The Halo Effect – Days of the Lost (Review)

The Halo Effect - Days of the LostThis is the debut album from Swedish melodic death metal band The Halo Effect.

The Halo Effect are a band that features ex-members of In Flames along with the singer of Dark Tranquillity, (who was also in In Flames very early on), there’s a lot expectations riding on Days of the Lost in certain quarters, (including this one). Continue reading “The Halo Effect – Days of the Lost (Review)”

Heart Attack – Negative Sun (Review)

Heart Attack - Negative SunThis is the third album from French thrash/heavy metallers Heart Attack.

Described in the promo blurb as “the lovechild of Gojira, Machine Head and early Metallica”, this is a decent starting point for approaching Negative Sun. Across 45 minutes, (including a Genesis cover as a bonus track), Heart Attack unleash a mix of old and new thrash/groove/heavy metal, (with a touch of hardcore), and do so with passion and charisma. Continue reading “Heart Attack – Negative Sun (Review)”

Malevolence – Malicious Intent (Review)

Malevolence - Malicious IntentMalevolence are a metal band from the UK and this is their third album.

Malevolence play the sort of groove metal/metalcore hybrid that sounds like it should have been released in the mid-90s. If you take bands like Pantera and Hatebreed, and then throw in a touch of Crowbar, you’ll have a decent reference point for what Malevolence get up to on Malicious Intent; 38 minutes of Continue reading “Malevolence – Malicious Intent (Review)”

Dominicide – The Architecture of Oppression (Review)

Dominicide - The Architecture of OppressionThis is the latest EP from UK death/thrash metallers Dominicide.

This four track EP has a duration of 24 minutes and showcases Dominicide’s brand of modern metallic assault. The music mixes death and thrash metal, while also incorporating at various points across the EP elements of deathcore and even symphonic enhancements. Continue reading “Dominicide – The Architecture of Oppression (Review)”

Interloper – Search Party (Review)

Interloper - Search PartyInterloper are a progressive metal band from the US, and this is their debut album.

Although this band feature ex-members of acts such as Abiotic and Rings of Saturn, Interloper is a different proposition to groups like that. Search Party contains 55 minutes of music, and has more in common with far more accessible bands; think of a mix of acts such Continue reading “Interloper – Search Party (Review)”

Orbit Culture – Nija (Review)

Orbit Culture - NijaThis is the third album from Swedish metallers Orbit Culture.

Orbit Culture play a type of modern metal that mixes groove metal, thrash, and metalcore together, adds a touch of deathcore, and then coats everything in a meaty production designed to get the blood pumping. Continue reading “Orbit Culture – Nija (Review)”

Cabal – Drag Me Down (Review)

Cabal - Drag Me DownCabal are a deathcore band from Denmark and this is their second album.

Cabal play brutal deathcore, but not without personality. Imagine a band like Thy Art Is Murder, only darker, more vicious in nature, and blackened; this will give you a rough idea of what we’re dealing with here. Continue reading “Cabal – Drag Me Down (Review)”

Savage Messiah – Hands of Fate (Review)

Savage MessiahThis is the fourth album from UK metal band Savage Messiah.

Savage Messiah specialise in modern melodic metal, while combining elements of both old and new into their sound. Hands of Fate contains over 45 minutes of this anthemic, personable metal. Continue reading “Savage Messiah – Hands of Fate (Review)”

Ghost Season – Like Stars in a Neon Sky (Review)

Ghost SeasonGhost Season are a modern metal band from Greece. This is their debut album.

I enjoyed their 2014 EP Ghosts Like Her, so it’s good to see the band putting out their first full-length release.

However, a lineup change, including a new singer, mean that the Ghost Season of 2017 is a different beast to that of their first EP. Continue reading “Ghost Season – Like Stars in a Neon Sky (Review)”

Stillnes – Sin Destino (Review)

StillnesThis is the second album from Spanish Thrash Metallers Stillnes.

Wow. Now that’s an album cover. GIANT MONSTER ALERT!

Thrash Metal is a funny beast these days, with most bands seeming to opt for either an ultra-modern approach or an Old-School Retro one. Stillnes are one of the odd ones out as they opt for something in the middle.

This has elements of the Old-School but it’s not some puerile Retro nonsense. Theirs is a more balanced approach that has a modern sheen but not overly so; they come across as a nice mix of old and new that would fit nicely in many different Thrash eras. Ultimately they belong to themselves and this is what I like about them.

The band have a straightforward approach to their Thrash and play largely mid-paced with a good energy and plenty of melody. They are perfectly capable of unleashing a more aggressive attack when they need to, but for the most part it’s choppy riffs and good rhythms that lead the way.

The singer has a decent voice and there are plenty of solos and leads peppered around the release.

Somewhat of a cross between Trivium and Metallica; there’s not a lot to dislike on Sin Destino and it’s an enjoyable listen.

Check them out.