NIGHTRAGE
“Insidious”
(LifeForce)
I’m a Nightrage virgin. Even though they’ve been around a while now I’ve pretty much made it my mission to stay away from them. For what reasons I don’t know. I’ve just felt that there is something about them that wouldn’t attract me. With my New Year’s solution of being more positive I’ve promised myself to give Nightrage a chance anyway. Nightrage makes me think of Arch Enemy in the way they mix melodeath with good old heavy metal and some really nice guitar solos. Continue reading

THE RIVER CARD
“Serious Titles”
(-)
It might seem strange that I have a hard time with hardcore when I listen to stuff like the most monochromatic black metal but for some reason I often don’t get what the whole deal is with most hardcore bands. I don’t know if it is because I’m raised on 77 punk. That doesn’t mean that I’ve given up on understanding hardcore. Whenever I get a chance I take it to understand more. And most importantly to broaden my taste. The River Card have a sound that to my ears is pretty classic hardcore. Continue reading

SCYTHIA
“…Of Exile”
(-)
I’m sorry but to me there’s only one band that is folk, epic, dark whatever metal and that is Bathory. If you’re into any of these sub-genres you only need to turn your attention to Bathory for fulfilment. All the other bands are just mediocre clones of a perfect amalgamation. Did I offend you, did I? You want to argue that the Finnish school of folk/epic metal is so much better. In that case I’ll give you Canadian Scythia. Continue reading

7HORNS7EYES
“Convalescence”
(Basick)
I’m slowly by slowly getting used to this whole digital only download thingamajig. I still take a physical product over a digital 9 times out of ten but when no other options are given I have to settle for the digital. 7Horns/7Eyes’ “Convalescence” should/could be seen as a taster for an album to come later (in physical form too). Continue reading

SIGH
“ScornDefeat”
(DeepSend)
I don’t know how many times this album has been re-released over the years but there seem to a never-ending interest in this record. Originally released on Euronymous Deathlike Silence label “ScornDefeat” shows a Sigh in it infant years before they became this avant-garde metal beast that they are today. Continue reading

TYRANEX
“Extermination Has Begun”
(Infernö Records)
I’ve been following Tyranex for some years now. What strikes me is that they have stubbornly stuck to what they believe in no matter the obstacles. That to me is dedication. And finally it’s paid off with the release of their debut album. Tyranex are thrash metal the way thrash metal was played by bands like Holy Terror, Defiance etc. Continue reading

THE WHEEL
“S/T”
(Music By Mail)
I’ve never been much for Led Zeppelin. When I got into hardrock/metal Led Zeppelin released their last album ever. Although I’ve always been told how great they are I’ve never bothered to checked them out thoroughly. I’ve heard this or that song by them but not enough to fully understand them. So whenever a band comes along using Led Zeppelin as a reference point it doesn’t do anything for me. Continue reading