Verikalpa (Finnish for Blood Épée) is a folk metal band hailing from the northern city of Oulu, Finland. Self-described as “troll/beer” metal, they incorporate the standard folk elements: bouncy, catchy melodies and high energy riffs and lyrics that are easy to sing along to, provided you speak Finnish. It took...
Overall, Repressed by Finland’s Asylum 8 is pretty weird. Although that’s weird mainly in a good way. A strong promising electronic start with typical industrial metal elements open up, the synths, the pounding 4/4 beats with distorted uncomplicated guitars; Coarse vocals, that remain clear and coherent but occasionally bordering on...
A band playing songs in tribute to other bands can be a risky move when you consider the rabid fan base of the band being covered and how they might receive a new take on their favorite songs. To formulate an entire EP of tributes to three of the most...
Fast fast fast. That’s the first impression of the debut album from Calgary, Canada’s Hazzerd. Misleading Evil is nothing short of what is expected of a thrash band but there is something a bit different about this album. While there is the throwback to old school thrash metal complete with...
As expected, Two Paths begins with the typical Ensiferum intro that starts every album, building the anticipation for the thrust into the moshing music defined by the double kicks, the fast guitar riffs and the gang chants. Brass fanfare and hoarse vocals bring us full circle into the standard Ensiferum album. The...
The most epic album of the year. That was the promise and as expected with anything claiming as much, it was followed with disappointment. If anything, The Forest Seasons was the most hyped album of the year and to expect anything to live up to its hype is, insane by...