Metal Blade Records – Page 37

Gwar – Phallus in Wonderland – Review

April 19, 2002

Like a Monty Python skits mixing actors in surreal environments and illustrated worlds with a lotta gore and drooling and spooge, but take away most, um, sense.

Bolt Thrower – Honour-Valour-Pride – Review

March 22, 2002

They sound as inspired as ever, and have just a hint of musical growth in their tales of war and carnage.

Transatlantic – Bridge Across Forever – Review

March 1, 2002

A prog rock supergroup consisting of Flower Kings’ Roine Stolt, Spock’s Beard’s Neal Morse, Marillion’s Pete Trewavas, and Dream Theater’s Mike Portnoy.

Armored Saint – Nod to the Old School – Review

February 22, 2002

Some even older than what I had, revamps of material I liked dirty (but these are cool too), and will provide even diehards with between-the-cracks stuff.

Six Feet Under – True Carnage – Review

February 22, 2002

Six Feet Under have created a niche by slowing down, simplifying, and in an odd way, shoe-gazing their way through hypnotic, crunchy mainstream metal riffs.

Amon Amarth – The Crusher – Review

February 22, 2002

The Viking mythology-obsessed Amon Amarth is back. Full of At The Gates guitar sounds, Carcass melodic riffs, and rusty gears-sounding metal at Abyss Studios.

Dies Irae – Immolated – Review

February 22, 2002

Ferocious blasts that somehow sound raw and polished at the same time, conjuring up lyrical imagery ala Morbid Angel’s Blessed are the Sick.

Vomitory – Revelation Nausea – Review

June 4, 2001

Fast, fast, and more fast is Vomitory’s motto, and judging from the thrash-based riffing, you can bet these guys are big early-Slayer and Sodom fans.

Labyrinth – Sons of Thunder – Review

June 3, 2001

This is a very heavy, very fast power metal band, not some flighty orchestral experiment, Labyrinth yammering on about some subplot in the life of Louis XIV.

King Diamond and Black Rose – 20 Years Ago: A Night of Rehearsal – Review

June 3, 2001

Kudos to the King for having the open mind and healthy ego enough to let/put out this casual, raw CD capturing the man’s pre-Mercyful Fate band in late 1980.