For some reason, Fates Warning is one of those bands that I've always wanted to like, but I never really got into 'em. I've checked out a number of their albums over the years (I still have "No Exit", I just never really listen to it), but nothing ever hooked me in. Well, just a few days ago, Metal Blade Records released this expanded reissue of "Parallels", the band's sixth full […]

I believe "Grim Rhythm" (released by Hellfish Family) is the first proper release from Milwaukee, WI's Expire (following their demo), and it offers up six brief tracks of straight up metallic hardcore in less than 10 minutes. This is another one of those bands that really hits the mark by pretty much sticking to the tried and true approach, and the recording's got a good amount of ruggedn […]

Young Adults is another great band from Allston, MA whose five-song demo immediately grabbed my attention, even if it is once more outside the realm of my usual listening habits. I'm not sure what you'd call this style, or that such questions really matter, but as a starting point I'd say it's a fusion of slightly new wave-ish punk, indie rock, and "shoegaze". There are a good amount of […]

Finally – after five years of demos, EP's, and compilation appearances – we have a full-length album from Dutch hardcore act Human Demise (released by WTF Records)! I've been a big fan of this band ever since I heard "Whitechapel Demise" back in 2005, and they're still staying true to that basic formula of crushing, no-frills metallic hardcore that's heavily influenced by Inte […]

Matt Dalley of the Arbiter Online conducted an interview David Ellefson on March 2 before the Megadeth's concert at the Knitting Factory in Boise, Idaho. AO: "Megadeth took no prisoners as the heavy metal pioneers battered the eardrums of the Knitting Factory’s sold out crowd Tuesday. The band proved its relevance and the timelessness of its songs by slaying through one of the its most critically […]

This quick four-song demo is the debut outing from Columbus, OH's Restless (I don't think any cover art exists, hence I'm just using a band photo for this post). When the band wrote me about checking out this material, I was told they'd been described as "epic party hardcore", which immediately turned me off and had me assuming I'd hate this. Thankfully calling this "epic party hardc […]

Myrmidon (Flingco Sound, 2009) is haunted: not just by phantasmic EVP recordings of gurgled voices, and melodies that twist and float like bilious ectoplasm, but by grief and aggrievement. The song titles are largely associated with life's origins ("Genital," "Girl"), but the album name and much of the music connote destruction. Thrash riffs and throbbing bass give way to moans and stretches of co […]

2010 marks the 20th anniversary of Integrity's first proper release, the now infamous "In Contrast of Sin" 7", and in honor of the occasion, Organized Crime Records has reissued this classic on colored vinyl. I suck at keeping up with things, so I actually had no idea this reissue was taking place until a week or so before I was told to expect copies in the mail. Needless to say I wa […]

It's strange that a Canadian label is buttressing San Francisco's metal scene, but that's what Profound Lore does. Hammers of Misfortune, Ludicra, Amber Asylum, Worm Ouroboros, and Saros (who have this site's current shirt of the week) share a good number of members, and they're all on Profound Lore's roster. Right now the label is running a Bay Area special where the latest CD's by Ludicra, Amb […]

"As Above/So Below" is the latest from New Zealand-born (but now Australia-based) Akaname. About two years ago when I wrote about their debut EP, "Filthlicker", I mentioned that their vocalist had left and they were continuing as an instrumental act. This limited edition self-released EP kicks out three relatively quick songs in just about 13 minutes to demonstrate where the band […]