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As I Lay Dying
Shadows are Security |
9.2 |
Even if you don’t like metalcore, you will find this album very seductive, and that’s because of the great guitars and the amazing drumming placed all over Shadows Are Security.
As I Lay Dying has grown into a very polished band, every instrument seems to be better played and better placed... Read all |
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InfestDead
JesuSatan |
8.4 |
Dan Swanö’s (Bloodbath, Nightingale, Edge of Sanity another 10 bands more and ex Katatonia) and Andreas Axelsson (Edge of Sanity, Incapacity, ex-Marduk) project InfestDead didn’t lasted too long alive, but this record is a gem of death metal that deserves to be analyzed.
It’s true that many of the members or former members of Katatonia have... Read all |
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Rammstein
Reise, Reise |
9.0 |
Many discarded and left for dead this Germans the moment MTV decided to put then in their regular video rotation. When the pop world welcomed and marvel at the creations and shows being done by Rammstein, the metal media run in fear from the fans and critics that may confused... Read all |
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Exodus
Shovel Headed Kill Machine |
9.6 |
Forging against all odds here we have the new installment of one of the pioneers of the 80's thrash metal scene. Although the band have experienced a smooth and successful rebirth including Paul Baloff (RIP) on vocals circa 96-97, we have seen Exodus unexpectedly suffering from the worst things that can happen to a band... Read all |
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Hypocrisy
Virus |
9.3 |
One of the most respected bands of the Swedish metal scene is back; Hypocrisy delivers in this new cd and impeccable sound not only in their performance but in the production, something that gives the band leader Peter Tägtgren a reason to show that music is becoming extremely simple for him to compose, direct and produce... Read all |
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Thyrane
Travesty of Heavenly Essence |
8.2 |
It’s impressive how a black metal band can adapt to the present time; Travesty of Heavenly Essence is pretty much an album that may not be totally appreciated during the period of time that we are living in.
Yes what they do in this album is not new, but is certainly fresh; a mix of industrial, electronic sounds and black metal. To some it may resemble... Read all |
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Immortal
At the Heart of winter |
9.4 |
If there was ever a formula to make a good black metal album, Immortal will definitely have it, this album is black metal at its finest, well composed and produced.
There are moments in which some of the riffs sound like a fast and dark thrash metal, but the fierce on the vocals and lyrics (which by the way... Read all |
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American Head Charge
The war of art |
8.5 |
Nu metal…before you run to the hills and far away, you better give this band and this record a chance, its true that is Nu metal and many don’t expect anything good from this genre, but wait, because this record has the power that many death metal bands try to achieve by hitting their drums as hard as they can... Read all |
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Vesania
God the Lux |
8.8 |
Vesania is a force that definitely gains every head banger attention around the globe.
As far as we know this is just their second opus and they have already received the two thumbs up from most the specialized press and fans.
Having in their ranks members of such established acts like Behemoth... Read all |
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Darkane
Layers of Lies |
8.4 |
A record that needs to be played more than once before you get a real grasp of what’s happening; Layers of Lies is a tasteful blend of thrash metal and many modern metal sounds that enrich and elevate the songs to a new level.
Darkane is a band that have created a unique sound by experimenting and mixing the reality of music in... Read all |
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Vile
The New Age of Chaos |
8.2 |
Death American metal, yes this is a perfect example of the way Americans play death metal; fast, sharp riffs, quick double bass drumming, brutal vocals and violent lyrics, really a great example of the way aggressive death can be played.
The great thing about this album is the straight forward death metal sound of everything placed... Read all |
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Arch Enemy
Black Earth |
9.1 |
If you were never a big melodic death metal fan, then surely this album will make you think twice when running into this genre.
Guitar solos done in and amazing way and with great talent, brutal and fast drums that sound clear and destroy everything in their path; vocals that manage to remain brutal even in the most melodic parts of the songs, in general, a very... Read all |
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Meshuggah
Chaosphere |
9.0 |
This is a very well though and precise album, with out losing that brutality and bizarre acid sound that this Swedish are used to throw at us. Something that we have to say before we start is that once you hear this band for the first time you will be able to recognize them anywhere... Read all |
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Beseech
Sunless Days |
8.1 |
Beautiful lyrics, beautiful melodies and some darkness sprinkle in every song; Beseech is one of those bands that can write catchy songs and easy listening Goth metal and still add some deep to their songs.
The music and the lyrics deal with the usual goth topics of darkness, melancholy, inner struggles… you know the usual, nothing aggressive... Read all |
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Judas Priest
Angel of Retribution |
9.5 |
I didn’t grew up during the golden era of Priest, I never knew that Painkiller is supposed to be their best record, I never really got the whole leader outfits and to me the name Rob Halford was just that…a name in the history of heavy metal.
Some may call me ignorant or disrespectful, or maybe just a plain idiot for not knowing the importance...Read all |
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Kataklysm
Shadows and Dust |
9.7 |
The beginning of this record is just amazing, with a phrase from a movie that must be a band favorite, Shadows and Dust starts with an explosion in your ears, bringing all that fierce Canadian death metal to your world. The riffs on this production capture you from the start with their brutality and speed, after listening to just the first... Read all |
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Vomitory
Blood Rapture |
8.5 |
A couple of killer riffs, a tireless drum work, deep growls as malicious as you can imagine and a certain amount of control madness, makes Blood Rapture one of the most enjoyable death metal albums you could listen to.
The guitar work may not be an example of virtuosity but it those have an element most bands are forgetting these... Read all |
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Abigor
Verwüstung / Invoke the Dark Age |
7.5 |
Invoke the Dark Age, is a mystic, cold, raw black metal album, with some insinuations of symphonic elements and atmospheric “noises” that create a sort of demonic yet epic environment.
The guitars and their riffs are nicely worked and placed, carrying more than just usual fast and cold tunes... Read all |
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Nevermore
This Godless Endeavor |
8.3 |
Nevermore is one of those bands that almost everybody worships and many do so just because they heard it some place, well this is a very good band, the musicians are incredible and nobody can deny that, they play a very rare progressive/dark/power metal, is just that sometimes it sounds... Read all |
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Axenstar
Far From Heaven |
8.0 |
Melodic power metal and nothing else here, don’t expect to re-discover the genre, or if you never like it, well this album will just give you another reason to keep hating it, but putting all those assumptions aside, good solid mellow power here.
The first thing that jumps out is Magnus Eriksson and his very melodic... Read all |
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Nailbomb
Point Blank |
9.5 |
If Max Cavalera have only focused more on this band than Soulfly, we will be hearing their fifth or six album but sadly the project didn’t lived that long, and it only managed to record one album, a live album and a
DVD
(you have to try to make the most money out of it) they all have the same songs... Read all |
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Kreator
Enemy of God |
8.7 |
Just when I though real thrash metal was death and buried, here comes Kreator to prove me wrong; Enemy of God has all the right elements to bring thrash metal back to his feet while demonstrating that you can grow and still believe in the same things.
Kreator comes back with a very good follow up to their 2001 release Violent Revolution; just by listening... Read all |
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Agathodaimon
Chapter III |
9.0 |
With a very quick beginning, these Germans introduce us to their melodic black metal World, with a great array of sound textures and an atmosphere that distinguishes them from the rest, the first four songs are classic melo black, fast with lyrics that talk about the soul and that whole surrounding sound created by the keyboards, very dramatic and... Read all |
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Daemonarch
Hermeticum |
8.7 |
The side Project of the members of the Portuguese band Moonspell “Hermeticum” is an album that uses doom and black metal as the foundation of something dark and mystic; Fernando Ribeiro’s vocals are at times terrifying.
There is no doubt that Ribeiro’s dark tones and the lyrics focusing in... Read all |
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Opeth
Ghost Reveries |
9.0 |
It’s so bizarre that I can listen to a 1 hour album with tracks going from 2 minutes to 5 and enjoy it; but I just can’t listen to a 1 hour album with songs going from 7 to 10 minutes. So I was kind of bored just by looking at the extension of the first two tracks in this record, both more than... Read all |
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In Flames
Reroute to Remain |
9.5 |
From the cover art of the album, to the quality of musicianship placed in it, to the production and mix, the Swedish band and one of the fathers of the Gothenburg sound, have created a great album.
There is no doubt that there is melodic death metal inside this record, is clearly not the same sound they began playing, no more folk influences... Read all |
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Novembers Doom
The Pale Haunt Departure |
8.5 |
Honestly, I have discovered this band a little late (6 months ago) but that doesn’t prevent me to enjoy it intensely. Novembers Doom is one of those unexpected picks of mine while trying to strive away from the blast beats for a little bit... Read all |
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Battlelore
Third Age Of The Sun |
7.0 |
If you like Lord of the rings inspired music and you can bare Blind Guardian, them maybe Battlelore will suit you.
Melodic power metal with a couple of growls, folk with a tiny touch of gothic atmospheres and all the fantasy that Tolkien could put on his books is on Battlelore. This is their third full length album and sadly it... Read all |
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Dark Tranquillity
Haven |
8.6 |
A record that transports you from the very beginning through many different states of mind and were you can find all the power of the melodic death metal played Gothenburg style by one of the bands that helped defined this genre.
This is a great production and one of the best works presented by Dark... Read all |
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Amoral
Decrowning |
8.9 |
I love a good, fast “get down to business” record, and that’s what Amoral delivers from the first track to the last.
Decrowning is death metal with just a sprinkle of progressive metal (ahhh that word “sprinkle” is so gay); the kind of mix that elevates a death metal performance. Amoral from time to time uses... Read all |
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Aborted
The Purity of Perversion |
8.0 |
With an intro that shows the morbid path of this Belgian band “The Purity of Perversion” welcomes us to their brutal death metal. This is their first record and Aborted wants to quickly show us what they made of: basic, simple, original riffs and a sick atmosphere described by all the gore in... Read all |
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Killswitch Engage
Alive or Just Breathing |
8.3 |
Metalcore, not hardcore disguised as metal because the singer though it sounds cooler to say they are have more influences of metal than anything else.
If all metalcore was performed, produced and presented like Killswitch Engage does it, this genre will never have a problem growing into the... Read all |
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Rotting Christ
Triarchy of the lost lovers |
8.0 |
With a mix between darkness and evil, the Greeks of Rotting Christ get farther away from their crude black metal sound and get inside a wider variety of sounds that can be easily call dark metal.
The first track of this album is the longest one and is not a masterpiece, but it manages to get your attention with melodic riffs and razorblade... Read all |
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Megadeth
The World needs a Hero |
7.5 |
The return from disaster (like many catalog Mustaine’s previous work “Risk”), the album is catchy, and many songs stick to your head after one listen, but is just doesn’t quite reach the standards previously placed by Megadeth.
There is no doubt of the talent and quality of the main man and founder of the band, with this record he achieved what many musicians never ... Read all |
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Masterplan
Aeronautics |
9.1 |
After an amazing album debut in 2003, this German/Norwegian super group comes back with yet another level of heavy/power metal that will make you question every other band of the genre that you use to worship.
Jorn Lande’s vocals are just amazing, clean, powerful and…well he’s superb on this record. Every song has life on its own and don’t really... Read all |
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Desecration
Gore and PerVersion 2 |
8.3 |
Do you really want to upset your neighbors? Fuck yeahh! This is the right purchase for that purpose.
The album starts off with the already-a-classic Raping the Corpse bearing the heaviest rhythm guitar ever heard over this toilet earth. The pace never slows down as the next track Human... Read all |
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Nightfall
I am Jesus |
9.8 |
The first track is so full of energy that you can’t help but wait for the next song to begin, and the next one after that, and so on. This group of Greeks give Nightfall speed, and melody of the highest standards, playing something between melodic black metal, gothic metal and some melodic death metal (It sounds like a weird mix, but they managed to clear every doubt... Read all |
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Bolt Thrower
Those once Loyal |
8.8 |
When an album has a good solid start is hard to expect less from the rest of the production; Those Once Loyal is one of those records that grab you by the nuts from the start and it doesn’t let go until the last riff is played.
It took these Brits four years to come up with this new material and it was all worth the waiting... Read all |
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Carnal Forge
Are you dead yet? |
8.0 |
Thrash metal, mix in with a little hardcore in the voice and a couple of death metal tunes…got it, well I didn’t. Again then, this is a good record, but is easier to compared it so that I and you can understand better what exactly are we talking about here, Carnal Forge is very similar to what The Haunted used to be in the early years... Read all |
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Pungent Stench
For God your soul…for me your flesh |
8.4 |
Austrian death metal, morbid lyrics and razorblade riffs, a production charged with brains, gastric juices, human feces and infected wounds that will definitely make you head bang.
This album is an introduction for the trio “Mr. Stench” drums, “Pitbull Jack” bass and “El Cochino” in guitars... Read all |
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