After years of lying in obscurity Trytan’s second album Sylentiger finally has received a proper remaster and reissue. This album was released in 1990 on R.E.X. Records, however it arrived two years too late to capitalize on the wave that their debut album Celestial Messenger created. Initially Trytan fell into the category of “they sound like so and so, or such and such band.” Much like Whitecross or Barren Cross, Trytan had to overcome not just being labeled a “clone” of an

Life In Death While Death Therapy may seem, on the surface, to be a contradiction in terms, nothing could be farther from the truth. In fact, Jason Wisdom (ex-Becoming the Archetype), the creator/songwriter/bassist/vocalist of this more recent musical incarnation, points out in a recent interview that in fact, quite the opposite is true – that in dying we live, something that resonates deeply with the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and his followers. I was recently able t

The Forgotten Masterpiece If But For One is probably one of the best progressive thrash doom metal records ever recorded, but remains an obscure title because it was poorly distributed both in the secular and Christian markets (Hmm, I wonder if the timing of its release had any bearing on that?). Recorded in 1992, the album was originally released in 1993 in the US (R.E.X.) with the dull blue/gray cover (pictured below) and an anemic 4 panel fold out insert with somewhat hard

Mexican metal missionaries Lament return with a full length cd, 5 years after their last ep Left Behind, this time on their own Lament Records. Much like Mortification, Lament started as a death metal band, but at times throughout their history have incorporated many other styles of metal into their formula. Though drummer/ vocalist Abel Gomez has flirted with clean vocals on some albums, he returns to guttural death metal style vocals on Ancient Battle... Abel's drumming sti

Editorial Note: Ok, so I'm a bit late to the game … what's new. Van Pelt and Gatto have already nicely reviewed this, and so I spent some time debating if I should even add my 2 cents. But as I come at this from a slightly different perspective - sharing some feelings and observations with each of them - I thought it might be worth posting. And, if you can even imagine, I went so far as to rate it with a number. - Doc. Gazing At Medusa should by all rights (looking at the cov

Tourniquet fans are obsessive. When a band comes out of the box with 2 classics like Stop the Bleeding and Psycho Surgery, fans are going to pore over every detail of each album and development with a magnifying glass. Many were upset when original singer Guy Ritter left. Now the Tourniquet sound has been typeset for many years by Luke Easter's vocals, so his departure was met with much anticipation. Who would the new singer be, and how would that change the band's sound? Th

The Swedish melodic progressive metal band DARKWATER will release their new album "Human" on March 1st in Europe and North America via Ulterium Records. The album will be available on CD, 2LP and digital. "Human" won't leave fans of melodic metal or progressive metal disappointed. The songs are heavier, more melodic and atmospheric than before and the band worked really hard on tweaking the ten songs and over 76 minutes of playing time into perfection. Jacob Hansen (Evergrey,

I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the 10th anniversary of this recording than by releasing it on vinyl format. Consistent with the other Theocracy vinyl sets from Ulterium Records, this one comes in double gatefold 2LP format with glossy covers/surface, lyrics and credits printed on the inside of the jacket. The discs are housed in anti-static black sleeves. Only 500 copies have been pressed, 350 in black and 150 in clear/transparent (as pictured below). Each record

Progressive Thrash Death Metal Returns! I love this new music from Azusa. Who? Remember Extol? Remember Extol’s Burial (1998) and Undeceived (2000)? Christer Espevoll (guitars, ex-Extol) and David Husvik (drums, Extol, Aperture, Absurd, Twisted Into Form) have had a reunion of sorts and they invited Liam Wilson (bass, Dillinger Escape Plan) and the incredibly talented Eleni Zafiriadou (vocals, Sea+Air) to the party. Progressive thrash death metal might just make a comeback th

The Ultimate River Disturbance One of Deliverance’s most polarizing releases has yet again been resurrected – this time in both CD and vinyl (white) format as part of the Legends Remastered series! Originally released on Brainstorm back in 1994, many fans were a bit torn by the experimentation and stylistic changes on River Disturbance. Stay of Execution and Learn leaned progressive, but remained very heavy metal records and so fans stuck with Deliverance though those fantast