"Towards The Light" by Dominhate

Towards the Light

Today's album up for review is the latest by Dominhate.

This is another one of the bands who have risen from the ashes of another and dealt with members coming and going, but in the end, they have arrived.

They are self-described as "death thrash," and I can fully state that I'm not entirely sure what that means.

I have always seen death metal to be a natural evolution of thrash metal and not a completely different animal entirely. Both genres are fast, both make good use of high gain, riffing, and double bass blast beats.

In the end, even Spew (a division of Punishment 18 Records, so named for their dedication to thrash.) agrees that they are not a death metal band, but they at least count somewhat as a thrash band.

Album Review: "Molotov" by Burning Nitrum

Molotov

Iron Maiden began the heavy metal history of album covers.

The album cover should grab your attention. When you see it, you should have an idea of what's going on inside the record. The Digital Era may have killed album covers for many genres, but not metal.

Take a moment to look at it. Click on it. It's ok, I'll wait.

Immediately the cover inspires chivalry, totalitarian disdain, and rebellion against injustice.

Maybe I'm just naive...

Formed in 2010, by the vocalist, David Cillo, Burning Nitrum has released an EP, a demo, and a single. Now we're looking at their debut LP. Let's dive in while it's hot.

Album Review: "Welcame" by Rise of the North Star

Welcame

Today's subject comes all the way across the Atlantic, past Ireland, and the rest of the United Kingdom into France.

What's interesting about this particular group is that their spirit comes from even farther away than that...all the way from Japan.

Personally, I'm an Otaku. So I can definitely get into using Japanese culture and art when looking for inspiration. I have a tattoo on my arm in kanji that was for my own encouragement.

When I saw katakana on the album cover and saw their name was that of a popular manga, anime, and video game, I had to admit a small bias, but it turned out ok.

They are described as thrasher, but they are so much more than that. Their tunes are a very welcome mix of thrash, punk, NYC hardcore and yes, even rap.

Album Review: "Just Hip Enough To Be a Woman" by BRONCHO

Just Hip Enough To Be a Woman

In 2011, BRONCHO released their debut record, saw some success and took on two years of touring.

Well, any time that a brand new band who can tour for two years on their debut album, you'd have to think that everything is coming up rosy for them right?

Well in our heroes' case, that was simply was not how it would come to be.

While they were on tour behind the record, the record label collapsed and BRONCHO was left on the road without any tour support.

They pulled together and not only finished the tour but continued writing music and found another label and recorded their sophomore album, Just Hip Enough To Be a Woman. Thankfully for us, quitting was never an idea they considered. They believed in themselves and the songs.

Album Review: "Baphomet Pan Shub-Niggurath" by Unaussprechlichen Kulten

Baphomet Pan Shub-Niggurath

It's been a long time since we've had any Black Metal around here. In fact, I'm not sure if we have ever reviewed a black metal album.

Today, the album review is for Chile's Unaussprechlichen Kulten and their third full length album which is their first LP release since 2008.

That is not to say that in the previous six years that our new friends from Santiago haven't been busy.

They have been releasing a steady stream of EP's, splits, etc since then, including two releases in 2013 alone.

Lyrically, their songs are based in the Chutulu Mythos. The name of the band, which I cannot pronounce, translates to nameless cult and is the name of a fictional book that was referenced in a story by H.P. Lovecraft. Fitting eh?

Album Review: "GH/0ST:S" (Split) by Godhunter & Secrets of the Sky

GH/0ST:S

Earlier this year, two bands one from Tuscon, AZ, Godhunter and one from Oakland, CA, Secrets of the Sky, released a limited edition cassette tape.

It was limited to a mere 100 copies!

This item was only available on tour, and frankly, that's a loss to the rest of us who would like a turn.

Well, we are all now in luck as the bands have connected with Battleground Records to release this split.

EP? Well it's got less songs than Reign In Blood, but it's nearly ten minutes longer.

God Hunter is fresh off their LP debut, but has been released on several splits over their career. Secrets of the Sky have also released their debut EP, but this is only their second release, and first split.

Album Review: "Feel The Noise" by Paul Collins

Feel The Noise

Paul Collins is back and better than ever.

Honestly, allow me to display my ignorance to all of you. I am not familiar with the work of Paul Collins. It's a lot like Mitch Hedberg and Peter Frampton I think.

For the rest of us who aren't sure....

Paul's been a professional musician since 1974 and has played in some important bands: The Nerves, The Breakaways, The Beat, and his solo career.

Aside from the list of bands, it could also be said that he has a laundry list of styles and even instruments. Like Dave Grohl, he started off as a drummer and switched to guitar and vocals. Like Dave Grohl, he could actually pull it off....but let's move on to the album review....

Album Review: "At Best Cuckold" by Avi Buffalo

At Best Cuckold

For today's review, we will be slightly less metal. Actually, that's not really accurate. We will be significantly less metal.

In fact this review isn't metal at all.

There's just been so much of it sent to me lately so that is what I've been writing about lately, but it was never my intention to be a metal site.

Today's review subject, Avi Buffalo, is a group of younger musicians who were in high school while they were recording their first album, but that was 2010, and today we're looking at 2014.

Now they are releasing their sophomore effort, At Best Cuckold on SubPop records. Should listeners be concerned about the dreaded sophomore slump?

Album Review: "Religious Apocalypse" by Bloodoaked

Religious Apocalypse

Months ago, I came across a Kickstarter campaign by a band with a record label and a recording contract.

Thinking about that, it was a bit confusing, but Bloodsoaked was trying something brand new. They'd worked out a deal with Comatose Records that by taking less money to record their new album, they would receive the rights to the masters of that album, and all previous works six months after the release of Religious Apocalypse.

Well that's pretty cool, so they would be able to make a little extra money for themselves and all that good stuff, except that wasn't the point.

Bloodsoaked isn't going to be selling this album or any of the previous, but they will be giving them away via download in the belief that they will be able to grow their fanbase by allowing the music to be heard by absolutely anyone who wants to hear it. When read this, I knew I was interested in what they were doing.

Album Review: "Fractured Frequencies" by Shards of Humanity

Fractured Frequencies

Duo groups are cool, but you know what's cooler than a duo?

A trio. The wisdom of Bender Bending Rodriguez was not lost on the subject of today's review, the full length debut album of Shards of Humanity.

Several extreme metal duos have been traipsing into my sphere, but I wonder how they would tour?

Shards of Humanity went from a duo to a trio with the addition of guitarist Larry Mercado on guitars in 2013 joining Ryan McAlister, drums and Todd Cochran, guitars/vocals.

Our new friends hail from the City of Memphis, TN which is also the home of Beale Street...a section of town that your friend and humble narrator greatly desires to visit, but that's neither here nor there. Memphis, obviously, is not well known for metal, but for another oft maligned genre, the Blues.

Album Review: "Feed The Ego" by Algebra

Feed The Ego

For today's consideration, we have a thrash band from the not so very metal, but very neutral country of Switzerland.

They go by the name of Algebra.

Personally, hearing the word algebra gets me angry as all get out. This has always been the Achilles Heel of my Mensan mind....I'm still thrilled I passed a math course and ended up with my degree.

But that's neither here nor there.

Feed The Ego is the sophomore release from this group. Their first album was released back in 2012 and later re- released by Stormspell Records.

Album Review: Casey Jack's Eponymous Debut

Casey Jack

Are you aware that I reside in St. Louis, Mo? Hopefully, my readership is larger than my metro area and that everyone who's just read that didn't think, well duh, yeah....we all knew that, anyway...moving on.

Well, the object of today's review is from my home state of Missouri, but on the far southwestern end of it, Springfield, Mo.

Springfield is about four hours down Interstate 44 from where I live. It's a nice little town in that corner of the state. My mother lived in Springfield for a time.

I've been down there a few times. I intended on getting out there soon to catch a Springfield Cardinals AA minor league baseball game. Beyond my couple times down there, I don't really know a whole lot about the area and I certainly have no concept of the music scene, but today, we get a sneak peak into their scene, with Springfield's own, Casey Jack.

Album Review: "Drone Maintenance" by BLACKWOLFGOAT

Drone Maintenance

BLACKWOLFGOAT is the side project of guitarist Darryl Shepard.

Shepard has been in about thirty different bands. He however, has chosen to create a side project in order to get out, well, whatever the hell this stuff is.

Drone Maintenance is the third record by BLACKWOLFGOAT. The previous two offering solidified the modus operandi: layered guitars, looped works, ambient music.

The current, well, we'll get to that later on in this review.

This particular record is a semi concept album, but who can honestly tell? There is so much going on that it's pretty hard to keep up with any implied story lines....that's not really a bad thing though.

Album Review: "Three Poisons" by Elephant Stone

Three Poisons

Today's story begins in the historic city of Montreal, Quebec.

I have never been there, but I surely desire to go there one day, if not perhaps even live there for a time.

It has the reputation of being the most European styled city in North America, and perhaps my European heritage always has me looking eastward across the pond...to one day walk the streets of my forefathers....

I've lost the plot. This group was founded years ago by sitarist/bassist, Rishi Dihr. How many bands can you name that not only have a sitarist, but were founded by one.

Now think of all of the bands from the Sixties and Seventies that had Eastern vibes. Led Zeppelin? Pink Floyd? Even the mighty Spinal Tap had a sitar on a song.

Album Review: "Our Cult Continues!" by Cardinals Folly

Our Cult Continues!

I have a gift for being able to tell if I'm going to be interested in a record when I hear the name or see the cover.

Or I'm a closed minded so and so.

Well, based on the name, the title, and the cover, I was interested in hearing this record. That in and of itself brought up a whole different can of worms that just had to be picked through.

Listening to this album made me think stoner metal, but their bio lists them as Doom Metal. Frankly, I'm not entirely certain I know what the difference between these two closely related sub-genres is.

If you do know, please hit it in the comments. A point by point with references to significant artists and songs should do well enough.

Here's what I can tell you....whatever you want to call it, be it Stoner Metal or Doom Metal, or whatever, I thinthink that it's the true 2nd Generation of metal and these boys from Finland, sure have it figured out.