Metal Blade Records – Page 33

The Absence – From Your Grave – Review

December 9, 2005

Debut full-length by a Tampa, Florida band that, quite amusingly, play melodic Swedish death metal. Very expertly, I might add. No clean vocals for these guys.

Vader – The Beast – Review

May 16, 2005

Polish grinding deathsters’ hyper-real lyrics, old school meets new school meets black metal speed insanity, thrashing half-steps, and tri-tones for 37 minutes.

Unearth – The Oncoming Storm – Review

April 25, 2005

Combines the best blistered production with the tight, economical, close hardcore ethic espoused by bands like Shadows Fall and Killswitch Engage.

YOB – The Illusion of Motion – Interview

April 18, 2005

An interview with singer/guitarist Mike Scheidt

Amon Amarth – Fate of Norns – Review

April 4, 2005

Bloodied but unbowed Viking metal. Man, album after album, these guys crack me up. The Viking lessons never grow tired, and live, Amon Amarth kill with power.

Daysend – Severance – Review

April 4, 2005

A mixing of Swedish-style neo-thrashery and prog-style guitar noodling with stomping grooves and melodies reminiscent of Faith No More circa-Angel Dust.

The Crown – Crowned Unholy – Review

February 14, 2005

The “re-vocalizing” of Crowned in Terror. Original vocalist Johan Lindstrand proves he’s more dynamic, urgent, and emotive than the ex-At The Gates dude.

Starwood – If It Ain’t Broke, Break It! – Review

January 24, 2005

Lizzy Borden packaged not so secretly as a glam metal act, Starwood sound like a cross between Brides of Destruction and The Wildhearts.

Beyond the Embrace – Insect Song – Review

December 29, 2004

Capable of delivering a solid melodic death metal album, they’ve jumped into a field where the stakes are very high, and their songs just can’t compete. Yet.

Cattle Decapitation – Humanure – Review

December 27, 2004

A smoky, claustrophobic, humid form of warm death metal modernized and tenderized by grind. A much better record than the murky and befuddled To Serve Man.