Sorcerer – Lamenting of the Innocent (2020) – Review

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“In Nomine Dei Nostri Satanas Luciferi Excelsi”?

Not quite. But I was just looking at that superb album art with the demonic clergy on full display. So what do you want me to conclude?

But this is Sorcerer of course, and they do prefer to navigate in the lit soundscapes of the metal multiverse. The murky and smoky depths of the pit where their ritualistic brethren dwell are – not quite their thing, methinks. In this light, “Ave Voluptatis Carnis” might be more to the mark. In conjunction with the Malleus Maleficarum if you get my drift.

Because their … [...] Click to raid more!

Queensrÿche – Condition Hüman (2015) – Review

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Ever since I did the review on the excellent Operation: Mindcrime, I was itching to go ahead and continue reviewing Queensrÿche. They sport a rich heritage of some 40 years of service in rock and metal. Another bunch of seasoned veterans that truly made a mark on the metal scene. Only they were present all over this life-long timespan, unlike others that recently emerged again.

A true career of a rock band, filled with successes, failures (in the eyes of some), and its share of pretty sturdy drama. Just think about the bitter divorce from Geoff Tate[...] Click to raid more!

Paradise Lost – Obsidian (2020) – Review

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2020 turns out to be the year of doom in more ways than one. A year that feels more surreal than most.

But fear not.

It looks like many artists were clairvoyant and followed up with a literal deluge of well-crafted Doom Metal of all sorts. Steely, rock hard, and tearfully arranged sorrow and pain. For the avid metalhead to pass the year in comfort, weird as it may be.

And truly, a few very cool grief-laden surprises crossed our paths lately. Like Black Trillium or the late teary opus River of Souls just sent our way, to cite just … [...] Click to raid more!

River of Souls – Usurper (2020) – Review

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Some records that cross our review pipeline just give us a hard time. It’s metal alright, but boy, often they’re those hard-horse pieces with a flow like a block of concrete.

But then you got those visceral ones. Those that talk to your metallic instincts right away. Like a search radar locking on to your target. Snap, bang – and you’re hooked so bad, you can’t stop this disk from killing your turntable.

Well, River of Souls‘ sophomore album Usurper is one of them. Not a full-power lockdown thing. But right from the opening volley, you get this urge … [...] Click to raid more!