Now there’s another band to lure you in a life of evil, but they come with the demise of power metal legends.

Rating: 4.5/5
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Mind over Metal Limerick 33

Rating: 3.5/5
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Psycho hails from Singapore and plays a mix of thrash/death/black metal similar to Bathory, Toxic Holocaust and Nasum on their full-length debut.

Rating: 4/5
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This is one hell of an effort from Withered. I loved the element of surprise on “Residue in the Void” and I was blown away by the skill and dedication present on “Aethereal Breath”. There’s nothing better than waking up in the morning with a cup of black coffee and some blackened doom.

Rating: 3/5
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Infernaeon is still promising, but have faltered. The band has, literally, gone from genesis to nemesis—and I think that nemesis is themselves. Whether internal strife or thematic content, confrontation is at their heart, and it hinders more than helps. Time will tell if Brian Werner hires another stable of musicians for the third album, but the guy needs some co-writers to help elevate above novelty.

Rating: 4.5/5

Where other bands in Kollwitz’ neighborhood might be regarded as one-trick ponies, this Norwegian band has something hidden up their sleeves: tristesse. They have managed to fuse heavy metal with a dark sadness, and that is the glory of Kollwitz. It is not ear-shattering mayhem, but rather beautiful melancholy, which portray depths more common to Neurosis than any of their followers.

Rating: 3.5/5

These Ohio natives face prospective greatness. There are not many American answers to Bloodbath, and with that band’s members often in their main projects (Opeth, Katatonia, etc.), the Metalverse could use some full-timers. Locusta is dripping with potential.