January 21, 2022
W.A.S.P. – Helldorado
Reviewed: June 1999Released: 1999, CMC International RecordsRating: 3.5/5 Reviewer: Joe Think the Rolling Stones are the “Bad Boys of Rock ‘n’ Roll”? Think again… Don’t believe me? Okay, picture Mick Jagger wearing a codpiece with a circular saw-blade jutting out of it and spitting blood… I rest my case. WASP…
Daemon – The Second Coming
Reviewed: June 1999Released: 1999, Diehard RecordsRating: 3.0/5 Reviewer: Nathan Robinson In a piercing burst of flames, Jesus Christ falls from the heavens, giving mankind a gift well deserved…Armageddon. Beasts arise from hell and kill the tortured human souls and mankind perishes in a tumultuous inferno. This frightening vision is displayed…
Testament – The Gathering
Reviewed: June 1999Released: 1999, Burnt Offerings / Spitfire RecordsRating: 5.0/5 Reviewer: EvilG Man, is it ever a great feeling to hear a band that has survived since the 80’s without ever once faltering. For any Testament fan that couldn’t handle their last CD “Demonic” because of the death metal sounds,…
Metal Church – Live
Reviewed: May 1999 Released: 1998, SPV/SteamhammerRating: 4.0/5 Reviewer: Nathan Robinson The second live Metal Church album is an official release, comprising songs taken from tapes dating back to 1986! Yes!!! This is the classic Metal Church lineup with Kurdt Vanderhoof and David Wayne! What you get here are 10 tracks…
Diabolique – The Black Flower
Reviewed: May 1999Released: 1999, Black Sun RecordsRating: 2.5/5 Reviewer: Nathan Robinson Diabolique’s debut album “Wedding the Grotesque” was a perfect example of the fusion of doom, metal, and gothic darkness. Extremely ominous and depressing vocals mixed with apocalyptic riffs dominated every song. Their unique style and sound planted them firmly…
Fantomas – Fantomas
Reviewed: May 1999Released: 1999, Ipecac RecordingsRating: 3.5/5 Reviewer: Nathan Robinson Still gazing at your shoes from the inactivity of Mr. Bungle over the years? Well you may find some solace in Mike Patton’s latest endeavor known as “Fantomas”! Mike wasted no time after Faith No More’s dissolution and quickly assembled…
Metal Church – Live in Japan
Reviewed: May 1999 Released: 1998, Blackheart Records and SPVRating: 4.0/5 Reviewer: Nathan Robinson The first live Metal Church album, released only in Japan, is actually an unauthorized release. The band themselves condemn it, not only because it was released without their permission, but also because it sounds like shit. And…
Loudblast – Live
Reviewed: May 1999Released: 1998, XIII Bis RecordsRating: 4.5/5 Reviewer: Nathan Robinson The latest installment from France’s most underrated band comes forth as a double-CD live album. Jumping on the bandwagon ala Dream Theater and Judas Priest? Perhaps, but hey, if you’re going to do a live album, include as many…
Bolt Thrower – Who Dares Wins
Reviewed: May 1999Released: 1998, Earache RecordsRating: 3.0/5 Reviewer: Nathan Robinson Yet another 1998 Earache release that did not see the light of day in North America until this year. And once again, Earache has attempted to cash in on a former signing of theirs. Remember the Entombed compilation? Was it…
Mercury Rising – Building Rome
Reviewed: May 1999Released: 1998, Dominion RecordsRating: 2.0/5 Reviewer: EvilG Too many acoustic intros, too smooth of a guitar tone and a a vocal style that is quite annoying. I had heard some really good things about this band’s debut, so I was surprised at how mediorchre this, their second CD,…
Of The Fallen – s/t
Reviewed: May 1999Released: 1998, IndependentRating: 4.0/5 Reviewer: EvilG Of The Fallen’s CD came to me on a CD-R along with an album cover printed on a color inkjet. This aside, the sound quality is exceptional for a demo!! In places the vocals become a little distorted but it’s not a…
Archetype – Hands of Time (4-song MCD)
Reviewed: May 1999Released: 1999, IntroMentalRating: 3.5/5 Reviewer: EvilG Archetype are a melodic metal quintet from Ohio, USA who have something great brewing with their debut MCD “Hands of Time.” This is metal that is played AND written well. A major strength lies with guitarist Chris Matyus who has created 4…
Dalis Dilemma – Manifesto For Futurism
Reviewed: May 1999Released: 1999, Maga Carta RecordsRating: 3.0/5 Reviewer: EvilG Named after the renowned painter Salvador Dali, this band, like the artist, knows no boundaries. While this CD didn’t blow my mind the musicianship is very impressive! For anyone who’s followed prog-metal you won’t be surprised to know that Mike…
Witchery – Witchburner
Reviewed: May 1999Released: 1999, NecropolisRating: 4.0/5 Reviewer: Nathan Robinson “Heideeeee Heidooooo Heida…Heideeee Heidooo Heida…Heidee, Heido, Heida ha ha ha ha ha ha Hei …(insert record scratching)…aaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!” If you can figure out this nonsense, then you know this as the immortal intro to Accept’s “Fast as a Shark”! And if you…
Nocturnal Rites – The Sacred Talisman
Reviewed: May 1999Released: 1999, Century MediaRating: 4.5/5 Reviewer: EvilG The power of true metal’s popularity is gaining in momentum. More bands of this nature seem to be getting signed to North American labels thus bringing us “out in the cold” North Americans some great metal!! Sweden’s Nocturnal Rites represent one…