Lollipop Magazine

Demonic – The Empire of Agony – Review

September 1, 1998

Organs, scary keyboards, and fist-banging rhythms offset the hyperspeed paces – but in the end, it seems so random. And “inconsistent” production doesn’t help.

Dawn – Slaughtersun (Crown of the Triarchy) – Review

September 1, 1998

Mostly breakneck-speed black metal, with dabbles of supporting keyboards. When the tempo “slows,” the riffing approaches memorable, almost singable, beauty.

Arckanum – Kampen – Review

September 1, 1998

Shamaatae is a troll. He screams a lot about Pan and the spirits in the woods. He doesn’t scream very well.

Ancients Rebirth – Damnated Hell’s Arrival – Review

September 1, 1998

Within minutes, you catch the Kreator inspiration (the cover of “Flag of Hate” is a good tip off), but even “Storming with Menace” was more silly than dumb.

War – Total War – Review

April 1, 1998

War is so mind-bogglingly evil and heavy, it’s almost impossible to describe without diminishing its force. Wow!

Niden Div. 187 – Impergium – Review

April 1, 1998

The blackest of the black. The screaming is so nihilistic that, even though you can’t decipher a word, you know the fucker is pissed and evil.

Guillotine – Under the Guillotine – Review

April 1, 1998

Snakespit vocals, ripping guitarwork, wild fretboard flailings (meaning they play solos), and ump-pa, ump-pa drumming the likes of which we’ve come to expect.

Cranium – Speed Metal Satan – Review

April 1, 1998

Cranium roar and yelp and jackhammer and shred and scream their way through the ages to the (good) old days of speedcore.

Dissection – The Past is Alive – Review

March 1, 1998

Good for die-hard fans, especially with demo, rehearsal tape, and “side project” material from Satanized, but missable archive filler otherwise.