Oranssi Pazuzu-Kosmonument (2011)

I saw that this was Finnish black metal, and saw this labeled 'psychedelic black metal', so I thought "Great! Right up my alley!". But the results are not all as good as I thought they'd be. As you would suspect, there are lots of swirling textures; grey, mystical atmosphere; and dark ambiance to satisfy a black metal weirdo like myself. But, and blame the mushrooms, this album is a bit unfocused, and somewhat derivative, as it comes across more like a black metal version of Neurosis. And you'd think, as a sonic masochist, that all the soft, unsettling bits would sooth my tortured soul(ooooh is that Saaatan whispering at me in the background golly geee Marilyn Manson and Trent Reznor do the same fucking thing), but they do not, so I was annoyed for a good part of the album. But there is plenty to like about this band, and I hope to hear something more thoroughly caustic from them in the future.

Rating: 6 out of 10

Taake-Noregs Vaapen (2011)

Odd that I'd complain about a Norwegian black metal album leaving me 'cold', but that the best way to describe my reaction to this album. It works just fine in the faster tempos, but I detect a sense of aimlessness and boredom in the slower songs. No matter how many ways you rearrange the riffs, 10th generation Norwegian BM just sounds so lifeless. And is that a bad thing in black metal? Usually not, but....I don't know....could it be that I just don't like the album and can't quite put my finger on why? Maybe I'm just getting bored with mid-tempo black metal? Probably. The musicianship is excellent, and the attack ferocious, but, in the end, I guess I would rather go back and listen to my old Darkthrone albums or Mayhem.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10

Ouroboros-Glorification of a Myth (2011)

This self produced release by Australia's Ouroboros is one of my favorite releases of the year. It is outstanding technical death metal, with more than a touch of thrash metal thrown in. Every aspect of this albums gels. This is no sterile display of technical skill, but an organic collaboration of deft drumming, swift and mighty riff work, the guitars benefiting from a clean crunch, making every note audible. This is no murk-fest. The leads stand out, reaching for guitar hero glory, and most often attaining it. Hopefully, a good label picks up this band, as they deserve much more exposure.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Today Is The Day-Pain Is A Warning (2011)

Today Is The Day stands as one of the most unique, prickly, hard to catagorize bands in all of metal/rock/music/ect. Their output is extremely diverse, exploring many corners of sonic hell, from grindcore to avant-gard goth metal, to noise rock, all of it tied together by a deeply psychotic vibe. Their latest album, plants them firmly in Rock territory, yes, with a capital fucking R. Unfortunately, as good as many of the songs are, they are marred by a lazy subdued whisper, between Steve Austin's trademark shrill screech, that is as annoying as hell. Ruined the entire album for me. If you are partial to softly creepy whispers, go right ahead. You are entitled to your love of lazy, gimmicky vocal work. I will not suffer through it again. There are many good riffs to be found here, but not good enough for me suffer through the softness.

Rating:5 out of 10

Absu-Abzu (2011)

Absu's follow up to their brilliant 2009 self titled release is a bit of let down, but since the previous album was nearly flawless, that is understandable. This is not as earth shatteringly good as the previous album, but there is much to enjoy, if you let it soak in. Where that album was both progressive yet strangely accessible in a highly thrashy vein, this album is more difficult, angular, and caustic, and still quite thrashy. 'Abzu' seems to be channeling demons through mathematics occult ritual inherent to the music. But don't mistake this for math metal, as the emphasis is on ferocious attack and speed. Best song is the last one, "A Song for Ea", a 14 minute alchemic conjuring. And if you foolishly attempt to delve deep into the lyrics, your mind will be swallowed by a magic prism that leads straight to the devil. I'm serious!

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Wolves In The Throne Room-Celestial Lineage (2011)

Wolves In The Throne Room new album is a departure from previous outings. Instead of 15 minute nightmare jams, as in previous outings, the sound is a bit more varied, more composed. There are more quiet, meditative bits, the songs are shorter, and there are more of them. But this is still a brutal, caustic experience for the uninitiated. The main problem is that the actual black metal is unmemorable. This is the band's primary flaw, as I cannot remember one actual riff that the band has ever composed that sounds distinctly theirs. You are primarily overwhelmed by the ambient din and the murky textures, without much to take away, other than the darkly poetic lyrics. But all in all, this is still their best album, and definitely worth a listen.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Craft-Void (2011)

A well named band. Craft are a Swedish black metal outfit whose albums are being distributed by Southern Lord Records in the states. What we have here is a collection of nasty, clever, riff-centric mid-tempish tunes, (un)polished by a Darkythrone-esque type scuzz. The riffs are angular bulldozers, the screams grating and evil. And the drums are programmed, but you'd never know that without reading the album notes on Encyclopedia Metallum. Best song is the dirgy anthem, 'I Want To Commit Murder.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Vader-Welcome To The Morbid Reich

Vader of one the preeminent death metal bands, releasing quality album after quality album since the early 90's. Their latest is almost a textbook of great death metal; crushing riffs, intelligent compositions in the old school style, but delivered with modern ferocity and speed. But the highlight of the album is a reworking of an older song, "Decapitated Saints", a psychotic mindfuck; a neck breaker that makes you want to wreck everything within 50 foot vicinity. If only Morbid Angel would get back to making death metal this awesome, then my plans for world domination would be complete.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Black Witchery-Upheaval of Satanic Might (2005)

This is the kind of dumb black metal album that I have an admitted weakness for. Getting by on nothing but a professed aesthetic of speed, Satan, and corpse paint, Black Witchery barely qualify as music. This is a band that polarizes even in the extreme underground. But there is something about the repetitive blur that is enthralling and addicting. It really does have to sink in a bit, you really do have to acquire the taste. Comparing this to their previous outpouring of hate, 'Desecration of the Holy Kingdom', there is a bit of musical advancement here. The riffs are audible, and is not simply a collection thrashing atonality. But you are not here for lullabies, you came searching for a distillation of pure cartoonish evil, and Black Witchery fill that void ably.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Black Breath-Heavy Breathing (2010)

Southern Lord hypes this album as the brutal new thing, a cross between Motorhead, Discharge and Autopsy, but really, it doesn't sound much different than 'Wolverine Blues' ere Entombed. It's a little grungier and lo-fi, which is fitting with this Seattle bands's legacy. But, other than this minor complaint, this album wins you over with its filthy, dark energy and jagged riffery. An uncomplicated pleasure.

Rating: 7 out of 10

The Binary Code-The Black Phantasma (2004)

Old school metal dudes scream to high hell about metal core and death core, but some of it ain't too shabby, like this demo from 2004. Maybe this is more Meshuggah influenced, hell, this old fart can't really tell, but it's not bad in small doses. This math metal for the youngsters, all over the place, the guitar playing fluid and impressive, the vocals soaked in gore. Not really my cup of tea, either, but not bad.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10

This song is not off the album, but from their 2009 EP.

Bison B.C.-Dark Ages (2010)

This is serviceable High On Fire style stoner sludge. It is thick, vicious, and aggressive, the riffs sounding like walls of magma descending upon the village. But it's a bit repetitive and you've heard it all before. Not bad, not great, not really my cup of tea.

Rating 6.5 out of 10

Big Business-Mind The Drift

This is one of the best albums of the first decade of the 21st century. The third full album by The Melvins better half is an overwhelming testament of the power and perseverance of heavy sludge rock. It is a magnificent lava of slow flowing riffs and smart, tuneful songs, drenched in analog warmth. It is one of the quintessential beardo/hipster statements. It's as crushing as it is fun. It's as ironic and quirky as any limp indy rock, but with all the power and glory that a guitar, bass and drums can muster. Am I gushing? I am. It's just fucking cool and you should listen to this and bow down and then get up and do something.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Bestial Mockery-Evoke The Desecrator (2003)

All Bestial Mockery albums are the same. They are all primitive, thrashy black metal, drenched in the most ridiculous Satanic imagery possible. Check out this precious nugget from the first song, 'Chainsaw Demons Return':

"Spreaders of hellish agony
Churches drained in blood
Fucked by demonic chainsaw
Virgins molested to death
Chainsaw Demon Attack !!!"

You know what your getting here. All the songs are short, uncomplicated, evil, and fucking awesome. The band is especially tight, making the attack more ferocious than it needs to be. This is not sloppy punk, but the work of a focused band. You either like this sort of thing or you don't. It's regressive for sure, but damn if it doesn't sooth the tortured soul.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Benighted-Insane Cephalic Production (2003)

This is not some goddamn lost Insane Clown Posse album. Benighted are brutal death/grind professors from France, a band sporting intelligence and a unique way around a riff. Apparently a concept album abut child molestation, they do not take the usual exploitation turns that most other bands would with this subject matter, but inject an element of psychological horror, morality, and sensitivity(!). But the music is astoundingly good, by turns dense but light on its feet, so many twists and turns, so many well crafted riffs, all expertly bludgeoned at lightening speeds. This is state of the art death metal, an album that will take a few listens to absorb all it has to offer.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Belphegor-Walpurgis Rites - Hexenwahn (2009)

This is a nifty blackened death/deathened black metal album from Austria. This 2009 release puts me in mind of a "Son of Northern Darkness" era Immortal, with the emphasis on crushing, slicing riffs and precise rhythms. It's nothing innovative or new, just quality metal comfort food. All the lyrics are bathed in the occult. The production is thick, the guitars adequately trembly and bass heavy, the drums clear and pristine, the vocals a black metal gargle, and somewhat processed. There are some really great songs here, and some weaker ones, best one being the evil majestic 'Veneratio Diaboli - I Am Sin'. Worth your time.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Behexen-Rituale Satanum (2000)

If you are going to make a by the numbers black metal album, let it be like this one. Behexen's first full album won't win any prizes for originality, coming across at times like a poor man's Emperor. They sift through tried and true riffs and devises, coming up with little that is unique, but drenching it in suitably icey atmosphere, the riffs and vocals bludgeoning as much as penetrating. The band attacks the material with evil glee, and it is that enthusiasm that ultimately wins you over. The last song is the best, a riff happy tranceathon with a few twists.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Beherit-Engram (2009)

I don't know what the Metallum nerds are raving about. This is boring. I can see that the band is trying for an old school, back to basics black metal approach, but the music is repetitive without conviction, the riffs are dull and lifeless. The production is too sterile to cloak it in a convincing murky atmosphere, which benefits similar minded Finnish necro fiends. A waste.

Rating: 4 out of 10

Behemoth-Evangelion (2009)

This is just a case of trying to hard to be evil. One of the giants of blackened death metal, and one of the biggest bands to come out of Poland, their output, for the most part, inspires apathy in me. On the surface, this one of the heaviest sounding bands you'll ever hear. The production is slick, thick, and makes the band sound like 10 foot tall demon warriors. But the music barely justifies all the fuss. Oh, they certainly dress the part, and writing 'ov' instead of 'of' in your song titles will make the mall rats think yer sooo cvlt, but its kind of embarrassing to anyone that takes their music seriously when a band this big simply does not have the skills to back up the bravado. There are some good ideas here, ideas someone already thought of. It is just mechanical and overly processed death metal, performed better by bands with not even a fraction of the recording budget. Yawn.

Rating: 5 out of 10

Baroness-Blue Record (2009)

I love the new hipster sludge. The Sword, Big Business and these blustery beardos are cranking out some of the best stoner metal ever made. 'Blue Record', only two years old, is already classic. It is tuneful 70's worshipping grunge, with more dymamics and progressive flair than their 90's predecessors thought necessary to concoct. There are songs here, people! Heavy riffs are mere guideposts to the darkly ecstatic journey the listener will embark upon. The band is a gruff workhorse that barely seems barely able to contain the musical bluster within. There are poetic musings and primal screams, acoustic interludes and psychedelic tripouts. This band will rip your face off, and then have an intelligent conversation with you. Great album, highest recommendation, one of my favorites of the past few years. It is nearly perfect.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Azarath-Blasphemers' Maledictions (2011)

Poland is one of the most metal countries on the planet, blessed with hordes of filthy metal beasts. Vader and Behemoth(this is drummer Inferno's band) sit at the top of the heap, but Azarath threatens to topple the regime. Their new album is a brutal and righteous collection of blackened death. They deserve to be bigger than Behemoth, at least, as this is less cheesy. It puts me in mind of 'Sons of Northern Darkness' era Immortal; quality riff after quality, held together by a devastating rhythm section, which utilizes a variety of tempos for variety and dynamics, not just hyper sonic pummelings at all times. Yes, a raging fuckbeast of an album. Recommended, if you can take it.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Onslaught-Sounds of Violence (2011)

I miss the old Onslaught. Their new album benefits from a crisp, thick sounding production. The band is tight and furious, but the songs and riffs are lacking. There is little evidence of the evil, primitive atmosphere of their first two albums. The groove metal nods are half hearted. The band is not without enthusiasm and power, but ultimately this album is just a generic modern thrash exercise. This album does have a rollicking cover of 'Bomber' by Motorhead.

Rating: 6 out of 10

Peste Noire-L'Ordure à l'état Pur (2011)

The new release from these French avante-gard black metal infant terribles is disappointing. The eccentricity and eclecticism that once resulting in entertaining and exciting songs now contributes to a sense of disjointedness and annoys greatly. Perhaps this is because the crystal clear production values enhance the intimacy of the proceedings, intimacy being a negative in this case. The lo-fi approach of previous albums was much more endearing. Though there is much originality and audacity here, there are to many soft parts for this metalhead. I'm hoping the black metal/trip hop genre does not take off. Better luck next time.

Rating: 5 out of 10

Rhapsody Of Fire-From Chaos to Eternity (2011)

Quintessential symphonic power metallers Rhapsody of Fire unleash another bombastic concept album, with Christopher Lee in tow. This is like most other Rhapsody albums: thrashy riffs, lush arrangements, epic scope, neo-classical shredding. This is by turns absolutely amazing and incredibly corny, but they are consistent. Unlike ideological soul mates Blind Guardian, there really are no stand out songs, just a cornucopia of epicness. Best one is five part nearly 20 minute abomination 'Heroes Of The Waterfalls' Kingdom', which contains a touch of black metal.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Stryper-The Covering (2011)

The most successful Christian metal band of the 80's are back with an enjoyable set of classic rock and metal covers. Stryper prove that they are no Van Halen, not even Van Hagar, in their pitiful version of 'On Fire'. You are not a party band, reverends! No matter how candy assed they ever got, they were at their best when they stuck close to their Accept/Judas Priest/Styx inspired sound. The same is true here. 'Heaven and Hell', 'The Trooper', 'Set Me Free', and 'Over The Mountain' crackle with apocalypse and crusader heroism. Their party side is better expressed in The Scorpions' 'Blackout'. Still, this is not a band inspire by hedonism. But throughout, Micheal Sweet's soaring metal tenor carries the album, and the sound is more throughly metal than they have been since 'To Hell With The Devil'. Hopefully, their next album will be as full of fire and brimstone.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Wolf-Legion Of Bastards (2011)

I'm not so sure about this one. All the ingredients that made their other albums such retro metal delights are here, but some intangible is missing. Part of the fun of any Wolf album, even though they have a sound of their own, built solidly upon the foundations of NWOBHM, is hearing what old band they were copping from this time around. First few times, Iron Maiden was the reference of choice. Then Grave Digger. Finally Merciful Fate and then back to Maiden. But all those influences are evenly mixed here, and sadly, this leaves the songs sounding oddly generic. Everything else is fine; exactly what you'd expect if you've ever heard this band before. Perhaps that's the problem. With the exception of mid tempo crawler 'Nocturnal Rites' (and it's Danzig inspired riff), there simply are few songs here that stand out from one another.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10

Autopsy-Severed Survival (1989)

Horror Metal icons Autopsy were just getting started in 1989, regurgitating 3 decades worth of gore soaked drive-in movies into a palatable stew of death metal. What this band lacked in musical adeptness they made up with vibe, atmosphere, and bludgeoning, unsubtle riffery. This band sounded like they came from the sex basement of your perverted uncle's sex basement. They sounded as if they really were the homicidal mutants they bellowed about, and had developed a refined taste for human flesh. There was just something unpretentiously artful about this kind of bestiality. Hard to put a severed finger on exactly what it was; perhaps the muddy production, the weird bass thud. Was it intentional? Whatever. All I know is that this album is a death metal classic and is still terrifying 22 years later. Now I'm going to put a razorblade dildo in your rectum and savor your screams almost as much as I do this monstrosity.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Autopsy-Macabre Eternal (2011)

I'm not quite so sure about this one. To me, Autopsy, at their best, were all about scuzzy vibe and atmosphere. Their comeback album is serviceable death, good in it's own right, but something is missing. Old school Autopsy just had this dank, dark, yet strangely fun vibe. This is just dark and dank. Something about the low production values and somewhat sloppy playing that elevated (or lowered) the music, enhancing the doom inflected death riffage and thrash tendencies. But that is gone here. The production is much too clear, and that weirdo bass sound is also missing. It's kind of like some Hollywood remake of a grindhouse classic, like Texas Chainsaw Massacre. There may be more blood and guts, but the grit and tension is diminished. Not that it's terrible, far from it; the riffs are great and bulldozer heavy, and the band has never sounded tighter. There are some great moments but this clearly not the corpse fucking of old. Oh well. Some zombies are best left to rot.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Atheist-Jupiter (2011)

I love this. Atheist were one of innovators of 'prog death' or 'jazz metal' in the early 90's, falling out of sight after their sterile '93 album, 'Elements', alienated many fans with it's unfocused songs and jazz fusion softness. After last years fierce live comeback album, their first studio album in 17 years is a finely honed killing machine; precision made metal that bludgeons you with it's intricacy you, dazzles you with it's nimble off kilter rhythmic pummeling. And riffs! There are perhaps 100's, but they all add up, as math metal should, making trigonometry out of power chords and double bass. Prog metal may be a dime a dozen these days, with Dillenger Escape Plan and Necrophagia leading the virtuotic hordes, but Atheist prove they can teach the youngsters a thing or two.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Alcatrazz-No Parole From Rock 'n' Roll (1983)

Now I understand what the fuss about Graham Bonnet was all about. Sniggering at the cliche album title, and fully expecting another early 80's hard rock cheese fest, what I found was an intelligent and classy hard rock gem, featuring none other than Yngwie Malmsteen on axe duty. More Deep Purple than Motley Crue, the songs gleam with a fierce (if somewhat stodgy)intelligence. Bonnet's soulful vocals are full of understated(!) nuance and range. His lyrics are unpretentiously poetic, eschewing party hardy themes for grown-up ones. You will find Yngwie at his most restrained(to a point....this is Yngwie, after all), his guitar work adding fire and grace to rest of the band's serviceable but undistinguished rocking out. This album might be missing some of that dumb but exciting pop/rock sensibility that made early 80's hard rock so fun, since there are no obvious hits or anthems. They make up for it with depth and passion. You definitely could have done worse at the discount bin in the late 80's, when I first noticed this album but skipped over in favor of sub-par Quiet Riot or Twisted Sister outings. What was I thinking!?!?!

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Asphyx-Last One on Earth (1992)

Swedish death, Florida death, American doom; this dandy of a death metal album has something to please everyone. There are crushing riffs galore and devastating grooves, suitably raw production, but nothing new, even for 1992. Not many blast beat bludgeonings here, but there are tons of slow, heavy grooves that allow the riffs destroy what is left of your sanity. In this, they most resemble Obituary, but with a buzzsaw Swedish death metal sound. They are not going to get any points for originality, but it doesn't matter. The tight performances will crush your skull. This is just a well made old school death metal album.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Asenblut-Aufbruch (2009)

Another album utterly ruined by crappy production and lackluster playing. This is a blackened thrash album from Germany with some annoy deathcore overtones. The songs are decent enough, and there are some inspired riffs and leads, but the dry crunch of the whole annoys. I just want this to go away.

Rating: 4 out of 10

Arsis-A Celebration of Guilt (2004)

I love Arsis. They are the best technical and melodic death metal band there is. They have three full length albums and an ep, and all are superior. "Celebration of Guilt", is a good place to start with this band. The riffs and leads(oh those sweet, virtuotic leads) are classically constructed and melodic, but delivered with fierce aggression, capped off by James Malone's shredding rasp. Every Arsis album is stellar and of the same quality, meaning, this band is just fucking righteous. Can't get tired of this.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Armour-Self Titled (2009)

Armour are a heavy metal historical reenactment band, crafting accurate and original recreations of early 80's heavy metal. These dudes inhabit a special place somewhere between the later day NWBHM of Tokyo Blade and Jaguar, and the party hardy glam metal of Ratt and Motley Crue. All of this with a much too shrill yelper who sounds like a refugee from 1987 era Metal Blade, pulling down what would be a perfectly fine metal album. The thrash tinged 'Satan's Knights' stands up to anything in the early 80's pantheon of classics, though.

Rating: 6 out of 10

Armanenschaft-Psychedelic Winter (2008)

How do you review something this purposefully shitty? Being familiar with the black metal bedroom band aesthetic, especially the Finnish variety, I know where this slop is coming from. It's extremely raw lo-fi black metal, played with punk-like sloppiness, and a noise band abandonment of form. It's enjoyable crappy, it succeeds in setting a strange and terrible ambiance, but can they be serious? Was this really recorded on a boombox? Can you listen to this for more than 5 minutes at a time? Ahhh, impressionable youth. Some great black metal bands have had their origins sounding not unlike these cretins. These guys aren't there yet, not by a longshot.

Rating: 5 out of 10

Armageddon-Self Titled (1974)

Armageddon are one of the quintessential proto metal bands of the 70's. Not quite as heavy as Sabbath, but more noodley than Led Zeppelin, Armageddon inhabit their own obscure little place in the 70's metal pantheon with their Uriah Heep like intensity and hippy jams. Expect many long prog-like songs, acoustic interludes, and hippy jamming. Not exactly a screaming ironfest, it's a good album to mellow out to after your all day Portal marathons.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Arghoslent-Hornets of the Pogrom (2008)

Here's an album for all my polically correct friends. Wanna listen to racist death metal? I mean Klu Klux Klan inbred redneck racist kind of stuff? That's rather unfair. I can't dispute the quality of the music. This is well crafted epic death metal, in a low-rent Amon-Amarth kind of way. The riffs are heavy, melodic, and memorable. The musicianship is tight and professional, if strangely passionless. The lyrics are unapologetically racist; well written and intellectually pretentious, but woefully misguided. Yet, the beauty of death metal is that you really don't have to understand the lyrics to enjoy the music. Death metal is a personalization of evil attitudes, so if you'll find plenty fuck-headed evil in that regard. Too bad most of the emotion went into the lyrical content. More enthusiasm would have made this worth more than a few listens.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10

Arckanum-Sviga Læ (2010)

What is the meaning of a riff? What messages are conveyed? What ideals are inspire these formulations of notes and rhythmic intensity. Unless you read old Swedish, you won't get a sence of that from the lyrics. The idea that most strikes me when listening to this later day Arckanum concoction is that your destructor is a merciless but mournful monster. A learned and sensitive villain, he sees that your doom is necessary but mourns the loss of evil potential. This is a slightly more subdued affair than earlier releases, great care taken to craft intricate riffs that create textured atmospheres. Melodies almost surprise you, and you wonder whatever happened to the molecule shredding of old. Good album with thoughtful music, but I miss the din and wanton destruction.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Arckanum-Kostogher (1997)

If you can cut through the sheer wall of white noise, you will find one of Sweden's most consistent black metal one man show's at the peak of his art. A blizzard of an album, individual songs are not as important as creating an occult atmosphere. Folk elements are applied here and there, but the most astonishing thing about this album is the use of clean, almost monk-like vocals, endowing the music with a pagan sensibility. Other than the folk, you will not find alot if intricacy in the music, as the riffs are purely Emperor and Darkthrone derived. This is a very raw, yet forward thinking album, revolutionary for its time. Best song is Skoghens Minnen Vækks.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Archgoat-Whore of Bethlehem (2011)

Finland, as if suffering from an inferiority complex due to the overarching influence of their Scandinavia neighbors, is home to some of the most fucked-up sounding, primitive, psychotic and overtly Satanic raw black metal on the planet. One of the lead practitioners of this approach is Archgoat.

The chords are few, the blast beats are lightening, the production murkey, and vocals gutteral. For any of my non-metal fan readers who wonder exactly what the fuck the difference between black and death metal is...well....all I'll say is that band is probably not for you. 'Whore of Babylon' is this band's best work; every song about Satan, every note chocked with evil intention. The production has a clarity that their other albums lack, whatever that's worth.

You have to have a weirdly refined taste in metal to appreciate this sort of devolved evil and demonic chortling. Yes, my master! YES!!!!!

Rating: 8 out of 10

Anthrax-Spreading The Disease (1985)

A thrash classic. A pure expression of speed metal. Something like this is really beyond review. All you can do is stand in awe of the towering riffs and the ragged glory of a hungry band realizing it's full power. The production is a bit thin, but that is the only criticism I have of this album. Joey's Belladonna's voice is a joy to listen to, his melodic sensibilities much better suited to these tunes then on any other Anthrax album. 'Lone Justice' is a song for the ages, a sing-a-long comic book epic. I have spent many, many good hours with this album through the years. Never gets old.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Anthrax-Armed And Dangerous (1985)

Ahh, yes. Anthrax unleashes Joey Belladonna upon an unsuspecting world. It's such a shame that Anthrax spent all of the 90's releasing mediocre nu-metal and trashing this good man's name when his accessible voice was part of the magic that made 80's Anthrax so special. Never an evil thrash band, instead crafting power metal, and later hardcore, tinged tunes for the mosh pit, this EP is a good introduction, though it contains one duff original(Raise Hell) and a bad Sex Pistols cover(God Save The Queen). Not quite there yet, but a good listen for fanatics.

Rating: 6 out of 10

Animals as Leaders-Animals as Leaders (2009)

The shred genre is still alive and well in Animals As Leaders debut, but instead of neo-classical masturbation, jazz-fusion is the lubricant of choice on this album. This is top of the line instrumental prog metal. Complex; at times soothing; at times sterile; Animals As Leaders display a vast knowledge of music theory, complimenting their soloing with ferocious riffs and dazzling time changes. The riffs and rhythms may be more informed by nu-metal more than death or thrash, but they are always complex enough to be interesting. And the compositions are never simply excuses to jam. A great, if almost too pristine, listening experience.

8 out of 10

Anal Blasphemy-Bestial Black Metal Filth (2009)

At some point in a metal head's life, you realize that nobody really likes anything you listen to, that no one will understand why you listen to such strange/shitty/fantastic music, and that your neighbors think you are some kind of meth head/satanist. But you don't care. You don't care that the guitars are barely tuned, that the drummer started playing last week, and that the lyrics in every last song are about Satan. In fact, this is exactly why you love it. The band is absolutely uncompromising in their non-musical approach. Is it black metal? Death metal? All you know is that the band is from Finland, and that they are probably shit felching, grave gobbling Euro-zombies. Do you care? No. You just let the musical filth envelope you like a rain made of pure hate, and that those bad feeling go away for a while. Fuck the neighbors. Turn that shit up. It'll be over before the cops show up.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Anaal Nathrakh-Eschaton (2006)

This is more like it. While Anaal Nathrakh's debut was a noise without depth, jump forward a few years and you have a vast improvement. While the basic sound is an unrelenting hellbastard, there is much better songwriting, more dynamics, clean vocals. But despite these improvements, this album is still kind of hard to warm up to. Why? Maybe because it still sounds so processed? Maybe they're trying too hard? Maybe a little to gimmicky? Because they might turn into Marilyn Manson at any second? I just don't know. Blinding blitzkrieg battalion bullshitter of an album.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Anaal Nathrakh-The Codex Necro (2001)

I can imagine the reaction 10 years ago. This band is in passion of one of the most brutal, unrelenting sounds in all of black metal. It sounds that way even now. But unfortunately, it's really too much of a good thing. Everything is ridiculously distorted, to the point where the production simply cannot keep up. The bass is a fuzzed out mess, even the drum programming is drenched in it. Heavy sound effects cannot make up for lack of imagination, as this album is repetitive and a little hard to sit through. The title song is the best on the album, where this the songwriting actually equals the band's evil sonic ambitions. And that makes it just a one song album. Too bad.

Rating: 5 out of 10

Amon Amarth-Suture Riding (2011)

Amon Amarth are the kind of band, like Motorhead or AC/DC, that can take a formula and run with it for decades. The formula that these beardos excel in is melodic Viking death metal. No surprises, just pummeling riffs, heroic melodies, and death growls. Never seems to get old. Always dependable. They will never stop writing these gruff odes to Viking gods and heros. We need bands like this. They are of the earth, like coal, like iron. The songs are forged by the Hammer of Thor.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Amebix-Arise (1985)

Now I understand what Darkthrone has been doing for the past few years. That's who I thought I was listening to when I first put this on. Then I had to check the iTunes again to see if this wasn't some long, lost Venom album. Too heavy for the punks, but too sloppy for the headbangers, this is is one of the first crust punk albums. It's a classic. It sounds a whole of a lot like early Venom, same loose and ragged feel, inspired by politics and history instead of faux-Satanism. Yet there is an expansiveness that is weird, hinting at many metallic things to come, like grindcore and Viking metal. The excellent songwriting holds everything together, since the band seem ready to fall apart into chaos at any time. And keyboards on something this homely? In the 80's? What pariahs they must have been. Misunderstood geniuses always are.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Altar of Plagues-White Tombs (2009)

I hate whispers, especially when used in a musical context. It's my least favorite sound. Breathy, wretched lazy sound effects, a cheap way to convey a subdued and creepy mood. I was really getting into this dark gem, when the third song popped up and ruined the album for me. Perhaps I'm closed minded, but I see metal as a refuge from softness. I can only take a few varieties of soft, but something about the forced intimacy make me recoil and reach for the skip button. Otherwise, this is dark, bleak, and progressive black metal affair. This band is basically an Irish version of Wolves In The Throne Room; 4 very long songs, evoking many dark moods, many shades of evil. It's a journey through parts unknown of a personal hell I simply did not want to descend all the way into. You may want to go there if so inclined. Meh.

Rating: 6 out of 10

Allegaeon-Fragments of Form and Function (2010)

Are technical and melodic death metal bands really a dime a dozen these days? If so, and if most of them are nearly as good as these snarling kids, then it's a remarkable value, indeed. Their debut is chock full of great riffs, virtuotic leads, and pummeling rhythms, startling twists and turns. Certain passages recall death-core at times, which is nearly impossible for this new generation of metal head upstarts to not reference, but the true heart of this band resides in a speedy tech death. The lyrical subject matter, though is a departure for death. They are serious minded contemplations of science, theology, and power.

This album is exhilarating, takes a few listens to fully appreciate, and is a neck crunching noggin' knocker.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10