Ensiferum bassist Sami Hinkka side steps (but not too far) from his main act to co-found the exciting new power metal act called Metal De Facto. The concept of the band isn't particularly new for a metal act, basking in the glorious history and battles of Ancient Rome. Death metal acts ADE and Ex Deo have more famously picked up on the idea, as well as Italy's Centvrion and Sweden's Descendant in the power/traditional metal subgenres (and a handful of other bands in other var

When faced with the term "hardcore" in 2019, there is a cringe level that can only be topped by the term "metalcore." However, if you handed over a cocktail consisting of vintage old school classic hardcore/crossover like "Crossover"/"4 of a Kind"/"Thrash Zone" era D.R.I., classic punk like "Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing" era Discharge, the raw production of classic hardcore like "Animosity" era C.O.C. and the delicious riffy goodness of "Beg to Differ" era Prong, then

Polish metal act Crystal Viper has returned with the follow up to the band's 2017's return album "Queen of the Witches," the first to follow vocalist/guitarist Marta Gabriel's health issues in 2013 (after the release of the enjoyable, but not completely up to par, "Possession"), which had cast a shadow over the band's future. "Queen of the Witches" was true to form adding speed and power to flank Gabriel's trademark Ann Wilson meets Leather Leone vocal style. When "Tales of

As a child, did you ever dream of what it would have been like had Venom sounded like early Dokken, but kept the same lyrical content. Would they still have been the forefathers of "black metal"? Or what if Celtic Frost turned glam and....strike that, it DID happen. Sweden's Deaf Rat has decided to inject some evil into vanilla hard rock, as if Ghost morphed into Hardcore Superstar. Deaf Rat draws its dark lyrics from current events and isn't quite so tongue-in-cheek. The res

One of the most identifiable figures in heavy metal is King Diamond, especially when the leaves start to turn, die and fall paving the way for the season of the witch. In 1987, there wasn't as many metal bands around, and even less that could scare the crap out of 16 year old boys. Having already issued the unsurpassed hymn for the eve of Samhain - "Halloween" - a year earlier on the "Fatal Portrait" album (an album that genuinely unnerved your author with songs like "The Can

U.K. NWoBHM act Angel Witch has always been a cult favorite of fans of the genre, and its easy to understand why. Unlike the more straight edge traditional styles set forth by the likes of Saxon, Iron Maiden, Grim Reaper and Holocaust, Angel Witch featured more of a 70's rock influence a la Blue Cheer (the true influence of the hundreds of stoner rock acts today) accented by a doomy atmosphere which spawned bands like Witchfinder General. Add founder/vocalist/guitarist Kevin

Back a year or so ago, Vision Divine was in a similar position as Rhapsody of Fire in that it was without the services of vocalist Fabio Lione. The band's last release "Destination Set to Nowhere" - now seven years old - was highly regarded as another in a line of power/progressive masterpieces from a band that has been consistently brilliant in songwriting, even though not consistently releasing albums. The band is no stranger to vocalist changes, but when personally speakin

Born in 2012, The Scourge - featuring Helstar members Andrew Atwood (vocals/guitars) and Garrick Smith (bass) - released the debut EP "First Comes Destruction" in 2014. Now five years later, the band plans to horrify your Halloween like Michael Myers did to Haddenfield. If you are one of those fans looking for a technical progressive masterpiece, then The Scourge isn't for you. "Warrant for Execution" is pure unadulterated metal played in the classic style of old school thras

Norwegian melodic death metal act Art of Deception posted a music video for the new single "Dark Psychosis." The song is lifted from the new album "Path of Trees," which is set to drop on June 22nd via Rob Mules Records. Art of Deception is a melodic death metal band with thrash and progressive influences. The band formed as a group of youngsters in 2012 and has been playing live and making music ever since. The live show can be described as energetic and full of crazy ass wi

Canada's AxMinister teamed up with Bravewords for the premiere of the new video clip "Prey." You can check it out over here, or just up in the player above. The song appears on the band's latest EP "The Crucible Of Sin," which was issued in early May. Grab your copy over here. The band commented: "'Prey' was inspired by that whole 50 Shades of Grey phenomenon. This video is a comedic telling meant to be shocking and sexy, as well as a little bit cheesy/cheeky." #AxMinister #t

D.C. metal act A Sound Of Thunder’s eagerly awaited new studio album and companion graphic novel "It Was Metal" was released today (June 15th) through Mad Neptune Records. For more information on grabbing your own copy...visit the band's website over here. Today, the band also unleashed the video clip for the album's iconic title track, which not only features the return of Udoroth, but Brian Posehn as the evil dragon, Grinder T. Dragon. Check it out at in the player above. C

U.S. melodic metal act St. Elmo's Fire issued a video clip for the song "Lord Of Thunder," which you can check out in the player above. The song taken from the band's latest album "Evil Never Sleeps" (the first in 26 years), which was released back on March 30th via Pure Steel Records. #StElmosFire #hardrock #traditionalmetal #metal #musicvideo #PureSteelRecords

NWoBHM veterans Blitzkrieg issued a new video clip for the song "Angels Or Demons." The song is taken from the band's latest album "Judge Not!!," which was released back in April via Mighty Music. Check out the clip in the player above. Frontman Brian Ross says about the song "'Angels Or Demons': - Some believe that Aliens from another world visited Earth in our formative years, helping mankind to advance beyond comprehension. What will they see when they return. Will they th

The time has finally arrived and the long wait is over. In as much as I appreciate the successes of Leaves' Eyes of late, especially with the ability to witness Alex Krull, Thorsten Bauer, Joris Nijenhuis and Pete Streit in action live...my preference of bands has always been with Atrocity. In the storied history of the German death metal machine, Atrocity has presented both straight up death and bold, daring experimentation, all of it gleefully gobbled up by your author (ser

British punk/hard rock group Cyanide Sundae released the new single "Bleed," which can be heard in the player above. The song will appear on the band's forthcoming album "Blinded Generation," which is due for worldwide release on Sliptrick Records later in the year (more information forthcoming). "Bleed" features a guest appearance from vocalist and label mate, James Dawson of Bleed Again. Cyanide Sundae is a hard rock band with a splash of punk and intense, raspy vocals tied

Canadian based death metal act Kataklysm released a live video clip of the classic death metal tune "The Resurrected" from the "Serenity In Fire" album. The footage comes from the DVD "A Moment In Time," which was included with the band's new album "Meditations," which was issued last week via Nuclear Blast Records. Grab a copy now over here. Check out the clip above and get a taste of the band live at these locations: 6/2/2018 Saint Vitus – Brooklyn, NY* 6/3/2018 Urban Ar

German death metal act Atrocity posted another teaser clip, this one previewing the new song "Infernal Sabbath." Check out the clip in the player above. The song appears on the band's long awaited new album "Okkult II," which is set to drop on July 6th via Massacre Records! "Okkult II" will be available as a limited edition vinyl LP, a limited edition media-book with a different artwork and bonus CD that includes all songs as instrumental versions as well as a strictly limite