Top 20 list for 2020 by John Haseltine This list is always a tricky one for me to do each year. While I have narrowed it down to these 20 for the site, there were/are so many other albums released in 2020 that I have not had the chance to…
Transilvania – Of Sleep And Death
January 2021 January 1st, 2021 / Invictus Productions Rating: 4.5 / 5.0 Reviewer: John Haseltine The new year will start with a bang with the release of Transilvania’s OF SLEEP AND DEATH. Transilvania is a blackened thrash outfit that formed in 2014 in Austria. Black metal and thrash, when…
Cynik Scald – Aged Spirit
January 2021 December 27th, 2019 / Self-Release Rating: 3.5 / 5.0 Reviewer: John Haseltine Motorcycles, metal, and harmonicas! Oh My! So when I thought I was listening to a newly released album by the multicultured Cynik Scald from Cyprus, I was wrong. It did take a little digging, but…
Quick Jabs for January 2021
This is a new monthly section where we will post an assortment of shorter reviews for albums that we have checked out or may have missed out on previously. The reviews are short and to the point, thus the tile “Quick Jabs”. Trident – North October 2nd, 2020 – Non…
Deconsecrate – Dark Night Of The Soul
January 2021 December 1st, 2020 / Goodlife Recordings Rating: 4.0 / 5.0 Reviewer: John Haseltine I was a bit hesitant about putting a review of Deconsecrate’s sophomore release DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL up on the site here. Only for the fact that they still have a genre description…
Quick Jabs for December 2020
This is a new monthly section where we will post an assortment of shorter reviews for albums that we have checked out or may have missed out on previously. The reviews are short and to the point, thus the tile “Quick Jabs”. Salem’s Childe – The Sin That Saves You…
Demoniac – So It Goes
December 2020 December 11th, 2020 / Edged Circle Productions Rating: 4.0 / 5.0 Reviewer: John Haseltine Chile’s Demoniac was formed in 2011. At the time, the band was on a mission to create the fastest and most ferocious thrash metal known to man. For the most part, what is…
Iron Angel – Emerald Eyes
November 2020 October 2nd, 2020 / Mighty Music Rating: 4.5 / 5 Reviewer: John Haseltine It sure as heck does not seem like it has already been two years since Iron Angel released HELLBOUND, but it has. For those who may not be familiar, Iron Angel is one of the…
Quick Jabs for November 2020
This is a new monthly section where we will post an assortment of shorter reviews for albums that we have checked out or may have missed out on previously. The reviews are short and to the point, thus the tile “Quick Jabs”. Kromheim – Kromheim June 23rd, 2020 – Self-Release…
Amederia – Sometimes We Have Wings
November 2020 November 27th, 2020 / BadMoodMan Music Rating: 4.0 / 5.0 Reviewer: John Haseltine If you are a connoisseur of the gloomy side of gothic doom-laden metal, you will be in for a surprise here. Amederia is just that. Hailing from Russia, Amederia has been in existence since 2006.…
Harlott – Detritus Of The Final Age
November 2020 November 13th, 2020 / Metal Blade Records Rating: 5.0 / 5.0 Reviewer: John Haseltine Holy Harlott Batman, this is some killer thrash! Harlott formed back in 2006 and is from Melbourne, Australia. DETRITUS OF THE FINAL AGE is Harlott’s fourth full-length album, and after a couple of listens…
Quick Jabs for October 2020
This is a new monthly section where we will post an assortment of shorter reviews for albums that we have checked out or may have missed out on previously. The reviews are short and to the point, thus the tile “Quick Jabs”. Black Tractor – The Wonders Of The Invisible…
Stryper – Even The Devil Believes
October 2020 September 4th, 2020 / Frontiers Rating: 5.0 / 5.0 Reviewer: John Haseltine Here we have the latest album, EVEN THE DEVIL BELIEVES, by none other than the mighty Stryper. Yep, I said it! Stryper is a band that does not need any introduction if you have been around…
Raven – Metal City
October 2020 September 18th, 2020 / Steamhammer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0 Reviewer: John Haseltine There is no denying the influence and impact Raven’s early albums had on the hard rock and metal community in the ’80s. Early ’80’s that is. Raven was right up there as one of my…
Torch – Reignited
October 2020 September 25th, 2020 / Metalville Rating: 4.0 / 5.0 Reviewer: John Haseltine The year was 1985 or maybe even in 1986. I had a few dollars in my pocket and nothing better to do than head over to the local record store to flip through the bins. I…