Gothminister

Happy Halloween, kids - it's one of my favorite guilty pleasures, Gothminister.  DARKNESS-CRANK IT!

Nightrage

Here it comes, kids - it's metalcore veterans Nightrage! Crank it!

Barn Burner

Tape up the big stuff you broke last week and get your breakin' stuff shoes on - it's Barn Burner, straight outta... Montreal?  Yeh, Montreal.  Don't think - CRANK IT!

Kvelertak

Hit the deck, kids - out of Norway flies the hammer that is Kvelertak! (That means "chokehold", by the way - awesome.) It's Blodtorst - CRANK IT!

FLASHBACK! - Metal Church

Where do the weeks go, kids?  FLASHBACK!  If you read the blog, you know I have kinduva problem with Slayer - mainly that, to me, Slayer is more a hardcore or death band than a thrash band, and thus shouldn't be included in the "big four" of American thrash.  This week we go to yet another band that might better serve that slot - Metal Church.  Now, the Church has a broad palette of styles, often melding the power of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal style with the energy of thrash, and many would argue that Kurdt Vanderhoof and the boys have been an abiding influence on the thrash scene, even starting in the mythical Bay Area before moving to Washington.  But don't take my word for it - CRANK IT!