January Review

So, we are just one month into 2016 and there have already been some great Metal releases, including at least one definite Top 20 of the year candidate. Here is my overview of the month's Metal highlights.

Black Tusk - Pillars Of Ash

The latest album from Punk / Sludge heroes, Black Tusk is not only their best to date, but is also the last to feature the unique vocal talents of Jonathan Athon who tragically died in November 2014 after being taken off life support following injuries received in a motorcycle accident. Pillars Of Ash is a tremendous album in its own right, but it also serves as a fitting epitaph to Jonathan.

Abbath - Abbath

Former Immortal founder / mainman, Abbath returns to the fray with his new self-titled project and it is pretty much business as usual for the Norwegian Black Metal legend. With his ear for a hook, Abbath delivers exactly what you might expect from Immortal or even his other project, I, just punchier and with a whole lot more groove.

Anthrax - For All Kings

What is there to say about legendary New Yorkers, Anthrax, other than they are currently on a career best form and are enjoying a well-deserved renaissance in popularity and respect. New album, For All Kings might not be as immediate as previous releases, but persevere with it and you will be rewarded with a fantastic collection of songs which is more than worthy of the Anthrax name.

Borknagar - Winter Thrice

Norways's Borknagar feature the combined vocal excellence of the amazing Vintersorg (Otyg, Vintersorg) and the inimitable ICS Vortex (Acturus) and latest release, Winter Thrice is yet another slice of Progressive Viking / Black Metal brilliance from these masters of their craft.

Fleshgod Apocalypse - King

Technical / Symphonic Black Metallers, Fleshgod Apocalypse are back with another fantastic release. King has a massive, bombastic sound which is reminiscent of Dimmu Borgir or Septic Flesh but with elements of the almost cinematic atmospherics of Cradle Of Filth or Nightwish and a nod to their homeland with a hint of Opera. This isn't for everybody, but if Technical Death Metal is your thing and you don't mind of bit of Symphonic pomp, then you should at least give this album a try.

Megadeth - Dystopia

We've been here before haven't we?! Following 1999's risible, Risk, MegaDave took a U-turn and attempted to regain some Metal credibility with subsequent releases, It has to be said that all was going brilliantly up until 2013 and the release of the plodding and tedious, Super Collider. Up until that point, Megadeth were on fire, releasing album after album of fast and furious modern Thrash Metal. It seemed that Dave released that Super Collider was a mistake almost immediately and publicly announced work on its follow up. Thankfully he may have, yet again, pulled his band back from the abyss with a great collection of tunes, which could be amongst the best ever released by this legendary band. Some iffy lyrics aside, this is a near flawless Megadeth album.

The Resistance - Coup De Grâce

The Resistance was formed in 2011 by former In Flames guitarist, Jesper Strömblad and The Haunted vocalist, Marco Aro (among other Swedish Metal legends) and immediately set about tearing the Death Metal world a new one. Their debut album, Scars, was a ferocious modern take on the old school Stockholm Death Metal of Entombed, Carnage, Dismember et al, along with smatterings of the their more southerly Gothenburg cousins, Arch Enemy and At The Gates and a healthy dose of Hardcore / Punk attitude. New album, Coup De Grâce is more of the same and if anything simply reaffirms the brilliance of this under-rated band.

Varg - Das Ende Aller Lügen

Germany's Varg are five albums into their career, yet still retain the ability to surprise. Whereas the band's basic Melodic Black Metal sound remains intact, this time there are elements of Industrial, Metalcore and even a little Trollfest-esque Humppa thrown into the mix. The finished result may occasionally come across as a little disjointed and the album is a little too long, but when it's good, such as on the excellent, Manson-meets-Rammstein stomp of Achtung, it really works.