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Most bands don’t know when to quit. Some call it a day too early. Such is the case with metal iconoclasts Burnt by the Sun. Heart of Darkness (Relapse, 2009; reviewed here) serves as a fitting finale for the forward-thinking group. Vocalist Mike Olender discussed the inspiration behind their final work, why it’s Burnt by […]

Europeans usually get the short end of the stick when it comes to hardcore. Though the Continent wins in the realms of philosophy, politics, healthcare, and social welfare, European hardcore has only recently begun besting its American counterpart. While Scandinavian D-beaters tend to garner the Yankee accolades, Belgium’s Rise and Fall are sure to share […]

Photo by Bill Shouldis Contrary to the stereotype of metallers as slackers, Baroness is a band of over-achievers. Vocalist/guitarist/resident artwork designer John Baizley typifies this with his music, graphic design work, and art exhibitions. (His work is currently on display at the Metropolis Gallery in Lancaster, PA). As if the release of a new album, […]

Diehard fans of a genre tend to be tribally protective of it — hence, “true” black metallers’ fervent opposition to anything they deem false. New York City’s Black Anvil garners an unhealthy amount of criticism from these fans due to its members’ past participation in hardcore bands (namely, Kill Your Idols). It’s as if a […]

No band defines modern hardcore punk more than Converge. Creatively combining the style’s best elements (instrumental precision, brute force, sweaty live shows), the band has been revered for nearly two decades. The Massachusetts institution evolved from the Slayer-worship thrash of its early ’90s material to the grisly ferocity of 2001’s Jane Doe. More cohesive than […]

Unlike most guitar-centric bands dispensing with vocals, Russian Circles‘ output has always felt complete. Their previous releases (Enter and Station) succeeded thanks to their songwriting capabilities. Flash and technique account for only so much; this band is onto something beyond rote tech moves. Malko Geneva (Suicide Squeeze, 2009) breaks with Russian Circles’ past. The songs […]

Given their storied pedigree, it’s no surprise that Doomriders revel in the metal. Comprised of equal parts Converge, Disappearer, Cave In and Cast Iron Hike, the band continues the New England tradition of sharpening hardcore’s metal edge. Darkness Come Alive (Deathwish, Inc., 2009) demonstrates how impressive the band has become at molding rock and metal […]

Technical death metal often suffers from a lack of melody. Musicians working within the genre tend to focus on chops. But France’s Gorod impresses with a balance of speed and complexity. On their newest album, the band wisely injects tunefulness into the equation. Guilty of DispersalSplinters of Life Credit goes to new drummer Samuel Santiago […]

Burning Fight (Revelation, 2009), by Chicago-area hardcore punk veteran Brian Peterson, features dozens of recollections and analyses of mid to late ’90s hardcore. The book is something of a defiant response to American Hardcore, whose author Steven Blush pronounced the death of hardcore by 1986. This reflects the common process wherein aging members of a […]