This year is one I’ve been waiting to write about. 2013 might well be one of the best years for metal of this decade. Veterans and newcomers alike came out with releases that would stand the test of time. Read More
Conclusion of a Decade Part 3: 2012
The conlusion of the decade continues and next up is the year the world ended, 2012. Some of these picks are very close to me and others will certainly cause some raised eyebrows. Read More
Conclusion of a Decade Part 2: 2011
The round-up of the decade continues with Conclusion of a Decade Part 2. Much like the previous part, the picks for 2011 span the entire width of the genre. The albums I picked for this year, however, might be the most controversial picks in the entire series. Read More
Conclusion of a Decade Part 1: 2010
With just about two months left before the end of the decade, it’s time to look back at the past ten years in metal. Over the coming weeks, this series of posts will highlight the best of the best. The most influential, genre-bending, mold-breaking, overlooked, or underrated releases of this decade. Read More
(A belated) Metal in July: Wormed, Bushwhacker, Brache
After a bit of a summer lull in June, this month brings a steady flow of releases. Today’s selection covers a variety of subgenres with a concept album I never knew I needed at its center. Meanwhile, the next few months promise to close out the year with big releases. Read More
Wishfield – Wishfield
If you’ve been following Noise Vortex for a while you will know that I endorse all kinds of creative takes on established styles. Over the course of this decade, black metal has seen a particular amount of exciting experimentation. Bands like Deafheaven, Lantlôs and Alcest left a mark on the scene by defining the blackgaze sound. On their self-titled debut, american Wishfield draw from these bands as they put their own spin on blackgaze with dream pop vocals and outstanding fretless guitarplay. Read More
Looking Back: Dark Tranquillity – Projector
Looking Back returns and this time another classic of melodic death metal is at the center of attention. Dark Tranquillity’s Projector celebrates its 20th anniversary. Read More
Idle Hands – Mana
Sometimes a band comes out with an album that begs the question “why has no one done this before?”. Idle Hands prompt this question with their infectious debut album Mana as they fuse epic heavy metal with cold gothic rock. Admittedly, gothic influences in heavy metal aren’t groundbreaking, but Mana’s quality and integrity in uniting these two certainly is. Read More
Metal in May Part 4: Darkthrone, Visigoth, Twisted Tower Dire
Despite a continued abundance of albums, most of the releases at the end of May left me underwhelmed. As such this last part of Metal in May focusses on albums that didn’t make it into previous part. Read More
Metal in May Part 3: Deathspell Omega, Misþyrming, Gaahl’s Wyrd
The final days of May greet us with a plentitude of releases by both new and esteemed bands. Once again, the darker regions of the genre supply a set of high-quality releases. Read More