Halahkuh - Desecration EP - Album Review

Year: 2013

Let's take some old school thrash metal, chop it and mix it with some brutal, in your face type death metal and throw in some Melodies in the middle. The result is a death / thrash metal band from Pune named Halahkuh. Their debut EP 'Desecration' is as good as it gets, especially considering the fact that its a debut release. 

Perversity - Infamy Divine - Album Review

Year: 2014

Over the course of the existence of death metal, we have seen many things come, and go. But it hasn’t been until recently, that things have gone back to the basics. Time has been very good to the subgenre (death metal) as there has been growth and expansion beyond the visions that Jeff Becerra and Chuck Schuldiner had seen. We have found ourselves at point in its evolution where things have seemed to stagnate. With Perversity, they take the listener back to an age of death metal where brutality was measured in terms of heavy chuggy tremeolo riffs. It is a look back to a time when the incorporations of horror themes, were mixed with the music we so whole heartedly love.

Cris Kailer (Skies Are Illusionists) - Replicating The Sun EP - Album Review

Year: 2013

I’ve always been a staunch admirer of one man projects. That admiration comes from knowing how hard it would be to steer a musical project single handedly. As opposed to being in bands, people handling one man projects find themselves solely responsible for every tiny aspect of the music and they have the added pressure of being skilled at all instruments involved in the project. So, it doesn’t come as a surprise that we don’t find many good quality one man projects these days. But the few ones that do exist continue to do a marvellous job in enthralling the listener all by themselves.

Albatross / Vestal Claret - The Kissing Flies / Black Priest Split - Album Review

Year: 2012

Horror and heavy metal music are two things that share a very close relationship. Over the years, countless metal bands have dealt with themes of horror in their music, within various different sub genres. But barring a few artists like King Diamond, no band has exclusively dedicated to infusing their music with themes of horror. So, it is quite rare to find present day bands that do that and the following two bands belong to such a rare breed.

Trainwreck Architect - Traits Of The Sick - Album Review

Year: 2013

There was I, 7-8 years back when I first heard metal music. The first sub genre that I got into was thrash metal. Oh what a time it was, listening to The Big 4, Overkill, Kreator and what not - with head smashing riffs, those air guitars I played, that brutal voice I sang in (which I still do). Thrash metal became my favorite sub-genre of metal. Also what attracted me was that thrash metal wasn't sub-divided into more sub genres. From 30 years ago, when thrash had its initiation, till now, thrash still has kept its brutality that no other sub-genre has. Though, in all genres there is atleast one band that looks brutal and bad ass in details and introduction but equally disappointing when heard. Same goes for Trainwreck Architect.

Disfigured Dead - Relentless - Album Review

Year: 2013

Though metal is a worldwide culture, over time certain geographic locations have become famous for specific sub genres. For examples, when Norway is mentioned, the thought immediately goes towards black metal and as far as Finland is concerned, grand and melodic metal is the speciality. Inspite of this, there are some bands that take their style beyond what is norm at their place. Death metal from New York would typically refer to NYDM styles made famous by bands like Suffocation and Immolation. Yet, Disfigured Dead is a band from New York, who have managed to carve out a new sound for themselves.

Rintrah - Salt Of The Earth - Album Review

Year: 2014

One of the biggest blessings for today's music industry is the website called Bandcamp. If one is patient enough, there are abundant number of good and talented bands on that site. Of course, one might have to go through a big pile of turd before stumbling on a gem. But once that one gem of a band is found, the feeling of joy and pride is a priceless reward in itself. I can say for sure because recently I found one such gem from Tennessee, USA called Rintrah.

The Gardnerz - It All Fades EP - Album Review

Year: 2012

When someone mentions the sub genre of doom metal, the most common themes that come to mind are bass heavy tones, slow drudging music and dreary lyrics. These are the common traits shared by many doom bands across the globe. After a certain point, the ideas in this genre tend to get a little repetitive, as the genre itself is restrictive in terms of room for innovation. However, The Gardnerz manage to incorporate some unconventional and genre bending ideas into this oft monotonous genre.

Mechina - Xenon - Album Review

Year: 2014

Mechina are one of the most hardworking bands out there today, putting out an album almost every year and constantly trying to improve their material. With the release of 'Empyrean' I thought the band found their own niche. That is until 'Cepheus' was released earlier this year. The song demonstrated a far greater overhaul in sound, relying less on the symphonic elements and far more on heavy guitar work as well as more cohesive and well thought out songwriting. Now in 2014 'Xenon' is a full realization of everything that 'Cepheus' promised.

Cvinger - Monastery Of Fallen - Album Review

Year: 2013

Just imagine having pizza at your favorite joint. You are hungry as hell, and then you see your favorite pizza is on the specials today. You are handed one slice of it, and then completely relish the whole slice of pizza in anticipation of rest of the pizza..........and then that's it. No more pizza. Shop closes down. Slovenian three piece act Cvinger's first EP, 'Monastery of Fallen' can be summed up as that piece of pizza. It is tasty, raw and appealing to the senses but not enough of it is there to satiate one's hunger.

Passion Over Life: The Story Of Metal In Iran

Metal music today is a global phenomenon. It is a culture shared by hundreds of thousands of people all over the people. Despite this, in many parts of the world, it is not an accepted culture and in a few places, it is even frowned upon. Here in India, the metal community is a small, albeit a steadily growing one. But the general public fails to accept metal as a culture and all its followers are labelled heathens or Satanists. Till recently I thought the situation faced by us Indians, is bad. That is until I heard about the situation in Iran.

Sceptre - Age Of Calamity - Album Review

Year: 2013

Every once in a while, there comes a metal band that reminds me of the reasons why I got into this genre, in the first place. For me, metal was a way to rebel and say a big “F*ck you!” to everything that is wrong in today’s mainstream society. It is a way to vent out all the anger and rage I have for all the terrible events that shape the life of a common man today. Recently I came across a band from my own country that embodied all this in their music. That band is none other than the mighty Sceptre from Mumbai.

Lucid Skies Hounds EP Review

Year: 2013

There are things to like and things to dislike. But that’s the way it goes with everything as nothing is perfect. The same goes for this EP. But none the less, I enjoyed listening to it. I am not going to lie about that. I had a very long time to take it in and digest all of its subtleties, as well as the more prominent factors. Above all stand out the meshing of melody and heavy riffs which doesn’t happen too often in the realm of modern hardcore.

Kataplexis - Downpour - Album Review

Year: 2014

Oh Canada. The land where they make everything technical. Some of the best bands from this land are the ones that seamlessly merge technicality into sub genres of metal that are usually deemed simple and straight forward. And most of the technical bands this country produces, sound unique and end up becoming pioneers of sorts. They did it to thrash metal, death metal and to an extent, even to power metal. Now it's time for grindcore to receive some technical Canadian treatment at the hands of four lads from Calgary, Alberta.

Iced Earth - Plagues of Babylon - Album Review

Year:2014

In all honesty,as this is my first Iced Earth review,I have never really been a big fan. The music has always been top-notch but the vocals have always been somewhat of a let down to me personally. When Stu Block was announced as the new Iced Earth vocalist I was a bit excited and 'Dystopia' didn't disappoint me. So I was excited about the next Iced Earth work and more of Stu Block in it and well 'Plagues Of Babylon' did live up to its billing for me.