Nuclear Blast Records – Page 38

Dismember – Misanthropic – Review

March 1, 1998

The production is ripping, all the manic shredding elements are there, as is the token melodic guitar contrast, but it’s just not especially engaging to me.

Born For Bliss – Flowing with the Flue – Review

March 1, 1998

The Goth pretension shtick wears pretty thin when the passion coursing through the melody is textbook, spider-scrawled or not.

Therion – A’arab Zaraq Lucid Dreaming – Review

March 1, 1998

Split between a rock album (with covers) combined with leftovers from the Theli sessions and material intended as a soundtrack to a Swedish art film.

Sinister – Bastard Saints – Review

October 1, 1997

Cro-magnon death metal barbarianism has been Sinister’s specialty ever since their debut.

The Abyss – Summon the Beast – Review

September 1, 1997

The only drawback of the second release by this Hypocrisy side project is there are no dynamics, rather one go-for-the-throat pace established and maintained.

Dimmu Borgir – Enthrone Darkness Triumphant – Review

September 1, 1997

They’re heavy that blends the sounds of throat-tearing vocals, maniacally riffing guitars, and technicolor dreamcloak keyboards into one “symphonic mass.”

Pain – Review

September 1, 1997

From industrial to good ol’ foot-to-the-floor metal, Tägtgren’s new side offers songs for fans of Fear Factory, SYL, Testament, Alice in Chains, and doom.

Brutality – In Mourning – Review

May 1, 1997

Brutality release a straight-for-the-throat U.S. death metal album with just enough melodic guitar soloing to save it from being completely flat.

Therion – Theli – Review

May 1, 1997

For those who revel in a “heavy metal”-ish sounding guitar used alongside choirs, a lonely piano, and a full-on orchestra, here’s a real treat for you.

In Flames – The Jester Race – Review

May 1, 1997

Gone are the snakespit vocals, replaced by Anders Fridén and his huskier snarl. The dueling guitars, battling in mid-air like bloodthirsty hawks, remain.