Classics Appreciation
Titans of Metal: Black Sabbath
Closing the Titans of Metal series out with the band that started everything – Black Sabbath!
New Releases
Track Premiere: Megaton Sword – “Verene”
An interview and track premiere from Megaton Sword. Checkout “Verene” from their upcoming debut album Blood Hails Steel – Steel Hails Fire!
Features
The Best Traditional Metal Releases of Spring 2019 (April – June)
We are now half way through the year and what an incredible six months it has been. The bar has been raised for 2019 and there has been high quality album after high quality album. This quarter alone we to nearly 40 different releases across all types of traditional metal to highlight the best ones for you all. The winter 2019 wrap up was our first iteration of this, but we’ve changed things up this time around and involved all of RIG’s regular contributors!
New Releases
New Release Highlight: Mirror – Pyramid of Terror Review
Mirror’s Pyramid of Terror is a standout release among what feels like a year of standout releases. Their style is a very refreshing take on a classic sound that we can all connect with and it takes talent to make it as fresh and enjoyable as Mirror have. Their self-titled debut already found its way into a regular listening pattern for me and Pyramid of Terror will surely follow suit. I cannot recommend this album enough.
Guides and Primers
Luchando por el Metal: A Look at Early Latin American Heavy Metal
An unexpected wealth of rock bands formed all around Latin America during the 70s, laying potential blueprints for Heavy Metal in the early 80s. Nowadays, every country has seen an explosion of bands, but back then things were a lot harder to come by. These early Metal artists pioneered not only a sound in their respective countries, but a true counterculture as well.
New Releases
New Release Highlight: Tanith – In Another Time Review
In Another Time when demons and wizards ruled supreme, of black roses and rock legends, of secret treaties and fires of unknown origin, and where Grecian giants roamed under endless skies. In Another Time, to which Tanith’s music transports us.
Guides and Primers
El Volumen Brutal: A Guide to Spanish Traditional Metal in the 80s
In the context of the larger metal scene, Spanish metal never caught on in a significant manner. There are many reasons for this, starting with the fact nearly all the bands sang in Spanish to the fact many bands lacked the musical infrastructure to gain wide distribution and tour internationally – unlike the UK, Germany or Sweden. There was also a sense of self-deprecation, with many “heavys” disliking their national scene and opting to just listen to bands from abroad. But to metal diehards, Spain’s 80s scene is still worth checking out. Whatever the scene may have lacked in originality, it made up for it in charm and passion in the face of zero commercial support.
New Releases
New Release Highlight: Idle Hands – Mana Review
A normal album review process for me usually goes like either of these: (a) it is an album I like and I know others with somewhat similar taste will also like it, or (b) it is an album that didn’t really work for me and I know others with similar interests in music won’t be impressed by it, either. So far for this website I’ve only written about albums I love and I know readers with similar taste would like. Then came Mana.
Features
Keep it True 2019 – The Survival Guide
Keep it True is a German metal festival focused on the traditional side of things. Started in 2003, they have been keeping the flame alive for over 15 years now and during one of the lowest points in the genre. Over the years, Keep it True has grown to become the leading festival in the world for traditional heavy metal. The festival has been directly responsible for reuniting legions of older bands as well as highlighting and kickstarting the career for many of the new generation. This year’s Keep it True is no different in this regards and may be the very best iteration of the festival yet. The line up for Keep it True 2019 features highlights such as: a reunion of French legends Sortilège, Japanese band Anthem’s first European show, a tribute to the legendary Mark Shelton, and a big show by the originators of epic doom metal themselves, Candlemass.