Metal/Hardcore Review | Lollipop Magazine

Sister – Disguised Vultures – Review

February 21, 2014

Scandinavia has always been the place to look for sleazy glam punk rock ‘n’ rolla, and Swedish outfit Sister delivers the goods.

Eldritch – Tasting The Tears – Review

February 17, 2014

Intriguing, moody power metal from Italy. Incredibly (for this genre), the singer doesn’t overplay it.

Def-Con-One – II – Review

February 7, 2014

Pure opening-act mediocrity from the UK. Def-Con-One is a throwback to scores of second stage Ozzfest bands from the late ’90s-early ’00s.

Behemoth – The Satanist – Review

February 3, 2014

Nergal has defeated leukemia and hosted a Polish version of The Voice, all while creating brutal death metal. It’s kind of hard not to root for the guy.

Satan’s Wrath – Aeons of Satan’s Reign – Review

January 29, 2014

Greece’s Satan’s Wrath is actually much closer to traditional heavy metal than it is to the storms of the antichrist.

Weekend Nachos – Still – Review

January 28, 2014

Chicago purveyors of grind titled their first album Punish and Destroy, and even though it’s now seven years later, their modus operandi hasn’t changed a bit.

Toxic Holocaust – Chemistry of Consciousness – Review

January 17, 2014

Down and dirty 30 minutes of pure speed-shot thrash metal, Toxic Holocaust’s fifth full length, Chemistry of Consciousness, is definitely their best work yet.

Deicide – In The Minds of Evil – Review

January 10, 2014

“In The Minds of Evil” is heavy as hell, but it’s got groove and craft as well. This is how death metal is done.

Death Angel – The Dream Calls for Blood – Review

January 7, 2014

This is straight-up bloody meat thrown to ravenous thrash fans – prototypical thrash that is equal parts Slayer and Megadeth.

Dream Theater – Review

January 6, 2014

It’s great to report that “Along for the Ride” from their 2013 self-titled record is along the lines of Dream Theater’s classic early work.

Twilight of the Gods – Fire on the Mountain – Review

January 1, 2014

This talented bunch quickly grew beyond the initial concept to play classic, galloping, mall-strutting ’80s metal.

Powerwolf – Preachers of the Night – Review

December 11, 2013

Adapting Kiss’ Creatures of the Night to Preachers of the Night is funny. If it’s serious, that’s dopey. It’s multilayered powermetal, could go either way.

Church of Misery – Thy Kingdom Scum – Review

December 10, 2013

Great album name, solid stoner/doom band from Japan. Lke Down, ya can’t understand a goddamn word, but the riffs are thick and heavy, so you let it (mud)slide.

In Solitude – Sister – Review

December 6, 2013

Sister is an incredible step forward, and they already had their traditional, Mercyful Fate-inspired heavy metal down pretty cold on their last album.

Paradise Lost – Tragic Illusion 25 – Review

November 13, 2013

They’ve been on a resurgence since Faith Divides Us, Death Unites Us. Someone decided it was time to shake out an album’s worth of b-sides and rarities.

Twilight of the Gods – Fire On The Mountain – Review

November 11, 2013

Twilight of the Gods decided to take their combined influences of classic metal from the ’80s and do their own thing.

Fates Warning – Darkness In A Different Light – Review

November 7, 2013

Fates Warning has undergone numerous lineup changes since its inception 30 years ago. Thankfully, the band is ageing gracefully.

Tyr – Valkyrja – Review

November 6, 2013

The Faroese folk metallers in Tyr deliver some badass music to back up the badass cover art of their latest, Valkyrja.

Gwar – Battle Maximus – Review

November 5, 2013

“Madness at the Core of Time” is a cut above their standard thrash-fodder, featuring an impassioned delivery from Oderus Urungus.

Armed For Apocalypse – The Road Will End – Review

November 4, 2013

Circle pits and hair whips, declaring: “All we want to do is rock.” Chunky, meat-and-potatoes modern metal.

Ayreon – The Theory of Everything – Review

October 29, 2013

Their Wiki describes them as “rock opera, prog metal, prog rock, space rock, symphonic metal, folk metal, and power metal.” Is that all?

Satyricon – Review

October 18, 2013

Satyricon’s 2013 self-titled record is another strange chapter in their modern discography.

Carcass – Surgical Steel – Review

October 4, 2013

Absolutely ferocious comeback album from the pioneers of melodic death metal. “Thrasher’s Abattoir” finds Carcass picking up right where they left off.

Watain – The Wild Hunt – Review

September 20, 2013

Sweden’s black metal hellions Watain have been on a fearsome tear. The Wild Hunt finds them expanding their ambition with ballads and other left turns.

DevilDriver – Winter Kills – Review

September 6, 2013

Winter Kills, DevilDriver’s sixth studio album, rages from start to finish, with balls-to-the-wall, drenched-in-sweat ragers, one after the other.