By Avinash Mittur

To most metal fans, Sleep is simply one of many great stoner metal bands from the nineties that knocked out some classic albums of the genre. For more hardcore fans, Sleep is far more than a mere heavy metal band. Their story is a ganja-infused riff-laden legend, and the lack of a definitive version of it has only enhanced this tale even more. It’s been over a decade since its creation in the studio, but Sleep’s magnum opus, Dopesmoker, is finally being released and distributed with the approval of the members of the band.  Continue reading →

By Tyler Crooks

The word “legendary” is thrown around a lot in the metal scene, but what makes a true legend? Varg Vikernes is the prime example of a legitimate legend. From his roots in Mayhem, to the murder of Euronymous, Varg has created a legacy that no one can possibly ever touch. Varg’s newest album “Umskiptar” is another chapter in his historical tome. The album begins simply; Varg speaking poetically in Norwegian while a simple 2-hit drum beat loops in the background. The whole of Umskiptar is a very interesting album. There are tracks like “Joln,” which are very reminiscent of early Burzum, and then there are tracks like “Valgaldr,” which sound like classic Burzum with modern elements thrown in. Continue reading →

By Aniruddh “Andrew” Bansal

Between The Buried And Me is one of the most dynamic metal bands out there in today’s scene in my opinion, not only in terms of the music they compose, but also the way they present it on stage. Their latest EP “The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues” and the subsequent live shows prove this very statement. But besides the success it has achieved among fans and critics, the band’s music has also left room for the individual talents of the five members to prosper. As a result, they are now venturing into side projects to showcase these talents further. After last year’s electronic/experimental rock release by vocalist Thomas Giles Rogers called “Pulse”, it’s the turn of bassist Dan Briggs to present “Separate Realities”, the debut album featuring his jazz-metal fusion side project Trioscapes. Continue reading →

By Aniruddh “Andrew” Bansal

Despite the plethora of heavy music releases I’ve reviewed this year, it’s been a while since I came across an out-and-out rock guitar album, and finally, I got my hands on one. Rob Zombie and ex-Marilyn Manson guitarist John 5 is releasing his sixth solo album, “God Told Me To”, today on May 8th 2012. While I’ve honestly never been a fan of Zombie or Manson, I have always respected John 5 for his talents on the guitar, and kept an eye on his activities outside of those bands. That fact that he got to work with David Lee Roth and Paul Stanley on their respective solo albums is a testimony to his musicianship, and is an indication of the kind of admiration he enjoys in the rock music circles. One thing is for sure, this new album will only enhance his reputation, because this is quite unlike anything he has done in the past. Continue reading →

By Aniruddh “Andrew” Bansal

Last year, Denver-based thrashers Havok impressed one and all with their sophomore album “Time Is Up” and the subsequent touring that followed it. It was great seeing them perform on stages across North America with the likes of Forbidden and Revocation, but they weren’t on that bill just to make up the numbers. They truly managed to hold their own alongside a veteran thrash band like Forbidden, and as a result, gained a new fan base for themselves. Based on the strength of the album and these tours, the band went briefly went into songwriting mode again, came up with two new tracks, and recorded two cover tunes in addition to the new songs to put the four together to create the “Point Of No Return” EP. Continue reading →