about contributors submissions book series advertising contests tour dates Mixed Media PopMatters Picks
|
|
Adrien BegrandAbout Adrien Begrand Adrien Begrand has been writing for PopMatters since 2002, and has been writing his monthly metal column Blood & Thunder since 2005. His writing has also appeared in graphic novelist Joel Orff’s Strum and Drang: Great Moments in Rock ‘n’ Roll, Knoxville Voice, The Kerouac Quarterly, JackMagazine.com, StylusMagazine.com, and StaticMultimedia.com. A contributing writer for Decibel and Metal Edge magazines, he resides and blogs in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Features
The Best Metal Albums of 2008It was a stellar year for metal, and an eclectic year, too: Norweigian prog-metal, goth-infused death metal, Swedish thrash, black metal, and stoner rock all make the list. [17 December 2008] To Hell and Back: Black Sabbath’s Dio YearsRonnie James Dio's original three-year sojourn with Black Sabbath was mercurial, but it completely transformed and re-energized the band. [28 August 2008] Fun & Games: Killing Joke in the mid-‘80sThough lumped in with post-punk acts, Killing Joke were considerably less edgy than their peers, their blunt, pulverizing music echoing the rage and cynicism expressed in the songs making them somewhat of an anomaly. [1 May 2008] By:Larm 2008: Pining For the FjordsPopMatters surveys the smorgasbord of Scandinavian pop, metal and everything in between at the by:Larm Festival in Oslo, Norway. Great music, splendid weather, $12 beers and lots of hot dogs later, we emerge already looking forward to next year. [3 March 2008] A Crash Course in Heavy Metal for Neophyte HeshersIf ever there was a genre anthology just begging to be picked apart and criticized by obsessive fans, it’s a metal collection; Rhino's The Heavy Metal Box, an introduction to the music circa 1968-91, gets its share of disassembling, here. [5 October 2007] The Hard Sell: Making Sense of Metalcore’s Marketing MadnessMastodon, As I Lay Dying, Shadows Fall, and Between the Buried and Me: a guide to which of these bands most deserves your money for their CDs crammed with old crap, studio remnants, and toss-offs to help keep them afloat until the next album surfaces. [24 July 2006] The Groove Tube Work CrewsTwo years after the debut of the acclaimed Directors Label DVD series, the latest installment continues to shine the spotlight on the finest talent in music video directing. [4 November 2005] For the Sake of Future Days: Can’s Second Golden EraAfter releasing four adventurous records that defined krautrock, the ever-restless Can continued exploring new directions in its much-lauded mid-'70s work, as the latest batch of remastered reissues reveals. [5 August 2005] “Dimebag” Darrell: Forever Stronger Than AllDarrell Abbott's influence on the entire genre of heavy metal is massive; after Cowboys From Hell and Vulgar Display of Power, every notable young American metal band since has, in some way or another, copped their guitar style from those records: Tool, Korn, Limp Bizkit, Slipknot, Hatebreed, Lamb of God, Shadows Fall, Mastodon... the list is endless. [10 December 2004] Pavement: Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain: L.A.‘s Desert OriginsPavement's Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain possesses all the ambition of a slick rock 'n' roll epic, employing such sounds as country, pop rock, noisy art rock, and even jazz. In February of 1994, very few people still had no idea who Pavement were, but on this album, the band ostentatiously carries on like they're the biggest band on the planet. [15 November 2004] Columns
Dimensional Walls Getting Thinner: The Collective Minds of KralliceWhat started out a back-to-basics project has turned into one of the coolest, most forward-thinking American metal bands of this decade. [18 November 2009] (more Blood and Thunder) Castle Walls of Blood and Bone: An Interview with ConvergeWith four landmark albums this decade alone, Converge has saved its best work for last. Vocalist Jacob Bannon talks with PopMatters about his music, his art, and his insanely talented band. [14 October 2009] (more Blood and Thunder) Where Strides the BehemothBegrand talks with Darski of Behemoth, one of the most visually imposing and sonically punishing bands in all of metal, on the eve of the release of their new CD, Evangelion. [13 August 2009] (more Blood and Thunder) Def and TwistedA band of pretty youngsters from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and a homely bunch of New York club scene veterans. Rock on. [29 July 2009] (more Blood and Thunder) Goatwhore: Crazed EnduranceOne listen to Sammy Duet's masterful riffing is enough to send the most fussy metal aficionado into paroxysms of headbanging ecstasy. [16 June 2009] (more Blood and Thunder) The Bleak, Beautiful Art of Amesoeurs“I always felt close to Baudelaire's poetry,” says Neige, “at the same time extremely romantic, sour and decadent. A meeting between horror and sublime.” [20 May 2009] (more Blood and Thunder) Brick Anchors in Wet Sand: Redefining Sludge with KylesaThere’ve been heady times for this band that’s accustomed to scraping by as an underground fave, but Kylesa remain well-grounded and looking ahead to what’s next. [15 April 2009] (more Blood and Thunder) Rise of the Jötunn: In Flames in the 1990sFour early and crucial albums by Swedish metal greats In Flames get reissued as part of Nuclear Blast's "Reloaded" series. There's no better time than the present to see what all the fuss is about. [18 March 2009] (more Blood and Thunder) Compelled to Slay"It's definitely going to get a lot weirder." Cannibal Corpse drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz talks about playing to a click track, the changing tastes of musicians, and staying relevant after 20 years. [11 February 2009] (more Blood and Thunder) The Best Metal Albums of 2008It was a stellar year for metal, and an eclectic year, too: Norwegian prog-metal, goth-infused death metal, Swedish thrash, black metal, and stoner rock all make the list. [10 December 2008] (more Blood and Thunder) Tearing Down the PillarsEnslaved's Ivar Bjørnson talks about the influence of Voivod and Pink Floyd, creative deconstruction and reinvention, and achieving that "futuristic yet retro sound". [2 December 2008] (more Blood and Thunder) Wetnurse: Not Just Weaned on MetalWetnurse's Curran Reynolds talks about growing up in the isolated Maine woods, recording with NYC mainstay Martin Bisi, and how his band expresses "love as well as angst". [5 November 2008] (more Blood and Thunder) Workingman’s DeathAll That Remains' Phil Labonte talks about exercising restraint in creativity, recording the band's new album, 'Overcome', and not taking metal too seriously. [16 September 2008] (more Blood and Thunder) Triumph Over TragedyInto Eternity's Tim Roth talks about the tragic year that informed his band's new album, life in the Candadian prairies, and what it means to be a "hybrid band". [18 August 2008] (more Blood and Thunder) Julie Christmas: All Treadmill, No FishnetsJulie Christmas, lead singer for Brooklyn's Made Out of Babies, talks about the "venemous" combination of screaming and restrained singing, ambiguous lyric-writing, and the making of the band's latest album, The Ruiner. [24 June 2008] (more Blood and Thunder) New Testament Versus OldIt's a hard road, as a fella named John Osbourne once sang, but the respect that Testament has gained over more than two decades of personal and creative ups and downs is well earned. [22 May 2008] (more Blood and Thunder) Into the Void: John Darnielle on Sabbath, Extreme Metal, and Indie RockBegrand dives into metal fandom with the Mountain Goats' John Darnielle, who discusses the Mighty Riff, the uneasy relationship between indie and metal camps, and the life experiences behind his new book on Black Sabbath's Master of Reality. [18 April 2008] (more Blood and Thunder) Shining in its Evil SplendorPopMatters' Adrien Begrand talks with Tomas Haake about Meshuggah's State of obZen. [20 March 2008] (more Blood and Thunder) Just Let Go: An Interview with JarboeJ2 is what happens when artists like Jarboe and Justin Broadrick meet halfway, then feed off each other. [12 February 2008] (more Blood and Thunder) In Through the Outré DoorAt the beginning of 2007 as the metal albums started pouring in, it quickly became abundantly clear that two record labels were going to stand head and shoulders above the rest of the pack. [17 December 2007] (more Blood and Thunder) Business is Still Good: Inside Megadeth’s WarchestWith 11 studio albums behind them, including the very good United Abominations this past summer, Megadeth's sound has become so ubiquitous that it's easy to forget just how unique they sounded when they started making waves in the metal scene more than two decades ago. [28 November 2007] (more Blood and Thunder) Sun and Air: An Interview with Anneke van Giersbergen and Krystoffer “Garm” RyggVan Giersbergen and Rygg's core audiences remain on the metal side, proof that no matter how diverse your music becomes, your old metal fans will still stubbornly cling to you like barnacles to a creaky hull. [11 October 2007] (more Blood and Thunder) Many Happy ReturnsA little personal, not to mention disturbingly vivid, is par for the course for Today is the Day's music, but when Steve Austin's music is as strong and eclectic as this stack of five discs is, we’ll take anything he’s willing to toss our way. [11 September 2007] (more Blood and Thunder) Bruce Willis, Genghis Khan, and Ravioli: Inside the Red Chord’s Prey for EyesDo metalheads dream of Kanye West? Guy Kozowyk, vocalist for deathcore standout, the Red Chord, vividly regales PopMatters with lengthy tales about how the many ideas that dominate the band's latest album came to fruition. [13 August 2007] (more Blood and Thunder) Everything Is Permitted"People have sent me college term papers that they've written about my stuff, which I think is funny because I didn't graduate from college. I guess I must be doing something right if people are connecting to it." Begrand talks with Pig Destroyer's JR Hayes about writing and recording the band's new album, Phantom Limb. [19 June 2007] (more Blood and Thunder) Dreams, Nightmares, and Sonata Arctica'We are not too old yet to renew ourselves; we can use our imaginations.' Begrand talks with Sonata Arctica's Tony Kakko about eclecticism, dreams, Queen, wolves, and his band's ambitious new album, Unia. [21 May 2007] (more Blood and Thunder) Out of Shadows, Shining Ever-BrightAfter catching the reunited '80s-era, Ronnie James Dio-helmed Black Sabbath on tour in Canada, Begrand looks back on an oft-neglected period in the metal titans' career. [26 April 2007] (more Blood and Thunder) Fight or Flight: The Dichotomy of ManowarTrue metal believers or a mousse-abusing joke? Begrand explores how Manowar, one of the most polarizing and contradictory metal bands of all time, can simultaneously flaunt Spinal Tap-isms and ignite a crowd of 30,000 screaming fans. [26 March 2007] (more Blood and Thunder) Welcome to HelluaryBegrand finds refuge from a taxing winter in some of the best metal releases of the still-young year, including a highly twisted album from his neck of the Canadian prairies. [6 February 2007] (more Blood and Thunder) The Best Metal Albums of 2006Begrand and Blood and Thunder look back on a metal-icious 2006: its creative resurgences, its tinges of sludge, its Japanese doom-ridden drones, and its ever-reliable Scandinavians. [22 December 2006] (more Blood and Thunder) Open Wide, the Gates of HellThe enigmatic Danes in Mercyful Fate took such a straight-faced, deadly serious approach to its satanic themes that we were unsure whether it was all a big piss-take, or if they really meant it. [8 November 2006] (more Blood and Thunder) Blind Guardian’s Twisted MythsFor Hansi Kürsch, lead singer of Germany's Blind Guardian, there's no Justin Hawkins flash, no DragonForce pub chants, no hipster-pandering irony. If he's going to sing about faeries and orcs, he's going to do so and mean every damned outlandish lyric. [5 October 2006] (more Blood and Thunder) Notes from UndergroundBegrand hits the traveling metal show Sounds of the Underground for nine hours of mayhem, moshing, and merch. And though this town's put the kibosh on mosh, there's plenty of familiar sights and sounds, from Metallica wannabes to papier-mâché phalluses. [7 September 2006] (more Blood and Thunder) PostmortemHallelujah, it's raining blood! The Unholy Alliance Tour, a veritable distillation of the current state of contemporary metal on wheels, descends upon Western Canada and finally ends Begrand's 22-year wait to witness Slayer in the flesh. [15 August 2006] (more Blood and Thunder) Complex SimplicityVoivod vocalist Denis 'Snake' Belanger speaks candidly about the new Canadian Prime Minister, today's subordinate youth, and the 'emotional dimension' involved in creating a new album built around the guitar tracks of his deceased friend and bandmate, Denis 'Piggy' D'Amour. [13 July 2006] (more Blood and Thunder) The Great Beast ResurrectedThe long, strange trip of seminal metal band Celtic Frost is unexpectedly outfitted with a new plot twist: a new record that redefines a career over 20 years after it began. [18 May 2006] (more Blood and Thunder) The Time to Kill Is Now!The least poetic of metal bands, Cannibal Corpse has gone to disturbing lengths to make gruesomeness its cold, calculated calling card. [17 April 2006] (more Blood and Thunder) The Queen Isn’t DeadFearing an embarrassing failure on the scale of the Star Wars prequels, Begrand braves Queensryche's new sequel to its 20-year-old masterpiece Operation: Mindcrime. [16 March 2006] (more Blood and Thunder) The Profits of DoomA once-uncool and admittedly limiting metal subgenre is poised to become the Next Big Thing in loud music -- that is, if the metal community lets it guard down long enough to accept it. [15 February 2006] (more Blood and Thunder) Sweet ReliefWhat if you could have the majestic intensity of metal music without the overblown male bravado? One Dutch band's frontwoman sheds some light on goth-tinged rock and single-handedly alters the dimensions of doom. [27 January 2006] (more Blood and Thunder) The Best Metal Albums of 2005From metalcore to hardcore, guttural growls to soaring falsettos, and unabashedly sludgetastic to downright operatic, the cream of this year's metal crop is as eclectic as it is provocative. [19 December 2005] (more Blood and Thunder) Forever UndyingMetal's major players are getting more powerful as they get older. Their refusal to soften in accordance with their maturity proves but one thing: when it comes to metal, age ain't nothing but a number. [28 November 2005] (more Blood and Thunder) RegenerationAt long last, indie kids and mainstream critics no longer have to listen to their metal music in clandestine shame. Metal's in the midst of an artistic renaissance, and, as Begrand explains, it's a headbanger's ball out there. [14 October 2005] (more Blood and Thunder) Reviews
Skeletonwitch: Breathing the FireOne of the best live bands in American metal finally starts to live up to its potential on record. 
Rammstein: Liebe Ist Für Alle DaAfter three very good albums Rammstein simplify things on their newest, and the payoff is huge. [17 November 2009] 
Katatonia: Night is the New DayAfter 18 years of growth, Katatonia's music has finally matured fully, and the end result is spectacular. [12 November 2009] 
Slayer: World Painted BloodNot surprisingly, World Painted Blood is, well, a Record Made Metal. [5 November 2009] 
The Black Dahlia Murder: DeflorateAfter years of underachieving, the popular Detroit band starts to live up to expectations on their fourth album. [30 October 2009] 
Converge: Axe to FallFittingly, the Massachusetts band caps off the decade with their best album to date. [22 October 2009] 
Baroness: Blue RecordThey might not be the flashiest metal band around, but Baroness is quickly turning into one of America's finest. [16 October 2009] 
Sonata Arctica: The Days of GraysWild prog-metal noodling, power ballads, and gigantic pop hooks. Yep, it's another Sonata Arctica album. [12 October 2009] 
Megadeth: EndgameIt's a given that Megadeth will never equal their great first five albums, but what's so surprising about Endgame is just how close it comes. [15 September 2009] 
Killswitch Engage: Killswitch EngageSure, Killswitch Engage are a huge band now, but their fifth album doesn't actually reflect that. [4 September 2009] 
Bloody Panda: SummonCrushing, beautiful, and just plain scary. In other words, pretty much what you'd expect from Bloody Panda. [3 September 2009] 
Drive-By Truckers: The Fine Print (A Collection of Oddities and Rarities 2003-2008)Even a collection of Drive-By Truckers left-overs makes for a better album than many bands' A-material. [1 September 2009] 
Bowerbirds: Upper AirBowerbirds' approach hasn't changed much at all on their second album, but we're not complaining. [5 August 2009] 
Clutch: Strange Cousins From the WestWith a new, self-run label, the Maryland band kicks off a new chapter in their long career, sounding as potent as ever. [31 July 2009] 
Gallows: Grey BritainThe UK punks are so preoccupied with Thinking Big on their highly touted second album that they forget what their actual strengths are. [22 July 2009] 
YOB: The Great CessationBeaten but not broken, Mike Scheidt emerges from a dark two years with a reunited YOB and the best album of his career. [16 July 2009] 
Judas Priest: A Touch of Evil LiveIf you needed further proof that Judas Priest is still a great live band, here it is. [13 July 2009] 
Voivod: InfiniIf this is indeed Voivod's final album, you couldn't ask for a finer way to cap off a sterling career. [9 July 2009] 
Warbringer: Waking Into NightmaresWarbringer's second album might seem like the same old thrash, but they continue to improve by leaps and bounds. [26 June 2009] 
Iron Maiden: Flight 666Only Iron Maiden could pull a world tour like this off. The ecstatic reactions from India, to Australia, to Japan, to Central and South America, to Canada are all essentially the same the world over. [19 June 2009] 
Sunn O))): Monoliths and DimensionsThe drone duo sounds as imposing as ever, but the big surprise is just how inviting their seventh studio album turns out to be. 
Blacklist: Midnight of the CenturyThe Brooklyn band bucks convention on their debut album, emerging victorious in the process. 
Funeral Mist: MaranathaIf you thought anti-Christian Scandinavian black metal was losing steam, you might want to reconsider. [8 June 2009] 
Deathstars: Night Electric NightTepid kiddie-goth made by men old enough to know better. [7 June 2009] 
Heaven and Hell: The Devil You KnowOne of 2009's most-anticipated metal albums turns out to be one of the year's most disappointing. [27 May 2009] 
Lacuna Coil: Shallow LifeThe Italian band's fifth album unapologetically attempts to appeal to an audience outside the metal realm. [18 May 2009] 
Nadja: When I See the Sun Always Shines on TVIt's normally a horribly overdone gimmick, but the Toronto duo manages to put their own unique twist on the covers album. [14 May 2009] 
Hanne Hukkelberg: Blood From a StoneHukkelberg is in her usual fine form on her third album, but it's not without the odd surprise or two. [12 May 2009] 
Isis: Wavering RadiantNot so much a reinvention as a graceful re-imagining of their signature sound, Isis sounds rejuvenated on their fifth album. [6 May 2009] 
Immaculate Machine: High on Jackson HillThe Victoria, British Columbia band throws us a bit of a curve ball on their fourth album. [29 April 2009] 
Wolves in the Throne Room: Black CascadeWith a simplified approach, Wolves in the Throne Room's third album turns out to be their finest work yet. [28 April 2009] 
Therapy?: Crooked TimberTheir profile might be lower than it was in the '90s, but Therapy? is still going strong. [22 April 2009] 
Doves: Kingdom of RustDoves' first album in four years, while certainly not without its share of great moments, is also their least consistent to date. [6 April 2009] 
Leonard Cohen: Live in LondonForced back on the road, the great Leonard Cohen sounds reinvigorated on his first tour in 15 years. [31 March 2009] 
Mastodon: Crack the SkyeUnlike many progressive metal bands, Mastodon just can't stop progressing. [24 March 2009] 
Irepress: Sol Eye Sea ISo good is this Boston metal band, you don't even notice they're missing a singer. [23 March 2009] 
Saros: Acrid PlainsProgressive rock, black metal and shoegaze all converge beautifully on the San Francisco band's debut full-length. [19 March 2009] 
Cobalt: GinNot only is Gin extreme metal at its most gonzo, but it's the most ambitious metal album of this year so far. [17 March 2009] 
Ida Maria: Fortress Round My HeartFinally, the debut by Norway's much-ballyhooed rocker gets a proper Stateside release. [16 March 2009] 
Serpentcult: Weight of LightSinger Michelle Nocon storms the boys' club of doom metal, and outperforms many of her counterparts in the process. [10 March 2009] 
Twilight Revival: ParlorInstead of merely paying homage to their influences, the Chicago band is closer than ever to creating an identity of their own. [9 March 2009] 
God Forbid: EarthsbloodAfter years of meeting expectations, God Forbid finally exceeds them on their fifth album. [2 March 2009] 
Tombs: Winter HoursOne of Brooklyn's hottest bands doesn't disappoint on their breakthrough second album. [26 February 2009] 
Lamb of God: WrathAnother good album from Lamb of God, but is "good" all they're capable of? [24 February 2009] 
Cannibal Corpse: Evisceration PlagueOne of death metal's most dependable bands continues its late-career upswing. [13 February 2009] 
Ladyfinger (ne): DuskThe second album by the Omaha band lives up to the promise shown on their 2006 debut. [11 February 2009] 
Edguy: Tinnitus SanctusAfter a consistent run of albums, fans of the German metal band are left wondering, "What happened?" [10 February 2009] 
Satyricon: The Age of NeroThe Norwegian veterans continue to defy black metal purists on their seventh album. [3 February 2009] 
Gross Misconduct: The Process of IndoctrinationThis Vancouver metal band needs to be signed immediately. [18 January 2009] 
Rush: Snakes & Arrows Live [DVD]Few bands put out DVDs as consistently good as Rush does, and the Canadian greats have delivered yet again. [15 January 2009] 
Early Man: Beware the Circling FinIt's as retro as the previous album, but in not quite the way you might expect. [14 January 2009] 
Katzenjammer: Le PopThe Norwegian band's raucous, charming debut album deserves a much wider audience outside their home country. [13 January 2009] 
Totimoshi: MilagrosaOften overlooked but always consistent, Totimoshi is in peak form on their fifth album. [9 January 2009] 
Hunter S. Thompson: The Gonzo TapesListening to the great Gonzo journalist mutter into his tape recorder might not sound like fun to some, but for others, it'll be pretty darn interesting. [18 December 2008] 
Within Temptation: Black SymphonyThe Dutch band celebrates 12 years and four successful albums with their biggest concert to date. [11 December 2008] 
Caïna: Temporary AntennaeThe mastermind behind one of the most surprising metal albums of 2007 gives us a followup that's even better. [21 November 2008] 
Glasvegas: GlasvegasThere's not a lick of originality on this debut, but interestingly, that hardly matters. [17 November 2008] 
Robin Trower: Day of the Eagle: The Best of Robin TrowerThe British guitarist's peak period is given a very good overview on this new compilation. [4 November 2008] 
Gojira: The Way of All FleshGojira has become one of the most popular French bands to ever grace American shores. And for good reason. [3 November 2008] 
Cradle of Filth: Godspeed on the Devil’s ThunderSex, Satan, murder. Yep, it's another Cradle of Filth album. [31 October 2008] 
Amon Amarth: Twilight of the Thunder GodFor those about to Ragnarok, Amon Amarth salutes you. [28 October 2008] 
Bigelf: Cheat the GallowsOf course it's trite, but you can't deny the fact that it's enormously fun. [24 October 2008] 
In This Moment: The DreamWe all knew they were capable of catchy songs, but just not this catchy. [20 October 2008] 
Iron Maiden and the New Wave of British Heavy MetalIf you like the metal, then knowing your "nawobbum" is an absolute must. [7 October 2008] 
Lukestar: Lake TobaThe Norwegian band's second album has turned out to be one of the year's biggest surprises. [6 October 2008] 
Cannibal Corpse: Centuries of Torment: The First 20 Years [DVD]The biggest-selling death metal band of all time delivers one of the greatest music DVDs ever released. 
Walls of Jericho: The American DreamJust when you think you're out of the hardcore, it pulls you back in. [25 September 2008] 
Amanda Palmer: Who Killed Amanda PalmerThe Dresden Doll singer's solo debut is, not surprisingly, Dresden Doll-ian. [19 September 2008] 
Metallica: Death MagneticWith Rick Rubin at the helm, the once proud metal greats attempt to recover after hitting an all-time low. [12 September 2008] 
Harvey Milk: Life…The Best Game in TownThis Georgia band makes our collective jaws drop. [2 September 2008] 
Slipknot: All Hope Is GoneAt least Slipknot got one thing right: they couldn't have chosen a more apt title. [28 August 2008] 
Soulfly: ConquerIt's been a big year for Max Cavalera. Busy? Absolutely. Consistent? That's another story. [26 August 2008] 
Anna Järvinen: Jag Fick FeelingMost of us have no idea what Anna Järvinen is singing about, but she gets her message across loud and clear. 
Walls of Jericho: RedemptionAfter having shown the potential for transcending the repetitive, oversaturated sounds of American metalcore on their 2006 album With Devils Amongst Us All, Walls of Jericho have taken the next step towards shedding the tag for good on this interesting, five-track EP. [25 August 2008] 
Lykke Li: Little Bit EPThe Little Bit EP is a nice little introduction to the quirky, apple-cheeked Swedish pop sensation. [21 August 2008] 
Lunarium: Journeys, Fables & LoreThese days it seems that there simply aren't enough metal bands in America willing to take the "battle metal" shtick completely over the top. [5 August 2008] 
The Melvins: Nude With BootsThe stoner greats follow up 2006's revelatory (A) Senile Animal with something considerably safer. [29 July 2008] 
Teenage Head: Teenage Head With Marky RamonePractically unknown in America, the Canadian punk legends cover their own songs with the help of a couple of friends. [16 July 2008] 
Slayer’s Reign in BloodMetal fans are a cynical bunch when it comes to outsiders offering critiques of their favorite pieces of work, and can pick apart a treatise with the thoroughness of fussy jazz enthusiasts. 
Heavy Metal in BaghdadThis documentary's flying by the seat of its pants style befits the subject matter greatly as we follow the band's increasingly improbable journey. [3 July 2008] 
Nachtmystium: Assassins: Black Meddle Part 1We thought we knew what to expect from Nachtmystium's latest album. But once again, they've left us blindsided. [23 June 2008] 
UFO: The Best of UFO 1974-1983The great '70s rockers have worn the "underrated" tag for too long, and this compilation aptly reminds us just how great they once were. [20 June 2008] 
Judas Priest: NostradamusPart rousing classic metal, part Andrew Lloyd Webber hokum, this is a mixed bag to say the least. [18 June 2008] 
Torche: MeanderthalSummery pop melodies, crushing stoner rock... what could be better? [12 June 2008] 
Dokken: Lightning Strikes AgainWait, don't go anywhere ... this new album is actually good! [11 June 2008] 
Opeth: WatershedNine albums in, and Opeth has still shown no signs of running out of ideas. [5 June 2008] 
Ladytron: VelociferoLadytron's fourth album has the foursome continuing to show just how consistently good they are. [3 June 2008] The Days the Nights: The Days the NightsStraddling stoner rock, the pop-oriented side of late '90s alternative, and even hardcore. [29 May 2008] 
The Dresden Dolls: No, Virginia…Not your usual rarities collection, the Dresden Dolls give their fans something actually worth buying. [23 May 2008] 
Mike Patton: A Perfect PlaceWe just might have the next Elmer Bernstein on our hands here. [19 May 2008] 
Children of Bodom: BlooddrunkOn their sixth album, the Finnish metal greats remember to provide a little substance underneath all the flash. [9 May 2008] 
Airbourne: Runnin’ WildThere's always room for a fun AC/DC rip-off, especially when it's this good. [6 May 2008] 
Rush: Snakes & Arrows LiveYeah, another live Rush album. And yeah, they sound as good as they ever have. [30 April 2008] 
Korpiklaani: Korven KuningasAnother year, another joyous blast of humppa from the perpetually lovable Korpiklaani. [28 April 2008] 
El Perro Del Mar: From the Valley to the StarsThe Swede's third album is far from depressing, but it sure as hell is miserable. [24 April 2008] 
In Flames: A Sense of PurposeGet past the atrocious cover art, and you've got a quality album from the Swedish veterans. [15 April 2008] 
The Sword: Gods of the EarthPleasant as it is, this bloated American product is ultimately dwarfed by more efficient European models. [8 April 2008] 
Hermano: … Into the Exam RoomInstead of running from the shadow of Kyuss, Hermano's third album settles right down and enjoys the shade. [3 April 2008] 
Lykke Li: Youth NovelsHowever you pronounce her name, it's one of the finest debuts of the year so far. But if you're particular, just go with "Luke-y Lee". [26 March 2008] 
Goldfrapp: Seventh TreeJust when you thought you had Goldfrapp figured out, they throw you for a loop one more time. [27 February 2008] 
Botch: We Are the RomansOne of the most influential extreme albums of the last decade has been deservedly given the reissue treatment. [22 February 2008] 
Iron Maiden: Live After Death [DVD]Set aside those old VHS tapes for good, Maiden fans. This visceral spine-tingling, example of classic metal at its very finest has finally arrived on DVD. [18 February 2008] 
Primordial: To the Nameless DeadPrimordial's sixth album is yet another example of pagan metal at its finest. [12 February 2008] 
The Evaporators: Gassy Jack and Other TalesModeled after fellow West Coast punks the Smugglers and the Subhumans, Nardwuar and his bandmates churn out short, catchy, upbeat punk/garage/pop nuggets with remarkable consistency. [6 February 2008] 
Saviours: Into AbaddonYou've got to love it when an American band uses the Queen's English when spelling its name. [24 January 2008] 
Drive-By Truckers: Brighter Than Creation’s DarkAlthough they haven't lost a step since Jason Isbell left, the Drive-By Truckers' seventh album doesn't know when to say when. [22 January 2008] 
Xasthur: Defective EpitaphListening to Scott "Malefic" Conner struggle to keep up with his own arrangements for over an hour can quickly becomes tiresome. [21 January 2008] 
Jesu: LifelineAlthough he risks overkill with so many EPs, Justin Broadrick's Jesu continues to be as consistently good as ever. [14 January 2008] 
Serj Tankian: Elect the DeadNot as good as Mezmerize but better than Hypnotize, the solo debut by the System of a Down frontman will surprise many by just how strong it is. [6 December 2007] 
Dethklok: The DethalbumContrary to what you might think, as Skwisgaar Swigelf would say, this records is definitely not dildos. [27 November 2007] 
Queensrÿche: Sign of the Times: The Best of QueensrÿcheThe band's third compilation CD, while pleasing, could have been handled better. 
Chiodos: Bone Palace BalletOn their second album, Chiodos shows there might be hope for emocore after all. [26 November 2007] 
The Acorn: Glory Hope MountainWhile the music tends to play it safe at times, the Acorn's debut album finds other ways to win us over. [19 November 2007] 
The Dillinger Escape Plan: Ire WorksNot only does this long-awaited new album cap off an outstanding year for metal music, but Ire Works just might be the best of the lot. [16 November 2007] 
The Donnas: BitchinSadly, the Donnas are becoming as transparent as some of the old '80s bands they revere. 
Arch Enemy: Rise of the TyrantThe ever-reliable Swedish bands gives us exactly what we want: more of the same, but better than last time. [14 November 2007] 
Between the Buried and Me: ColorsOn their watershed fourth CD, Between the Buried and Me emerges as one of the most dazzlingly original acts in metal today. [1 November 2007] 
Portal: OutréThe death metal peddled by Australia's Portal is truly friggin' terrifying. [26 October 2007] 
Die Mannequin: Slaughter DaughterToronto's Die Mannequin has been the beneficiary of some tremendous major label hype in Canada. [25 October 2007] 
Witchcraft: The AlchemistWitchcraft's breakthrough third album sees them broadening their sound more than they ever have in the past. [23 October 2007] 
Ratt: Videos from the Cellar: The Atlantic Years [DVD]Unlike their wealth of great singles, Ratt's videography is painfully lacking in quality, and this DVD doesn't exactly improve matters. [17 October 2007] 
Epica: The Divine ConspiracyThe Dutch symphonic metal band swings for the fences on its fourth album, delivering a convoluted, long-winded meditation on organized religion. [11 October 2007] 
Jens Lekman: Night Falls Over KortedalaSchmaltz, sympathy, and humor dominate Lekman's newest album, his best one yet. [9 October 2007] 
Richard Hawley: Lady’s BridgeThe guy who should have won the 2006 Mercury Prize makes an even stronger bid for 2008. [2 October 2007] 
High on Fire: Death is This CommunionThe trio's fourth album boasts improvements on all fronts, resulting in one of 2007's best metal releases. [28 September 2007] 
Plastiscines: LP1The French foursome tread familiar ground, yet do so with verve on one of the year's more winsome debuts. [26 September 2007] 
Heaven and Hell: Live at Radio City Music Hall [DVD]After years in purgatory, Black Sabbath veterans reunite and create metal heaven. [25 September 2007] 
Ratt: Tell the World: The Very Best of RattThis crash course in Ratt 'n' Roll shows there's much more to the LA glammers than just "Round and Round". [24 September 2007] 
Good Charlotte: Good Morning RevivalSure, their new album sucks, but what's interesting is how close it came to not sucking. [13 September 2007] 
Darkest Hour: Deliver UsWith their fifth album, Darkest Hour find themselves at a creative peak. [11 September 2007] 
Botch: American NervosoEight years after the fact, Botch's debut album is still as awe-inspiring as it ever was. [5 September 2007] 
Baroness: The Red AlbumThe Savannah, Georgia band knock one out of their park... and it's only their first full album. [4 September 2007] 
Waking Up DeadA fascinating, heartbreaking story about a good guy who made some terrible decisions, and a cautionary tale for anyone who wants to make it big in the music business [30 August 2007] 
Job For a Cowboy: GenesisJob For a Cowboy undoubtedly has the chops, but a musical identity is nonexistent. If there's one good thing about Genesis, it's that it will continue to turn on young metalcore fans on to more traditional death metal. [29 August 2007] 
Cephalic Carnage: XenosapienDeath metal's perennial underdogs emerge triumphant on their spellbinding fifth album. [23 August 2007] 
Wax Mannequin: Orchard & IreAmbitious, deliriously unfocused, and nowhere near as self-important and precious as you'd think, Orchard & Ire is nuts enough to work. [21 August 2007] 
Raising the Fawn: Sleight of HandThe latest album by one of Canada's most underrated bands artfully balances the familiar with the ambitious. [16 August 2007] 
Turbonegro: RetoxSemper Fat! Our favorite chubby dudes return with their best album in years. [14 August 2007] 
The Dresden Dolls: Live at the Roundhouse, London [DVD]High-brow art, eccentric fun, and plenty of good tunes collide on the Dresden Dolls' first concert DVD. 
Kiss: Kissology Vol. 2, 1978-1991 [DVD]The second installment of the enormously successful series, for all its inconsistencies, is a fascinating chronicle of Kiss's swift decline and slow resurrection during the '80s. [13 August 2007] 
Twisted Sister: Twisted Sister: The Video Years [DVD]We might be 20 years older, but we still wanna rock. [25 July 2007] 
Caïna: MournerEven Satanists have soul. Mourner is a spellbinding, highly eclectic 67 minutes of music that never wears out its welcome. [24 July 2007] 
Neurosis: Given to the RisingThe extreme metal innovators prove once again why they are one of the all-time greats. [13 July 2007] 
Twilight Revival: Twilight RevivalBy dipping into the rich musical palette of 1980s college rock, the foursome add an enticing dimension to today's Americana sound. [12 July 2007] 
3 Inches of Blood: Fire Up the BladesIf you're searching for 2007's essential retro-metal fix, look no further. [10 July 2007] 
Graf Orlock: Destination Time TomorrowFirst off, this is, hands down, the coolest album art design we'll come across all year. [5 July 2007] 
Sick Puppies: Dressed Up As LifeA band that actually cites Silverchair as a major musical influence. [2 July 2007] 
Big Business: Here Come the WaterworksMore accessible than Lightning Bolt, and powerful enough to blow the hipster moustache of Jesse Keeler's mug. [29 June 2007] 
Immaculate Machine: Immaculate Machines FablesThe Canadian trio follows the New Pornographers' lead on its third album, and does it surprisingly well. 
Watain: Sworn to the DarkWant to hear arguably the finest black metal album of 2007? Just follow the stench... [19 June 2007] 
Sonic Youth: Daydream NationSonic Youth's masterpiece finally gets the deluxe treatment. [12 June 2007] 
In This Moment: Beautiful TragedyOn the Orange County band's debut, lead singer Maria Brink puts a welcome, fresh spin on a very tired sound. [6 June 2007] 
Boris with Michio Kurihara: RainbowSick of Boris yet? Hopefully not, because you definitely don't want to miss out on this one. [31 May 2007] 
Megadeth: United AbominationsThe arsenal of Megadeth has been fully reloaded on the thrash greats' finest album in years. [18 May 2007] 
Travis: The Boy With No NameAfter the lackluster 12 Memories, Travis has rebounded nicely by sticking to its strengths. [17 May 2007] 
LoveHateHero: White LiesYeah, that's right, an emocore album actually worth writing 750 words about. 
Dungen: Tio BitarThe band that taught indie kids that it's okay to enjoy jazz flute makes a triumphant return on its fifth album. [16 May 2007] 
Skeletonwitch: Worship the WitchCleveland, Ohio's Skeletonwitch is hugely indebted to the classic European thrash metal of the late 1980s. [11 May 2007] 
Charlotte Gainsbourg: 5: 55She might have enlisted the services of Air and Jarvis Cocker, but Charlotte Gainsbourg's first album in 21 years is even more indebted to the music of her parents. 
Grave: Enraptured [DVD]Tight, efficient, old school death metal, Swedish style. That's all we ever ask of Grave, and they deliver. 
Machine Head: The BlackeningTo be completely honest, we didn't see this coming at all. But who could have? [10 May 2007] 
Rush: Snakes & ArrowsLerxst, Dirk, and the Professor make their long-awaited return, but this time around, it's Lerxst who steals the show. [9 May 2007] 
Various Artists: Quentin Tarantino’s Death ProofHot women, a bad-ass villain, a pair of wickedly cool cars, snappy dialogue, and of course, killer tunes. [8 May 2007] 
Dimmu Borgir: In Sorte DiaboliDimmu Borgir pulls out all the stops on its first album in four years, and results are devilishly good. [7 May 2007] 
Xiu Xiu: Remixed & CoveredEven in the hands of others, Xiu Xiu's music can still hurt so good. [3 May 2007] 
Trap Them: Sleepwell DeconstructorCan't wait for the new Pig Destroyer album? This one will tide you over nicely. [1 May 2007] 
The Band: The Best of A Musical HistoryThe music is superb, but who's going to buy this? [27 April 2007] 
Bloody Panda: PheromoneDon't let the name fool you; this is some of the most riveting doom metal you'll hear all year. [25 April 2007] 
Black Sabbath: The Dio YearsRonnie James Dio's tenure in Black Sabbath was brief, but it resulted in some of the greatest songs in heavy metal history. [24 April 2007] 
Madina Lake: From Them, Through Us, to YouThey'd be better off ditching the carefully-coiffed comb-overs, too, lest labelmate Zakk Wylde comes along and tear them a new one. [19 April 2007] 
Apocalyptica: The Life Burns Tour [DVD]Brace yourselves; this ain't your regular string quartet. [18 April 2007] 
Dokken: Unchain the Night [DVD]A fun look back at one of the most dysfunctional bands of the '80s. [9 April 2007] 
Maylene and the Sons of Disaster: IIPost-hardcore and Southern rock do battle on the Alabama band's second album, and this time out, the good guys win. [6 April 2007] 
Rwake: Voices of OmensThis third album by the Arkansas band is far too imposing to warrant the usual flippant Deliverance jokes. [5 April 2007] 
Dälek: Abandoned LanguageDälek's more minimal approach pays off hugely on their fourth album. [4 April 2007] 
Robbers on High Street: The Fatalist and FriendsThis four-song teaser EP shows us there's still some life left in these guys. [2 April 2007] 
Vixen: Live and LearnA fans-only disc, this album might not make much commercial headway, but the fact that Kuehnemund and her mates are having a blast starting from scratch makes Live and Learn all the more appealing, despite its shortcomings. [30 March 2007] 
Holy Moses: Queen of SiamIt took some bravery and audacity for Holy Moses to promote their product in the most male-dominated genre in popular music. [28 March 2007] 
Lordi: The ArockalypseEurope's biggest success story of 2006 has set its sights on the unsuspecting North American audience. Don't say we didn't warn you. [23 March 2007] 
Jesu: ConquerorJesu's fourth release is a masterful, highly accessible outing by one of extreme music's greatest innovators. [15 March 2007] 
Fu Manchu: We Must ObeyTen albums in, Fu Manchu refuses to grow up. They're the David Woodersons of stoner rock, and we love 'em for it. [13 March 2007] 
Arcade Fire: Neon BibleAfter the dreamlike euphoria of Funeral, this much-hyped follow-up wakes up with one mother of a hangover. [2 March 2007] 
Between the Buried and Me: The Silent CircusThe progressive metal band's pivotal second album gets the reissue treatment. [1 March 2007] 
Arsis: United in RegretBrutality meets grace on Arsis's hotly anticipated new album. [28 February 2007] 
Various Artists: Metals Darkside [DVD]Ex-porn stars and metal, what could be better? Uh lots of things, it so happens. [27 February 2007] 
Azrael: Act III: Self + Act IV: GoatYes, kids, these dudes are cult, or kvlt if you prefer, right down to the typically grim (AKA "poorly lit") album cover and unreadable band logo. [26 February 2007] 
Walls of Jericho: With Devils Amongst Us AllThe Detroit band's fiery third album breaks down some walls, and not just the metaphorical ones, either. 
Meshuggah: NothingOn this revamped edition, Meshuggah destroys, erases, and improves upon an already great album. [23 February 2007] 
Bleeding Through: The TruthIt might have come out a year ago, but that won't stop us from taking a look at one of 2006's better metalcore releases. [20 February 2007] 
Various Artists: Family Values Tour 2006Why, oh why can't nu-metal just go away and die? [19 February 2007] 
Detention Lounge: Detention Lounge, Vol. 1 [DVD]What do you get when you combine hardcore punk with sketch comedy? Trust us, you don't want to know. [14 February 2007] 
Titan: A Raining Sun of Light and Love For You and You and You…After a choppy take-off, the Brooklyn band settles in, setting its controls for the heart of the sun. [6 February 2007] 
Lily Allen: Alright, StillThe UK's most famous MySpace member puts out her much-ballyhooed debut. Big Time, meet Lily. Lily, meet the Big Time. [30 January 2007] 
Jon Oliva’s Pain: Maniacal RenderingsOn his second solo record, the Savatage frontman shows signs of returning to the glory days. [23 January 2007] 
Made Out of Babies: CowardSinger Julie Christmas is a revelation on Made Out of Babies' second album. [19 January 2007] 
Neko Case: Live from Austin, TXWait, wasn't this released on DVD just a short while ago? [18 January 2007] 
Wolf: The Black FlameDependable, retro metal fun from a band that refuses to believe it's not still 1981. [17 January 2007] 
Lullaby Baxter: Garden Cities of To-MorrowThis album is good enough to make you forget about Chan whatshername. [15 January 2007] 
Loverboy: Get LuckyThis 25th anniversary reissue gives us another chance to revisit a gaudy '80s rock gem. As a man once said, everybody needs a second chance. 
Victory: Fuel to the FireMiddling '80s metal band covers own songs, yielding middling results. [9 January 2007] 
Diamond Head: To the Devil His Due [DVD]One of metal's most influential, yet criminally underrated bands makes its DVD debut, and does not disappoint. 
Rhapsody of Fire: Triumph or AgonyIt's all so silly, but just admit it, you secretly kind of dig it. [2 January 2007] 
Wednesday 13: Fang BangSome welcome shock rock that doesn't take itself too seriously. [22 December 2006] 
Ultra Dolphins: MarThe kind of spazzy hardcore that can send a room full of teenaged hardcore dancers into a spin-kicking frenzy in mere seconds. [19 December 2006] 
Lemonator: At the Presence of Great BeautyProof there's much, much more to Finnish popular music than just Nightwish and Finntroll. 
Parkway Drive: Killing With a SmilePlease, we have too many bad metalcore bands in America to have to deal with Australian ones, too. [15 December 2006] 
Converge: No HeroesYet another reminder of just how scarily talented this band is. [12 December 2006] 
Danava: DanavaPortland's Danava takes the "hip" out of hipster metal on its decidedly unfashionable debut. [4 December 2006] 
Isis: In the Absence of TruthEven though Isis's musical progression is cautious at best, the band is still miles ahead of its peers. 
Daughters: Hell SongsIn which our heroes learn that one doesn't have to be screaming all the time to make great grindcore. [20 November 2006] 
Sunn O))) & Boris: AltarThe toughest part of reviewing an album involving Sunn O))) and Boris is finding enough appropriate synonyms for "drone". [13 November 2006] 
Deftones: Saturday Night WristGeneric 90s alt-metal might be dying on the vine, but don't discount the ever-evolving Deftones just yet. [6 November 2006] 
Goldfrapp: We Are GlitterGoldfrapp and a host of collaborators take that white horse for another well-deserved go-round. [30 October 2006] Grave Digger: 25 to LiveA good performance is derailed somewhat by an inferior package. [10 October 2006] 
Alexisonfire: CrisisAlready stars in Canada, it's the perfect time for Alexisonfire to meet with similar success south of the border. [9 October 2006] Bludgeon: World ControlledWhat should sound brutal sounds far too safe for its own good. [4 October 2006] 
Jeff Walker und die Fluffers: Welcome to Carcass CuntryFormer grindcore great goes hillbilly. Why not? [2 October 2006] 
The Killers: Sams Town"This album is one of the best albums in the past 20 years. There's nothing that touches this album." -- Brandon Flowers, to MTV News, May 2006 
Black Stone Cherry: Black Stone CherryOnce in a rare while, a new band takes familiar hard rock, and puts a fresh spin on it. 
On the Last Day: Meaning in the StaticComb-overs: check. Eyeliner: check. Songs...songs? Anyone? Hello? [22 September 2006] 
Hatebreed: SupremacyAmerica's favorite hardcore band delivers its BEST BEST BEST album EVER EVER EVER! 
Lamb of God: SacramentThe Virginia quintet continues to raise their middle finger to anyone and everyone, their congregation continuing to grow exponentially. [21 September 2006] 
Artimus Pyledriver: Artimus PyledriverAn album like this should leave us happier than a hog knee-deep in slop, but instead, we realize we're surrounded by nothing but, well ... slop. [20 September 2006] 
The Cardigans: Super Extra GravityThe Cardigans' welcome return to form finally gets an American release. [19 September 2006] 
Mastodon: Blood MountainMastodon is on the cusp of something huge, with a hotly anticipated CD that threatens to turn metal on its ear and bring another underground sound to the mainstream in the process. [18 September 2006] 
Junior Boys: So This is GoodbyeThe second album by the Canadian duo proves their much-heralded debut was no fluke. [14 September 2006] 
Silent Civilian: Rebirth of the TempleSpineshank is to Fear Factory as Silent Civilian is to... [12 September 2006] 
All That Remains: The Fall of IdealsThe Massachusetts band comes along and injects the American metalcore with a dose of welcome energy. [7 September 2006] 
Iron Maiden: A Matter of Life and DeathThe British metal legends defy the odds yet again on their strongest album in 18 years. [6 September 2006] 
Various Artists: Warped Tour 2006 CompilationThe annual summer punk primer gives the kids what they want: more of everything, for a cheap price. 
Motörhead: Kiss of DeathThirty one years later, Motörhead hasn't changed at all. Not that we ever want them to. [29 August 2006] 
Strapping Young Lad: The New Black"Welcome to A&W, my name is Devin. Can I take your stinkin' order!!!" [28 August 2006] 
Moonspell: MemorialThe Portuguese metal veterans deliver a sublime exercise in goth doom and gloom. [24 August 2006] 
Carina Round: Slow Motion AddictThe UK singer-songwriter continues to find her own voice on the follow-up to the impressive The Disconnection. [22 August 2006] 
Agalloch: Ashes Against the GrainAgalloch's third album continues to tread new ground, and the results are electrifying. [15 August 2006] 
Godsmack: IVWhen they're good, they're actually okay. It's when they're not good that the problems start. [8 August 2006] 
Slayer: Christ IllusionSlayer's best album in 16 years is also their most thought-provoking work to date. [7 August 2006] 
Silversun Pickups: CarnavasThis enjoyable disc hearkens back to when indie rock hooks were big, and the guitars sounded even bigger. [2 August 2006] 
DragonForce: Inhuman RampageAre these guys serious?! Oh, screw it. "Cry for eee-TERNITYYYY!" [1 August 2006] 
Korn: Live & RareThis helping of Korn leftovers leaves the consumer stuck with a smattering of krappy kernels. [19 July 2006] 
Priestess: Hello MasterThis rip-roaring debut by the Montreal band just might have mainstream rock fans asking for their nickels back. [10 July 2006] 
Enslaved: RuunNorway's ultimate late bloomers shed the black metal tag for something altogether more enthralling. [6 July 2006] 
Run Chico Run: Slow ActionAnother solid album by the one Victoria, BC band you probably haven't heard about. [27 June 2006] 
The Forecast: In the Shadow of Two GunmenThe Illinois underdogs turn down the angst and turn up the charm on a real beauty of a sophomore album. [22 June 2006] 
Various Artists: InvadersIt brazenly cashes in on metal's recent critical popularity, but Invaders will still surprise many. [5 June 2006] 
Rammstein: RosenrotRammstein's musically rich fifth album is nowhere near as chilly as the cover art would indicate. [2 June 2006] 
Killing Joke: Hosannas From the Basements of HellThe post punk innovators return with their finest album in well over a decade. [22 May 2006] 
Korpiklaani: Tales Along This RoadAlcohol-fueled polka metal from Finland. What’s there not to love? [15 May 2006] 
Lacuna Coil: KarmacodeNearly four years after their last album, the Italian band is ready for Stateside stardom. [12 May 2006] 
The Dresden Dolls: Yes, Virginia…The cabaret feel is still there, but Virginia’s more refined sound makes the Boston duo’s second album a winner. [8 May 2006] 
Tool: 10,000 Days"Who cares about the music? It looks like Maynard's pointing right at me!" [5 May 2006] 
Young and Sexy: Panic When You Find ItVancouver’s other great indie pop band make their long-awaited return with a more mature sound. [28 April 2006] 
Sing-Sing: Sing-Sing and ISing-Sing’s second album inches closer to the dreampop of Lush, with a few detours along the way. [27 April 2006] 
Faktion: FaktionIt may be cookie cutter modern rock, but this debut isn't without its quality moments. Too bad there aren't enough of them. 
Katatonia: The Great Cold DistanceMagnificent vocal melodies and exceptional songwriting craft collide on one of the finest metal albums of early 2006. [25 April 2006] 
Edguy: Rocket RideAre you ready for a rock 'n' roll party tonight? Admit it, you know you are. [18 April 2006] 
Atreyu: A Death-Grip on YesterdayThey might be the biggest metalcore band in America right now, but Atreyu don’t quite sound like it yet. [13 April 2006] 
Raising the Fawn: The Maginot LineToronto's Raising the Fawn might not get the attention the rest of the Broken Social Scene splinter groups receive, but the band is emerging as one of the best of the lot. [5 April 2006] 
Amorphis: EclipseWith a new vocalist leading the way, Amorphis sound reborn on their seventh full-length album. [31 March 2006] 
Sepultura: Dante XXIThe band's fourth post-Max album shows us that the fire, flickering as it may be, still exists. [30 March 2006] 
The Ocean: AeolianFor a collective, these German metal musicians stay remarkably focused on their fourth album. [24 March 2006] 
Nardwuar the Human Serviette: Doot Doola Doot Doo… Doot Doo! (2006)In which the Canadian cult hero gets a long-overdue DVD treatment. [17 March 2006] Neko Case: Fox Confessor Brings the FloodNeko Case’s fourth studio album inches ever so closer towards greatness. If she’s not there already. [6 March 2006] 
Sevendust: Best Of (Chapter One 1997-2004)In which the band’s former label attempts one last parting shot. [3 March 2006] 
Burst: OrigoChaos and beauty collide on what is certain to be the Swedish band’s breakthrough disc. [22 February 2006] 
The Sword: Age of WintersThe Sword’s debut does cater to the non-metal crowd, but contrary to what the cynics claim, doesn’t alienate metal fans one bit. [20 February 2006] 
Can: Can DVDCapture Can's potent, not to mention legendary, live presence during their peak years. [15 February 2006] 
In Flames: Come ClarityThe eighth album by the Swedish metal masters is their most accessible to date, but still acknowledges their early sound. [9 February 2006] The Gathering: MandylionA decade later, The Gathering’s breakthrough album remains as powerful as ever. [8 February 2006] 
controller.controller: X-AmountsAll the musical chops in the world don’t mean squat if you don’t have the songs. [2 February 2006] 
Dimmu Borgir: StormblåstThe Norwegian black metal greats risk the wrath of their fanbase by re-recording a much-loved early album. Blasphemers! [1 February 2006] 
Green Carnation: Acoustic VersesAn all-acoustic experiment by the progressive metal band turns out to be just as powerful as their amplified work. [30 January 2006] 
Killing Joke: XXV Gathering: The Band That Preys Together… Stays Together [DVD]This is music to dance to, music to move. This is music to march to, to dance... the war dance!" [18 January 2006] Morningwood: MorningwoodThe music is as blunt as the name. Which, for the most part, is a good thing. [5 January 2006] Bolt Thrower: Those Once LoyalAnother old UK metal war-horse trundles out the big guns on their finest album in years. [3 January 2006] 
Deep Purple: Rapture of the DeepDeep Purple keep the creative fires burning on what turns out to be their best album in two decades. [20 December 2005] 
Rush: R30: 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition [DVD]On their second release in two years, Rush continue to perfect the concert DVD experience. [14 December 2005] 
The Whigs: Give ‘Em All a Big Fat LipOn their impressive self-released debut, Athens, Georgia's The Whigs shed the 'local bar band' tag for good. [12 December 2005] 
Various Artists: Only in Canada, EH: 77-81Not all Canadian kids listened to Rush during the late 1970s, as this superb anthology of Canadian punk rock proves. [6 December 2005] 
Judas Priest: Rising in the East [DVD]Do you wanna go, wanna go, wanna go Hot Rockin'? Come on, admit it, you do. [2 December 2005] 
Slipknot: 9.0 LiveThe world's angriest band gets the double live treatment, with very intense results. [30 November 2005] 
Cradle of Filth: Peace Through Superior Firepower [DVD]A deliciously eee-vil black metal bacchanal. Just in time for the Holidays, kids!" 
System of a Down: HypnotizeAfter getting off to a blazing start, Hypnotize begins to lose its focus as the band's songwriting well runs dry. [22 November 2005] 
Jens Lekman: Oh, You’re So Silent JensThe latest collection of previously released songs by the prodigious Swede features some of his best material so far. [18 November 2005] 
Sunn O))): Black OneDoom greats Sunn O))) and their collaborator Oren Ambarchi provide us with two wildly disparate, yet similarly abstract examples of ambient/drone music. [11 November 2005] 
Art Brut: Bang Bang Rock and RollAs long as there are young Brits with amplified guitars slung around their shoulders, there will always be the odd few who come off as cheeky arseholes. And, bless 'em, Art Brut are the latest. [10 November 2005] 
Early Man: Closing InA harmless album of retro metal has been inexplicably released by an indie rock giant, which is bound to confuse both metal fans and indie kids alike. [9 November 2005] 
Constantines: Tournament of HeartsCanada's Constantines attempt to try something new, with decidedly mixed results. [11 October 2005] 
Franz Ferdinand: You Could Have It So Much BetterFor once, a heavily-hyped follow-up that lives up to expectations. We're lucky lucky, we're so lucky. [10 October 2005] 
For Against: DecemberA long-overdue reissue of one of the most tragically overlooked albums of the 1980s. [6 October 2005] 
Ladytron: Witching HourLadytron's third album is not only their most adventurous to date, it's also their best. [5 October 2005] 
Leaves’ Eyes: Vinland SagaLeaves' Eyes second album brings a refreshing feminine perspective to Viking-themed metal. [3 October 2005] 
Killing Joke: Pandemonium / DemocracyA decade later, two overlooked Killing Joke albums get the reissue treatment. [30 September 2005] 
Stryper: Reborn'80s Christian rockers Stryper have returned with a surprisingly good album, their dignity intact. [29 September 2005] 
Grand Magus: Wolf’s ReturnNothing lifts ordinary metal music out of the mire like a fine lead singer. American metalcore bands, take note. [28 September 2005] 
Opeth: Ghost ReveriesIf you're going to buy one metal album this year, make it this one. If you're a metal fan, what are you waiting for?" [21 September 2005] 
The Fall: Hex Enduction Hour: Expanded Deluxe EditionThe lavish reissue of the seminal 1982 album by The Fall sounds just as potent today, or perhaps even more so. [20 September 2005] 
Goldfrapp: SupernatureGoldfrapp's bid for pop stardom is decidedly calculated, but not without a curveball or two. [19 September 2005] 
Fates Warning: Awaken the Guardian (Expanded Edition)The influential progressive metal album gets the deluxe treatment. [16 September 2005] 
Diamond Nights: PopsicleThere's nothing wrong with a bit of patently uncool retro rock, especially when it's done this well. 
Natasha Bedingfield: UnwrittenThe UK pop star attempts to win over America, and unlike her peers, she just might succeed. [15 September 2005] 
Turbonegro: Party AnimalsLook out, mainstream rock, you have a bunch of fat, horny, gay Norwegians charging your way. [8 September 2005] 
Richard Hawley: Coles CornerOn his fourth album, Richard Hawley solidifies his reputation as one of the UK's finest singer-songwriters. [6 September 2005] 
Bob Dylan: No Direction Home: The SoundtrackA portrait of the legend as a young genius. [2 September 2005] 
North Mississippi Allstars: Electric Blue WatermelonOn their fourth studio album, the World Boogie vision of the North Mississippi Allstars starts to come into full bloom. [1 September 2005] 
Darkane: Layers of LiesA rare feat, a classy Swedish metal album that appeals to metalcore fans, without dumbing down the sound. [30 August 2005] 
The Black Dahlia Murder: MiasmaThe young Detroit band have always had the chops, but can they keep things interesting for an entire album?" [26 August 2005] 
Alice Cooper: Dirty DiamondsThe shock rock legend has released his best album in 16 years, and perhaps longer. [23 August 2005] 
Slough Feg: AtavismThe latest album by the Bay Area band celebrates everything that was great from early '80s heavy metal. [19 August 2005] 
Idlewild: Warnings/PromisesThe normally exuberant Scottish band have toned things down, with mixed results. [16 August 2005] 
X-Ray Spex: Germ Free AdolescentsThis reissued, oft-overlooked punk classic has never sounded more relevant. [10 August 2005] 
Nevermore: This Godless EndeavorNevermore has the respect; all they need now are the sales. [9 August 2005] 
Arch Enemy: Doomsday MachineWith their fifth album, Arch Enemy are poised to become one of the world's premiere metal acts. [8 August 2005] 
Megadeth: Greatest Hits: Back to the StartDave Mustaine has put together his second career retrospective in five years, but this time, with a little help from his fans. [29 July 2005] 
The Offspring: Greatest HitsThe Offspring are the latest band to ride the '90s nostalgia wave. But that's okay, because the '90s ruled. [28 July 2005] 
Mudvayne: Lost and FoundMudvayne's first album in three years arrives just as nu-metal is receiving its last rites, and will only quicken the genre's demise. [14 July 2005] 
Torche: TorcheOn their fiery debut album, Miami's Torche explore the sunnier side of stoner rock. [13 July 2005] 
Primordial: The Gathering WildernessThe new album by Ireland's Primordial packs an emotional punch we rarely hear in metal today. [12 July 2005] 
GWAR: Live From Mt. FujiEverything, the walls, the ceiling, the floor, covered in plastic wrap, and for good reason, because let's face it, when you go to see GWAR, no matter how hard to try to hide, you will get messy. [1 July 2005] 
Clutch: Robot Hive / ExodusWeirdly enough, Clutch's sixth album sounds more Bonnaroo than Ozzfest. Even weirder, that's a good thing. [29 June 2005] 
Darkest Hour: Undoing RuinThe metalcore standouts have made a bold stylistic leap, but not in the direction you'd expect. [28 June 2005] 
Coldplay: X & YBrace yourselves, it's here. The fans will love it, the band's popularity will grow even more, and EMI can rest easy. [6 June 2005] 
Meshuggah: Catch ThirtythreeThis is what happens when a talented band has too much time on their hands. [3 June 2005] 
Brand New Sin: Recipe For DisasterThe perfect music for a summer afternoon with a tubful of beer on ice. [2 June 2005] 
The Locust: Safety Second, Body LastMore madness from the most insane grind band in America. [1 June 2005] 
Oasis: Don’t Believe the TruthAfter a dark eight-year stretch, at last, some daylight. [27 May 2005] 
Nile: Annihilation of the WickedThe American death metal masters return with what could be their best album to date. [26 May 2005] 
System of a Down: MezmerizeSystem of a Down have exceeded expectations, and they're only halfway done. [25 May 2005] 
Maximo Park: A Certain TriggerOn their debut album, the English band proves they're much more than the latest trend. [24 May 2005] 
The Ponys: Celebration CastleOn their second album, The Ponys shift from a full-on gallop to a more classy canter. [20 May 2005] 
The Nein: Wrath of CircuitsOn their debut album, The Nein prove there's plenty of life left in the post punk revival. [18 May 2005] 
The Russian Futurists: Our ThicknessYou want hooks? Matthew Adam Hart's got your hooks, right here. Honest, he really does. [5 May 2005] 
Caribou: The Milk of Human KindnessCaribou, Manitoba...whatever he wants to call himself, Dan Snaith has done it again. [4 May 2005] 
The Raveonettes: Pretty in BlackOn their second album, The Raveonettes' obsession with 50s pop culture has only increased. [3 May 2005] 
Guapo: Black OniLondon's Guapo want you to get ur prog on. Or so they would like us to think. [28 April 2005] 
Emiliana Torrini: Fisherman’s WomanOn her first album in six years, the talented Torrini equals the beauty of her debut album, in an entirely different way. [20 April 2005] 
Napalm Death: The Code Is Red… Long Live the CodeThe grindcore legends have returned with their most inspired album in years. [12 April 2005] 
Corrosion of Conformity: In the Arms of GodCOC's Pepper Keenan auditioned to be Metallica's new bass player. Thank heaven he didn't get the job. [5 April 2005] 
Fantomas: Suspended AnimationThe greatest supergroup on the planet have decided to tackle the crazy world of cartoon music. Heaven help us all. [4 April 2005] 
Samael: Reign of LightOn their first album in nearly six years, metal innovators Samael keep their sight set forward. [30 March 2005] 
Strapping Young Lad: AlienAs is always the case, the latest opus from Canada's metal mastermind is not for the faint of heart. [25 March 2005] 
Leeroy Stagger: Beautiful HouseThe young Canadian singer-songwriter combines indie pop with country on his pleasant second album. [10 March 2005] 
Ash: MeltdownAsh have returned with a new album, only to be upstaged by the solo debut by their own guitarist. 
Judas Priest: Angel of RetributionRob Halford's first Judas Priest album in 15 years marks a return to the band's classic early '80s sound. [4 March 2005] 
Louis XIV: Illegal TenderIn which the San Diego band attempts to put the decadence back into American rock music. [2 March 2005] 
Dark Tranquillity: CharacterIn which the veteran Swedish metal innovators show the youngsters a thing or two about what makes a good metal album. [1 March 2005] 
Various Artists: Alone in the Dark: Music From and Inspired By the Motion PictureA rare feat, in which one of the worst movies of the year has yielded one of the best soundtracks of the year. [28 February 2005] 
Drive-By Truckers: Gangstabilly / Pizza DeliveranceBulldozers, Bullets, and Buttholes: Early tales from the Dirty South from one of the best rock bands in America. 
Buried Inside: Chronoclast: Selected Essays on Time-Reckoning and Auto-CannibalismGot the time tick, tick, ticking in my head: Want some philosophy to go with your metal?" [23 February 2005] 
The BellRays: The Red, White & BlackThe BellRays give us the same old stuff, which is all we ever ask of them. [21 February 2005] 
M.I.A.: ArularTo Congo, to Colombo, can't stereotype her thing, yo. Ms. Arulpragasam has delivered the best UK debut since Dizzee Rascal's Boy in da Corner. [18 February 2005] 
Flat Earth Society: ISMSLittle did we know that a bunch of Belgians were up to something so unbelievably freaky. [11 February 2005] 
Dälek: AbsenceThe adventurous industrial hip-hop trio jar awake the opiated masses. [8 February 2005] 
Stereo Total: Do the BambiCute songs about animals, movies, drug addicts, and candy. That's right, another Stereo Total album. [3 February 2005] 
High on Fire: Blessed Black WingsWith the help of Steve Albini, the Bay Area band breaks free from the shackles of sludge/doom metal. [2 February 2005] 
Goldfrapp: Wonderful Electric: Live in London [DVD]Goldfrapp is one of the finest musical talents to have emerged in the first half of this decade. [17 January 2005] 
Amorphis: Far From the SunThe Scandinavian metal band might still draw heavily on Nordic folklore and mysticism in the lyrical subject matter, but the musical influence is most heavily influenced by the organ-driven rock of Deep Purple and Uriah Heep. [13 January 2005] 
Various Artists: DFA Compilation #2DFA deserve to be huge. After all, all the label has done is become the source for very nearly all the greatest American indie dance music that's come out in the first half of this decade. [2 December 2004] 
NOFX: The Greatest Songs Ever Written By UsIt's clear he and his band are comfortable with the prospect of becoming punk's elder statesmen; 'So call me Fat Fuck, geriatric punk rock,' he sneers, concluding later on, 'We're all getting older, not better.' Judging by their recent output, many would tend to disagree. [30 November 2004] 
Killing Joke: For BeginnersEmerging from the same post punk era that yielded such crucial bands as Wire, Bauhaus, and The Cure, Killing Joke' music was vicious, feral almost. [23 November 2004] 
The Futureheads: self-titledThe Futureheads' debut album is bound to bring pogoing back in vogue. The music is just as pop-oriented as Franz, but it comes in an extremely tightly-wound package, heaps of energy compressed into 14 tracks that span 34 insanely quick minutes. [15 November 2004] 
Neko Case: The Tigers Have SpokenOver the past five years, it's become abundantly clear that Neko Case has emerged as the finest female country singer of her generation, the 30-something redhead possessing such a unique, instantly recognizable voice, evoking husky-voiced torch singers from decades ago, the Nashville chanteuses of the 1960s and '70s, and combining it all with a tough-girl edge, a result of her punk rock background. [8 November 2004] 
Leonard Cohen: Dear HeatherAfter 36 years of songwriting, and despite taking his own sweet time between albums, Cohen continues to write and record with a startling consistency, and Dear Heather, his most complex and adventurous record to date, is no exception. [26 October 2004]
The Clash: London Calling: 25th Anniversary Legacy EditionIn a genre regarded by many as being confrontational more than anything else, the Clash were the one band who seemed to be always open to new ideas. [8 October 2004]
Mastodon: LeviathanMastodon have turned down the sludge, and turned up the prog. Way up. [28 September 2004]
Garage Days (2004)Garage Days chronicles the adventures of a struggling young Sydney band as they try desperately to land that ever-elusive first paying gig. [23 August 2004] 
Judas Priest: MetalogyOver the course of 30 years, the mighty Priest has had an eventful journey as metal gods, with more than their share of peaks and valleys: they went from being regarded as metal progenitors, to a worldwide commercial success, scorned for being shameless sellouts, accused by witless parents of convincing kids to kill themselves, and coming out from it all as triumphant heroes. [9 August 2004] 
Björk: Post LiveShe sounds so in love with life when she sings, whether she’s cooing softly, chirping along to a cheesy big band arrangement, or belting out her charmingly enigmatic lyrics with gusto. [13 July 2004]
Pulp: Different ClassAlong with Blur’s Parklife, it remains the high point of the Britpop era; music, lyrics, production, artwork, it’s as perfect as it gets, one that I, personally, will never, ever tire of hearing. [20 May 2004]
The Streets: A Grand Don’t Come for FreeLike Leigh’s film High Hopes, like Pulp’s Different Class, A Grand Don’t Come For Free is a superb, perceptive portrait of everyday British life, completely devoid of any pretentiousness, and musically, though his beats are toned down, it cements Skinner’s status as a true original in UK music. [14 May 2004]
Franz Ferdinand: self-titledTo put it simply, their new self-titled album is the most musically rich, catchy, smartly written “new new wave” record since Interpol’s Turn on the Bright Lights. [19 March 2004]
Bob Dylan: Live 1964: Concert at Philharmonic Hall - The Bootleg Series Volume 6The newest addition to Bob Dylan’s ongoing archival project, Live 1964: Concert at Philharmonic Hall - The Bootleg Series Volume 6, differs greatly from Volumes 4 and 5, but it’s one that should greatly please Dylan fans. [18 March 2004]
Steve Earle: Just an American Boy [DVD]Amos Poe had a terrific chance to put together the definitive profile of an artist who is at the peak of his career, producing great music, prose, and drama at such a prolific rate as he'd never done before. [8 March 2004] 
Lambchop: Aw Cmon / No You CmonIt took some guts, but Kurt Wagner’s confidence in his wealth of material has yielded two of Lambchop’s strongest albums to date, and the band has regained the form they showed in the late ‘90s and 2000. [27 February 2004]BlogsSound Affects: Learn to Speak Music, by John Crossingham [27 October 2009]Sound Affects: “Ignorant bliss, impending doom…” [11 June 2009]Mixed Media: Top 5 Videos of 2008: Adrien Begrand [25 November 2008]Notes from the Road: Sure, it’s fun and all, but dude…male dancers? [23 February 2008]Notes from the Road: Deliriously trying to keep up with by:Larm’s staggering variety… [22 February 2008]Notes from the Road: 12 bucks for beer?! Are you nuts?Consuming Consumables: Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation (Deluxe Edition) [$29.98] [20 November 2007] |
Now on PopMatters
Features
:. Director Spotlight: Pedro Almodóvar :. The Iconographies: Masters of Horror Manga: Kazuo Umezu and Hideshi Hino
Columns
The Rockist: We All Know the Way to Sesame Street Worlds in Panels: What We Talk About When We Talk About Supergirl’s Shorts
Blogs
Short Ends and Leader: Poitier Portraying Another Magic Negro: She’s Blind, So Race Don’t Matter
Music
:. AC/DC: Backtracks :. Sufjan Stevens: Run Rabbit Run + The BQE (CD/DVD) :. Joan Baez: How Sweet the Sound :. Robyn Hitchcock: I Often Dream of Trains in New York [DVD] :. Lowlights: Further/Free :. Sondre Lerche: Heartbeat Radio :. Jupiter One: Sunshower
Books
:. The Original of Laura by Vladimir Nabokov :. The City Out My Window: 63 Views on New York by Matteo Pericoli
News
:. ‘Modern Warfare 2’ video game scores record sales in launch :. INTERVIEW:Tom Arnold is a lovable loser , and open about it :. Jazz pianist reflects on his influences in his first piano concerto :. INTERVIEW:Wes Anderson meets Roald Dahl in ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’ :. INTERVIEW:It’s ‘Tuesday Night’ again for Sheryl Crow :. Libraries turning a page with cafes, chat rooms and flat screens
|
