Nick Ruskell
It's big, loud, unrefined and in league with Satan. For such a wicked man, Cronos has done good here.
1mo
Bands of a certain vintage often talk about wanting to make a record that sounds like a band simply playing in a room. Most of them suck. The authors have changed so much within themselves that stripping back just reveals what’s no longer there. Here, it’s the opposite, and Foo Fighters like this feel fresh, energised and essential.
1mo
Tomas Lindberg’s last act is one of his finest, as At The Gates show why they were the best ever to do it on incendiary final album.
1mo
In music, Enter Shikari are still brilliant. In spirit, they have grown and refined and taken on wisdom without turning into cranks, or simply giving up. And in having the brain and heart to offer an, if not comforting, then friendly unpacking of times as interesting as these, they feel urgent, vital, alive. And in all the madness, never once do they lose themselves.
1mo
Into Oblivion is probably the best thing the Virginia metallers have done in 10 years.
2mo
It takes a minute longer to get into, but once it gets you, you’ll once again be completely sucked into his nightmarish but tempting and compelling world.
3mo
Recalibrated, re-energised and ripping it up, Sylosis go for a (slightly) more straightforward punch and deliver a knockout on explosive seventh album, The New Flesh.
3mo
Creeper have always been great. But in this current (and unexpectedly elongated) vampire phase, they’ve blossomed into their true, proper selves.
7mo
Remember why you got so excited about Conjurer? That’s back, but even more so, on heavy, emotional and brilliant third album, Unself.
7mo
Despite the beauty of its inspiration, the result is more like the blood-chilling squawk of a vulture. Punishing, indeed.
8mo
Orbit Culture were already capable of delivering a knockout, but Death Above Life feels like they're hauling themselves into the next weight category.
8mo
Scowl continue to show how special they are as they go far beyond hardcore on lush second album.
1y
Six albums in, Deafheaven have made both their heaviest and most balanced, rounded record, perhaps ever.
1y
The Hellacopters still perfectly embody the grimy spirit and golden glamour of rock 'n' roll at both its most low down and its most classy.
1y
Apocalypse now! British doom legends Electric Wizard provide the soundtrack to the end of the world on self-recorded, direct-to-tape live ritual.
1y
It’s refreshing in both its honesty and its creativity. Often, this stuff can be made to sound easy, a load of delay and chorus and blasting acting as a way to an end result without having to properly write something meaningful.
1y
Supercharged finds The Offspring doing The Offspring very well again. And, really, they’ve tried breaking the mould enough over the years to be allowed to repeat themselves. So long into the game, it’s a surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one.
1y
That Undeath manage to carve a trench for themselves and stamp their personality on things while also holding down deep roots and an obsession with this stuff is a mark of their greatness. Another thread to the new wave of death metal’s ever-strengthening rope.
1y
Death metal has often looked to the stars for inspiration. Rarely have they peered at the beyond quite so intently and with so much wonder as Blood Incantation. When it comes to actually going on a voyage there, they are on a solo journey at this point. Take your protein pills and put your helmet on, Absolute Elsewhere is going to take you to the outer limits.
1y
Already, Heriot are a band much loved. They are, self-evidently, very, very good. On Devoured By The Mouth Of Hell, they now have a perfect document of their powers. Now go, Heriot, devour everything in your path.
1y
Norwegian black metal one-man outfit Mork serve up more twists with seventh album.
1y
Having created a monster, BMTH have proven themselves equal to matching the creative demands it’s placed on them. What a re-GeN-eration.
2y
When they stampede at you like this, when you can hear their blood pumping and smell their breath, there are few bands on Earth who can match them.
2y