The Ranker: Megadeth

I am not sure why, but the other day I got in my head that I should rank Megadeth’s albums. Not all of them, just the studio albums. They are the most prolific of the so-called “Big Four” with 14 studio albums (they also have four live albums and a couple greatest hits type packages). The next most prolific is Slayer, who are about to release their twelfth album, then Anthrax with ten, and lastly Metallica with nine. Megadeth does have their fifteenth release coming in the not too distant future. In any case, I really like the band and their consistency of releasing records, despite the revolving door of musicians.

Sound Byte: Enforcer - From Beyond

Thrash and the classic metal sound, I am convinced will never go away. Just like there are singers and bands keeping the sounds of Sinatra, The Beatles, and others alive, that classic sound of metal pioneered in the 1980’s will never go away. Whether you are talking about acts like Warbringer, 3 Inches of Blood, or the fact that bands like Iron Maiden are still releasing new music, metal will never die. This cannot be in more evidence than when you check out recent releases from bands like Ranger, or this new one from thrashers Enforcer. From the old school cover art and logo to the execution of the sound, be ready to put your horns up high.

Sound Byte: Ranger - Where Evil Dwells

My journey through the musical landscape has been a strange one, not unlike my cinematic journey. They both began late, did not have a lot of outside guidance and required a lot of floundering around by me. To that end, my discovery of certain bands and styles has been roundabout to say the least. My experience is vastly different than that of many of my friends. I am not sure if that is good or bad. In any case, one of the recent albums to cross my desk is the debut full length from Ranger, a modern throwback.

Music Review: Satan's Wrath - Galloping Blasphemy

Recent weeks have seen me exploring a few of the doom metal artists I have in my collection that I am not have listened too all that much. I have discovered that I quite enjoy the style they offer and am seeking more. One of the artists I stumbled across was Satan's Wrath, whose debut album, Galloping Blasphemy.  arrived last September via Metal Blade. I have to say, while this may not be a groundbreaking release, it certain, is a captivating one that has plenty to offer the metal fan's ear.

Music Review: Anthrax - Worship Music

Wow, what a long strange trip it has been. The band seemed to have been in a constant state of flux for the past decade. There was the parting of ways with longtime frontman John Bush, who joined the band in 1992. There was the reunion of the classic lineup and their tour with Judas Priest (what a great show that was). Then we had the recruitment of vocalist Dan Nelson and the recording of an entire album that was scrapped (would love to hear some of that stuff). Finally the core band reunited with classic-era vocalist Joey Belladonna, the Big Four tour, and now the release of a much overdue album. Phew. Well, let me tell you that the wait has been well worth it. While Worship Music is not one to break down barriers, it is one that brings Anthrax back to the discussion and is really a solid slab of metal.

Music Review: Assaulter - Boundless!

Ever heard of Assaulter? No? Me neither. The band hails from Australia and recently released their sophomore album, Boundless! It is an album of intense brutality that is sure to pound your skull in, or at least make you ears bleed a little bit. It is certainly a crushing slice of metal, but I find I am hard pressed to say that I really like it. I like it enough, here is something infectious in the way the raw production emanates from my headphones and drills itself into my brain, but it doesn't really stand out enough to make me want to come back all that often.

Music Review: Anubis Unbound - Treachery

Hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, unsigned metal act Anubis Unbound have released a pair of albums and seem poised to take their skills to the next level. With a name like Anubis Unbound you should expect something heavy, and they do deliver. Anubis is the Greek god associated with mummification and funeral rites, pretty gloomy stuff if you ask me, but I see how it fits with the band. The riffs wrap your head in while everyone else takes turns kicking it. Sooner or later you are going to need those funeral rites once the kicking subsides.

Music Review: Testament - Live at the Fillmore

The 1990's were strange times for metal. Supplanted by alternative and grunge, the metal legends of the 1980's found themselves either trying to adapt or soldiering on in the underground from which they born from long ago. Metallica cut their hair and introduced a bit of rock to their sound, Megadeth softened a touch and flirted with the mainstream, Anthrax, well, I'm not sure what they were up to, and Slayer was doing punk covers. Then there was Testament, despite lineup shake ups, they soldiered on and even got a bit heavier, flirting with a death style. This reissue of their 1995 concert in their hometown of San Francisco shows the band doing what they do best, delivering their brand of trailblazing material.

Music Review: Tuck from Hell - Thrashing

Get yourself a silly name and a goofy album cover and you can go far in the metal world. Well, maybe not, but you cannot deny that metal has had more than its fair share of entries in both of those categories. This collection of Swedish youngsters gets a little credit for landing in both categories. On one side you have the band's name, Tuck from Hell. I don't know about you, but I think that is a little silly and would likely play well on a double bill with Tim Lambesis' Austrian Death Machine. Then you have the cover, a drawing of an action hero looking fellow with a chainsaw on one arm and a flamethrower in the other. Funny, that could also go with Austrian Death Machine.

Music Review: Lazarus A.D. - Black Rivers Flow

Wow. That is the word that comes to mind while listening to Black Rivers Flow. Simply put Lazarus A.D. puts it all on the line and just rocks hard. This is a pure form of metal that simultaneously wears its influences on its sleeve as it stands on its own two feet and makes you want to stand up on your two feet and raise the horns in their honor, even if you are listening all by yourself. Quite inspiring. This is an album that I can listen to repeatedly for a day and not get bored. Not only that, I suspect I would want some more in the not to distant future. Basically, if you are a metal fan you are going to want this.

Music Review: Eradicate - Demo Tracks

Recently I was approached about checking out some demo recordings from a local metal act called Eradicate. Always on the lookout for new metal, and being a supporter of the local scene, I agreed. I since come into possession of a pair of demo recordings from the band and I have to say that while they are not great, they are more than solid and show a band that clearly has the talent to succeed.

Music Review: Holy Grail - Crisis in Utopia

With cover art featuring a pterodactyl/alligator/man hybrid creature feasting upon a torn up corpse with other scattered bones and a burning city in the background, Holy Grail's debut album brings to mind artists like Helloween and Grim Reaper and indicate and power metal style. Turns out, that is about right. Formed from the ashes of White Wizzard's original lineup, California's Holy Grail delivers a more than satisfying power metal album inflected with the energy of speed metal and the aggression of thrash metal, perhaps inhabiting a space between Iced Earth and Dragonforce. This is a fine example of what metal can be.

DVD Review: Slayer - War at the Warfield

Slayer has been at this game for a long time. When they take the stage they know what they need to do. The fans in the pit know what to expect. You reading this right now know what to expect. This is, after all, a Slayer concert DVD and if you are a fan of Slayer you have to be prepared. You see, attending a Slayer concert is not for the weak of heart, you cannot be afraid, you cannot be averse to a little blood, and you must be prepared to leave with a pounding head. I have had this experience twice, both times I left hurt, exhausted, and thirsting for more.

DVD Review: Slayer - Live Intrusion

In the early days of my growing love for music, I was drawn to more popular acts. Bands that were safe, fun, catchy, and could be heard a lot on regular radio stations. Like old people, when I heard more extreme styles I immediately identified them as noise and wrote them off. Well, blame it on being young, stupid, and unwilling to broaden my horizons. Fortunately I learned the error of my ways and I now listen to all manner of music and styles. What does this have to do with Slayer and Live Intrusion? Simple enough, I used to lump Slayer in with the noise. I know, I know, please forgive me.

Music Review: Early Graves - Goner

As I first started up the sophomore Early Graves release (third overall, but the first round they went by a different name) I had a distinctly "Meh" reaction. I cannot really say I cared for it all that much upon my first listen. Multiple listens have softened my initial stance somewhat but it still isn't anything that is going to go into heavy rotation around these parts. I will say that there are a few things to like about it, but in the end the are just pieces to admire while the whole still amounts to a letdown.

CD/DVD Review: Slayer - Christ Illusion Limited Edition

Last August, Slayer released one of the their best albums since the glory days of Reigning Blood and Seasons in the Abyss. It also featured the return of original drummer, Dave Lombardo, to the fold. Now, less than a year later, they are getting in on the trend to re-release albums as "limited" or "special" editions with extra material. It may be a bit of a cash grab, but it does get some more Slayer material out into the hands of the fans. At least they didn't go and release CDs with differetn track listings to different stores on the same day (I'm looking at you Smashing Pumpkins). Now, to help you with your decision to upgrade or not, I have revisited the album, as well as taken a look at the new material.

CD Review: Persuader - When Eden Burns

Persuader recently came to my attention when I had the opportunity to check out their first album, Hunter, now I get to see the evolution of a band on their latest release, When Eden Burns. I do not, however, have their sophomore effort, Evolution Purgatory, so I cannot compare the growth through all three. When listening to The Hunter and When Eden Burns back to back, you can definitely hear the progression from one to the other, however you will also notice that there is something a little different. It is still a good addition to the world of metal, but the underproduced aspects of the first seem to have been removed. This is a much more melodic outing, though it does not sacrifice all of the aggression, there is a different feel to this album. Still, if you want to raise your horns, you could do a lot worse than this!

DVD Review: Slayer - Still Reigning

Slayer has stood among the top bands in the realm of metal for the past two decades. They have toured the world leaving destruction in their wake. Since they first released Show No Mercy way back in 1983 they proved they were the real deal, all the way through God Hates Us All, they have kept true to their brand of metal. Where other bands have sacrificed their vision for popularity, Slayer turned a deaf ear to the public and kept creating their own brand of chaos. That dedication to what they wanted paid off, winning them fans around the world, not to mention some of the most rabid group any band could want on their side. Now they return to their seminal 28 minute album Reign in Blood for a tour celebrating their past, and for the first time play the entire album live. To cap it off they make it rain blood in the most literal sense.