No Nonsense Metal Reviews

DEVILDRIVER: WINTER KILLS       Rarely does such brutal music generate such encapsulating atmospheres. The melding of pulsating groove riffs, electronic effects, sharp leads and guitar melodies certainly isn't a common concoction within the more extreme realms of Metal music. Whether this is the result of 'purist' mentalities or that some bands simply don't think to deviate from their more established and ferocious formulas, it is of complete irrelevance here. The fact is that DevilDriver are back with a dynamic new sound, on an entirely new machine built from old parts. The big question is though, will the new sound on a new album be enough to earn DevilDriver the stature they deserve?    As the gentle intro of opening track " Oath Of The Abyss " sends frost tipped chills through your veins, the identity of the 'new sound' is revealed. However, the Immortal-esque soundscaping doesn't resonate for long before the waves of heaviness come cras...

FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE: LABYRINTH     The conquest of Italian Death-Metal Masters, Fleshgod Apocalypse, has seen them gain notoriety for their work both on the road and in the studio. Labyrinth is destined to change things for this band though. Not only will their incredible 3rd full-length release see them gain fans all over the planet, but now they will have to put on the most full-throttle live shows imaginable to do the new material justice.    Die-hard and existing Fleshgod Apocalypse fans will have no reservations about tearing open this album, headbanging, air-riffing and mimicking vocals where appropriate. New fans however may have certain difficulties getting a grip on Labyrinth, mainly because Fleshgod Apocalypse aren't your everyday average Death-Metal band. In fact, certain questions are inevitably going to arise. Questions such as, "Why haven't I heard these guys before?" and "What in the name of everything ever is this amazing style of Metal!?...

CHIMAIRA   CROWN OF PHANTOMS    Evolve or die. Its a simple decision really. For a band anyway. Either a struggling or strained band can split up and cease to exist, or it can evolve and begin a new phase of existence. Luckily, Chimaira chose to do the latter. Chimaira evolved into a far stronger and tighter unit, at the price of a significant line-up change that was presented by a vast majority of the media as being the death of the band. Anyone who believed or speculated that Chimaira would actually crumble into dust due to personnel difficulties, are now forced to eat their words.    Crown Of Phantoms, is not the work of a dying or insignificant band. It is the product of an evolving bands dedication and commitment to Metal-music. In fact, Crown Of Phantoms is the strongest and most consistent album Chimaira have released so far. Comprising of eleven groove-tastic tracks, this is an all bruise no loose album from start to finish.    Kicking...

WATAIN: THE WILD HUNT    It has been fifteen years in the making. Not the album, but the moment. The moment that the darkest shadow of the underground finally crept upon the surface. The time of Watain has now begun, all hail the new kings of black.     Black-Metal elitists and those of musically open mind may disagree and descend into feud on most occasions, but this is a time and place where neither of their opinions are relevant. Those of closed mind or of a traditionalist nature may not appreciate the excellence of The Wild Hunt, but that has no impact on the truth. The truth that both Watain and their latest creation are heading for monumental success, regardless of peoples opinions.   Submerging into the majestic ambient brilliance of intro " Night Vision ", a calm-before-the-storm feeling is created. The intro has the affect of building up the tension sufficiently for the eruption of " De Profundis ", a track as true and black as anything...

SAPROGENIC EXPANDING TOWARD COLLAPSED LUNGS     If you like your music grotesquely guttural, heavy enough to make your ears implode and fast enough to loosen your head clean of your shoulders, then this is the album for you! What makes Expanding Toward Collapsed Lungs so special you ask? Well just imagine taking the rawest and most pulverizing elements of bands such as; Immolation, The Black Dahlia Murder, Six Feet Under and Vomitory, then melting them down and pouring the molten metallic components into a CD mold. Now imagine what that CD would sound like. Exactly like Expanding Toward Collapsed Lungs, is the correct answer.     There are moments during some tracks where you can't help but feel some sort of deja vu, but at the end of the day, if a riff works then its probably going to be used again. Its far more likely though that if you do feel anything other than pure euphoria while listening to this album, then it will be pure amazement. Amazement a...

NEWSTED: HEAVY METAL MUSIC     Based on his latest outing, "Newsted", it is fair to say that Jason Newsted is just one of  those  people. Those people that have some kind of ancient magical gift to turn anything they put their hand to into gold. Meaning you could probably tell that leading EP Metal, and debut full-length Heavy Metal Music, are both going to be spectacular without even having to listen to them first. However, it is advisable that you do listen to Newsted's work, due to it being nothing short of audible gold.     Variety wise, Heavy Metal Music ticks all the boxes. The Thrash infused sound of opening track " Heroic Dose " and the absolute masterpiece that is, " Twisted Tail Of The Comet ", gives you at subtle reminder that this is the work of the man who has served time with more than just one of Thrash-Metal's most successful bands. The sky-scraping grooves are provided by the singalong spectacle " King Of the Under...

Asking Alexandria: From Death To Destiny    Lets be honest, until now "Asking Alexandria" has been universally used as a negative term to describe everything that Metal music should not be about. Electronic bleeps and bloops coupled with pop-choruses and coated with guitar tabs that rarely leave the 0 and 1 end of the fret board. However, despite residing in this undefinable shadowy region of the music world, Asking Alexandria managed to amass a vast fan base (mainly consisting of "Emo" teenagers) and became one of the most prominent and notorious figures in modern music. The release of From Death To Destiny will see the entire Metal world we know picked up and thrown around like a rag-doll. This is an album that changes the game, forever and for the best.    The first question on everybody's mind is probably going to be, "Are the infuriating electro noises still there?" The answer to that question is a yes, if you listen really carefully at sel...

NNMR: No Nonsense Metal Interviews   2013 has been a significant year for Wisconsin Death-Metal professionals, Jungle Rot. It has been a year that has seen them clocking up some serious miles out on the road, whilst successfully managing to steal the stage from some of the biggest names in the business. This year has also seen the release of their 7th full-length album, the pummeling, Terror Regime. All the signals indicate that it is soon to be Jungle Rot's "time". Not their time to call it a day or their time to sell-out and leave fans scratching their heads and seeking safety in caves, but their time to take over the whole wide world.    So whats the next step in Jungle Rot's world conquering campaign? Well clearly they don't think 7 albums of skull shagging savagery is enough to complete the conquest, as Jungle Rot's own James Genenz made clear in this recent interview with No Nonsense Metal . So what else did James tell NNM ? Well other than spea...

EXHUMED: NECROCRACY     For those unfamiliar with Exhumed or Death-Metal in general, here is a few facts that it is advisable to keep in mind while listening to Necrocracy. Firstly, it is perfectly natural to be flailing and convulsing in a manor reminiscent of someone being possessed by the Demon. Secondly, yes other bands do use guitars coupled with screamed and growled vocals, no you haven't heard it done like this before. Finally, yes this is one of the best albums of this year so far and one of the greatest Death-Metal albums in recent history.     Exhumed may have some impressive material to their name already, but Necrocracy will be the album to drag the band into an entirely new era of acclaim and popularity. Detonating like an atomic bomb, opening track " Coins Upon The Eyes " squashes that hypothesis, replacing it with the abundantly clear truth that Exhumed are going places. Clearly one of Exhumed's objectives was to create a physical embodimen...

NNMR: No Nonsense Metal Interviews  OBITUARY     As far as legends go, you don't get much more legendary than Floridan Death-Metal outfit, Obituary. Whether its because of their extensive collection of world renowned material, or because of the way that nearly 30 years after forming they are still pushing the limits of the genre that they themselves redefined, they have amassed a vast and highly dedicated following. After almost 3 decades of supplying their adoring fans with life affirming music, Obituary now turn to that following with the ultimate test of loyalty.    Its no secret that the Music Industry of todays world has the disgusting habit of destroying the very bands that make it wealthy, but not all bands buckle under the weight of record companies greed. Some bands explore alternative routes that mean they can continue to do what they love and continue to provide fans with the music they worship. Campaigns and programs such as  Kickstart...