I really wanted to like Margin of Error’s second self-released effort a little more, as it mixes deathcore with a sort of electronica/industrial sort of The Berzerker sheen, but in the end, the fusing of the two elements isn’t quite as impressive as it could have been. With a thick heavy production that has a […]

I have a vague recollection of enjoying the shoe-gaze influenced black metal debut, Renihilation, of this New York act,  but I have to admit that after it was reviewed by my TOTD-colleague Jordan Itkowitz, I sort of forgot about about it. It simply melded into the many of so called hipster black metal releases that […]

It wasn’t until 2000’s Destroy the Opposition that I discovered Dying Fetus, who were being touted as the heirs apparent to the then-on-hiatus Suffocation. Based on Destroy the Opposition and Killing on Adrenaline, which I picked  up shortly after hearing Destroy the Opposition, those claims were certainly founded at the time. But for those that […]

Regarded as Dying Fetus‘s first ‘real’ release, though not their first album, Infatuation with Malevolence was originally released in 1995 on Wild Rags Records and it compiled two demos: 1993’s Bathe In Entrails and 1994’s Infatuation with Malevolence. Serving as an erstwhile precursor to the bands full-length debut album, 1996’s Purification Through Violence, Infatuation with […]

Still one of my very favorite Bargain Bin finds, this duo of CDs was found at a CD Warehouse in Southeast Missouri after literally hours of perusal. I had never heard of the band, but assumed by the cover, logo, album titles and labels that this was worth a look. And thanks to the old listening station, was able to preview both CDs, and I was sold after preview of mere seconds of each.

There are a few bands that come to mind when you simply mention a genre. Mention East Coast death metal and folks will more often than not say Suffocation or Dying Fetus. Mention Floridian death metal and Obituary, Cannibal Corpse or Morbid Angel will be the first bands to pop out of most people’s mouths. […]

CRITICALLY REVERED NORTH CAROLINA BAND ANNOUNCES NORTH AMERICAN HEADLINING TOUR Globally celebrated progressive rock / cutting-edge metal innovators BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME (aka BTBAM) will release its new album The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues on April 12, 2011 via Metal Blade Records. The three-song strong, 30 minute tour de force was recorded at Canada’s Metalworks […]

I had this Canadian death metal outfit’s monstrous self-released debut album, Archaeaeon, recommended by the fine readers of this very site, but I had no idea that they were working on a second album… let alone on the mighty Profound Lore Records where they slither along nicely next to the likes of Portal, Vasaeleth and […]

The title, artwork and full tracklisting of the first part of a groundbreaking BLUT AUS NORD trilogy are finally revealed. Recorded, mixed & mastered at Earthsound Studio, 777 – Sect(s) represents BLUT AUS NORD’s most nightmarish voyage yet . The amazing artwork is courtesy of gifted Chilean artist Daniel Valencia from Fenomeno Design and can […]

While labels like Deathwish Inc, Bridge 9, Epitaph and Victory are often considered the preeminent contemporary hardcore labels, the fact remains that Halo of Flies actually has one of hardcore’s very best bands tucked away on their label;  Milwaukee’s DIY act, Protestant. Having released numerous vinyl, splits and 7” records I was happy to see […]

NEXT CHAPTER IN AWARD-WINNING BAND’s STORIED CAREER SET TO UNFOLD Celebrated progressive rock / cutting-edge metal band BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME (also BTBAM) has inked a worldwide recording deal with Metal Blade Records. The award-winning North Carolina quintet will kick off the partnership with the April release of its new album The Parallax: Hypersleep […]

As most of you know, I’m a sucker for old school, Stockholm-styled Swedish death metal. And with the recent resurgence of the genre, I’ve very much enjoyed nostalgic acts like Axis Powers, Interment, Entrails, Fatalist, Brutally Deceased, Morbider and Evocation bringing back the glory. Not forgetting the slew of re-issues of previously undiscovered, obscure or […]

GOD DETHRONED calls it quits! Might Dutch Death Metal warriors GOD DETHRONED have announced to call it quits by the end of this year. Read the statement of GOD DETHRONED mainman Henri Sattler: “For a Nihilist, nothing is at least something. 2011 is GOD DETHRONED’s final year in existence. We could have spent another year […]

(Montreal, QC) – Canada’s RAZOR are announcing their first show in Montreal in over five years at Foufounes Electriques on Friday April 29th, 2011. Playing only a few shows a year they are also set to headline the 2011 ‘True Thrash Festival’ in Osaka, Japan on February 11 and the show in Montreal will be […]

Glendale, AZ extreme metal band JOB FOR A COWBOY have entered Florida’s Audio Hammer Studios with producer Jason Suecof to record an EP of all new material. The as-yet-untitled EP will feature the first new music from the band since 2009’s Ruination LP which landed at #42 on the Billboard Top 200 chart. A spring […]

Willowtip is very pleased to announce the signing of Dallas’ BARING TEETH. Their debut album, Atrophy, will be released in early-Summer 2011. The band comments, “We are thrilled to be working with Willowtip. We have been fans of the label for years and are excited to be part of such a great lineup of bands.” […]

Despite having plied their brand of Eastern European folk metal since 1995, I’m still relatively unfamiliar with Latvia’s Skyforger, having only heard the Paragon Records 2006 re-issue of their 1998 debut, Kauja Pie Saules (The Battle of Saule). I’ve missed the three albums and a compilation that have been released since 1998. When hearing the […]

Melodic death metal tyrants AMON AMARTH are proud to announce their 2011 U.S. headlining tour. Simply dubbed “An Evening With AMON AMARTH,” this very special trek will find the band touring without support and instead performing two separate sets each night! One set will feature upcoming album Surtur Rising in its entirety. The Viking-inspired festivities […]

It appears Eastern Europe is experiencing a resurgence in bands playing old school Swedish death metal. Led by the Czech Republic’s Morbider (who’s 2009 CD When Darkness Returns, I highly recommend, especially if you enjoyed Entrails‘ effort last year) and the debut from Lavadome Records, Brutally Deceased’s Dead Lover’s Guide. Swedish death metal aficionados will […]

Flourishing has begun recording its debut full-length album, the follow-up to 2010’s acclaimed A Momentary Sense of the Immediate World EP. With the help of engineer Ryan Jones (Star Fucking Hipsters, Seasick, Mutilation Rites), the band has transformed its Brooklyn rehearsal space into a studio and is now midway through the tracking process. Mastering will […]

Hold on to your asses, it looks like we have two related, regular blogs in a row! A weekly one no less! Could we be onto something here or am I simply feeling the after effects of a two week meth-binge and shopping spree? Who knows? Stay tuned…

Here’s a release I saw on numerous ‘2010 year end’-lists, but I never got around to listen to it in a timely fashion myself and thus, I couldn’t determine if it should be a best of 2010 ‘best of’ contender. But with a 2011 US release date via The Anja Offensive, I can now use […]

Combining modern hard rock and metal with powerful vocals, huge driving guitars, and a massive rhythm section, DEAD OF NIGHT is poised to destroy the current stale world of rock. With a strong focus on the melodic elements of the 80s, the dark harmonies of the 90s and a new modern twist, they have teamed up to deliver […]

Other than Metallica, I wasn’t really that much into the Bay Area thrash of the late ’80s, preferring the European likes of Sabbat, Xentrix and Kreator and the more extreme sounds of Slayer. As the genre has made a denim clad comeback, albeit now somewhat over saturated, I’m slightly surprised that Arizona’s Hemoptysis hasn’t garnered […]

Progressive acoustic instrumental band Concentric returns with their second full length and concept album, entitled V.  Improving on the sound of their previous record Immeasurable, Concentric presents their interpretation of the 5 stages of grief:  Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance through a complex tapestry of dense melody provided by both conventional and atypical instruments.  […]