Metal Blade Records – Page 33

The Ocean – Aeolian – Review

March 17, 2006

Like the accessible Six Feet Under of artcore, the band birthing cogent, logical metal nuggets, like slowed-down Meshuggah with a rich, full-bodied recording.

Bolt Thrower – Those Once Loyal – Review

March 17, 2006

Bolt Thrower have always served up their unflagging war metal with a sense of unhurried, unforced charm, and Those Once Loyal continues in that tradition.

Torture Killer – Swarm! – Review

March 10, 2006

Finns playing prime’n’bloody U.S. death metal is weird in itself, but on their second album, Torture Killer have a new vocalist: Six Feet Under’s Chris Barnes.

Symphorce – Godspeed – Review

January 13, 2006

Along the lines of rock-sculptured records by Evergrey, Morgana Lefay, and Nevermore, Godspeed finds this band stonewalled with heaviness, but progressive in all the creases.

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.