Nuclear Blast Records

The Defiled are a five piece Britisch industrial metal band from London, England mixing groove-laden hardcore/metal with electronic influences. The band formed in 2005, and quickly embarked a number of tours early in their careers including their second, entitled "The Black Death Tour" climaxing in a sold out London show at the Underworld. These gigs have earned the band a reputation for their energetic and chaotic live shows. Earlier this year the band came with a live album called ‘Grave Times Live’ named after their first full album ‘Grave Times’.

German Heavy Metal band working together with an orchestra?

Floor Jansen must be one of the busiest women in metal at the moment. Not only is she now taking all live duties with Nightwish, she's been working her ass off with her own metal band ReVamp. All this work might get to you and Floor knows this better than anyone. Fortunately enough, her illness hasn't stopped her creative vibes and Floor and her band are now ready to treat us with Wild Card, the second full length album of ReVamp.

For about two decades and a half, Immolation can be considered one of the most important names when it comes to technical Death Metal. Throughout the years, these guys created a very specific sound, which did, and still does, influence the international (not only the American) scene. Even though the many albums do differ a little from each other, the band’s self-developed identity characterizes the essential importance of their existence, and with this new album they even step further to prove the undeniable importance of their raison d’être.

For those of you into the works of such bands as Rainbow, Uriah Heep and Led Zeppelin or more recently Rival Sons, Wolfmother and Audioslave comes the latest Nuclear Blast signing, Scorpion Child’s self titled album from this Texas quintet led by frontman Aryn Jonathan Black is knee-deep in 70’s blues psych song structures, beaucoup de fuzz, and groooviness.

Intensive touring within Holland and Belgium and one album release explain why Kadavar are so well known in the Benelux stoner scene. Abra Kadavar, the band’s second album, is a rush of adrenaline throughout its entire duration. This disc finally realizes the potential of Lupus Lindemann – vocals & guitar, Mammut – bass and Tiger – drums on the hauntingly retro sound of the previous album, the band decides to flesh out the sound with a bit more Hawkwind-like space punch.

These Finnish metallers sure know their game: powerful, terrific hooks; heavily overloaded sweeping rhythms; and fantastic, scorching guitar work relying on fast-mid paced, yet imaginative enough drumming. This is one well-functioning unit. And thanks to all of the above, the album flows very nicely and manages to maintain focus and interest, with a couple of softer moments, for the sake of variation. The songs are all well-written and display the band's undeniable talent.

Sirenia are back with a brand new gothic metal album, which goes by the name of Perils Of The Deep Blue. It's almost impossible to compare Sirenia to any other band in the world of female fronted metal. They've had a handful of singers throughout the past twelve years of their existence, but finally they seem to have found the true pearl in the metal ocean.

Anthrax is an American trash metal band from New York and was formed in 1981 by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker. The band was named after the disease that those two saw listed in a biology textbook, using it because it sounded "sufficiently evil".  the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and made an EP featuring American hip hop group Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the metal scene in the 80’s.

This wonderful album is my favorite of the past couple of weeks, if the amount of time I've spent listening to it is any indication. Everything that made Orchid’s Capricorn so magical, has returned in spades on Mouths of Madness. Orchid, a US hard rock band with more range than almost anyone out there, have released their second offering, following on the heels of their “Wizard of war” single.