A Breach of Silence – Secrets (Review)

A Breach of SilenceA Breach of Silence are an Australian metal band and this is their third album.

I’ve been watching A Breach of Silence with a keen interest over the years and have enjoyed seeing them grow as a band.

Their 2013 debut album Dead or Alive was an enjoyable slab of Killswitch Engage-inspired metalcore. This was followed up Continue reading “A Breach of Silence – Secrets (Review)”

Riviẽre – Heal (Review)

RiviereRiviẽre are a progressive metal band from France and this is their debut album.

This is an intriguing blend of styles that uses progressive metal as a base to launch forays into post-rock, post-hardcore and alternative metal.

As you may be able to ascertain from Continue reading “Riviẽre – Heal (Review)”

Xandria – Theater of Dimensions (Review)

XandriaXandria are a symphonic metal band from Germany. This is their seventh album.

This is grand, orchestral, operatic metal with lofty ambitions and high aims. It’s been a while since I’ve caught up with Xandria, and it seems they’re hungrier than ever for big things. Continue reading “Xandria – Theater of Dimensions (Review)”

The Unguided – Brotherhood (Review)

The UnguidedThis is the latest EP from The Unguided, a Swedish melodic metal band.

The band’s 2016 album Lust and Loathing was one of those albums that just got better and better the more I listened to it. On the surface the band didn’t seem to be doing anything too different from Continue reading “The Unguided – Brotherhood (Review)”

Kreator – Gods of Violence (Review)

KreatorKreator are a legendary thrash metal band from Germany that I very much doubt will need any real introduction. This is their fourteenth album.

Full disclosure – Kreator are one of my favourite bands. They have been, (and remain), one of the most consistently enjoyable thrash metal bands out there. Even at their weakest, (probably Cause for Conflict I’d say), their material is still stronger than that of most similar bands. And of course, when they’re at the Continue reading “Kreator – Gods of Violence (Review)”

Sepultura – Machine Messiah (Review)

SepulturaLegendary Brazilian metal band Sepultura return with their fourteenth album.

On Machine Messiah Sepultura continue their blend of thrash, modern metal, experimental metal and tribal percussion, and they do this in such a way on this release that they sound revitalised, energised and fresh.

The band’s albums are frequently exploratory and tentative in nature, with a mix of straightforward metal tracks and more experimental ones that see them pushing the envelope and trying new things. Continue reading “Sepultura – Machine Messiah (Review)”

Burn Damage – Age of Vultures (Review)

Burn DamageBurn Damage are a Portuguese metal band and this is their debut album.

Age of Vultures is 32 minutes of stomping groove/thrash metal with some death metal influences thrown in for extra brutality. Continue reading “Burn Damage – Age of Vultures (Review)”

Zao – The Well-Intentioned Virus (Review)

ZaoZao are an American metalcore band and this is their eleventh album.

By this point Zao are pretty much a musical institution, despite this being their first album since 2009’s Awake?.

The Fear Is What Keeps Us Here is probably my favourite Zoe release. The utterly catchy chaotic savagery of it still blows me away to this day. The Well Intentioned Virus is Continue reading “Zao – The Well-Intentioned Virus (Review)”

Alkira – Klotho (Review)

AlkiraAlkira are a thrash metal band from Australia and this is their second album.

You may recall Alkira from their 2014 debut album Juggernaut. This was a very enjoyable slab of aggressive thrash metal that I especially enjoyed as it seemed at the time that so much of thrash was doing the retro/ironic/humour/whatever version of the style, which is largely not for me; Alkira were, (and are), somewhat of a panacea for this. Continue reading “Alkira – Klotho (Review)”