US Metal

Necrofier – Transcend into Oblivion Review

By Creeping Ivy on February 23, 2026 in Reviews, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 30 comments

“Houston’s Necrofier first came on my radar when they played the 2024 Decibel Magazine Tour with Hulder, Devil Master, and Worm. Sadly, I missed their opening set, but gladly, I caught a recording of it on YouTube. Their raucous, crowd-pleasing performance compelled me to check out their recordings. At 36 minutes, debut Prophecies of Eternal Darkness (2021) is a lean, mean barrage of melodic black metal, while Burning Shadows in the Southern Night (2023) ups the ante with 47 minutes of stronger, more polished material. Necrofier’s (lone?) star seems to be on the rise since Decibel 2024, as their third album arrives on the mighty Metal Blade Records.” Necro is the new 6-7.

Bygone – Bygone Review

By Creeping Ivy on January 7, 2026 in Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Psychedelic Rock, 50 comments

“Being a non-native Bostonian in Beantown allows me to exercise a dispassionate objectivity towards the city’s musical culture. I vicariously experience the pride of housing The Pixies but don’t feel the shame of inhabiting Aerosmith Land. And yet, I’m always curious about local artists who can obliterate this objectivity, making me feel proud of Boston. Bygone, a heavy metal/hard rock sextet, may be able to liberate my revolutionary heart from its Tory shackles.” Wicked haad music.

Weeping Sores – The Convalescence Agonies [Things You Might Have Missed 2025]

By Creeping Ivy on December 12, 2025 in Things You Might Have Missed 2025, Death Doom, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 25 comments

“Pleasure—as Judas Priest, sadomasochists, and Flagellants teach us—can be found in pain. Doug Moore and Stephen Schwegler, the guitar/drum duo behind Weeping Sores, also teach this lesson with The Convalescence Agonies. As its title suggests, the sophomore Weeping Sores album chronicles Moore’s recovery from a shoulder injury that, quite unfortunately, prevented him from playing guitar. Quite fortunately for us, Moore sublimates his agony into the listener’s ecstasy with The Convalescence Agonies.” Art requires pain.

Nuclear Dudes – Truth Paste Review

By Thus Spoke on September 5, 2025 in Reviews, Death Metal, Electronic Metal, Experimental Metal, Grind, Powerviolence, Synthwave, 30 comments

“Nuclear Dudes is one step closer to living up to their moniker as they are now officially more than one person. Joined by Brandon Nakamura (Doomsday 1999, ex-Teen Cthulu) on vocals, Sandrider’s Jon Weisnewski bounces back from the synthwave moment of Compression Crimes 1 to resume the usual trajectory of insanity. 2023’s Boss Blades—my personal introduction to this madness—was a disarmingly likeable collection of silly and serious sounds heavy and light. It was also surprisingly good.” Waste no Nuclear, dudes.

Stuck in the Filter: May 2024’s Angry Misses

By Kenstrosity on August 17, 2024 in Yer Metal Is Olde, Black Metal, Blackened Death Metal, Death Metal, Hardcore, Melodic Black Metal, Post-Hardcore, Progressive Metal, Punk, Technical Death Metal, 76 comments

May Filter uncloggings bring cool metal…sloggings? Work with me here, people!

Vitskär Süden – Vessel Review

By Iceberg on May 30, 2024 in Reviews, Progressive Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Stoner Rock, 10 comments

“Los Angeles County is about the last place I’d expect to find a band name Vitskär Süden, but the promo sump has been known to act like an Infinite Improbability Drive when I’m mucking around. The psych/stoner rock four-piece last graced these halls in 2022 with The Faceless King, an album that was quite favorably reviewed by our gone-but-not-forgotten Huck, a reviewer whose bands I have apparently been stalking.” Promo stalking and stoner rocking.