Author: KC Stanfield
STRIKER – Before the Clock Strikes 2/24
It’s arguably one of the most important times in a band’s career when they decide to release their self-titled album. It’s not an album you want to screw up. An artist can catch their lucky break and try to take the music world by storm (Slipknot and Iron Maiden) or feel comfortable enough with their… Read more »
WITHERFALL – Nocturnes And Requiems
Few bands find themselves in the tragic situation of losing a member before their debut album. However, that’s the unfortunate case for Witherfall with the release of Nocturnes And Requiems. Drummer Adam Sagan passed away early December during the final stages of production, but the end product turned out to be a masterpiece. The record begins with Portrait, which is… Read more »
CRYSTAL LAKE – True North
Breaking into the American metalcore scene is no easy task and even more so for bands overseas. The Japanese artist Crystal Lake has been going at it since 2002, so they have some experience at this. But if they consistently release albums like True North, they’ll be a household name every headbanger recognizes. True North begins… Read more »
FIT FOR A KING – Deathgrip
Fit For A King has provided metalcore fans crushing breakdowns for about half a decade. And this trend continues with the release of their fourth studio album Deathgrip. But it’s a trend that needs some experimentation as soon as possible. Deathgrip opens with The End’s Beginning and while it’s not bad by itself, it feels like… Read more »
THE AMITY AFFLICTION – This Could Be Heartbreak
The Amity Affliction arguably found their stride and nailed their sound with Let The Ocean Take Me. So This Could Be Heartbreak is a great opportunity to experiment a bit with their sound in order to prevent their sound from getting tired, a common problem with metalcore. To some degree, The Amity Affliction succeeded, and… Read more »
PERIPHERY – Periphery III: Select Difficulty
Periphery has been tearing up the progressive metal scene this decade. They’ve already released four studio albums (one being a double) and two EPs within six years. Periphery III: Select Difficulty is the most recent addition to the band’s expanding discography and it doesn’t disappoint. The record starts off heavy with The Price Is Wrong… Read more »
THOUSAND FOOT KRUTCH – Exhales A Sigh Of Accomplishment
Thousand Foot Krutch, the Christian hard rock group, is quickly approaching their 20th year as a band since the release of That’s What People Do in 1997. But before they reach that milestone, they plan to finish what they started with 2014’s Oxygen:Inhale with the release of Exhale. It’s impossible to talk about one without the… Read more »
COMBICHRIST – This Is Where Death Begins
Combichrist is a difficult band to pigeonhole into a single genre, and their newest album, This Is Where Death Begins, is no different and actually continues to broaden their horizons. The new record is a unique blend of hard rock, metal, techno and industrial music. Having so many different genres at their disposal allows This… Read more »
CANDLEBOX – Disappearing In Airports
Disappearing In Airports is a unique release for Candlebox. The group had to replace two of their founding members, which leaves Kevin Martin (vocals) as the only original member. Considering how Martin wrote a large portion of the record, Disappearing In Airports is his album almost as much as the band’s. With that said, Candlebox… Read more »
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE – Incarnate
Killswitch Engage has been in the metalcore scene longer than many of the genre’s fans could do long division, so expectations are high for Incarnate, the group’s seventh studio album. However, the main item on everyone’s mind is how vocalist Jesse Leach holds up, as this is the second record since his return to the… Read more »
ANTHRAX – For All Kings
It’s truly difficult to overstate the prominence of Anthrax to metal fans. Chances are if you grew up anytime after 1980, you’re more likely to hear the word “anthrax” first used to describe the New York thrash metallers rather than the actual disease or white powder in envelopes. Being one of the Big Four, they’re… Read more »
FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE – King
Fleshgod Apocalypse has been one of the most consistently incredible symphonic death metal artists to come out this past decade. Interestingly enough, this abundant consistency has left their upcoming album, King, with something to prove. If King follows in the footsteps of Agony and Labyrinth, then it runs the risk of being too similar, but at… Read more »