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Tools for Discovery: Arakain Albums Ranked
Arakain was one of Czechoslovakia’s earliest heavy metal bands, and they are seen as one of the elder statesmen of their country’s metal scene. Since early 1982, they have steadily been building their repertoire, and although guitarist Jiři Urban is the only remaining founding member, they have had a fairly…
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Interview Exometry: Not Limited to Regular Forms
On their debut EP ‘Descent’, British-Belgian trio Exometry explores the possibilities of progressive rock and metal without losing itself in virtuosic stunts or impenetrable song structures. The result is a highly dynamic album with some great rhythmic variety. But why do the introductions if drummer Anna Mylee and guitarist Alen…
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Album of the Week 43-2025: Aephanemer – Utopie
Aephanemer has always been a promising melodic and especially symphonic death metal band, but nothing prepared me for how much ‘Utopie’ was going to overwhelm me. The French trio went through an evolution that goes beyond the growth bands usually show between two albums, to the point where the whole…
Latest Interviews
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Interview John Kevill (Warbringer): Consciously Going for Different Angles
Like its two predecessors, ‘Wrath and Ruin’ establishes Warbringer as one of the most interesting twenty-first century thrash metal bands. Singer John Kevill shares some in-depth insights into his excellent lyrics, his vocal approach and what it takes to stay relevant as a thrash metal band two decades into its…
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Interview Randy Meinhard (Sacrosanct): Melodic and In-Your-Face
After re-establishing themselves on their 2018 comeback album ‘Necropolis’, Sacrosanct further enhances its more melodic progressive metal sound on ‘Kidron’. Founding guitarist and main songwriter Randy Meinhard – and sole remaining member from the ‘Necropolis’ line-up – sheds some light on the arduous production of ‘Kidron’. “There are still people…
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Interview Chemicide: “Obsession Beats Talent”
With ‘Violence Prevails’, Costa Rican thrashers Chemicide have entered a new phase in their evolution, complete with a record deal with Listenable Records and a new rhythm section. Vocalist and guitarist Frankie and drummer Chalo give us a glimpse into the production process of the album. “While I wrote all…
Latest Reviews
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Album of the Week 51-2024: Matenrou Opera – Mutsu no Hana
Well, that was a surprise. With 2024 being a fairly terrible year when it comes to major Japanese metal releases, I wasn’t expecting Matenrou Opera to be the band to save J-metal’s honor. That isn’t meant as an attack on the band, it just feels like they had been going…
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Album of the Week 50-2024: Pokolgép – Vissza Sose Nézz
After introducing their new singer Richárd Bánhegyesi with a single earlier this year, Pokolgép’s new album ‘Vissza Sose Nézz’ was announced less than a month before its release. Sure, the Hungarian heavy metal institution was due a new album – the excellent ‘Metálbomba’ being nearly nine years old at this…
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Album of the Week 49-2024: Triumpher – Spirit Invictus
Don’t let the band logo trick you into thinking Triumpher is an extreme metal band. While the influences are certainly there, the Greek quintet mainly wears its ‘The Triumph of Steel’-era Manowar inspiration in its sleeve, though with notably less repetitive songwriting, as well as more pronounced melodic sensibilities, and…
Kevy Metal 