So, in light of Earache recently re-releasing the hugely hyped yet stunningly average debut, Count Your Blessings, from this suddenly popular Yorkshire men, Earache have re-issued the debut EP (both originally released on 30 Days of Night and Visible Music respectively) that got the band signed to Earache in the first place. Yup, I smell […]
When it comes to straight-up death metal, few bands can amuse me. Even when a death metal record strikes me, it surely isn’t because it’s setting the world on fire, but mainly because there’s a little flavor that holds my interest. Poland’s Hate did that for me last year. Norway’s Blood Red Throne hasn’t rattled […]
A horse that has been consistently flagged is how common place the amount of just out of high school/college males bulging with excess testosterone can continue making incomprehensible band logos, oddball names, flashy merch and their by now standardized racket branded as ‘Deathcore,’ i.e. the amalgamation of death metal and metalcore (although sceptics and those […]
Though most may take a look at the band moniker, album title and label and pass this off as yet another Christian metalcore bands trying to clone As I Lay Dying, the fact is with former members of Between the Buried and Me and short lived rock act Terminal in their ranks, Oh, Sleeper are […]
In a nutshell, French newcomers ART 238 really, really like The Berzerker, as their form of industrialized, heavily programmed death metal is a virtual clone of the now maskless Aussies, but aren’t quite up to that standard yet. Churning, down tuned guitars mix with blast beat heavy, (programmed?) robotic drums, deep growls, frenzied shrieks and […]
Despite the promising orchestral, hardcore choir of intro “Enfermeria, Part III: The Recovery”, the second full length effort from political SoCal hardcore stalwarts Underminded is only a slightly above average contemporary hardcore effort. Lying somewhere between the likes of Passion and Dead Hearts as far as emotional, metallic yet melodic hardcore, but with some angular […]
I have read some belittling reviews about this bands works and I was very hesitant to listen to their stuff even though it sounded up my alley. Lucky for me, Digital sent their new CD to my door. “The Dark Bastard of the Finnish Goth Scene.” That’s what Sinamore called themselves on their myspace page. […]
Yet another review of a release that’s a little out of my league of expertise, Venice, Italy’s Ashent play a slightly thrashy form of progressive metal, reminding me (and my ignorance of the genre) of a heavier Dream Theater or Symphony X, though I wouldn’t tag them as clones, but take that for what you […]
Mighty New Mexico thrasher’s Ultimatum return with their first album in 6 years titled Into The Pit. Not only is this album a long time coming, it also very well may be the best music Ultimatum has ever produced in their 14 year existence. Best described as a blend of Classic and Thrash Metal, Ultimatum’s […]
After the rather disappointing follow up to the excellent Mondo Medicale, Impaled, maybe driven by The County Medical Examiners stealing their Carcass worshipping thunder earlier this year with Olidous Operettas, have returned with a sickening yet masterfully melodic vengeance on their Willowtip debut. Despite a slightly underwhelming production, the 11 tracks that comprise Impaled’s newest […]
Well here’s a release that I was not sure I should review, considering this is a metal site, but I also remember that a lot of metal fans are Clann Zu fans, so this solo project from Clann Zu’s Irish half, Declan De Barra, might be of interest. Plus it’s technically on a metal label, […]
The fact this was one of Metal Blade’s recent ‘digital releases’ sort of tells you the labels priority. And I can’t blame them, as Germany’s Machinemade God are a completely by the numbers modern metalcore band that are virtually indistinguishable from Metal Blade’s other German metal core band, Neaera (also digitally released) as well Germany’s […]
I must say I’m loving every minute of this thrash “revival” we’ve been seeing these days. Above and beyond any other form of metal, I’m a thrasher through and through. I’ve spent countless hours wearing thin my copies of Testament, Metallica, Kreator, and Megadeth albums. Most of these older (original) thrash bands have moved away […]
First off, if you haven’t not checked out Trap Them’s debut LP, Sleepwell Deconstructor, released earlier this year on Trash Art ! go do so now. The band, featuring former and current members of Backstabbers Inc. and December Wolves deliver Nasum styled grindcore meets Entombed death ‘n’ roll meets Converge and Pig Destroyer modern aggro […]
When the staff here at Digital metal was asked who wanted to review the new Immolation there we no immediate takers, which surprised me. I offered to review it even though I’m not considered a death metal guy, I had already bought my own copy. I said I was a fan and had the first […]
Though they were never one of my favorite bands, I grew up listening to M.O.D. in the 1980s, and I got a good chuckle out of their last record, 2003’s The Rebel You Love to Hate. You see, that’s the M.O.D. that I like – the tongue in cheek, bordering on goofy band that made […]
Ho hum, here’s some straight edge, ankle bearing, angry at the world, every one who isn’t straight edge sucks, hardcore. It’s typically beefy and crunchy and will appease the hoodie wearing masses who enjoy XBishopX, XRepresentX and other XclichedX straight edge hardcore bands. Opening with the now over used “Unleash Hell” sample from Gladiator (there […]
Quickly climbing the ladder as one of the day’s top dark metal labels, Finland’s Firebox has been dishing out quality releases for the past few years. A good percentage of today’s depressive material is from this particular label and honestly along with Candlelight, they seem to be the two top contestants at the moment. So, […]
With only a handful of artists to their roster (3 to be exact), Portugal’s fresh little label Major Label Industries has been delivering the goods in their first year of existence. Last year’s post-doom newcomers Process of Guilt yielded a healthy slab of death doom with loads of atmosphere and enough sparkle to keep this […]
While far from the worst in the recent slew of gimmick laden tech grind death core, Germany’s War From A Harlot’s Mouth is still a fairly run of the mill foray into screaming growling, breakdown heavy pseudo grindcore/death metal played by angry kids with guitars and a love for silly song names. Despite injecting some […]
While no instrumental metal expert or aficionado, I really enjoyed my first exposure to Virginia’s oddly named Souvenir’s Young America. Though superficially they play an expected form of lush, instrumental post rock a la Tides or Pelican, the very subtle injections of an almost Ennio Morricone-like Old Western undercurrent make the affair sound like a […]
A re-release of sorts, The Final Sign of Evil is a re-recorded version of Sodom’s debut EP, In the Sign of Evil, with the line-up of that album intact (Tom Angelripper on vox/bass, Grave Violator on guitars, and Chris Witchhunter on drums), and seven bonus tracks that were written in that time period, but never […]
Switzerland’s Sybreed received mixed reviews for their 2004 release Slave Design. One might say, deservingly so as on the outside their mix of cybernetics and flesh is nothing new to fans of Fear Factory, Strapping Young Lad and the likes. However, to this reviewer, it was a bit more than that and labelling the band […]
Since they reformed in 2004, Exodus has been releasing quality album after quality album. Tempo of the Damned is one of the best “comeback” albums I’ve ever heard – a relentless assault on the ears that thrashes intensely and takes no prisoners. I had my doubts about follow-up album Shovel Headed Kill Machine, but it […]
This is Sear Bliss’ sixth full-length album and first on Candlelight. Extreme black metal with a classical flair. Once again produced by Viktor Scheer, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. This time Viktor has gotten a deeper richer sound with more bottom end and the drums are much more resonant. The horns truly stand […]