Classic Era
1. Metal Magic (1983)
Pantera’s first, and definitely chalk full of classic heavy metal. “Ride My Rocket” is clearly very KISS influenced, but still has a bunch of NWOBHM backbone. “I’ll Be Alright” is a perfect classic heavy metal track with NO glam influences.. Realistically, back then, this would have been viewed as a [...]
1. Norma Jean - The Anti Mother (2008)
I have heard many bad things about this album, in fact, after initially listening to a couple of songs, I wrote this album off as another melodic metalcore assraping. However, for this review, sitting down at my computer and thoroughly listening to the Anti Mother, I have [...]
When one listens to metal, they instantly try to compare and contrast it to other artists in order to come up with a likeness. However, every once and awhile, an artist peaks up from the netherworld to blow established traditions out of the water. In the last few years, our genre has been lucky enough [...]
I don’t get this band, I really don’t. Every time I hear this band played (which is quite often), I immediately think they must be some sort of gimmick. I consider myself to be quite up to date on the latest music trends, and I usually become suspicious of bands that suddenly pop up out [...]
Combining ferocious grooves ala Lamb of God, a modern guitar tone in the vain of modern Exodus, a vocalist who is harsh but not unintelligble much like Leif Jensen of Dew-Scented, and finally, the infinite beats that made Fear Factory powerhouses, are what constitute the debut release of Fracture Point, entitled Inherit the Downfall.
Prior to [...]
Perhaps the most underrated aspect of heavy metal today is its diverse subject matter that is articulated into some of the most beautiful, shocking, depressing, stoic and humorous lyrics ever written in music. For the most part, it seems that people, be them fans or otherwise, tend to focus on the heavy aspects of the [...]
The history of Sepultura is a long storied career that I really don’t feel like wasting time in this review going over. However, one thing that does need to be mentioned before I can go on are the divisions Max Cavalera had with the rest of the band after his departure, in particular his brother. [...]
Legendary thrashers Death Angel are back with another album after their comeback in 2004 with The Art of Dying. How does one treat comeback albums in comparison to a band’s works during their heyday? Do you give them the benefit of the doubt, or allow them to feel the harsh realities of where they [...]
On November 10th 1986, Brazil’s thrash dynasty was born. Previous to this, thrash was reserved for North America and Europe, but a little, yet incredibly evil sounding band by the name of Sepultura released their debut record spreading the heavy metal disease to the masses in a homegrown fashion. Despite their humble beginnings as a [...]
Well, I’m back from a very long hiatus. I’ll spare you the non-essential details of my “vacation” from AMR, but in short I was without an internet connection for some time, then became very sick with the flu, then busy—and the procrastination set in. But I’m back, and the album I chose to review I [...]
