Deathraces & Their Shadows

This has been one of my most productive months in a while; published four (three, really) reviews and a couple of features. Things are buzzing along at MetalReview, as 2011 still has a lot of quality releases left in the tank. As we scramble to cover (almost) everything in anticipation of our yearly recap, we’re also having a miniature Halloween celebration. A handful of staffers are shining lights on their favorite holiday albums; thus far, Scream Bloody Gore, Legion, Horror Show, and Walk Among Us have had their moments in the moonlight. I’ll be babbling about World Coming Down soon enough. 

October Reviews:

• Absu - Abzu
• Skeletonwitch - Forever Abomination
• Lou Reed & Metallica - Lulu
• Machine Head - Unto The Locust

The Absu and Skeletonwitch takes are pretty standard. (“This is what these sound like and you should check ‘em out because they kinda rule.”) The Lulu blast contains about as much value intellectually as the album does aesthetically. (No one could hold a candle to Klosterman’s take, anyway, so why even try?)

But the Machine Head review might have been the most fun I’ve had with an album since Jim Brandon and I went toe-to-toe over Liturgy. It’s always cool to be able to attach life experiences to a band and/or album.

Speaking of which, I was quite nervous about publishing ‘…In Transiition Again,’ but purging is healthy. I think the connection between heavy metal and personal excess is something that needs to be looked at with a sharper lens, and there’s no better specimen to scrutinize than oneself. 

Also pubbed a disappointingly controversy-free edition of Reverend’s Bazaar, which is probably only worth reading if you haven’t yet gotten down with the new Immolation EP. (Or if you’re one of those painfully idealistic anti-Scion types.) 

Thanks for reading, humans. Onward.

-JC