcome Ezezu as the […]

Despite the fact that this group of Riverside, California kids play the now overdone form of The Black Dahlia Murder worship, like say, Salt the Wound and Sons of Azrael, the fact is, they do it really, fucking well, and possibly even better. Quite simply, from start to finish, Lamentation is a blazing, relentless and […]

As I stated in my review of All Thats Remains’ latest album Overcome, I was a little nervous talking to vocalist Phil Labonte, considering my lukewarm feelings toward the album. However, after meeting Phil in the tour bus before All That Remains headlining show with Trivium, The Human Abstract and 36 Crazyfists in Columbia , MO, all fears were set aside as we had a lengthy interview and Phil proved to be the consummate professional…

Heralded Indianapolis, IN doom metal masters THE GATES OF SLUMBER have announced a fall, 2008 U.S. tour in support of their celebrated new album Conqueror. The respected power trio will team up with fellow Indianapolis metal troupe Demiricous for a four week, 27 city trek that is scheduled to kick off on November 8. Dubbed […]

With their second album, the aptly titled This Grand Show, Grayceon have once again delivered a stunning, sumptous opus of cello flocked, introspective and progressive music that defies categorization. And having communicated with cello player and vocalist Jackie Perez Gratz in the past, and found her to an absolutely delightful individual, I thought I’d ask a few question via email about the new album, her other projects and other more amorous endeavors…

Paragon Records are proud to announce the signing of Ukrainian Dark Metal band Khors. Formed by former Astrofaes bassist, Khorus, and later joined by Helg (Runes Of Dianecht) and Khaoth (Tessaract, ex-Astrofaes, ex-Hate Forest), Khors play Black Metal in the Ukrainian style, that combines a somber atmosphere together with rich melodies. Since their formation, Khors […]

Earache Records is proud to announce the signing of Toronto, Canada’sCAULDRON to a multi-album worldwide deal. The high energy traditional heavy metal three piece have built a steady following while producing a fresh heavy metal sound built out of a passion and love for the genre, and a deep understanding of the elements that gointo […]

Chicago deathcore heavyweights OCEANO entered the studio on October 3rd to begin recording one of the angriest albums ever.ANDREW MIKHAIL, guitarist for OCEANO – the band who famously had a series of photos BANNED from MySpace for being too gruesome – comments on the band’s first week in the studio: “Things have been going great […]

Jackie Perez Gratz (Amber Asylum) and her two pals, Max Doyle and Zack Farwell (of skaterock band Walken) have returned to give us yet another stunning record that, like its debut will be in the running for album of the year. Stylistically, not much has changed in the Grayceon camp. They still play a dreamy, […]

While Gojira’s The Way of All Flesh and All That Remains Overcome (and possibly Light This City’s swansong, Stormchaser) are arguably Prosthetic’s bread and butter in 2008, the fact remains; Withered’s Folie Circulaire and now the second album from Seattle’s Book of Black Earth are simply Prosthetics best releases of 2008 so far, and shows Prosthetic as […]

 So, in lieu of the recent All That Remains disappointment, two records have stepped in to fill the commercial American Metal void somewhat; The Fight Within From Better Left Unsaid and the third album from California’s Antagonist.  I’m by no mean saying Antagonist is a better band than All That Remains, but as far as […]

SCAR SYMMETRY has offered the following update about their vocalist situation following the recent departure of Christian Älvestam: “Dear friends, When things went from bad to worse and we realized that it wasn’t going to work out with Christian, we were faced with two options; either calling it quits, or seizing the opportunity to take […]

After having a great interview with All That Remains vocalist Phil Labonte a couple of days ago and discovering him to be a super nice dude, and a superb live performer to boot,  it sucks that I then have to turn around write this less than complementary review. Granted, I knew how I felt about […]

CA’s brutal tech-death metallers DECREPIT BIRTH will be embarking on a North American tour with THE FACELESS this Fall. Founding guitarist Matt Sotelo commented: “We are very happy to announce that DECREPIT BIRTH will be on tour with THE FACELESS beginning October 17th through November 22nd, throughout the US and Canada! Along with ABIGAIL WILLIAMS, […]

Hailing from Lawrence, Kansas, Samothrace (not sure if named after the Greek Island or a race of Emperor guitarists) have come out of nowhere with a stunning debut album that mixes the girth and throb of psychedelic sludge/Post Rock (think Minsk and Rwake) with the utterly rending, layered harmonies and beautiful yet wilting melody of […]

From the label that brought you the excellent Lo-Ruhamah comes another Christian black metal release, this way on the form of Puerto Rico’s Azmaveth (named after one of King David’s strongest warriors) and their symphonic, challenging take on black metal. Christian black metal from Puerto Rico? Yeah, I know, but amid the glut of symphonic […]

I have to admit, I’m starting to get a little cranky on this island. My balls are chaffed raw from the sand, I’m sick of eating fish and my mind is playing tricks on me: For example, yesterday I hallucinated that Anna Nicole Smith gave me a Cleveland Steamer.

Still, I’m allowed these CDs though, and this time it’s death metal albums that were simply overlooked, under-rated or under appreciated for whatever reasons. Sure everyone knows of the seminal Entombed, Morbid Angel, Suffocation, Deicide, Dismember, Pestilence, Carcass, Nile and other band’s albums that are widely known and considered certified classics within the death metal pantheons. But here are some albums that while nor genre defining or legendary, are certainly kickass albums in their own right, but for a plethora of circumstances, just seemed to slip under the radar when they were originally released. Some got renewed interest via re-issues, but for the most part, these albums simply did not get the audience they deserved.

Yeah, I knows there’s 11 albums here, but fuck you!-my island, my rules, Wilson!

Murder, Mayhem and Destruction are Back for More as Adult Swim’s Dethklok Star in Latest DVD Metalocalypse: Season Two Want Bonus Features? Go Forth and Find Them When Two-Disc DVD Comes out on December 2nd   The world’s biggest, most brutal, murderous and, well, incompetent heavy metal band will once again step into the spotlight […]

One of the worlds most popular and influential Heavy Metal bands – Judas Priest are set to rock the UK to it’s very core when they bring their ‘Priest Feast’ tour to play 7 arena dates in February 2009 with support from special guests – Thrash Metal veterans Megadeth and Testament.   Since 1974, Judas […]

BLOODBATH have posted the third and latest track from their forthcoming full length The Fathomless Mastery on the bands myspace page  The new studio album arrives on October 28th 2008 on Peaceville Records.  With Opeth’s Mikael Åkerfeldt on vocal duties and the arrival of Per ‘Sodomizer’ Eriksson (ex-21 Lucifers) on guitar, joining Katatonia’s Anders Nyström […]

What’s this? A hefty, experimental metal band from France on Prosthetic Records? Is it the new Gojira? Nope, but close. Originally released on Dental Records in 2007, it appears Prosthetic Records has snapped up this Alsace band’s debut in order to whet everyone’s appetite for the upcoming The Way of All Flesh, and good thing […]