First off, I’d like to congratulate Australia’s Brazen Bull (an ancient torture device) for the incredibly professional and well done promotional package they sent me; a folder complete with a professional, full digipack CD EP, glossy photo, a CDR with images, press sheet, logo as well as a very nice letter asking to be reviewed. In […]

Coming from Phoenix, Arizona we have Fracture Point with their independently released debut full-length, Inherit the Downfall. A four piece, Fracture Point blend elements of thrash, groove and semi-technical playing in a style that is distinctly American, drawing comparison to Lamb of God, Pantera and Meshuggah. What you won’t find on Inherit the Downfall is […]

I’m not usually one for stoner doom sludge rock or whatever, as A) I don’t partake of illegal drugs, and B) I’m usually too highly strung and easily distracted to let myself fall into a half sleep, red eyed stupor for any length of time. However with their self released debut (Tualatin Records is the […]

It is refreshing to find a band not only with strong convictions but also with a strong thirst for knowledge and a vast foundation of knowledge already learned from which to draw. Belfagor is a true devotee and a student of all religions, realizing all are connected in some fashion. He borrows imagery as he […]

Those out there into pre-93 black metal take note of Germany’s Anael, if you have not already for shame. Anael is a relatively new band that formed about a decade ago that I have been enjoying since 2003 but listening to them is like going back to 1991 and earlier. What first caught my attention […]

With 2008s watershed of superb, high profile releases, a number of lower profile but still excellent releases from the likes of Mitochondrion, Hour Of Penance, Celebrant, Battalion, Hackneyed and Virginia’s H.P Lovecraft obsessed act Cyaegha got somewhat overlooked. For a debut, Steps of Descent is a confident, under the radar entry into technical death metal, […]

It’s all in the name. Survival’s predecessor War, was bathed in a rugged, omnipotent glow, each piece striving forth like an all encompassing, battle scarred and therefore battle hardened piece of war machinery that was ready for yet another bout of onslaughts. Survival, as the title connotes, is fervently desperate, this time each piece zips […]

Here’s the kind of album that drives old metal heads nuts, but the kids seem to like; squawking, growling, breakdown filled chaotic deathcore, given the ‘grindcore ‘tag’ by the Hot Topic crowd. Ugh. It’s all here for the kids to enjoy; 14 short bursts with Oh so quirky song titles (“Urethra Franklin VS. Queef Latifah”, […]

Saratan are a modern thrash band hailing from Cracow, Poland, and The Cult of Vermin is their debut LP. I say “modern” because they don’t fit the mold of all the retro or “revival” bands that are coming out of the woodwork, and incorporate a fat dose of groove to their sound. While The Cult […]

This turned out to be quite a surprise. Completely unaware of this super group’s origins, I expecting something of a generic, tin can sounding black metal record. I was definitely wrong on that one. Upon opening the jewel case liner, two VERY notable names jumped out at me. Phil Anselmo being involved took me a […]

Keep reading if blistering death metal is your thing. You’ll probably dig this album. These guys kind of strike me as a mix between Skinless, Nasum and Witchery (though just a bit). They’re not technical, they’re not artsy, they’re not innovative. They’re just fast, heavy, ballsy and damn good. I did kind of expect something […]

Delivering the same intense yet singularly paced style of mechanically precise black/death metal akin to Krisiun, Zyklon or even Crionics and The Amenta (without the cyber elements), Belgium’s The Reckoning (formerly known as Infernal Legion) have delivered a solid second album, that won’t change the genre, but it’s a pummeling, relentless listen. Truthfully, I really […]

Ego is something Manowar had plenty of and they flaunted it with their own robust approach. Some may feel the bands downfall was when co-founder Ross “The Boss” Friedman left the fold. Since then he’s tried his hand in a few different groups and was a founder of the punk outfit The Dictators. Recently, Ross […]

Albums like this just make me shrug with indifference. On one hand I really can’t find much wrong with it. “The American Nightmare” certainly isn’t a weak album. But on the other hand, it does absolutely nothing for me. Dirtfedd give us a pretty diverse metalcore album here. Opener “Solute” is sort of a heavier […]

This Russian black metal outfit plays a no-frills, back to basics version of the genre. No choirs, no classical music, no synths or keys, no acoustic interludes or Viking themes or mouth harps or crackly atmospheric ambience. Just straight up buzzy black metal in the vein of early Gorgoroth. Compositions are strong, with melodies throughout […]

Surviving in the underground for over ten years, one-man entity Forest of Shadows has delivered some honest and passionate work. The sentimental value of Nicals Frohagen’s music is undeniable and this sophomore release continues his intimate path. Forest of Shadows is a dark/doom metal project. Fans of meaningful music such as Novembre, Swallow the Sun, […]

I went to see Dimmu Borgir a few years ago here in AZ. Before the show, my buddy and I went across the street to get some pre-show dinner at a popular cantina – the kind of place that’s usually a meet-market on the weekends for the image-conscious Scottsdale crowd. So imagine our surprise when […]

Was there really such a demand for the video from Lair of the Minotaur’s last album that it has to be put out on DVD with unrated and TV edit versions? Apparently so, so Southern Lord has put both versions of Gary Smithson’s video on a DVD along with behind the scenes interviews and footage, […]

From 1997’s Lupine Essence to this years upcoming Crógacht, Germany’s Suidakra have been one of metals most consistent yet underrated acts. Whether plying Celtic/folk ish black metal as their early releases, or melodic death metal like their middle set of releases the core of Arkadius and Marcel Schoenen have forged on under the Suidakra banner […]

“Infernal City Black Metal” is what Wastelander refers to themselves as. The Infernal City, I discovered through the albums press sheet, is Lansing Michigan. Now, I’m not much of a black metal fan, and really don’t know a whole lot about it, but I hear a strong early thrash influence, as well as a strong […]

“Kickass Bladerunner thrash!” the bands Myspace proclaims. By this I assume they mean mostly mid-paced grooving thrash, coupled with black metal-esque vocals and samples/effects that would remind one of the Bladerunner movie. Now, I’ve never seen the movie (yeah, yeah, sue me), so I can’t point out if they use samples of the flick or […]

By Any Means Necessary, despite the horrible name, are a very promising sounding and very young looking death/thrash band from Austin, Texas. Their first recorded output, this self-titled EP is three short tracks (all under 4 minutes) of pure aggression. If I had to compare, I’d say take early slayer, newer Kataklysm and Lamb of […]

Here we have a Swedish entry to the current wave of classic thrash that’s seemingly pouring out of every corner of the world. But where most of these bands are typically pretty young, Guillotine formed in 1995 under the name Holocaust by members of Nocturnal Rites. The experience shows on Blood Money, as all 11 […]

In a year that saw vast amounts of turmoil for many of us here at teethofthedivine as we made a transition from the previous site, one thing kept us going-the huge amount of great metal that was released. So here it is-the first annual teethofthedivine year end list! Feel free to comment and post your own year end picks, hurl insults at us or sell us Viagra!

In “The Art of Dying,” vocalist Joe Duplantier growls, ‘Take no possessions; I would rather travel light’ – but this thunderous, harrowing meditation on death is anything but. That track, arguably the core of The Way of All Flesh, begins with shamanic chants and tribal drumming before puncturing the veil to the other side – […]