Reviews by Simon Milburn

There’s a lot of bands from the old guard who are thriving in today’s diverse and often challenging metal landscape. Since reforming in 2001 for the Thrash of the Titans benefit for both Testament vocalist Chuck Billy and Death vocalis...

Entombed

Clandestine - Live

By Simon Milburn | 28 May, 2019

If there’s one thing that can be really cool for bands to do these days for their fans, it’s play an album in its entirety live in concert. For a few years now, it’s been a bit of a thing. All of “The Big 4” have done...

Opprobrium

The Fallen Entities

By Simon Milburn | 23 April, 2019

Who remembers Incubus? Anyone who instantly named that limp wristed funk-nu-metal-alt-rock ‘90’s band from California behind pap such as “Drive” and “Wish You Were Here”, hand in your metal card now. I’m t...

Overkill

The Wings of War

By Simon Milburn | 18 April, 2019

New Jersey’s finest thrashers Overkill are just about as regular as clockwork when it comes to album releases. After 2017’s excellent The Grinding Wheel, the band churned out their third live album Live in Overhausen ...

Deicide

Overtures of Blasphemy

By Simon Milburn | 09 September, 2018

As one of the pioneering bands from the flourishing Florida (U.S.A.) death metal scene in the very early '90s, it was somewhere after their move to Earache Records that my attention waned. There’s no doubt their first three albums are certif...

Megadeth

Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good - The Final Kill

By Simon Milburn | 21 August, 2018

Megadeth reissues. Just those two words alone can be a sore point for any Megadeth fan. Hell, these days any kind of reissue can be a point of contention. Extra tracks, 180gram, bonus DVD, deluxe 28 disc, 5LP plus bonus cassette recorded in the or...

Ghost

Prequelle

By Simon Milburn | 08 June, 2018

Ghost is a band that divides the metal community. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, whatever they do manages to stir up both parties. Since the release of the band’s excellent third long player Meliora almost three years ago, they&r...

Skeletal Remains

Devouring Mortality

By Simon Milburn | 08 June, 2018

Goddamnit. Somehow I missed 2015’s Condemned To Misery by Skeletal Remains. The 2012 release by this California (U.S.A.) group, titled Beyond the Flesh, was excellent. So, I’ve no idea how I missed their sophomore eff...

Napalm Death

Coded Smears and More Uncommon Slurs

By Simon Milburn | 14 May, 2018

I think if I had to describe Napalm Death to someone, I’d describe them as a loaded freight train with 2 speeds – fast, and fastest. There truly seems to be no stopping for these guys. Since forming in the very early ‘80’s ...

Anthrax

Kings Among Scotland

By Simon Milburn | 14 May, 2018

In the 37 years that Anthrax have been around in one form or another, they’ve released 11 studio albums up to and including 2016’s excellent For All Kings. In and around all of that, they’ve also released six live albums...

Holy Terror

Total Terror

By Simon Milburn | 24 March, 2018

<p>Holy Terror were truly an underground thrash band. Sure those heavily in the scene in the mid to late ‘80’s knew of them, and whilst their output was put out by Under One Flag and Roadracer Records back in the day, the...

Godflesh

Post Self

By Simon Milburn | 22 November, 2017

After an absence of a dozen odd years, the return of U.K. based industrial pioneers Godflesh was welcomed with open arms by fans and many reviewers alike. Three years ago, after the release of a teaser EP dubbed Decline and Fall, mastermi...

All Pigs Must Die

Hostage Animal

By Simon Milburn | 21 November, 2017

You know how there are many artists out there, across the many splintered genres of metal, that like to ease you into an album? It might with some acoustic guitars, the fading in of drums, or some kind of atmospheric intro of sorts. Whatever it mi...

Contrive

Slow Dissolve

By Simon Milburn | 19 September, 2017

Melbourne (Australia) metal act Contrive aren’t exactly the most productive band around. Forming in 1999 by twins Paul and Andrew Haug who then recruited bassist Tim Stahlmann to complete their line-up, it be another six years until their ex...

Haunted, The

Strength in Numbers

By Simon Milburn | 19 September, 2017

When I think of The Haunted, I think of persistence. Vocalists have come and gone, and returned and gone again. Guitarists have left. Drummers have left and returned. Could they be Sweden’s answer to Megadeth in regards to their line-up chan...

Soul Remnants

Ouroboros

By Simon Milburn | 29 August, 2017

I first came across Littleton, Massachusetts (U.S.A.) quintet Soul Remnants when I reviewed their 2013 long player, Black and Blood. I still spin the album here and there these days in amongst the slew of new releases that do come in. The...

Dead Cross

By Simon Milburn | 22 August, 2017

Dead Cross is a band that had my attention as soon as I heard that Dave Lombardo was associated with it. He of legendary Slayer fame (as well as Grip Inc. and Philm) can do no wrong. Formed initially in late 2015, Dead Cross, who were rounded out ...

Prong

Zero Days

By Simon Milburn | 22 July, 2017

For me, one of the best albums of 2016 was Prong’s X – No Absolutes even with a couple of niggly tracks that didn’t sit well with me. In my review of that album, I pointed out the band’s impressive work ethic since...

Municipal Waste

Slime and Punishment

By Simon Milburn | 22 July, 2017

I’m sure many of us remember the first time we heard Municipal Waste. Waaaaaaay back when Earache Records were actually still fostering new talent instead of milking their heritage roster for whatever they can get, a little known band and al...

Stone Sour

Hydrograd

By Simon Milburn | 18 July, 2017

I have to admit that I found it amusing that Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger thought it worthwhile to call out Stone Sour on their success compared to his own band. Now, it’s pretty bloody obvious that the bands are miles apart on the scale...