Trivium

Malefic – Impermanence Review

Malefic – Impermanence Review

By Andy-War-Hall on March 2, 2026 in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 22 comments

“A tabby cat is what you get when you let nature take its course. Nearly every stray is a tabby because, without selective breeding from human interference, cats just end up looking like that most of the time. Similarly, Atlanta’s Malefic feel to me what you’d get if you let the faster variants of extreme metal reach their natural conclusion. Playing a style that draws from thrash, black and death metal, Malefic formed in 2007 with the stated goal of modernizing black metal. In doing so, they’ve imbued in their slow-cooked debut Impermanence, an intensity and drive befitting a genre-forwarding record.” Maleficent.

Machine Head – UnatØNed Review

Machine Head – UnatØNed Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on April 21, 2025 in Reviews, Groove Metal, 140 comments

“If you take a step back—maybe a big one—Machine Head’s career is a rollercoaster ride through hell. And not always in a good way. After getting off to a good start and dropping two of their best records, dark clouds began to gather. The Burning Red rain came down on our heads, and the floods of the Supercharger drove torrents of radio-friendly, rap-metal destruction through the streets. Yet, they overcame and rebuilt, marching Through the Ashes of Empires and, ‘Clenching the Fists of Dissent,’ putting The Blackening on ‘From This Day’ forever. Or so we thought.” Head games.

Cabal – Everything Rots Review

Cabal – Everything Rots Review

By Dear Hollow on April 10, 2025 in Reviews, Deathcore, Electronic, Hardcore, 35 comments

“The struggle between viciousness and velocity is a storied one in the realm of deathcore, and Cabal is no exception in its battle between tone-abusing slogs and blazing blastbeats. Enacting a blackened deathcore attack that neglects orchestral atmospheres and paper-thin symphonics in favor of thick filth that covers every surface lead and fills every chugging crevice, it flaunts an arsenal of blackened chord progressions that lend a horror appropriate to its occult theme.” Cult of extremity.

Fool the Masses – It’s All Lost Review

Fool the Masses – It’s All Lost Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on June 10, 2024 in Reviews, Electronic Metal, Metalcore, 26 comments

“So, Germany’s Fool the Masses emailed the site in hopes that we would review their second full-length record, It’s All Lost. Not only that, but they directed the email to me—as if I’m the metalcore expert at AMG Headquarters. I was born well before that abomination of a genre first reared its ugly head and I’ve had to suffer through the Unearth’s and Trivium’s ever since. But Fool the Masses is unique because it has no drummer and employs a DJ to program the drums and add electronic flavorings in the mix. Yeah, I know, I’ve already lost 85% of you by this point.” Fools and masses.

Stuck in the Filter: January’s Angry Misses

Stuck in the Filter: January’s Angry Misses

By Kenstrosity on March 11, 2024 in Stuck in the Filter, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Folk Metal, Hardcore, Heavy Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, Sludge, Stoner Metal, Symphonic Metal, Technical Death Metal, 75 comments

It’s becoming apparent that our filtering systems work quite well! The crew has done a fine job pulling filth from the workings and releasing the pressure to the system. A second too late and the toilets would have backed up.

Full Assault – Dying World Review

Full Assault – Dying World Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on February 8, 2024 in Reviews, Thrash Metal, 36 comments

“Though Germany’s Full Assault has been around for over fifteen years, I’ve never heard of them. I was even surprised they’ve never been reviewed before in these halls. But that might just be the lack of a label. Until now. Their Iron Shields debut, Dying World, is here with neothrash tendencies that combine a Crisix-like vocal approach with At the Gates thrashery.” Assault and BATT-ER-Y!

Signs of the Swarm – Amongst the Low & Empty Review

Signs of the Swarm – Amongst the Low & Empty Review

By Dear Hollow on August 2, 2023 in Reviews, Deathcore, 80 comments

“When you’re Signs of the Swarm, and the last ten years have been one big battle with PR, you can finally breathe after 2021’s impressively solid Absolvere. Shady human beings have been booted and one solid album free of allegations in, the Pittsburgh now-quartet can instead focus on being terrible for being a deathcore band.” Goals.

The Willowtip Files: Capharnaum – Fractured

The Willowtip Files: Capharnaum – Fractured

By Saunders on October 18, 2022 in Blog Posts, The Willowtip Files, Progressive Death, Technical Death Metal, 19 comments

“Pennsylvanian-based independent label Willowtip Records was established by Jason Tipton in the late ’90s. From humble beginnings the label has stood the test of time, becoming one of the most respected and highly regarded record labels in the extreme metal scene. It takes something special to create a label with a consistently unfuckwithable roster of quality, innovative artists, while retaining long-term integrity and durability. Willowtip is the self-proclaimed forward-thinking label, releasing a slew of modern classics and top-shelf albums that may have a lower profile but are more than worth your while.” Next stop: All star death.

Machine Head – ØF KingdØM and CrØWn Review

Machine Head – ØF KingdØM and CrØWn Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on August 26, 2022 in Reviews, Groove Metal, Thrash Metal, 133 comments

“For better or worse, Machine Head has returned with another album. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve said it before, I’m a diehard fan of Flynn and co. But it’s hard to imagine the band returning with anything decent after the absolute dumpster fire that’s Catharsis. Not to mention the resulting departure of everyone but Flynn. But Machine Head has done it before. Remember Supercharger and the brilliant resurrection that is Through the Ashes of Empires? Without that struggle and success, we would never have received The Blackening. So, maybe there’s still hope.” Damn the Machine.