thrash metal

Album Review: Rebel Wizard — “Magickal Mystical Indifference”

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Rebel Wizard - Magickal Mystical Indifference

If you aren’t familiar with Rebel Wizard, I regret to inform you that you are required to have a good time and educate yourself immediately. Located at the intersection of black and thrash, this album hoons through the intersection like only an Australian wearing a wizard hat shredding epic solos while car surfing could. Magickal Mystical Indifference is the album that you blast through your open windows while taking corners too fast for the rest of the summer. I agree with the title of the first track: “Heavy negative wizard metal in-fucking-excelsis” indeed.

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Nine Circles ov…2020: A Mid-Year Report

ChrisLeave a comment

1_European-Best-Pictures-Of-The-Day-June-13-Black-Lives-Matter-Rallies-Continue-Across-The-UK

I don’t think anyone expected the world to be where it was when 2020 kicked off.  To even attempt to put into words the surge of feelings around a global pandemic that refuses to go away, a wretched history of systemic racism, brutality, and ignorance being exposed and reckoned with in the streets all over the world, and everything else the first six months has brought to light is reckless and futile for me right now.  I continue to watch, listen, and learn as much as I can: to actively be part of a solution instead of passively being part of the problem.

In the moments between there is music, and if there’s even a glimmer of light right now, it’s in how good 2020 has been with regards to metal.  So let’s see where my penchant lies as we cross the halfway mark of year that feels like forever. Continue reading →

Album Review: Midnight – “Rebirth By Blasphemy”

ChrisLeave a comment

Midnight - Rebirth By Blasphemy

Even if you don’t know Midnight, even if you haven’t been on that depraved and sadistically gleeful ride to the edges of metal excess, just take a look at the band pic that accompanies this review.  Then listen to the first song off Rebirth By Blasphemy, which couldn’t be more perfectly titled but will be discussed below the break.

If you’re not on board at this point, nothing can save you.  Take your goat and go home.  We’re here to rage. Continue reading →

Profile: Atlanta’s Deathrashing Maniacs Murder Van

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Murder Van

Old school death metal is a wide open field full of fresh (rotting) fruit and much the same can be said for 90s era thrash, that’s a good thing by the way. Atlanta’s Murder Van combine, and capitalize on, the two for a no frills, balls to the wall approach on their impending self-titled debut. While their influences are vast and traces of them seep through these eight tracks, the band’s ripping execution is a blast to witness. And especially for those of us that cut our teeth listening to many of these same influences. Just ahead of the album’s release, we had the chance to ask them our set of Profile questions so stick around and see how it went down. And, don’t forget to toss them some support. Continue reading →

Album Review: Exhorder – “Mourn the Southern Skies”

JoshLeave a comment

Exhorder - Mourn the Southern Skies

Since 1992, which saw the release of The Law, Exhorder has been out of reach in the sense of new material. And each restart was foiled before any steam could build for a real reunion/reformation. But that hasn’t stopped their legendary status from staying intact and growing or the hopes of new material, one day. Now, that day has come and that new material is Mourn the Southern Skies. 27 years is a long time. Things change, fans change, technology’s changed and music consumption has changed drastically but the band’s basic penchant for biting thrash metal hasn’t changed a bit. Mellowed sure, but the basics are still there and it’s damn good to have them back. Continue reading →