Back catalogue: All genres

Review: With the latest release of 2024's triumphant Les Chants de l'Aurore, label Nuclear Blast have opted to reissue the 2019 predecessor project from French post-black metal/blackgaze pioneers Alcest. Spiritual Instinct initially marked only the second time the band's live bassist Indria Saray had performed on record following on from his in-studio inclusion on 2016's Kodama, while musically, the material is noted for continuing to restore some of the previously eschewed metallic malevolence absent from their previous efforts. This restoration reembraces cataclysmic blastbeats and despair-laden vocal shrieks yet reliably subdued, compressed and drowned under swathes of shoegaze haze and bombastic yet lilting crescendos. In short, no one makes black metal sound as pretty as the French.

Review: Alcest's latest album Les Chants de L'Aurore' is a transcendent journey amidst the chaos of modernity. Originating in the quaint French town of Bagnols-sur-Ceze, Alcest, led by the visionary Neige, defy the confines of heavy music by blending darkness with radiant light. Since their groundbreaking debut in 2007, they've captivated with a unique fusion of beauty and extreme metal, influencing a generation of "blackgaze" artists. Released amidst global turmoil in 2019, Les Chants de L'Aurore now arrives on vinyl and emerges as a beacon of hope. Recorded intimately yet expansively, it reinvigorates Alcest's signature sound for a new era. Amid existential reflections, Neige crafts euphoric melodies, counteracting darkness with love and positivity. Five years in the making, this album represents a profound evolution, resonating with both gentle charm and fierce conviction. In a world hungry for solace, Les Chants de L'Aurore offers a sanctuary of beauty.

Review: Anthrax's Sound of White Noise marked a pivotal shift in the band's sound and lineup. Released in 1993 and with new vocalist John Bush, formerly of Armored Saint, Anthrax infused their thrash metal roots with grunge and alternative rock influences. The album, produced by Dave Jerden, features standout tracks like 'Only' and 'Black Lodge,' showcasing a darker, more mature tone. Sound of White Noise received critical acclaim for its innovation and depth, and achieved commercial success by peaking at number seven on the Billboard 200. This album remains a significant entry in Anthrax's discography and one that symbolises their evolution and adaptability in the 90s metal scene.

Review: Originally released in 2003, We've Come For You All would serve as the much-lauded ninth full-length from one of the Big 4 of thrash metal, New York City's Anthrax. The first work from the band to feature Rob Caggiano on lead guitar while being their final effort with vocalist John Bush following his tenure throughout the 90s on Sound Of White Noise (1993), Stomp 442 (1995) and Volume 8: The Threat Is Real (1998), the material came after a brief self-imposed hiatus that saw the band reroute their course with a unique amalgam of groove-oriented, alternative hard rock injected into their frenetic signature thrash formula. Adored by fans as a welcome return to form, the album also boasted some varied pedigree with regards to guest features, including Roger Daltrey of The Who lending his vocals to 'Taking The Music Back', while Anthony Martini of New Jersey hardcore heroes E-Town Concrete would appear on 'Refuse To Be Denied', yet it's the inclusion of the late, great Pantera axeman Dimebag Darrell (only one year before his tragic and untimely passing) on 'Cadillac Rock Box' and 'Strap It On' that have both become metal legacy pieces in their own right.