Nuclear Blast

HammerFall : Infected

by Derric Miller Staff Writer Weird. To hear the opening track “Patient Zero” on HammerFall’s new release, Infected, is just plain weird. Known for being one of the most galloping and triumphant composers in all of Power Metal, this somewhat new direction will take longtime fans by [...]

Korpiklaani Ukon Wacka

by Trevor Portz Staff Writer It’s hard to believe that the members of Korpikaani have been gracing us with their brand of Finnish polka-metal for over 10 years now (counting the Shaman days, of course). Time flies when you’re wasted and having fun. Maintaining a release schedule reminiscent of [...]

Amorphis Magic and Mayhem – Tales from the Early Years

by Justin Gaines Staff Writer There has been a noticeable trend in recent years for established bands, especially when there is a significant lineup change, to rerecord their older material with the new lineup. In most cases, these rerecordings are totally unnecessary. The adage “if it ain’t [...]

Dimmu Borgir Abrahadabra

by Alex Barbieri Staff Writer Dimmu Borgir which means “dark cities” or “dark castles/fortresses” in Icelandic, Faroese and Old Norse, is about as mainstream as black metal gets. Back in 2007, they became the first black metal band in history to have a number one album in [...]

Accept Blood of the Nations

by Erik Tweedy Staff Writer Accept is back! After a 14-year hiatus the iconic German metal band have returned in full force with their new studio album Blood of the Nations, featuring new lead vocalist Mark Tornillo. From the first guitar riffs of “Beat the Bastards,” you know this is an [...]

Revamp Revamp

by Justin Gaines Staff Writer Revamp is the highly anticipated new project from former After Forever siren Floor Jansen. After more than a decade with the band, Jansen started Revamp with the help of former bandmate Joost van den Broek and Waldemar Sorychta (of Grip, Inc.), who collaborated with [...]

Blind Guardian At the Edge of Time

by Justin Gaines Staff Writer German power metal masters Blind Guardian is a band that believes in taking the time to get it right. After making fans wait an almost unbearable four years between A Night at the Opera and their 2006 follow-up A Twist in the Myth, Blind Guardian took another four [...]

Cathedral Guessing Game

by Trevor Portz Staff Writer After remaining dormant for roughly four years (as seems to be their new trend since 2002’s The VIIth Coming), British doom masters Cathedral have returned with The Guessing Game. Spreading across 13 songs and two discs, The Guessing Game sees Lee Dorrian and [...]

Hardcore Superstar Beg for It

by Leyla Hemedi Guest Writer As excited as you can be waiting for a favorite artist’s new record, you also get that slight feeling of trepidation right? What if it’s not as good? What if it’s a letdown? What if, delicately put, it’s the worst piece of suck since grunge came to glam-town? [...]