Music Reviews

Metal and heavy music album reviews for those that wish to rock

Music Reviews

Metal and heavy music album reviews for those that wish to rock

HM Album Reviews

Copeland

Ixora

Copeland broke up in 2008, the same year melodic indie bands like Fleet Foxes were just getting their start. Had they stayed together through the early 2010s, I have...

HM Album Reviews

Brother Wolf

The Birthright

About ten years ago, I remember a new sound entering the metal- and hardcore scene. The down-tuned, first-five-frets-of-the-lowest-string previously only heard on nu-metal records. (Or in Meshuggah songs, but...

HM Album Reviews

The Ghost Inside

Dear Youth

I’ve long admired Jonathan Vigil and the rest of The Ghost Inside for writing passionate, emotional songs that encourage positivity. I was happy to see them continue this trend...

HM Album Reviews

The Classic Crime

What Was Done, Vol. I

When you play the same songs 200 days a year, you’ll start to spice it up with new riffs, chords and lyrics, sometimes ones you wish you could have...

HM Album Reviews

Silent Planet

The Night God Slept

Another metalcore record. Another album full of clicky-kick drum sounds, staccato breakdowns, guitar amps with the “mid” knob turned to 11 and throaty, syncopated vocals. This is what I...

HM Album Reviews

Silence the Ocean

Broken Vessels

Broken Vessels is the first full-length record released by Ohio metalcore act Silence the Ocean, and it begins with a soft keyboard pattern leading into an impressive growl as...

HM Album Reviews

Despite My Pride

Cold Blood / Simple Math

On my first rollercoaster at Six Flags Great America in Illinois, I distinctly remember the ups and downs, the loops and drops, the dips and hard turns making me...

HM Album Reviews

Dead Leaves

Dead Leaves

Dead Leaves, both the name of the new self-titled EP and the band, have left the pop-punk attitude of their first release behind for a more melancholy and introspective...

HM Album Reviews

Jake Down and the Midwest Mess

Ghost-Ship

Ghost-Ship, by Jake Down and the Midwest Mess, was a surprisingly pleasant change of pace from the brooding acoustic folk scene. The influence isn’t too over the top or...

HM Album Reviews

The Homeless Gospel Choir

I Used to Be So Young

I immediately loved The Homeless Gospel Choir when I saw them at the last-ever Cornerstone Festival. The band (the stage name for Derek Zanetti) has a way with words...

HM Album Reviews

Gideon

Calloused

“We break the mold.” That’s the last line of the title track from Calloused, Gideon’s latest effort from Facedown Records. Unfortunately — when it comes to this album —...

HM Album Reviews

Stryper

Live at the Whisky

Stryper hit the hard rock scene more than 30 years ago, and Hollywood’s fabled Sunset Strip was the band’s playground. Back then, when they called themselves Roxx Regime, four...

HM Album Reviews

The Color Morale

Hold On Pain Ends

Hold On Pain Ends is the fourth full-length album by increasingly popular post-hardcore outfit The Color Morale. Vocalist Garret Rapp and company have created a unique and exciting bond...

HM Album Reviews

Kings Kaleidoscope

Becoming Who We Are

There’s something about music that can complete a moment. When taking long drives, the right music can emphasize the good feeling you get from seeing the world fly by...

HM Album Reviews

Living Fire

Dead to Sin

I am a fan of Oi! and Oi!-influenced punk rock, and this record is one of the best Christian Oi!-punk records I’ve heard in a while. With their in...

HM Album Reviews

Slash

World on Fire

Slash is proof that life doesn’t end just because your mega-successful band does. World on Fire, the third release of his prominent solo career, marks the return of Alter...

HM Album Reviews

Flyleaf

Between the Stars

In the interest of full disclosure, I’ve never listened to a Flyleaf song in my entire life. It seems like an impossible feat since they’re a pretty popular band....

HM Album Reviews

Hotel Books

I'm Almost Happy Here But I Never Feel at Home

With 25,000+ likes on Facebook in just three years, it’s clear that spoken-word artist Hotel Books (Cam Smith) has found his niche audience. His lyrical blend of heartache and...

HM Album Reviews

Sef Idle

Start Again

False Idle frontman Sef Idle, also in an assortment of other bands, recently released his first solo record. Following in the footsteps of other punk artists such as Kevin...

HM Album Reviews

Hashem

Martyr

Hashem’s new EP, Martyr, has everything you’d want from a death metal band. Their dark sound flows throughout the whole EP; from start to finish, it’s a brutal piece...

HM Album Reviews

FIght the Fade

Second Horizon

Fight The Fade begins their new album Second Horizons with an intro track titled “Alive” which immediately shows off their singer’s talent and range as well as the bands...

HM Album Reviews

Righteous Vendetta

Defiance

Rock/metal outfit Righteous Vendetta is poised to take over active rock radio with their new album, Defiance. It’s quality, in-your-face rock music with pounding drums, chugging guitars, breakdowns and...

HM Album Reviews

Unteachers

A Human Comedy

Nearly 15 years ago, Lancaster, Pennsylvania’s Tantrum of the Muse were making waves in the Christian music industry with their albums The Heart is a Two-Headed Sperm and Modernmu$ick(2000)!...

HM Album Reviews

Remedy Drive

Commodity

Commodity is a concept album by veteran rockers Remedy Drive. After vocalist David Zach spent time in the Far East helping undercover operations bust human trafficking rings, he penned...

HM Album Reviews

Sleepwave

Broken Compass

Starting a new band is always tough. Specifically, starting a new band in the ashes of your former band. Especially if that former band was Underoath. Spencer Chamberlain, one...

HM Album Reviews

Willet

Searchlight

Willet’s newest album, Searchlight, is as much an album as it is a musical ministry. The three-piece brother band has been sharing the message of Jesus Christ since 2006,...

HM Album Reviews

MxPx

Acoustic Collection

MxPx’s second acoustic release (following 2004’s AC/EP) shows they are no stranger to acoustic renditions of their pop-punk hits. The Acoustic Collection doesn’t leave much to the imagination: a...

HM Album Reviews

Half-Handed Cloud

Flying Scroll Flight Control

Eighteen songs in about 25 minutes is no personal best in brevity for John Ringhoffer’s Half-Handed Cloud (his one-man band), but Flying Scroll Flight Control may be his densest...

HM Album Reviews

Government Hate Mail

Government Hate Mail

This record took me back to my childhood days when I would borrow punk and rock CDs and music video VHS tapes from our Youth Pastor. There is a...

HM Album Reviews

Blood Thirsty

Sanguine River Absolution

Blood Thirsty is the continuation of a side project of Derek Corzine (Whisper from Heaven, Syringe, Bloodline Severed) he had with Rev. James Rich back in the ’90s. This...

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