portugal

Now that retro true metal is upon us – see Earache’s Heavy Metal Killers compilation (reviewed here) and Metal Blade’s recent signing of Ravage – perhaps the “true” true stuff will get its due. Portugal’s Ironsword is the real deal, having been blessed by Manilla Road’s Mark Shelton, who adds guest vocals here. Overlords of […]

by Cosmo Lee If in 2008, you asked me to hear an instrumental NeurIsis band with a drum machine, I would sooner have asked to be shot in the face. Luckily, I gave Memoirs (Poison Tree, 2008) a chance. It’s gorgeous and suspends my cynicism about the NeurIsis sound. Admittedly, it’s unoriginal. Later Isis is […]

Up at Decibel, I have reviews of Blotted Science (new project of Ron Jarzombek), Devian (new project of Legion, ex-Marduk), and Rigor Sardonicous (slower-than-slow dooooom), as well as a feature on Portuguese black metallers Corpus Christii, whose recent record Rising is sick-sick-sick. The print version (#41, At the Gates cover) also has my live review […]

The Mindless and Complete Stain (on Good Enough for the Escape) is the debut EP from Portuguese band The Ladder. It’s rough around the edges, as most debuts are, but it’s quite creative and exploratory. I’d be surprised if the band doesn’t find more widespread recognition soon. The Ladder’s sound is a little hard to […]