Accept – Stalingrad – Review April 15, 2012 The 2012 version of Accept barrels ahead with “Stalingrad,” the title cut from their new album, a powder keg of wartime heroism, misery, and brotherhood.
Lo-Pan – Salvador – Review April 15, 2012 This Ohio band’s “El Dorado” is some dirty American rock that holds up well to ridiculous comparisons.
16 – Deep Cuts From Dark Clouds – Review April 15, 2012 The term “sludge metal” immediately conjures up thoughts of the basketful of bands. Los Angeles’ 16 breaks out of that narrow description.
7 Horns 7 Eyes – Throes of Absolution – Review April 15, 2012 7 Horns 7 Eyes bring (almost) 7 minutes of metal fury and atmosphere on “Divine Amnesty,” a song from the Seattle band’s debut Throes of Absolution.
Skrillex – More Monsters And Sprites – Review April 15, 2012 The dubstep maestro whose songs grace every movie trailer or commercial wishing to make a loud statement.
The Gothsicles – Industrialites & Magic – Review April 15, 2012 Self-described practitioners of the “nerdy shitheads who jump around-dustrial” sound, The Gothsicles are nothing if not immediate on “Drunk Cuts.”
The Qualia – Memorial Gore – Review April 15, 2012 Thoughtful synth-popsters The Qualia have an Interpol-like air of dark confidence about them on “Guess I Lied.”
Trivium – In Waves – Review April 15, 2012 Trivium found a great balance between the freewheeling attack of their first album with the more controlled sounds of their second with 2008’s Shogun.
Meshuggah – Koloss – Review April 13, 2012 A shiny, evil-intentioned robo-threat with a zillion individual parts moving in perfect harmony while steam expels rhythmically from certain orifices.
Absolute Monarchs – Review April 13, 2012 Seattle rockers Absolute Monarchs’ debut album brings to mind a lot of bunch of other artists, all of them good.