Back out dad’s El Camino, move the paint cans and grab a bunch of extension cords, it’s time to rock! Eighteen Wheels Burning are here to piss off the neighbors on a Tuesday night with their brand of loose, raw, aggressive Rock And Roll. It’s equal parts Garage Rock & Stoner Rock with hints of […]

Melodic Hard Rock certainly has its own underground niche. Bands like Def Leppard, Whitesnake, Firehouse and Europe may not command the sales figures or radio airplay they once did, but their influence resonates in the music of underground bands/studio projects across the globe; bands that still use overdriven guitars, bands that still stack their chorus […]

The band Sinner dates back some 27 years and has a now 17 album discography. Yet, to many, Mat Sinner (aka Matthias Lasch) is known more as the bassist for Primal Fear. That’s too bad, actually; because one look at this band’s catalog and you’ll find many a Heavy Metal gem. Crash & Burn, the […]

The UK is known for loads of metallic Doom and Gloom. One could chalk it up to the weather, which I’ve heard is not too pleasant a lot of the time. I’ll choose, however, to chalk it up to sheer musical affluence and superiority. At any rate, The Drowning are here to carry on the grand traditions of their dark and dreary forefathers. I had the privilege of conversing with lead singer James Moore and lo, here is the resulting exchange.

Scott “Wino” Weinrich needs absolutely no introduction to Metal fans. Even if you’re not a fan of any of his bands (The Obsessed, Spirit Caravan, The Hidden Hand, Saint Vitus) then you’ve surely at least heard his name mentioned in reverence. His name is synonymous with raw, ugly American Stoner/Doom Metal. His guitar style and […]

In this, their 30th year since the self-titled debut, Saxon releases album number 27 Into The Labyrinth. Now, when a band lasts this long there are always hills and valleys in the discography; some inspired and some less so. After spinning this CD a few times now, I am happy to report that Into The […]

Crematory has been turning out their musical wares since 1991, in one incarnation or another. They were a little more raw in the early days, adding subtle hints of Electronica and cranking up the Goth a bit on the way. Their 2008 offering Pray is a full on Gothic Death Metal assault complete with the […]

Elder play a form of heavy, grooved out Sludge/Doom Metal with hints of Stoner/Space Rock sprinkled in for good measure. The tones are vintage and dry, which gives it a timeless sort of vibe. I’m tempted to throw in the typical Black Sabbath references here, but honestly, it’s more of a subtle influence than an […]

The album cover alone told me what to expect; Gothic influenced Metal with a dramatic/opera styled delivery. These types of albums are difficult to pull off convincingly. Ayin Alpeh I certainly give it a shot, though. As I said, imagine Gothic Metal with a flair for the dramatic stage. One thing that is immediately noticeable […]

Joe Lynn Turner is obviously best known for his stint in Rainbow singing such radio friendly hits as “I Surrender”, “Street Of Dreams” and “Stone Cold”. He’s honestly a great singer and he’s made a solid career singing the songs he’s known for long after the band he sang them in dissipated. He gets tapped […]

Remember when Marylin Manson covered “This Is Halloween” from The Nightmare Before Christmas? Ok, blend that with the theme from The Munsters and you can envision every song from Creature Feature’s The Greatest Show Unearthed. I was tempted to end my review there. That is truly the best way to describe this album. The songs […]

Angra vocalist Edu Falschi and bassist Felipe Andreoli have made the most of their main band’s hiatus and formed Almah. Not straying from their Power Metal roots, in fact heading a little deeper into the Prog Metal sound, Almah puts forth some impressive musicianship and honest Power Metal spirit. “Birds Of Prey” kicks things off […]

The UK certainly has its share of melancholy, Doom laden bands. The Peaceville Three notwithstanding, there is a certain musical atmosphere amongst English bands in this genre. They tend to have a subtle romantic undertone coupled with growled, Death Metal vocal delivery and an overall sad, despair ridden vibe without sounding violent. The Drowning is […]

John Ricci and company break an eight year silence with the release of Thrash, Speed, Burn. Anyone who’s heard Exciter knows what to expect (as if the title of the album didn’t give it away) and the boys do not disappoint here. Decidedly old school, full of venom, energy and ready to teach the world […]

Laaz Rockit has been around a lot of years. In spite of this fact, though, I have never listened to them. Now, after hearing their latest offering Left For Dead, I am going to make it a point to dig into the catalog as this is some good quality Metal. I didn’t know what to […]

Many lovers of Metal music tend to venture into the realm of Prog Rock from time to time. Take into consideration the popularity of bands like Spock’s Beard, Enchant and The Flower Kings among certain Metal fans (usually those into the more Progressive side of Metal) and this is easy to see. Lucky for these […]

For well over 20 years now, Hirax has been feeding its rabid cult following heaping, fiery helpings of tried and true Thrash Metal. Now the Hirax live experience has been documented for the rest of the world to see with Thrash And Destroy, a live DVD/CD weighed down with more of the Metal you crave. […]

Retroactive Records is getting a lot of mileage out of master guitarist Bill Menchen. What with Titanic and The Seventh Power releases already in circulation, both of which are headed up by Menchen, we are now treated to a new project under his own name. As stated, Bill Menchen is a fantastic guitarist and Classic […]

Any album more than two years in the making has the daunting task of living up to the expectations of those fans who are eagerly awaiting it. For California thrashers Once Dead, this will be no easy task. The lineup alone, with former/current members of cult icons Hirax and Vengeance Rising, is enough to raise […]

Scotland’s Nazareth is certainly entrenched deeply into the Classic Rock fans’ collective psyche with their hits “Hair Of The Dog” and “Love Hurts”. Simply say the name and scores of grizzled, bearded, half-drunk minions will raise their glasses and scream “Now you’re messin’ with a…a son-of-a-bitch!!!” in less than a nanosecond. The album those songs […]

After a handful of demos and a 7″ release, The Devil’s Blood has finally issued its first proper CD release in the form of the 5-track EP Come, Reap. Coupling Bible verses, occult imagery and tales of substance abuse, sex and death, The Devil’s Blood is something of a unique animal. Musically, without putting too […]

Logging in well over 20 years, and innumerable miles, in Thrash Metal, California’s Hirax is no stranger to fans of the underground. Led by its tenacious and ferocious lead singer Katon W. DePena, Hirax continues to release great music and trek across the planet delivering its own intense, aggressive brand of cult Thrash Metal. I managed to corner guitarists Glenn Rogers and Lance Harrison for a little Q & A session.

I had heard this band’s name several times in the last couple of years, but this is the first opportunity I’ve had to listen to them. I really had no idea what to expect, so I had no preconceived notions. Suffice it to say that after several spins, I am digging this one. What we […]

The UK’s My Silent Wake just released its third album of Folk-infused Doom Metal entitled A Garland Of Tears. Boasting a mature yet melancholic sound, the band has been making its presence known in the Metal underground over the last few years. I spoke with vocalist/guitarist/founder Ian Arkley (a fixture in the UK Metal scene since the late 1980’s) recently about the new album, here’s what he had to say.

A scant two years after forming, Vancouver Canada’s BISON B.C. released its second album (first for Metal Blade) entitled Quiet Earth on September 30. Two years…two albums…not to mention the countless shows all over Canada & the USA. To say these guys are “busy” just doesn’t cut it. This constant motion has paid off, as it turns out, because Quiet Earth is one of the best albums I’ve heard all year. I was able to track down guitarist/vocalist/anti-hipster Dan And to answer a few questions for me.