Black Sabbath - 13 - Album Review

Year: 2013

Of all my years of lurking in the interwebs, I have seen one particular argument rear its ugly head many times over. "Who gets the credit for inventing Metal as a genre?". While some may say Led Zeppelin, others may say Blue Cheer or Deep Purple. The reality is though, no single band can be credited for inventing this amazing form of music. However, there is one band, without whose existence, Metal may not have been as we know today. And that band, undeniably, is Black Sabbath. These lads from Birmingham, UK, started out way back in 1968, under the name Earth. Through the course of their 45 years of existence, this band has undergone numerous line up changes and stylistic changes, while at the same time, remaining true to Heavy Metal. Now in 2013, the band has broken out of a long slumber, to unleash doom upon the mortal world once again, this time, in the form of 13.

Megadeth - Supercollider - Album Review

Year: 2013

When Megadeth named their new album Supercollider, I expected the album to surpass the previous two albums by them, namely Endgame and Thir13en. This expectation was only compounded by Dave Mustaine's constant words that this was the best album that the band had ever recorded. But none of this prepared me for what Supercollider, really turned out to be. 

September Murder - He Who Invokes Decadence - Album Review

Year: 2013

Progressive Metal is a genre, which is known for it's eclectic tempo shifts and time signature changes. Now, put this together with something as heavy as Brutal Death Metal, and the resulting concoction is something which is truly interesting. The mark of a good Progressive Metal band is to keep the listener hooked, while keeping the changes coming. On the other hand, a Brutal Death Metal band aims to pulverise everything in it's path. New age metallers, September Murder succeed in achieving both, for the most part.

A Chat With Kracken Kelly Of "Foreshadow"

Foreshadow are an American Death Metal band hailing from Tampa Bay, Florida. Having successfully released one studio album and an EP to some really good reception, the band is all set to tour the world. They are currently set to play their music in China and are also pushing for a tour in Europe. We, at Metal Gallows, had a chance to have a chat with the drummer of the band, Kracken Kelly. Here is an excerpt of the interview.

Reptilian Death - The Dawn Of Consummation And Emergence- Album Review

Year: 2013

Sahil 'The Demonstealer' Makijha seems to be a very busy man indeed. Many people consider him to be the face of the Indian Metal Scene and one can see why. He is an active member of not one, but four different bands and he is constantly touring and releasing new material. This year has already seen a release from his comedy rock project, Workshop. Now, Sahil has rebooted his death metal project, Reptilian Death. What started out as a parody act, has now become something serious. 

Gregzeye - The End Days - Album review

Year: 2013

What kind of a name is Gregzeye? It sounds an awful lot like Greg's Eye. Upon some further inquiry into the origin of such an uncommon name, it turns out that my initial suspicions about the name was spot on. The members had actually named the band after their friend Greg, who had visited one of their rehearsals after hurting his eye on a beach umbrella! Well, don't let the name put you off. Because, listening to their debut album, it is not difficult to see the passion and talent that these lads possess.

Immolation - Kingdom Of Conspiracy - Album Review

Year: 2013

In today's metal scene, there are very few bands that have shown consistent quality outputs. Even the best of bands have had some rough patches during their career. But this observation does not apply to the death metallers from Yonkers, New York. Immolation is one of those few rare bands that have given us quality albums time and time again. What is it that they do, that makes all their albums so enjoyable and gives them such consistency? 

Motorhead Tribute - India - Album Review

Year: 2013

Motörhead is a band that any true metalhead would be familiar with. They are one most revered and respected metal bands in the world. With their combination of the NWOBHM sound with fast punk elements, they re-energized the sound of metal. They have been around since 1975 and are still going strong. Many of today's emerging bands cite them as their influence. Such is the glory and legacy of  Motörhead. 

Sorrows Path - The Rough Path Of Nihilism - Album Review

Year: 2010

Sorrows Path is band that was formed in 1993. 17 years later, in 2010, they released their debut album. In the time between their inception and the release of their debut album, this band has faced a lot of obstacles and tragedies. But despite all that, they have released a wonderful debut album.

With Burning Contempt - Red Visions EP - Album Review

Year: 2013

There are many bands around that have had their trysts with different styles of metal. Some tend to do it over the span of their entire career, while some do it within a single album. What do you call a band that blends Thrash, Death, Black and even a tinge of Doom, all in the duration of one song? Over ambitious or talented genius?

Sodom - Epitome Of Torture - Album Review

Year: 2013

The genre of Thrash Metal was made popular in the late 1980's by bands such as Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax, Sodom, Destruction, Kreator etc. While the American thrash giants suffer from the lack of quality releases in recent times, their German counterparts are still going strong with their brand of Teutonic Thrash. Last year saw two top notch albums from Kreator and Destruction. Sodom, the other Teutonic thrash king are not far behind.

Heaven Shall Burn - Veto - Album Review

Year: 2013

Every once in a while, there comes a band which cannot be put under a single category. Not bands that incorporate elements of other genres in one or two of their songs, but bands that showcase a blend of styles in their overall sound. Fans of Heaven Shall Burn  might be familiar with this, but for those who are uninitiated, this is a band that plays a mix of Metalcore and Melodic Death Metal. In their releases so far, the band had more of a Metalcore sound with  a slight hint of Melodic Death Metal. But in their recently released seventh full length, more emphasis is laid on the later.

Gloryhammer - Tales From The Kingdom Of Fife - Album Review

Year: 2013

Christopher Bowes, is the lead singer of Scottish Pirate Metal band Alestorm - the band that brought tales of pirates to metal. So what does this guy do when he is not plundering the high seas while brandishing the jolly roger? If his new side project Gloryhammer is anything to go by, he probably straps on his knight armor and charges forward into battles of fantasy medieval kingdoms.

Amorphis - Circle - Album Review

Year: 2013

Amorphis are a well known band from Finland, that started out as a Death / Doom Metal band and moved on to Melodic Death Metal through the timeline of their career. In their recent avatar, Amorphis have adopted the Modern Metal approach to the music, i.e, heavy and complex riffs accentuated by melodic and clean vocals. They are known to bring a lot progression to their sound with the use of folk instruments and for the quality that they maintain in their releases. 

Ghost B.C. - Infestissumam - Album Review

Year: 2013

Ghost B.C. are a band that many of you may be familiar with or atleast heard of. In 2010, they released their debut Opus Eponymous to rave reviews. This album had almost unanimous praise from the metal community and it was hailed as one of the best debut albums of all time. This year, Ghost B.C. are ready to release their second album Infestissumam through Loma Vista Recordings. Will Ghost B.C. continue their successful run with their second album? Or will they disappoint?

Jungle Rot - Terror Regime - Album Review

Year: 2013

In many of today's modern Death Metal music, one can find a lot of technical riffs, odd time signatures, loads of progression in the song structures and so many other tricks that makes the music sound complex. But strip all that away and what are you left with? Just some heavy, brutal and primitive Death Metal. This is what Jungle Rot achieve with their new album. If you prefer some no nonsense, old school and heavy as fuck Death Metal, you will not be disappointed with 'Terror Regime'.

Mortar - Ground Zero EP - Album Review

Year: 2013

In India, there are a not a lot of metal bands that play old school Thrash Metal. Mortar is a four piece from Kolkatta, India. They play no nonsense, straight forward Thrash Metal. Their debut EP, titled 'Ground Zero' was released on 9th February, 2013 through Incanned Productions.

Watch Us Fade - Past, Present, Hell EP - Album Review

Year: 2013

Watch Us Fade is a Death Metal band hailing from Tamworth, United Kingdoms. They are an up and coming band formed in 2011. They play a style of death metal where they showcase a lot of influences from other genres as well. They released their second EP, titled 'Past, Present, Hell' on 28th March, 2013.

Killswitch Engage - Disarm The Descent - Album Review

Year: 2013

Back in the early 2000's, a new trend had emerged in the form of Metalcore. All the new and popular bands were playing it. This was just like Thrash Metal in the late 1980s and Nu Metal in the late 1990s. But as quick as this trend started spreading, bands started running out of fresh ideas and were constantly seen releasing very mediocre records. The lack of quality material, led many to believe that the death of Metalcore was upon them. Killswitch Engage are back with a new album that seems to say, "No! Metalcore still lives!".

Devourment - Conceived In Sewage - Album Review

Year: 2013

Is change a good thing in the world of metal? What happens when an established band decides to experiment and change their sound a little bit? It can go two ways. It can result in abominations like 'St.Anger' and 'Illud Divinum Insanus'. Or it can result is successful albums like 'Cowboys From Hell' or the recent 'The Underground Resistance'. What effect do little changes have on this particular record?