Hellring

 "The qualitative and compositional depth of Astra's debut made some cry miracle, at least among the (limited) circles of those who have tasted and known a work that has never received the tribute it deserved."

 "The new work seems to dismiss too easily the vocal lines and the voice of Vaughan, also less convincing compared to the past."

Astra's second album, The Black Chord, arrives with high expectations after their celebrated debut The Weirding. While the album showcases grand compositions and strong musicianship, it lacks the compositional innovation and vocal impact that made their first album a standout. Instrumental tracks are prevalent but less effective, and some fillers dilute the overall experience. Despite its flaws, The Black Chord remains a respectable effort within the progressive rock genre. Discover Astra's evolving sound—listen to The Black Chord and compare it with their acclaimed debut The Weirding!

 "Necroshine is a thrash metal album that overwhelmingly outshines the majority of bands and pseudo-bands crowding today’s market."

 "The entire CD moves along these coordinates of painful and metallic pounding. Tracks like 'Stone Cold Jesus' and 'Forked Tongue Kiss' are manna from heaven for any genuine metal listener."

Overkill's 1999 album Necroshine is an underrated thrash metal masterpiece that features darker tones and powerful riffs. It is considered superior to many contemporaries' releases during that period. The review praises the album's energy, composition, and aggression, highlighting tracks like "Stone Cold Jesus" and the title track. The band is recognized for maintaining high quality and authenticity throughout their career. Listen to Overkill's Necroshine and experience one of thrash metal's finest underrated albums today!

 Sometimes we witness events that leave us speechless, that for a fleeting moment make us forget everything else...

 "Blindfold" will remain a gem carved into the hearts and minds of all those who have the courage to discover, appreciate, and cherish it.

Red House Painters II - Bridge is a deeply emotional slowcore album by Mark Kozelek, expressing a sense of resignation and dark lyricism. Through 8 desolate yet critical tracks, the album artfully captures themes of pain, memory, and introspection. Standout songs like "Blindfold" remain etched in listeners' minds as haunting artistic gems. This album is a powerful, artistic statement that resonates long after the final note. Dive into the haunting beauty of Red House Painters II and experience a slowcore album that resonates deeply.

 "The work in question is yet another incredibly intense burst of Overkill-branded thrash metal: guitars sharper than ever..."

 "The mistake is always there: expecting masterpieces of the past from realities that helped to codify a genre."

Overkill's The Electric Age, their sixteenth studio album, delivers intense thrash metal with sharp guitars, solid bass, and strong vocals. While maintaining high energy and quality, it lacks standout variety to elevate it to classic status. The album is praised as better than recent works by notable peers such as Metallica and Anthrax. Despite not being their best, it earns a respectable rating and fits well into Overkill’s long career. Listen to Overkill’s The Electric Age and experience a powerful thrash metal journey that honors the genre’s legacy.

 Raw, tough, filthy. These are Earthride, a vile creation whose parents are Dave Sherman and Eric Little.

 Sherman’s voice explodes, hoarse and worn: his timbre is the unhealthy union of Lemmy, Wino Weinrich, and Matt Pike.

Earthride's 'Taming Of The Demons' is a raw, tough debut blending heavy, doom, and stoner metal with strong influences from Saint Vitus and Black Sabbath. The album's abrasive energy and hoarse vocals deliver an acid doom experience that appeals to niche genre fans. Though it lacks standout tracks, the record maintains a consistent old-school doom atmosphere. It favors simplicity over complexity, making it a solid, if derivative, offering for lovers of heavy, seasoned doom metal. Dive into Earthride's gritty world and experience 'Taming Of The Demons'—a raw, powerful journey through classic doom metal.

 They get high like buffaloes and then start churning out moldy riffs as powerful as Gundam’s erection.

 Zero cerebralism, zero spectacular solo escapes with sparkling instruments. A half-hour of cannons and drugs, whatever they may be.

Weedeater's Jason...The Dragon delivers raw and powerful sludge/stoner metal with heavy, gritty riffs. The album is energetic and unrefined but suffers from a lack of originality. Tracks like 'Mancoon' and 'Palms and Opium' showcase their signature sound. While the band's intense style grabs attention, it may feel too familiar to fans of the genre. Listen to Weedeater’s Jason...The Dragon for a gritty dose of sludge metal power today!

 A poor screenplay leads the filmmaker to steer towards an "actor-centric" film, with DiCaprio and Crowe coming to the rescue.

 "Body of Lies" ultimately results in an absolutely routine film, where you see the director’s hand, but at the same time find nothing particularly exciting.

Ridley Scott's Body of Lies explores US and Middle Eastern espionage through the eyes of Leonardo DiCaprio's character, supported by Russell Crowe. Despite strong performances and impressive visuals, the film suffers from a weak screenplay and confusing narrative tone. It ultimately feels like a routine and minor entry in Scott's career, with moments of intensity but questionable storytelling choices. Discover the complexities of Body of Lies—watch the film and read this in-depth review now!

 A well-crafted and well-played piece, where the lost spirit of rock... can be felt.

 Unleash the Beast is a period of rebirth for the band with a return to sounds suitable for Biff Byford and his faithful mates.

Saxon's 'Unleash The Beast' marks a powerful return to their NWOBHM roots with clear, compact sound production. Featuring strong anthems like 'Terminal Velocity' and 'The Thin Red Line,' the album exudes classic heavy metal energy without revolutionary changes. It reinforces Saxon's role as enduring champions of traditional metal. Dive into Saxon's 'Unleash The Beast' and experience true classic British heavy metal energy!

 Rage remains one of the few (very few) European entities playing heavy metal still worthy of that name.

 Here, then, is a heavy metal album in 2012 as it should be: powerful but never obsequious, and above all well-played and composed.

Rage's 21 is a standout heavy metal album released in 2012, blending classic metal roots with thrash influences. The German band delivers powerful riffs, melodic vocals, and sophisticated guitar work. The album confirms Rage as one of the few European heavy metal bands maintaining authenticity and quality. Highlights include the aggressive 'Forever Dead' and the galloping 'Psycho Terror.' The production is modern and polished, making it a worthy listen for metal enthusiasts. Discover Rage's powerful '21' and experience authentic heavy metal at its finest. Listen now and feel the metal resurgence!

 The long opener 'Death as Liberation' shows us a band capable of freeing itself from the 'great works' of the genre to seek a more personal path.

 If the starting points are the long doom sermons 'Growth of a Star Within' and 'Evil Sorcerer,' the future can only be brighter than this.

Black Oath's debut album, The Third Aeon, channels strong Black Sabbath inspirations in a dark and epic doom metal style. While not highly original, it expresses a band searching for its unique identity. The album's production quality shines through, showcasing promising talent and mature musicianship. Fans of traditional and epic doom will find much to appreciate in this release. The future looks bright for Black Oath as they develop their sound further. Dive into Black Oath's The Third Aeon and experience a fresh take on classic doom metal—listen now and follow their rising journey!