Texas Metal Outlaws – Texas Metal Outlaws
an intrepid, merry band of about two dozen veterans of the Texas Metal scene have united to present a sort of “all-star” tribute to all things old-school metal.
Sacral Rage – Beyond Celestial Echoes
the Athens-based quartet play fast in the vein of classic ‘80s speed metal and thrash acts, but they also take the listener on a veritable musical roller coaster
Sacral Rage – Beyond Celestial Echoes
this is withering-fire metal amplified 150 percent on the technicality and innovation scales.
Deadbird – III: The Forest Within the Tree
traditional elements of classic stoner and doom metal, sprinkled in some sludge and noise elements, and twisted them into a well-integrated form.
Skraeckoedlan – Äppelträdet
a sludgy, distorted bass tone that is as viscous as the deadly muck of a WWI Flanders battlefield.
Northern Crown – Northern Crown
plenty in the way of deliberate and crunchy groove, dynamic usage of riff and tempo changes, and compelling vocal melodies that rival their doomy forefathers
Road Warrior – Power
one of the most exciting, refreshing, and fist-pumping powerful (pun intended) records of 2018.
Valkyria – Tierra Hostil
an aggressive and guitar-driven power metal band
Lizzies – On Thin Ice
all-female Madrid-based quartet wears their hard-rocking roots on their denim-clad sleeves, infused with a sizable dose of punkified piss and vinegar.
Hypnos – Set Fire to the Sky
These exuberant Swedes do much more than merely incorporate their retro influences into their sound; no, they take idolatry one step further by blatantly aping different bands’ styles for individual songs.