Opeth’s ‘The Last Will and Testament’ Is a New High-Water Mark
Opeth’s The Last Will and Testament is their most focused, disciplined piece of music to date and their heaviest work in more than 15 years.
death metal
Chat Pile’s Bleak View Goes Global with ‘Cool World’
Chat Pile’s new album does not offer catharsis; it is just an unflinching account of the violence we inflict on each other on an individual and global scale.
Fire-Toolz’s ‘Breeze’ Dares to Imagine Joy Within Chaos
It’s a rare artist indeed who can turn tools for expressing existential dread toward a grateful appreciation of life, but Fire-Toolz accomplishes this on Breeze.
Not a Second of Horrendous’ ‘Ontological Mysterium’ Sounds Human
Horrendous have returned refreshed and once again intent on twisting death metal into new forms on their daring LP, Ontological Mysterium.
Metal’s Imperial Triumphant Present 10 Jazz Albums That Inspire
Metal’s Imperial Triumphant create a type of fusion that marries black/death metal with jazz from across its history. The band discuss their favorite jazz LPs.
Author John Wray on the Death Metal Novel as Flamethrower
Like the death and black metal bands it includes, John Wray’s novel Gone to the Wolves is a full-on assault on the senses that doesn’t hold back.
Noise Rockers Chat Pile Mine the Depths of Human Misery (Without Being Miserable)
Chat Pile’s full-length debut God’s Country is a grim yet thrilling soundtrack to American decline, drawing on heavy traditions from nu-metal to slasher films.
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MetalMatters: The Best New Heavy Albums of September 2021
Here we are with the September crop of the best heavy music, featuring everything across the board from extreme metal to noise and post-rock.
Slipknot Transformed Modern Metal with ‘Iowa’ 20 Years Ago
Slipknot’s boundary-pushing second album Iowa changed the trajectory of heavy music 20 years ago. Its influence rings through many corners of the metal scene.
Gojira Issue a Rallying Cry for Collective Resilience with ‘Fortitude’
French metal quartet Gojira introduce new wrinkles in their sound on Fortitude without abandoning their origins.
Decoherence’s ‘System I’ Is a Haunting Work of Extravagant Black Metal (album premiere)
Filled with venomous riffs, a cold-detached precision, and a sharp dissonant edge, Decoherence’s System I is a haunting work of extravagant black metal.
A Transfusion of New Blood Revives Cannibal Corpse on ‘Violence Unimagined’
Cannibal Corpse have always exploited violence while doggedly refusing to contemplate what it means. Violence Unimagined thrills nonetheless.