Best of 2019
Drew's Top 10 Albums of 2019
What would be a good snapshot of the year in metal? Let's say that one day in the distant future,…
J. Andrew's Posts
Reviews
Album Review: OBSEQUIAE The Palms of Sorrowed Kings
For listeners looking for raw, melodic and imaginative black metal, Obsequiae's new album nothing short of a sublime sonic experience.
Reviews
Album Review: DESPISED ICON Purgatory
If you like brutal death metal and slam, but like the idea of adding tasteful breakdowns and squeals into the mix, you cannot go wrong with this album.
Reviews
Album Review: SAVAGE MASTER Myth, Magic and Steel
This isn't empty 80s nostalgia. Savage Master is the real deal for listeners looking for high-quality classic heavy metal (with a touch of thrash).
New Music Song Premiere
DEVIL TO PAY Smash Some Asteroid-Sized Riffs Into Your Face with "Heave Ho"
For those of you who like to blast Clutch and Torche, but like a bit of Soundgarden and Tad-style grunge in the mix, this is the band for you.
Reviews
Album Review: CEREBRAL ROT Odious Descent Into Decay
Cerebral Rot has arrived, and they're here to bring dominating riffs, drums and growls to smash the death metal world into the swamp.
Reviews
Album Review: KILLSWITCH ENGAGE Atonement
The metalcore heroes return with their first record on Metal Blade records, cutting through another record packed with anthemic screams and riffs.
New Music Song Premiere
HEART OF JORDAN's Crushing New Track Will Leave You With "Deaf Ears"
Check out the new track from Heart of Jordan, the metalcore act out to deliver crushing grooves and solid hooks to the masses.
Reviews
Album Review: ABBATH Outstrider
Abbath's second album is a big, bold and very fun listen. It carries on the legacy of Abbath's past while applying a classic heavy metal sheen to it all.
Reviews
Album Review: LUNAR SHADOW The Smokeless Fires
The Smokeless Fires should be pleasing for fans of neo-trad metal, or anyone who wants to hear what Reroute to Remain would sound like with clean vocals.
Reviews
Quick Review: VIRCOLAC Masque
If you want a snapshot of an up-and-coming death metal band finding its footing, Vircolac's "Masque" is a great place to look.
Reviews
Album Review: OSSUARIUM Living Tomb
Portland's Ossuarium has a bright (er…dark?) future ahead of it, as shown by their fantastic debut album.
Reviews
Album Review: DER ROTE MILAN Moritat
Der Rote Milan: bold, fresh and ferocious. This German black metal band is unafraid to try new things and take their sound (and the listener) along for the ride.
Best of 2018
Drew's Top 15 Albums of 2018
It’s been a busy year for good metal bands making good records and playing good shows. You’ll see 15 of…
Reviews
Album Review: CORPSESSED Impetus of Death
In the overcrowded subway car that is death metal in 2018, Corpsessed is the band you don't mind being shoved…
New Music Underground Pitch
HEART OF JORDAN Are Poised to Gain a "Throne Alone"
Heart of Jordan takes their metalcore influences and layers on irresistibly catchy choruses to make for one of the most promising unsigned releases of 2018.
Reviews
CD Review: DEICIDE Overtures of Blasphemy
Deicide continues down the strong and brutal path of catchy riffs, crushing grooves and spewing unholy bile on their latest offering.
Reviews
Album Review: JESUS PIECE Only Self
There's a good reason for the buzz around Jesus Piece. This is some seriously crushing hardcore.
Reviews
Album Review: VERMILIA Kätkyt
Vermilia blends clean and harsh vocals with excellent riffs to create a truly captivating and dramatic listen on "Kätkyt." An extremely impressive debut outing for an unsigned and as-yet unknown artist from Finland.
Reviews
Album Review: RITUAL NECROMANCY Disinterred Horror
You really can't go wrong with death metal like this. I mean, that is unless you're one of those types…
Reviews
Album Review: DEPRAVITY - Evil Upheaval
Australia's Depravity prides themselves on crafting well-produced, controlled chaos on their debut album, "Evil Upheaval."
Reviews
Album Review: AURA NOIR - Aura Noire
Bands like Aura Noir serve an important purpose in the world of extreme metal: keeping thrash weird. These sons of Hades may have carved out a winding path here, but it's still the beautiful, darkest path.
Reviews
Album Review: VILKACIS - Beyond the Mortal Gate
Beyond the Mortal Gate is a great album for black metal devotees eager to hear the sound taken to new and interesting places, but who want to carry some familiar implements along the way.