New metal in the pacific northwest is getting more and more attention lately with some great new stuff coming out, and Madwagon bring the goods with the best of them.
Paul Maged - The Wild (digital single) Review by Gary Hill Punk and good old fashioned hard rock merge on this. It has a bit of a DIY vibe, but that’s not a bad thing.
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Mahavatar - Go With The NO! Review by Gary Hill This is the first album from New York band Mahavatar, and it shows a LOT of promise for great things to come. They have created an intriguing blend of numetal, classic metal, epic neo classical metal and a good many other sounds.
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In Europe, heavy metal is looked upon as another way to connect to the past. There are tons of bands whose focus is paying tribute to the pagan cultures of old Europe, particularly the Vikings.
Manilla Road - Atlantis Rising Review by Mike Korn Manilla Road is truly the band that would not die. Never caving in to whatever the prevailing trend was (be it grunge, death or glam), the Wichita, Kansas band had a career that defied the odds and managed to release some outstanding epic heavy metal during the 80's and early 90's.
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This collection of three albums from Manowar is classy. It includes a poster and a booklet along with all three CDs (in separate cardboard album cover sleeves) in a cardboard clamshell box.
Marilyn Manson - Antichrist Superstar Review by Gary Hill Marilyn Manson is very controversial, but if you really take the time to listen to the music, there is a dark beauty and charm to it. More
Mastodon - Leviathan Review by Mike Korn There is a generation gap in heavy metal that seems unbridgable. The veterans who remember the great years of the 70's and 80's seem content to bask in the music of their youth, giving very little heed to newer bands such as Shadows Fall or Lamb of God.
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Mennen - Freakazoid Review by Gary Hill Freakazoid is the fifth album from Swedish band Mennen. While they are well known in Europe and Japan, this might be the first time many music fans in America have heard of the group.
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Metal Militia - Perpetual State of Aggression Review by Mike Korn Milwaukee Metalfest is the annual gathering of head bangers that some have likened to a heavy metal cattle drive, with thousands of lowing fans plodding continuously in front of mostly unknown and unlauded bands.
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Plagued by over a decade of rather tepid heavy metal, Metallica made a strong push to reclaim some of their glory on their last album “Death Magnetic” and did a reasonable job of it.
MetalMorphosis Volume 1 is a smash-up of jazz standards and jazz style metal tunes, by three very gifted players who come together for the sheer sake of pushing the boundaries of where old standards can go.
The grand old ghouls of death metal, Morbid Angel have a tough task to keep themselves from falling into the dreaded "influential but over the hill" slot.
I wasn't expecting much from this release, as the venerable Morbid Angel, amongst the oldest of active death metal acts, has not been especially impressive in recent years.
Mötley Crüe - Shout At The Devil Review by Gary Hill Motley Crue somewhat defined an era of heavy metal, and this landmark album was the beginning of that influence by them. More
Mötley Crüe - Live Entertainment or Death Review by Brian Angotti and Gary Hill The fans have asked for it for years and the Crue gives them Entertainment or Death. Entertainment or Death is Motley Crue's first live album since exploding on the L.A. scene nearly twenty years earlier.
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Motörhead - We Are Motörhead Review by Mike Korn Motörheadis a band I've enjoyed and respected for over 20 years. They have never compromised on their raw blues-soaked heavy metal. More
Just when you thought it was time to stick a fork in Motörhead they come roaring back with "Hammered", and again we doubting Thomases must bow our heads in shame.
