OPETH - Sorceress

Opeth - Sorceress (2016, Nuclear Blast)

There’s a duality in every band’s evolution that concerns both the band and the fans. First, the band doesn’t want to play the same songs over and over again and the fans don’t want to ‘’pay’’ for the same album either. However, once a band has its own sound the fans expect it to be similar while getting better at each subsequent record. That’s a challenge for any musician to walk that thin path. When the case is that a band gets tired of their previous sound and makes a left turn, it looses fans but might get some others.

MANTAR - Ode To The Flame

Mantar – Ode To The Flame (2016, Nuclear Blast)

If you are new to this blog you should know that I am a fan of Black, Doom, and Hardcore but not very much about the label Nuclear Blast. The main reason is that their productions sound too professional (or too clean if you prefer) for some Metal genres. But, Mantar’s Ode To The Flame is the example of a great album done incredibly right.

FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE – King

Fleshgod Apocalypse – King (2016, Nuclear Blast Records)

The label Nuclear Blast has been one of the most important Metal labels since a its induction in the records world. Their productions are highly professional and sound almost too good for Metal records. In the case of many bands it may have cause to shifts in their music into a more accessible approach and a too perfect sound.

NILE – What Should Not Be Unearthed

Nile – What Should Not Be Unearthed (2015, Nuclear Blast)

To state that I am a fan of the Ancient Egypt themed Technical Death Metal band Nile would be an understatement. For more than fifteen years I’ve spined each and every one of their albums endlessly. Trying to play them on the drums, as a soundtrack to my many hours on a snowboard and skateboard. And in the spring of 2014 I finally had the luck to watch them live in my hometown. I was in trance for the whole show and knew every song, every riff, and every drum combo.