BRUTUSBehind The Mountains Svart (2013)Rating: 5.5/10 Not to be confused with the Czech rock band who formed in the 60s, nor the Canadian combo from the 70s, or even the Dutch death metal act for that matter, this particular Brutus is a five-piece Scandinavian act – part-Swedish, part-Norwegian – which clearly thinks they are occupying […]
POWER TRIPManifest Decimation Southern Lord (2013)Rating: 6/10 There’s nothing original about Southern Lord’s Texan combo Power Trip, and I’m quite surprised to hear such a band turning up on such a label. I mean, Southern Lord have often reminded me of some of the doomier, sludgier aspects of metal, but Power Trip are far removed […]
ERIMHAReign Through Immortality Victory (2013)Rating: 6/10 Daubed in corpse-paint, Canadian black metal combo Erimha come marching through the wilderness once again. It’s been three frosty years since their frightful 2010 debut opus Irkalla, and now with renewed vigour they have returned with Reign Through Immortality, another devilish dose of blazing melodic black metal. Sadly, the […]
BLACK SABBATH13 Vertigo (2013)Rating: 8/10 I think it’s only right that a reviewer should feel some sort of pressure when writing about a new album release, and more so when it concerns a band who rightly so have been deemed as legendary. Reviews don’t necessarily make or break a band, but all too often writers […]
CHILDREN OF BODOMHalo Of Blood Nuclear Blast (2013)Rating: 7/10 Everyone’s favourite Finns return with their eighth studio album, Halo Of Blood. The album was recorded in Helsinki, Finland with engineer Mikko Karmila and producer extraordinaire Peter Tägtgren (Hypocrisy / Pain) overseeing vocals and keyboards. The album’s artwork was created by Sami Saramki, who was previously […]
NECRONOMICONRise Of The Elder Ones Season Of Mist (2013)Rating: 6.5/10 Canada’s Necronomicon, despite being one of a cauldron full of bands with the same name, have been lurking in the distant mists of time since 1988, although their debut outing, Pharaoh Of Gods, didn’t see the light of day until 1999. With album number four, […]
MEGADETHSuper Collider Tradecraft (2013)Rating: 6/10 Dave Mustaine and company return with their 14th platter, he of the lion mane being accompanied by David Ellefson once again who cements his place alongside drummer Shawn Drover and guitarist Chris Broderick; Mustaine again suggesting some stability within the ranks. I was eagerly anticipating this record, mainly due to […]
DOGSTONEBroken Peace Self-released (2013)Rating: 7/10 Dogstone are a Russian trio who hail from the Kemerovo region of Russia. I’d not been aware of these guys until I slapped my eyes and ears onto this debut eight-track album Broken Peace. The band has been busy since forming in 2009, with a demo emerging in 2010 and […]
WISDOM OF CROWDS – Flowing Through You Anthony Morgan June 2013 Bruce Soord and Jonas Renkse Progressive outfit Wisdom Of Crowds is the brainchild of Kscope Music staff member Johnny Wilkes. Authoring ‘pretty rough ideas’, Johnny emailed The Pineapple Thief vocalist / guitarist Bruce Soord with the hope of forming a collaboration. The email in […]
WHEN NOTHING REMAINSThy Dark Serenity Solitude Productions (2013)Rating: 6.5/10 So, if you’re tired of all the stoner bands who’ve been aping Black Sabbath all of their sorry lives, and if you’re in need of a slab of sorrowful metal with a difference, then maybe, just maybe Sweden’s When Nothing Remains are for you. If you […]
