s3thra ⁽⁴²⁾

Article originally published on metalonvinyl.net on 19th December 2010.

Black Gives Way to Blue marks pioneering grunge artist Alice in Chains' first studio recording in fourteen years, and subsequently their first album without the late Layne Staley on vocals. Given the circumstances, and downward spiral of Staley's last years and death in 2002, it's understandable the time that has gone on between drinks.

After Alice in Chains' hiatus and two solo albums from guitarist/vocalist Jerry Cantrell, the band began a comeback reunion in 2005. Performing in Seattle for the benefit of victims of the South Asia tsunami disaster, the band featured various singers including Pat Lachman, Maynard James Keenan, and Ann Wilson.

Article originally published on metalonvinyl.net on 11th December 2010.

I picked up South of Heaven in Slayer’s Vinyl Conflict (2010) box set. All albums in this box set are pressed on 180g vinyl, so audio quality is assured in that respect.

Article originally published on metalonvinyl.net on 10th December 2010.

Deth Red Sabaoth, the ninth studio album from the ever unique Danzig comes six years after 2004’s Circle of Snakes.

During this time Glenn Danzig has released his solo classical effort Black Aria II in 2006, and Danzig (the Band) released The Lost Tracks of Danzig in 2007, a compilation of many tracks that never made their way on to any of the Danzig studio releases.

Article originally published on metalonvinyl.net on 7th December 2010.

Mastodon, part of the explosion of bands that came into prominence in the 2000’s, after the fallout of Nu Metal has become one of the most successful and, more importantly, one of the most talented artists around today.

After the Blood Mountain tour in 2006-2008, Mastodon have released their latest album, Crack the Skye. The album moves Mastodon forward in a more progressive style than anything they have done previously.

Article originally published on metalonvinyl.net on 1st December 2010.

Testament, a band who may have been overshadowed for much of its career by bands like Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and perhaps to a lesser extent Anthrax, has released The Formation of Damnation after a nine year wait from their previous album, The Gathering.

After the personal issues many of the band members have had during the the time following The Gathering, it’s understandable that there has been such a delay. Lead singer Chuck Billy was diagnosed with cancer in 2001, forcing him to undergo chemotherapy, while guitarist Eric Peterson suffered from a triple fracture in his leg during a tour in 2004.

Article originally published on metalonvinyl.net on 29th November 2010.

Ashes of the Wake, Lamb of God's fourth studio album and their major label debut sounds far more produced and refined than any of their previous efforts. Not that this is a bad thing. Lamb of God's groove metal on this album is very much the beginning of their current bone crushing sound, not to mention that this is still their best selling album in the U.S.

With singles like Laid to Rest, and Now You've Got Something to Die For, it's not hard to understand why this has become a modern classic in heavy metal music.

Article originally published on metalonvinyl.net on 28th November 2010.

Once called the British equivalent to Metallica during the mid 90's, Paradise Lost has had an up and down career to say the least.

Beginning at the end of the 1980's, Paradise Lost started out as a death/doom metal band, incorporating elements such as growled vocals from singer Nick Holmes and distorted, down-tuned guitars as is present on their first three studio albums.

Article originally published on metalonvinyl.net on 25th November 2010.

Slayer's Christ Illusion presents a very focused and intensive effort from the group, something that old fans of Slayer had been waiting for many years to hear. After Paul Bostaph's departure from the band at the tail end of the God Hates Us All tour, Lombardo returns to the line-up; recording his first studio album with Slayer since 1990's Seasons in the Abyss.

The album opens with Flesh Storm, which slowly builds until Araya's vocals kick in and screams "Take a deep breath 'cause it all starts now!", and at that point I knew I was in for a treat.