Author Archive

So, album number four from Vancouver’s heavy metal stalwarts has some major changes from 2007s Fire up the Blades; a change in label from Roadrunner to Century Mediocre, the departure of ‘harsh’ vocalist Jamie Hooper, bassist Nick Cates and Saxon fighting drummer Alexei Rodriguez, a change from Joey Jordison (Slipknot) to a Jack Endino (High […]

I rather enjoyed the 2005 self released second album, Rebirth from these Cali deathcore mongers who have/had strong ties to All Shall Perish. However, a lack of productivity since the bands 2001 debut, the immense growth of the genre and numerous line up changes, put the band behind the eight ball as far as the […]

One of the world’s most renowned and successful labels in the field of heavy music, Century Media Records, proudly announces a worldwide cooperation with InsideOutMusic & SuperballMusic, two prominent labels featuring the finest classic acts and hottest newcomers in progressive rock/metal, post-rock and alternative. Both labels will now be distributed worldwide by EMI Music and […]

Swedish black metallers DARK FUNERAL, the Ineffable Kings of Darkness, have unveiled the final tracklisting for their long-anticipated upcoming new full-length Angelus Exuro Pro Eternus, scheduled for release November 10th in the US via Regain Records. The nine-track masterpiece was recorded at Abyss Studios in Grangärde, Sweden with famed engineer and legendary producer Peter Tägtgren […]

Here’s a solid little self released, 11 track ‘album’ (eight 2008 demo tracks and three 2009 demo tracks) from this New York act who should appeal to fans of All Shall Perish, Within the Ruins, Antagony, Born of Osiris, The Faceless and such; that’s to say a form of polarizing modern metal that’s part technical […]

Call me jaded, but after the far blacker presentation and delivery of 2007s impressive Nocturnal, I just wasn’t that excited for the bands fourth effort, especially after seeing the cover art and knowing longtime guitarist John Kempainen was out of the fold (even if replaced by ex-Arsis guitarist Ryan Knight). Something about Nocturnal seemed blacker […]

After finishing up a very successful run on this summer’s Rockstar Mayhem Festival tour, death-metal icons CANNIBAL CORPSE are now gearing up to hit the road again as a part of this fall’s Decimation of the Nation 2 Tour featuring CANNIBAL CORPSE as main support to Hatebreed. Supporting CANNIBAL CORPSE and Hatebreed on this month […]

Boston Massachusetts metalers THE RED CHORD are gearing up for the release of their fourth full length album (third for Metal Blade) titled Fed Through the Teeth Machine, due out on October 27th in the US. THE RED CHORD already has dates lined up with labelmates and interplanetary gods GWAR along with labelmates Job for […]

HELLBASTARD formed in the UK in 1984 playing non-compromising crossover, mixing the ferocity of punk with the crunch and chops of metal, and bearing socially-conscious lyrics. HELLBASTARD released the Natural Order record on Earache in 1990 and released several demos, compilation tracks and remix collections.  After breaking up in 1993, HELLBASTARD reformed in 2008 with […]

Brooklyn, NY heavy psych rock band NAAM has completed work on its debut album.  The fast-risingbuzz band will drop the self-titled Naam on October 20, 2009 via NYC’s Tee Pee Records.     A sneak peek at what NAAM‘s debut holds in store is available now as the new song “Skyling Slip” can be heard as part […]

With 2007s Victory Songs, Ensiferum laid to rest any worries if Norther’s Petri Lindross could replace Jari Mäenpää who left to form Wintersun. From Afar not only cements Lindross as a competent replacement with serviceable blackened rasps and guitar playing, it also shows that new keyboardist (and female vocalist) Emmi Silvennoinen is a fantastic addition […]

Though released last year, Punishment 18 Records only just sent me this, and considering Italian metal has been pretty solid in 2009 (Destrage, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Disharmonia Mundi, Malfeitor, Fomento), I thought this decent release deserved some press. I’ll tell you right now, Lunarsea’s second album is doing nothing remotely original in the melodic death metal […]

First off, I have to admit being puzzled as to why Century Media would not want to release one of the decades most eagerly anticipated reunion albums in the US (though its really Van Drunen reuniting with founding member drummer Rob Bagchus than a full reunion), leaving it up to the perfectly suited Ibex Moon […]

Finnish Viking metal warriors ENSIFERUM recently shot a video for the song “From Afar,” the title track off their forth coming new full-length, scheduled for release on September 8th in the US! View the stunning new video here: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=451309518&blogId=508701426 In related news, ENSIFERUM will embark on a full North American headlining tour this November. Support […]

After reading the interview Scott Alisoglu conducted with this Michigan melodic death metal act, I decided to check out the band’s second, aquatic themed album. After all they are on the fine Bombworks Records and guitarist Briant Daniel was in Summer Dying, one of the US’s most underrated and criminally unsigned melodic death metal acts […]

First off, congrats to A Hill to Die Upon for the year’s best album cover- a commissioned painting from renowned Serbian artist, Bogdan . Hailing from the depths of Illinois, A Hill to Die Upon is a fresh new black/death metal act started by the Cook brothers (Adam-guitars/vocals, Michael-Drums), and for a band that’s only […]

After a successful sojourn of plundering ‘n’ pillaging across the US and Canada earlier this spring, Napalm recording artists ALESTORM will once again set sail for high adventure as part of this year’s HEATHENFEST AMERICA tour. Alongside Belphegor, Eluveitie, Vreid, and Kivimetsan Druidi, ALESTORM will bring their “True Scottih Pirate Metal” to stages across the […]

Hailing from the craggy depths of New Jersey, Helcaraxë are one of the resurgent US bands plying Viking inspired forms of metal (Oakhelm, Hammer Horde, etc) and is one of US metal very best kept secrets. After their impressive debut, Triumph and Revenge, the trio has tightened up their form of gruff, dense and loose […]

Highly anticipated among true thrash metal fans, NOCTURNAL FEAR’s fourth full-length album, Metal Of Honor, will be officially released worldwide by MORIBUND RECORDS on November 3rd. Reviewers with access to advance tracks claim this offering to be “more aggressive, more pissed-off, and more original than any thrash metal relesase in many years.” The steadfast duo […]

Brooklyn, NY’s own A STORM OF LIGHT will unleash their new full-length, Forgive Us Our Trespasses on September 22nd via Neurot Recordings. The follow-up to the band’s critically acclaimed debut, And We Wept The Black Ocean Within, finds its power through a dense bringing together of melodies, moods and textures, ensuring that while things are […]

Southern California’s heavy fuzz rock legends FU MANCHU have completed work on their eleventh full length album. The electrifying group will drop Signs of Infinite Power on October 20, 2009 via Century Media Records. Originally formed in 1985 as a Black Flag-influenced hardcore punk band called Virulence, FU MANCHU has since become one of hard […]

LA-based psychedelic doom metal collective ANCESTORS have completed work on their highly anticipated sophomore album. Entitled Of Sound Mind, the record will drop on October 6, 2009 via NYC’s Tee Pee Records. A taste of what Of Sound Mind holds in store can be sampled now as the new ANCESTORS song “Bounty of Age” premieres […]

INSOMNIUM have completed work on “Down With the Sun” their new video from the band’s upcoming fourth album Across the Dark. The video, now available on Candlelight USA’s Myspace page, was filmed in high-definition and captures the band in a live soundstage setting. It is the first opportunity for fans to see and hear the […]

Metal Maniacs Magazine returns to a new online format after closing the doors to its print operation in February 2009. Resurrected by the owner of Metalhit.com, with a site developed by Reh3 Design (www.reh3.com / www.mouthforwar.net), the new Metal Maniacs features regularly updated content and features from the latest in underground metal. The site boasts […]

Like a parent seeing a child grow, I’ve enjoyed watching Scotland’s Man Must Die blossom over the last 6 years. From their impressive 2003 demo, through the killer debut album, …Start Killing (one of 2004s very best death metal albums), to being the first UK band signed to Relapse Records for The Inhuman Condition, to […]