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ABATTOIR - Vicious Attack [CD/1985] 7/10=Pretty damn good record for 1985, I've always had a lot of fun with Abattoir, though they don't offer much in the way of depth.
ABATTOIR - The Only Safe Place [CD/1986] 7/10=Their 2nd album may not be the most memorable thrash/speed gem of the 80s, but it has a great production that holds up to this day and I still listen to it from time to time.

ABIGAIL - Descending from a Blackened Sky [DVD79/1993] 3/5=This was their first 'official' release after some demos, pretty simple black/thrash metal EP but did have their charm.
ABIGAIL - Intercourse and Lust [CD/1997] 8/10=A pretty kickass band, among the Japanese elite with Sigh, Sabbat, and Ritual Carnage. They play a brand of straightforward black/thrash metal with sloppy & simple but great riffs.
ABIGAIL - Welcome All Hell Fuckers [DVD79/2001] 4/5=Great EP with their penchant for black metal vocals and oldschool NWOBHM/thrash hybrid riffing.
ABIGAIL - Forever Street Metal Bitch [CD/2003] 7/10=Six years later, after some live albums and EPs, they release album #2. Better production, a little sloppier, and despite the great album title it's not quite perfect.
ABIGAIL - Fucking Louder Than Hell [CD/2004] 8/10=Not exactly rocket science here, with songs like "Beer! Metal! Sex!" and "Nuclear Warheads" you know you are getting oldschool speed/thrash. Very Venom influenced, and fun.
ABIGAIL - Ultimate Unholy Death [CD/2005] 8/10=Abrasive and, once again, awesome. Pure, raw, NWOBHM inspired filthy Japanese metal.

ABIGOR - Ash Nazg [CD/1993] 1/5=In all honesty, this sounds like the first time I picked up an electric guitar and recorded on a blank tape when I was 13. Okay, so they are better here than I was then, but this sounds like ass.
ABIGOR - Lux Devicta Est [CD/1993] 4/5=Sounds 1000x better than that previous demo, the band is improved in leaps and strides but I probably won't listen to this again in my lifetime.
ABIGOR - Moonrise [CD/1994] 1/5=I might just be confused, what happened to the sound on the 2nd demo? Or do I have the dates confused? This is almost as shitty as the original demo.
ABIGOR - Verwustung/Invoke the Dark Age [CD/1994] 7/10=The first real album from these Austrian legends, and one of their best, a solid black metal assault.
ABIGOR - Orkblut: The Retaliation [CD/1994] 6/10=Another decent album, this one even inspired me to form an entire band Orkatak in the 90s, you can't beat orkish metal, and these guys have always loved Tolkien, even in their other band Summoning.
ABIGOR - Nachthymnen: From the Twilight Kingdom [CD/1995] 8/10=The last two were good albums, but this one is great, a lot of riffs and melodies and atmosphere here that you'd here 500 bands copy later.
ABIGOR - Opus IV [CD/1996] 6/10=A bit stranger than the last album, and I didn't like the sound as much, but there is still a lot of interest here.
ABIGOR - Apokalypse [CD/1997] 5/5=Although they never seemed to rise above the pack, Abigor always produced decent, dark black metal, and this EP is no exception.
ABIGOR - Supreme Immortal Art [CD/1998] 5/10=Almost seemed like they were letting their work in Summoning bleed over into Abigor on this album, this isn't terrible but there is nothing 'supreme' or 'immortal' about it.
ABIGOR - Origo Regium 1993-1994 [CD/1998] 1/5=Demos and shit like that, if you read my demo reviews you'll know just how worthwhile this mish-mash collection is.
ABIGOR - Channeling the Quintessence of Satan [CD/1999] 7/10=Certainly their best work since Nachthymnen, it's got great music but for some reason I just didn't like it as much.
ABIGOR - Satanized [CD/2001] 6/10=A very clean, direct production, this still has some evil music but it's not perfect, sadly their last album.
ABIGOR - Fractal Possession [CD/2007] 9/10=Abigor return with an amazing, career-defying record, futuristic and progressing, an amazing new sound.

ABORTED - The Purity of Perversion [CD/1999] 4/10=Grinding, sloppy, gory European death metal, more than a little Carcass worship in here, there are some good riffs but a lot of the 'my first death metal riff' variety.
ABORTED - Engineering the Dead [CD/2001] 8/10=Very well done album of brutal Belgian death metal, this is my most recent acquisition by them and I find it is best overall, even better than Goremageddon or the new one.
ABORTED - Goremageddon: The Saw and the Carnage Done [CD/2003] 7/10=First of all , this is a major improvement. The band is still derivative, but the overall sound is excellent, cohesive, and this actually has some replay value.
ABORTED - The Haemotobic [CD/2004] 4/5=An EP of new material and covers, and surely some of the most intense death they've done yet. The studio tracks rock, but I docked it a point for the obligatory crap live tracks.
ABORTED - The Archaic Abbatoir [CD/2005] 7/10=Upon first listen, I was blown away by this record, but after a few more spins I'd say it's on the level of their previous record Goremageddon, not really much better than that.
ABORTED - Slaughter and Apparatus: A Methodical Overture [CD/2007] 8/10=A really strong album from the crazy Belgians, seriously their best since Engineering the Dead, they got a little more musical than the last two albums.
ABORTED - Strychnine.213 [DVD127/2008] 6/10=Failed to really connect with me, it's okay but he previous record was so much better.

ACCEPT - Accept [CD/1979] 8/10=The debut album for Accept and Udo Dirkschneider, and the birth of legend. Some sick solos here for the time. These guys were every bit as influential as Priest and Maiden, so don't believe the hype.
ACCEPT - I'm a Rebel [CD/1980] 6/10=I hate the title track, and it actually loses several points for that track, but there is vintage Accept on this album, i.e. 'China Lady', and thus...vintage UDO...and one song is almost disco...
ACCEPT - Breaker [CD/1981] 7/10=Accept decided to cut the shit here and record a damn heavy metal album, and heavy metal is what you'll get. Good but not one of their best.
ACCEPT - Restless and Wild [CD/1982] 9/10=Considered by many to be their finest album, with classics like 'Fast as a Shark' it's not hard to tell why.
ACCEPT - Balls to the Wall [CD/1983] 7/10=VH1, home to condescending PC culture queers and the boring people who listen to them, listed the title track among their most awesomely bad metal songs. Like they know a fucking thing about metal. Fuck you VH1 you yuppie shits.
ACCEPT - Metal Heart [CD/1985] 9/10=If you're metal then you probably know this one and this is worthless. If you're not metal then you're probably a daft idiot and can't read anyway.
ACCEPT - Kaizoku-ban [CD/1985] 2/5=It's good live material, I believe all the tracks are from Metal Heart, taped in Japan...unfortunately it's a live EP and not really worth paying for.
ACCEPT - Russian Roulette [CD/1986] 8/10=Another high quality set by the German legends, with my man Udo in the clear forefront.
ACCEPT - Eat the Heat [CD/1989] 6/10=You'd think I would tear the fuck out of the one Accept album WITHOUT Udo, but it isn't all that bad and at least times the guy tries to emulate Udo, he knows what's up.
ACCEPT - Objection Overruled [CD/1992] 8/10=Udo was back in the fold, and the band was still in prime form and this was one very overlooked album of the early 90s, I personally love it.
ACCEPT - Death Row [CD/1994] 6/10=Somewhat modernized Accept, still sounds like Accept but almost more of a pit friendly Accept, with more 'mosh' riffs, one of their worst albums but that still isn't bad.
ACCEPT - Predator [CD/1996] 6/10=Unfortunately their last studio effort before breaking up, but I'm hoping for a huge reunion soon and maybe a new album. About as good as the last album although Udo is in good form.

AFI - Answer That and Stay Fashionable [CD/1995] 7/10=The better of their earlier albums, with a more traditional, goofy punk appeal rather than the Misfits-inspire goth/punk madness to come.
AFI - Very Proud of Ya [CD/1996] 5/10=Actually quite crappy, not as good as the debut album and with the lame requisite retard punk artwork.
AFI - Shut Your Mouth and Open Your Eyes [CD/1997] 8/10=Ahh...alas, AFI have donned the more intellectual lyrics, better, darker edge, the true AFI have emerged here and it's a great album.
AFI - Black Sails in the Sunset [CD/1999] 9/10=As close to a masterpiece that this band ever had.
AFI - All Hallow's EP [CD/1999] 3/5=Nice little seasonal EP with some covers, and you guessed it, one of them is a Misfits cover.
AFI - The Art of Drowning [CD/2000] 8/10=Took me a few spins, but I still enjoyed it a great deal and it's got more of their great lyrics.
AFI - Sing the Sorrow [CD/2003] 8/10=Their breakthrough, an astounding commercial success for the band. Does that mean it's good? Surprisingly, it is. Another that requires multiple listens to absorb.

AGENT STEEL - Skeptics Apocalypse [CD/1985] 6/10=Raging classic speed metal...John's shaky, whining vocals are fairly restrained on this album.
AGENT STEEL - Mad Locust Rising [CD/1985] 3/5=The music on this EP is fucking awesome...but the vocals...you really have to get used to them, they are quite goofy and almost justify the general public's condescending attitude towards metal.
AGENT STEEL - Unstoppable Force [CD/1987] 6/10=Again, the music was quite impressive at the time...and the concepts of the album were really cool...but half the time the singer is spoiling it with his whining vocals.
AGENT STEEL - The Omega Conspiracy [CD/1999] 7/10=Hanker down for a hunk of 'comeback' album, albeit a ferocious one, their best album yet...and new crooner Bruce Hall is far more restrained and tolerable than the original even though he's somewhat similar in style.
AGENT STEEL - Order of the Illuminati [CD/2003] 7/10=Every bit as strong as the last album, and I like the deeper production...best vocals yet on an Agent Steel record.
AGENT STEEL - Alienigma [CD/2007] 8/10=Very solid and entertaining speed/thrash album, vocals are slightly less wild than the last two albums but overall it's a superior work. Thrash until death.

AGRESSOR - Neverending Destiny [CD/1990]
AGRESSOR - Towards Beyond [DVD61/1992] 8/10=Vicious, intelligent death/thrash from France, one of their best bands of this style.
AGRESSOR - Symposium of Rebirth [CD/1994]
AGRESSOR - Medeival Rites [DVD117/2000] 8/10=Yet another of their superb albums, why hasn't this band gotten more recognition? One of France's best death metal bands.
AGRESSOR - Deathreat [DVD37/2006] 8/10=Sick, skin-peeling French thrashing death metal, sick solos, fast as fuck, no warnings, just decimation.

AJATTARA - Itse [CD/2001] 8/10=I really dig this band, it's the singer of Amorphis and two other guys playing excellent, slow-paced black/doom metal, there is just something vital and sincere about this and considering how the new Amorphis sucks...
AJATTARA - Kuolema [CD/2003] 9/10=Everything to like here that I liked on the first one, and more of it. I hope the guy kicks Amorphis to the curb and does this fulltime, that band needs a break.
AJATTARA - Ilon Juhla [CD/2004] 4/10=Two new songs for two points apiece, because it's Ajatarra, a great band, with great songs...now please stop ripping us off.
AJATTARA - Tyhjyys [CD/2004] 8/10=Another epic, slow moving black metal masterpiece by these stalwart Finns, not quite as good as Kuolema and there are a few knockoff riffs, otherwise excellent.
AJATTARA - Apare [CD/2006] 9/10=Album number four, and tied with Kuolema for my favorite already. The same, stomping Finnish black metal you have come to expect, only better. Noone sounds like this band.
AJATTARA - Kalmanto [CD/2007] 5/10=A pretty staggering disappointment, maybe Ajattara should slow it down a little. The vocals are pretty bad on this album and the songs have some nu-metal elements that are not cool.

ALGAION - Oimai Algeiou [DVD108/1995] 8/10=An album I once detested but have grown to truly enjoy over the years, raw and savage Swedish fucking black metal. Great stuff.
ALGAION - General Enmity [DVD69/1997] 7/10=Much different than the debut album, which was sheer Swedish BM. This is more of a bizarre, progressive death/black/thrash hybrid and it was pretty interesting in its day.
ALGAION - The Heterostatic Legacy [DVD69/2001] 4/5=A really cool EP, pretty much in the style of General Enmity, this is their 2nd to last release.

ALGHAZANTH - Dim is the Moonlight [CD/1997] 4/10=Their demo is a lot more primal and grim than their future releases which went further in the symphonic direction. The material is decent but nothing exemplary.
ALGHAZANTH - Thy Aeons Envenomed Sanity [CD/1999] 7/10=A fairly frenetic symphonic black metal album, loaded with riff power, excellent musicianship, and the whole package. I enjoyed it front to back, there are some mug-swilling, mug-swinging riffs present.
ALGHAZANTH - Subliminal Antenora [CD/2000] 7/10=Second album by this black metal band, and they are as strong as ever, with some nice death metal influence mixed in. This band is a great alternative to Dimmu Borgir.
ALGHAZANTH - Osiris: Typhon Unmasked [CD/2001] 8/10=Again, if you enjoy your black metal polished, well-played, and symphonic, or the more 'commercial' black bands, you cannot go wrong here. A very good band. Their best album.
ALGHAZANTH - The Polarity Axiom [CD/2004] 6/10=It may be that this album is just beyond my comprehension yet...kinda reminds me of a Tidfall production, but at least it involves some evolution of sound. Still very good, but I prefer their earlier work.
ALGHAZANTH - Wreath of Thevetat [CD/2008] 7/10=This is better than The Polarity Axion, returning to their more obvious symphonic black metal roots.

AMON AMARTH - The Arrival of the Fimbul Winter [CD/199?] 2/10=Yay, spectacular demo.
AMON AMARTH - Sorrow Throughout the Nine Worlds [CD/1996] 5/10=A decent intro EP, but I'm quite indifferent to it.
AMON AMARTH - Once Sent from the Golden Hall [CD/1998] 7/10=Punishing and excellent, their fastest, most blazing record.
AMON AMARTH - The Avenger [CD/1999] 8/10=This is their best album, even though the pace has been slowed. 'North Sea Storm' and 'The Last With Pagan Blood' are just two of the reasons.
AMON AMARTH - The Crusher [CD/2001] 7/10=It's a retread of the last album, but still quite good.
AMON AMARTH - Versus the World [CD/2002] 6/10=Another retread, losing my interest.
AMON AMARTH - Fate of Norns [CD/2004] 5/10=They continue to slip me into boredom by doing the same album they just did three times before, there might be one riff here or two which had my attention, very boring and simple.
AMON AMARTH - With Oden On Our Side [CD/2006] 9/10=Not only an end to the downward spiral Amon Amarth had been traveling on since 1999, but frankly, their best album ever. Each track here is memorable, brutal Viking man love.
AMON AMARTH - Twilight of the Thunder God [CD/2008] 9/10=Another extremely excellent album which has grown on me with each listen.

AMORAL - Wound Creations [CD/2004] 8/10=Finnish death metal, with a straightforward production reminiscent of Necrophagist but not as technical, and more somber and melodic, this is an excellent, promising album.
AMORAL - Decrowning [CD/2005] 8/10=Another blast of fresh Finnish death metal, great songwriting and an emphasis on the almighty riff.
AMORAL - Reptile Ride [CD/2007] 8/10=Classy third album, yet another great one from this Finnish band. Good death metal, not too technical, and riff-heavy.

AMORPHIS - The Karelian Isthmus [CD/1992] 6/10=It's good death/doom stuff, but pales in comparison to what would come later.
AMORPHIS - Privilege of Evil [CD/1993] 2/10=The album versions are better than most of these songs, I gave it two points because it's Amorphis.
AMORPHIS - Tales from the Thousand Lakes/Black Winter Day [CD/1994-95] 9/10=Melodic death/doom masterpiece, the folk elements here would be imitated so often by the rest of the metal world.
AMORPHIS - Elegy [CD/1996] 10/10=One of the best albums ever, the new elements of 70s prog rock and the clean vocals mesh in well with the folk, death, doom elements. Seamless.
AMORPHIS - My Kantele [CD/1997] 3/10=An EP with some covers and crap that wasn't good enough for a full-length, need I say any more?
AMORPHIS - Tuonela [CD/1998] 8/10=Many people hated this change to a more clean, folk rock sound...I was still impressed, although it's no Elegy.
AMORPHIS - Am Universam [CD/2001] 7/10=Another good record, lot of catchy melodic folk metal songs, but they were starting to slip off here.
AMORPHIS - Far From the Sun [CD/2003] 4/10=This is pretty damn boring, with only a few entertaining moments. Certainly a disappointment to a longtime Amorphis fan.
AMORPHIS - Day of Your Beliefs [CD/2003] 2/10=A single, with one song not on their albums, and a gouging import price.
AMORPHIS - Eclipse [CD/2006] 7/10=Some of the songs revert back to an Elegy style and they are great, but a few numbers fall in line with their last, boring album, and some tunes have goth rock parts reminiscent of H.I.M.
AMORPHIS - Silent Waters [CD/2007] 3/3=New single, has album and edit versions of "Silent Waters" and another cool song called "Sign".
AMORPHIS - Silent Waters [DVD56/2007] 9/10=A triumphant return to form, the best Amorphis since Elegy, easily. Awesome new album.

ANAAL NATHRAKH - The Codex Necro [CD/2001] 10/10=Probably one of the greatest black/death metal bands I've ever heard, extremely punishing with relentless drum programming and cruel atmosphere, this is a perfect album.
ANAAL NATHRAKH - Total Fuckin' Necro [CD/2003] 6/10=Demos and rare recordings, this is still kickass but it can't match their actual albums.
ANAAL NATHRAKH - When Fire Rains Down From The Sky Humanity Will Reap As It Has Sown [CD/2003] 9/10=The band remains unparalelled in the 2-man, drum-machine black/death metal field, this isn't a full album but it still kicks as much ass as most full black metal albums.
ANAAL NATHRAKH - Domine Non Es Dignus [CD/2004] 9/10=Polish that crown because the new UK basement-royalty of black/death metal are here to stay.
ANAAL NATHRAKH - Eschaton [CD/2006] 9/10=Some people were worried when they heard the advance track for this record, thought they were going all groovy. Well, they were wrong. Face-peeling sonic black industrial assault.
ANAAL NATHRAKH - Hell is Empty, and All the Devils are Here [CD/2007] 9/10=Still devastating, though they've taken on a further death metal edge and some other elements like occasionally more melodic vocals. Regardless, it rules.

ANATA - The Infernal Depths of Hatred [CD/1998] 6/10=Almost like a bastard hybrid of Pestilence and Morbid Angel, technical Swedish death metal that isn't bad by any means, but falls short of memorable.
ANATA/BETHZAIDA - War Volume II [CD/1999] 5/10=A decent split, four tracks from each band, I'd have to say Bethzaida is more interesting here with their folksy, atmsopheric black metal.
ANATA - Dreams of Death and Dismay [CD/2001] 6/10=Swedish death, and by Swedish death I mean Swedish death, not melodeath. Vocals are quite reminiscent of Pestilence though the music is nowhere near that level of songwriting.
ANATA - Under a Stone With No Inscription [CD/2004] 8/10=Blasting Swedish death, this album is quite good and destroys the first two, though I think the new one is the best and I heard that before this.
ANATA - The Conductor's Depature [CD/2006] 9/10=This album simply destroys anything else the band have ever done, the progressive death metal is enticing, the cover art is brilliant, top class stuff here overe all.

ANCIENT EXISTENCE - Ancient Existnce [DVD37/2002] 4/5=Their demo, really set up their melodic style with guttural vox, a sign of the promise to come.
ANCIENT EXISTENCE - Night Eternal [CD/2003] 9/10=I just completely love this band, I love that combination of melodic death with the guttural murmurs, this is one of my favorite German death bands by far.
ANCIENT EXISTENCE - Hate is the Law [CD/2007] 9/10=Super catchy simple death metal, loaded with great hooks, paired up with guttural vox you'd expect from a more brutal band. I fucking love it.
ANCIENT EXISTENCE - Death Fucking Metal [CD/2008] 9/10=I don't know how they do it, but once again this German band delivers a killer mix of simple melodic death metal riffing and super guttural vocals for my enjoyment.

ANDERSSON, PETER - Music for Film and Exhibition [DVD59/2007] 9/10=Excellent two-disc album of dark ambient tempered with natural sounds, from Raison d'Etre mastermind Peter Andersson.

ANGANTYR - Endelos [DVD101/1998] 4/5=The original demo from one of the best Danish black metal bands how can thee fare wrongst!?!
ANGANTYR - Kampen Fortsaetter [DVD30/2000] 8/10=Pretty sick Darkthrone worship from this Danish one-man bedroom black band. Awesome.
ANGANTYR - Nordens Stotle Krigere [DVD34/2001] 4/5=3-song demo recorded after the debut album, supposedly in a cabin in the woods of a Danish forest. The tunes are pretty good though, like most of Angantyr.
ANGANTYR - Sejr [CD/2004] 7/10=Danish black metal, it's quite good though lacking anything ado with the word 'originality'. Still, I can tap my frothing mug to this quite nicely. Sounds more Viking than the lyrics.
ANGANTYR - Haevn [CD/2007] 9/10=By the blood of Odin in my veins I shall smite the weaklings south of my fjord with great prejudice.
ANGANTYR/NASHEIM - split [DVD81/2007] 4/5=It's a cool split, Angantyr rule as usual and the single, 25-minute track from Sweden's Nasheim is very immersive. Great material.

ANGEL DUST - Into the Dark Past [CD/1986] 8/10=The band was initially a German speed/thrash outfit not unlike early Helloween, Rage, Scanner, or Mania, and this was an excellent debut.
ANGEL DUST - To Dust You Will Decay [CD/1988] 7/10=This isn't as great as the debut, but it's still quite good and you can hear the roots of their future style.
ANGEL DUST - Border of Reality [CD/1998] 8/10=A decade later they return, they've slowed down a bit and gone prog-metal, but they still show their roots and this is a very impressive sounding album.
ANGEL DUST - Bleed [CD/1999] 8/10=Excellent band, very consistent quality in their albums, this again has a prog influence but sounds like noone else and has some great, memorable tunes like 'Black Rain'.
ANGEL DUST - Enlighten the Darkness [CD/2000] 8/10=They do seem to be injecting an almost pop sensibility into their choruses, but they still write such great music it's hard not to enjoy anything they've done.
ANGEL DUST - Of Human Bondage [CD/2002] 6/10=Well, after 5 great albums this comes as their weakest, it's still got strong material but I can't remember the songs once the disc stops playing.

ANGEL WITCH - Angel Witch [CD/1980] 7/10=This doesn't exactly hold up well, but it's a metal classic and it certainly was excellent for its time. No other band has really sounded like this.
ANGEL WITCH - Screamin' and Bleedin' [CD/1985] 6/10=They've never been a bad band, there is a new vocalist on this one and I honestly prefered Kevin's style, this guy is just too soulful. Still, decent classic metal appeal.
ANGEL WITCH - Live [CD/1990] 4/10=This isn't a bad sounding live album, it's got a lot of the classics, but the band should have been working on their music, not a live album.
ANGEL WITCH - Sinister History [CD/2000] 5/10=A collection of demos and live material, actual sounds quite good and Angel Witch fans may wish to take note and acquire this.

ANGELCORPSE - Hammer of Gods [CD/1996] 7/10=Unrelenting black/death metal right from the start, you have to love this band's fury.
ANGELCORPSE - Exterminate [CD/1998] 8/10=Even better, and more furious than before.
ANGELCORPSE - The Inexorable [CD/1999] 8/10=Furious enough to cause rapturous violent orgasms for the initiated.
ANGELCORPSE - Iron, Blood, and Blasphemy [CD/2001] 2/10=Mostly live stuff and covers from various compilations, plus a few songs from their albums. In all, pretty fucking worthless, just get the albums.
ANGELCORPSE - Of Lucifer and Lightning [CD/2007] 8/10=Angelcorpse delivers once more, after an eight year hiatus!

ANGRA - Reaching Horizons [CD/1992] 5/10=This is a sort of album-length demo before their first real album, and does display the band's talent.
ANGRA - Angels Cry [CD/1993] 6/10=Not a bad start by any means, I do feel the band was a bit hyped from the beginning, this is solid stuff but has many forgettable, boring parts.
ANGRA - Holy Land [CD/1996] 7/10=A bit better than the debut, still has its weak points and may not have deserved the buckets of praise that were tossed on it.
ANGRA - Holy Live [CD/1997] 1/10=Fuck off Brazilian scum...not just a live album, this is a live EP...not even enough live tracks to fill an album.
ANGRA - Fireworks [CD/1998] 8/10=An intriguing listen, for the first time the band really blends in their various musical roots...and wonderful South American percussion is found here. Still kinda thin in the production department.
ANGRA - Evil Warning [CD/2000] 2/10=Kind of a forgettable EP here, don't waste your time.
ANGRA - Rebirth [CD/2001] 9/10=Damn...three new members enter the fold, replacing the ones that went off to form Shaman...but this is still an amazing album, the new members more than make up for the loss. Best Angra yet, takes a few listens to settle in though.
ANGRA - Hunters and Prey [CD/2002] 5/10=Some decent new tracks and also a version in Portuguese, worth it for the fans but worthless for the rest.
ANGRA - Temple of Shadows [CD/2004] 10/10=Holy mother of hell, this is an amazing album...and possibly the best metal album this year. It's all in place: great songs, technical proficiency, diverse styles craftily melded to form a perfect Angra record.
ANGRA - Aurora Consurgens [CD/2006] 9/10=There could have been no way to top or even match Temple of Shadows, but this is damn close. The music is fantastic, though Edu's vocals aren't as consistent as they were on Temple.

ANTHEM - Anthem [LP/1985] 9/10=This was a great Japanese melodic metal band, totally underrated, they smoked Loudness, Earthshaker, and to some extent, Dead End. Though I liked all those bands...
ANTHEM - Tightrope [CD/1986] 9/10=Yet another tight ass Anthem record, mostly they use Japanese vocals but sometimes it is in English. Who fucking cares, they smoke.
ANTHEM - Xanadu [CD/1986] 4/10=Kind of a rare little EP, it only has two songs, 'Xanadu Act 1' and 'Act 2'. It's Anthem though so I love it.
ANTHEM - The Show Carries On [CD/1987] 4/10=Live album from this amazing Japanese metal band, sounds like it was a fun show but nothing particularly special here, except it's the only way I'm going to hear them live, ever.
ANTHEM - Bound to Break [CD/1987] 9/10=Ahhh, the joy of owning this on CD so I can listen to it anywhere and everywhere. Anthem continue to rock.
ANTHEM - Gypsy Ways [CD/1988] 8/10=Hail the masters of Japanese, pure velocity rock and roll. I'm going to have to say my favorite pure Japanese metal band, due to their consistency in producing quality records.
ANTHEM - Hunting Time [CD/1989] 8/10=I don't know how they could always do it, but they pretty much always did...another awesome record.
ANTHEM - No Smoke Without Fire [CD/1990] 7/10=I didn't enjoy this as much as the last few albums, but it is still Anthem and therefor it is still quite good, melodic metal with minimal shredding.
ANTHEM - Last Anthem [CD/1992] 4/10=I suppose half a decade couldn't pass without another Anthem live record, right?
ANTHEM - Domestic Booty [CD/1992] 7/10=Their last album before taking a hiatus, this was still quite good, pure and straightforward Japanese metal.
ANTHEM - Heavy Metal Anthem [CD/2000] 8/10=Very awesome re-recordings of old Anthem songs with Graham Bonnet of Alcatrazz, Impelliteri and Rainbow on vocals...really cool tribute to these awesome tunes.
ANTHEM - Seven Hills [CD/2001] 9/10=I had been looking for this for years and it was well worth the wait, it's their best album since Bound to Break and apparently their hardest to find. J-metal bliss!
ANTHEM - Overload [CD/2002] 8/10=One badass motherfucking Anthem record, honestly the best since Hunting Time.
ANTHEM - Eternal Warrior [CD/2004] 7/10=Third album of their comeback phase, the music is quite excellent even though some of the cheesier elements may seem out of place.
ANTHEM - Immortal [CD/2006] 8/10=Very clean production here, perhaps too pop and too clean, otherwise what we have is yet ANOTHER quality Anthem record, how this band eludes worldwide success is simply stupifying. J-metal for J-fans.

ANTHRAX - Fist Full of Metal [CD/1984] 7/10=Not the best we'd hear from this band, but a very solid start, a great album when you want to really wax nostalgic.
ANTHRAX - Armed and Dangerous [CD/1985] 2/10=Dumpy EP with a few cool tunes not on the records.
ANTHRAX - Spreading the Disease [CD/1985] 8/10=Anthrax is getting better, and this is ample proof.
ANTHRAX - Among the Living [CD/1987] 9/10=You gotta know this album, please people. Excellent, memorable tunes that I would sing while skateboarding in the 7th and 8th grades, nonstop.
ANTHRAX - I'm the Man [CD/1987] 1/10=This is fucking retarded, the definition of retarded. 'Bring the Noise' is way better than this.
ANTHRAX - State of Euphoria [CD/1988] 8/10=Another very solid album from a band that at this point could do no wrong.
ANTHRAX - Penikufesin [CD/1989] 2/10=Very clever fellas, now take your dicks out of my ass please, you got my money, now roll with it.
ANTHRAX - Persistance of Time [CD/1990] 9/10=Another excellent album, this time they use longer songs but this only serves to make them epics.
ANTHRAX - Attack of the Killer B's [CD/1991] 3/10=It was cool at the time, a collection of some rare shit, and it has 'Bring the Noise'.
ANTHRAX - Sound of White Noise [CD/1993] 7/10=Anthrax gets the singer from Armored Saint, and begins to sound like...Armored Saint, albeit slightly trashier.

ANVIL - Hard 'n'Heavy [CD/1981] 6/10=I didn't really care for the first album all that much, it was your typical boogie down hard rock inspired heavy metal.
ANVIL - Metal on Metal [CD/1983] 9/10=Classic Anvil, or should I say, THE classic Anvil record. Primo Canadian metal, old-school, flawless. Great band.
ANVIL - Forged in Fire [CD/1983] 8/10=Not quite as good as Metal on Metal, but this is a fucking legend, and Anvil will rarely, if ever, steer you wrong.
ANVIL - Backwaxed [CD/1985] 3/10=A compilation, skip it and get their albums.
ANVIL - Strength of Steel [CD/1987] 8/10=Yet another building block in the metal foundation that is the Canadian juggernaut. Very good record.
ANVIL - Pound for Pound [CD/1988] 8/10=Oooh! I loved this album too, the hockey tribute 'Blood on the Ice' is a great track.
ANVIL - Past and Present Live [CD/1989] 4/10=It's a live record, they play some of their better songs, end of story.
ANVIL - Worth the Weight [CD/1992] 7/10=A pretty good Anvil record, I liked it a little less than Pound for Pound but it's got a bunch of decent songs.
ANVIL - Plugged in Permanent [CD/1996] 7/10=It has a few goofy tunes like "Smokin' Green" and "Five Knuckle Shuffle" but it still rocks out in true Anvil fashion.
ANVIL - Absolutely No Alternative [CD/1997] 6/10=Hahahahah....there is a song called "Show Me Your Tits"....hahahahah....
ANVIL - Speed of Sound [CD/1999] 7/10=Anvil are a great band, almost every record they release is high quality, classic Canadian metal. The one weak point of the band is their stupid lyrics, but the musical delivery is superb.
ANVIL - Anthology of Anvil [CD/2000] 2/10=Woo boy another compilation to take our money!
ANVIL - Plenty of Power [CD/2001] 6/10=Thus begins a trio of the 'new' Anvil, which is decent and still has its moments but mediocre compared to some of the great albums of their past.
ANVIL - Still Going Strong [CD/2002] 6/10=I wouldn't say they've lost it musically, but coupled with some of the lyrics it doesn't come across as strong as any of their past material, thus the title is ironic.
ANVIL - Back to Basics [CD/2004] 6/10=Again, it's another decent record, and it is certainly Anvil, but their best compositions are far behind them on the early records.
ANVIL - This is Thirteen [CD/2007] 8/10=The band still sounds great, and this is their best album in almost a decade. Pure Canadian heavy metal.

APATHY - A Silent Nowhere [CD/2008] 9/10=Excellent debut from a Swedish band reminding me of opeth; dense, riff-heavy progressive death/doom metal. Loved it.

APHEX TWIN - Analogue Bubblebath 1 [CD/1987] 7/10=From the very beginning, you could tell this guy was onto something with his electronics...way ahead of his time.
APHEX TWIN - Analogue Bubblebath 2 [CD/1991] 7/10=I often wonder just how many entire genres of electronica and ambience were spawned from this one man force.
APHEX TWIN - Selected Ambient Works 85-92 [CD/1992] 10/10=A collection of wonderful, moving ambient techno with some laid back beats. Nothing short of perfection, especially for the time it was released.
APHEX TWIN - Analogue Bubblebath 3 [CD/1993] 8/10=RAJ continues to use this series of EPs to explore his somewhat more freaky side, as opposed to his ambient works. This one is album-length, and of the quality you'd expect.
APHEX TWIN - Analogue Bubblebath 3.1 [CD/1993] 8/10=Further exploration in this series of electronic EPs, still cutting edge and very good.
APHEX TWIN - On [CD/1993] 8/10=Like a lot of electronic artists, James is fond of flooding the market with a number of EPs. Fortunately, they are all pretty good, so he pulls it off.
APHEX TWIN - Analogue Bubblebath 4 [CD/1994] 7/10=More whacky electro fun from the master in the game, and a bunch of songs named after animals.
APHEX TWIN - Analogue Bubblebath 5 [CD/1994] 6/10=The sixth and final Bubblebath, and another album-length one, and my least favorite, but still decent.
APHEX TWIN - Selected Ambient Works Vol. II [CDx2/1994] 9/10=Two more discs of the Twin's soft side, he drops most of the beats here, and I liked having the beats under the ambience, but it's still some impressive stuff.
APHEX TWIN - Melodies from Mars [CD/1995] 7/10=Still pretty fucking freaky...this album is pretty aptly named, not my fave Twin but an intriguing listen nonetheless.
APHEX TWIN - ...I Care Because You Do [CD/1995] 10/10=This is simply insane...and at least 100 other cutting edge electronic artists must have shrines built to this one, more of an experience than an album.
APHEX TWIN - Donkey Rhubarb EP [CD/1995] 7/10=The man really can do no wrong...and this is more proof of that, another pretty good EP.
APHEX TWIN - Richard D. James Album [CD/1996] 10/10=Remember I said his last full length was insane? Well, THIS is FUCKING INSANE.
APHEX TWIN - Come to Daddy EP [CD/1997] 7/10=One of the reasons I've butterflied into a near-intellectual is that music like this has melted the gelatin-coated neural gateways in my cortex, though I could do without the Prodigy-like remix on one of the tracks.
APHEX TWIN - Windowlicker [CD/1999] 7/10=An EP with some enhanced content, not a personal favorite but it's still got the Aphex Appeal.
APHEX TWIN - Drukqs [CDx2/2001] 10/10=For some reason unknown to me, I was put off by this at first...perhaps there was still some gelatin left clogging my brain, because this is actually m.o.t.h.e.r.f.u.c.k.i.n.g a.w.e.s.o.m.e.
APHEX TWIN - 26 Mixes for Cash [CDx2/2003] 9/10=Two discs full of Richard James remixing and improving other peoples' music? I'll buy that for no dollars...or rather, I'll download that and yank off to it.

APOCRYPHA - The Forgotten Scroll [CD/1987] 8/10=One of the better bands to ever grace the Shrapnel guitar-god record label. This band not only sported Tony Fredianelli, but were actually fucking excellent to boot. Pure metal.
APOCRYPHA - Eyes of Time [CD/1988]
APOCRYPHA - Area 54 [CD/1990] 9/10=This was just too good to be an 8. Every song is distinctive and catchy on this record, even the near balladry of the title track. We don't get a lot of metal like this anymore. Too bad.

ARCANA - Dark Age of Reason [CD/1996] 10/10=This has always been an excellent band, they do ambient medieval style music and yet are catchy almost every time, with respectable vocals. Fucking brilliant, this is their best.
ARCANA - Lizabeth [CD/1997] 5/10=A teaser for their forthcoming record, don't bother just get the record.
ARCANA - Cantar de Procella [CD/1997] 9/10=Another classic album from this Swedish group, can't point out why I didn't like it quite as much as Dark Age of Reason, but it is damn near perfection in itself.
ARCANA - Izabel [CD/1999] 7/10=It's only a 3-track EP, but what the hell, all I can do here is cite that it's FUCKING ARCANA.
ARCANA - The Last Embrace [CD/2000] 9/10=A new Arcana album is like an event, and this atmospheric Swedish group has not failed me yet, not even once. Excellence incarnate.
ARCANA - Body of Sin [CD/2002] 4/10=A single to warm up for the next record, and a pretty good single.
ARCANA - Inner Pale Sun [CD/2002] 9/10=All their music could be considered perfect for BGM in film and stage, but I think they've taken on a slightly more subtle context with this album, far more suited to a film score.
ARCANA - The New Light [CD/2004] 8/10=More great material, but this just isn't as cool as their past records. Still, how long can a band continue to be perfect? At least it is still a damn fine listen.
ARCANA - Le Serpent Rouge [CD/2005] 7/10=Their new album, and another intriguing listen, this one is somewhat less medieval than previous releases, making up for that in tribal percussion and atmosphere.

ARCH ENEMY - Black Earth [CD/1996] 5/10=A boring melodic death metal album, sets the groundwork for what they would become.
ARCH ENEMY - Stigmata [CD/1998] 7/10=A very good melodic death metal album, found a nice center.
ARCH ENEMY - Burning Bridges [CD/1999] 8/10=Really builds on their previous work, with better sound and some killer, memorable songs.
ARCH ENEMY - Wages of Sin [CD/2001] 7/10=Enter the girl singer, she's pretty contrived here but its still a good album with some tunes you won't forget.
ARCH ENEMY - Anthems of Rebellion [CDx2/2003] 5/10=There are some good tunes here, and Angela fits in better, but a lot of songs that kinda suck too.
ARCH ENEMY - Dead Eyes See No Future [CD/2004] 2/10=Charge me money to take a dump on my face, it's the same thing. Not much worthwhile here, a ditty EP for the fans, or rather to bilk the fuck out of the fans.
ARCH ENEMY - Doomsday Machine [CD/2005] 6/10=It's better overall than Anthems of Rebellion, though still some nu-metal elements creeping into the sound. Angela is a little better here, as is the guitar work, the selling point here.
ARCH ENEMY - Rise of the Tyrant [CD/2007] 9/10=Arch Enemy have returned to what made them great to begin with, quality songcraft, excellent melodic death metal and this is honestly their best overall album ever. Fantastic. Kudos.
ARCH ENEMY - Revolution Begins [DVD77/2007] 2/5=An EP with a Queensryche cover, a non-album track, and some material from Rise of the Tyrant.

ARCTURUS - Apera Hiems Symfonia [CD/1996] 7/10=For some reason I really liked this atmospheric black metal stuff.
ARCTURUS - La Masquerade Infernale [CD/1997] 8/10=...and then they shifted to avant-garde, vaudeville metal, and it was good...and original.
ARCTURUS - Disguised Masters [CD/1999] 3/10=Perhaps too experimental, a bunch of retoolings of previous songs...some in an electronic style. Some interesting stuff here, but as a whole it's pretty lame.
ARCTURUS - The Sham Mirrors [CD/2002] 9/10=They return with another avant-garde album, some amazing trip-hop sequences spice up their vaudeville metal, you really just have to hear this, in my opinion their very best.
ARCTURUS - Sideshow Symphonies [CD/2005] 8/10=Fuck me sideways at the sideshow, because they have fucking done it once more. Another miracle of gothic black bizarre ingenuity...
ARCTURUS - Shipwrecked in Oslo [CD/2006] 6/10=Quite amazing sounding live experience, and you know how I feel about live recordings. Kinda wish I was at this one. This is the audio ripped from their new DVD.

ARKHON INFAUSTUS - In Sperma Infernum [CD/1998] 1/10=As much as I'm going to love this band later on...this debut EP really fucking sucked.
ARKHON INFAUSTUS - Hell Injection [CD/2001] 8/10=Great raw death/black from France, though they haven't reached the heights of their later albums, this is simply some brutal stuff. And some good stuff at that.
ARKHON INFAUSTUS - Filth Catalyst [CD/2003] 8/10=Impressive, brutal mixture of death and black metal elements, with a great atmosphere and some appropriately filthy lyrics and subject material.
ARKHON INFAUSTUS - Perdition Insanibilis [CD/2004] 8/10=Sick French black/death metal, brutal, no apologies, their subject material seems to have expanded beyond sadism and dark erotica, a great album.
ARKHON INFAUSTUS - Annunciation [DVD122/2007] 4/5=Pretty cool EP though some of the tunes can be found elsewhere.
ARKHON INFAUSTUS - Orthodoxyn [CD/2007] 9/10=Absolutely awesome, their best record so far! Killer tunes, more depth than previous albums.

ARKONA - Lepta [CD/2004]
ARKONA - Vozrozhdenie [CD/2004]
ARKONA - Vo Slavu Velikim [CD/2005] 9/10=Amazing Russian pagan/folk black metal, it sounds extremely good and has a nice diverse use of vocals, samples, synths, and excellent riffs. Fucking fabulous.
ARKONA - Zhizn Vo Slavu [DVD61/2006] 4/5=Live album from the Russian pagan metal band, very good sounding live.
ARKONA - От Сердца к Небу (2007) [CD/2007] 9/10=Another killer Russian folk metal release from this band, really at the top of its game. The songs are always catchy with beautiful choral arrangements. I love it.

ARMORED SAINT - March of the Saint [CD/1984] 5/10=In my opinion, this album marks their humble beginnings, this is pretty good for its day but nothing sticks out except the title track. It's just too 'clean'.
ARMORED SAINT - Delirious Nomad [CD/1985] 6/10=An improvement, I like the energy of the band more on this album than the debut.
ARMORED SAINT - Raising Fear [CD/1987] 8/10=Earlier in my years, I would have given this an even higher score...but it doesn't hold up much to time, and other classic albums of the period stand out more. Still, a killer album.
ARMORED SAINT - Symbol of Salvation [CD/1991] 9/10=Not a bad song on this one...from the power of 'Reign of Fire' to the groove of 'Tribal Dance' to the balladry of 'Last Train Home', an amazing album and their best.
ARMORED SAINT - Nod to the Old School [CDx2/2001] 6/10=A nice fan package here, two discs, we get their out of print debut EP, a bunch of unreleased tracks, and the usual compilation drivel. One of the better metal fan releases.

ARTILLERY - Fear of Tomorrow [CD/1985] 6/10=Not my favorite by Artillery, but solid with a few good songs.
ARTILLERY - Terror Squad [CD/1987] 7/10=Good thrash album, but not even close to what was to come from this German master band.
ARTILLERY - By Inheritance [CD/1990] 10/10=Despite the pretty goofy cover tune and one weak track near the end, the rest of this album is so fucking amazing that it gets a perfect score. Best dual-guitar team I have ever heard in metal, riff after riff after glorious riff.
ARTILLERY - Deadly Relics [CD/1997] 3/10=It's just not worth it, the album versions are better than the demo versions, and some of the old demos sound like complete ass.
ARTILLERY - B.A.C.K. [CD/1999] 7/10=The title is fitting, its a return to form for Artillery with more modern production, but not as captivating as By Inheritance.

ASMODEE - Symptomes de Ruine [CD/2002] 8/10=Killer progressive French black metal, the bass playing is simply like no other black metal band, that guy is fucking insane, the rest of the band isn't shabby either.
ASMODEE - Simulacres [CD/2004] 9/10=Another, even more intense blast of progressive black metal, I picture that this is what Cynic or Death would have been like if they had forged down a black metal path. Very unique.

ASSEMBLAGE 23 - Contempt [CD/1999]
ASSEMBLAGE 23 - Failure [CD/2001]
ASSEMBLAGE 23 - Defiance [CD/2002]
ASSEMBLAGE 23 - Storm [CD/2004]
ASSEMBLAGE 23 - Early, Rare & Unreleased [CD/2007]
ASSEMBLAGE 23 - Meta [CD/2007]

AT THE GATES - Gardens of Grief/Embrace of Evil [CD/1990] 6/10=Fan package, their old album as Grotesque with their first At the Gates EP. Many will have already heard it, but it's worth getting specifically for Grotesque.
AT THE GATES - The Red in the Sky is Ours [CD/1991] 7/10=Though the melodic death metal roots are showing through, it still has more in common with classic death metal bands like Morgoth, Suffocation, and Death.
AT THE GATES - With Fear I Kiss the Burning Darkness [CD/1992] 8/10=Another slow progression towards their eventual greatness, this was actually quite a good record.
AT THE GATES - Terminal Spirit Disease [CD/1993] 7/10=A good pointer to what direction this band is going, a bridge between their earlier works and their career peak.
AT THE GATES - Slaughter of the Soul [CD/1995] 9/10=It's an important album. It revitalized metal, almost singlehandedly, a melodic death metal landmark. Unfortunately, it spawned all the melodic Swede metalcore crap today.
AT THE GATES - Suicidal Final Art [CD/2001] 2/10=Corporate violation of the lowest caliber. Thanks for the compilation, Peaceville. Oh, those demo tracks give it such credibility. Two points just for that.

ATOMINE ELEKTRINE - Elemental Severance [CD/1994] 8/10=The side-project of Raison D'Etre, more rhythmic and 'trilly', it is danceable but in this subtle context, I enjoyed it every bit as much as Raison D'Etre.
ATOMINE ELEKTRINE - Nebulous [CD/2007]

ATRIUM CARCERI - Cellblock [CD/2003] 8/10=Great, sweeping ambience with subtle synth atmospheres, this is dark and interesting music.
ATRIUM CARCERI - Seishinbyouin [CD/2004] 8/10=More excellent, dark soundscapes from this Cold Meat Industries act.
ATRIUM CARCERI - Kapnobatai [CD/2005] 9/10=This is a stunning, dark, ritualistic, phobic vision of those who walk in smoke, even has some japanese voice samples...once again, a winner.
ATRIUM CARCERI - Ptahil [CD/2007] 9/10=Another incredible record from the top class dark ambient band. A soundtrack for whenever I achieve a dark mental state.

ATROPHY - Socialized Hate [CD/1988] 8/10=First great thrash album by this solid band, yeah there's a goofy song in 'Beer Bong' but at least it's pretty catchy.
ATROPHY - Violent By Nature [CD/1990] 7/10=A solid Arizona thrash album, overall this is an improvement over their first release, with a deeper sound and stronger songwriting.

ATROX - Mesmerized [DVD122/1997] 8/10=More of a doom/death hybrid here, very melancholy, the one album of theirs to be dominated by the male growls instead of the female vocals (which are still present). Great start.
ATROX - Contentum [DVD122/2000] 8/10=Fascinating sophomore from the extremely consistent, avant-garde gothic/prog metal band out of Norway. Though the band changes slightly from release to release, they remain tight.
ATROX - Terrestrials [DVD122/2002] 8/10=A slightly more symphonic black metal edge to some of the music, but the female vocals tie it all together without being too fairy...you can't really go wrong with Atrox. Ever.
ATROX - Orgasm [DVD122/2003] 8/10=Fourth album from the unique Norwegian female-fronted experimental prog metal band. Difficult not to be impressed by such a spectacle.
ATROX - Binocular [DVD122/2008] 8/10=Another of those amazingly unique Norse bands that have evolved from metal roofs into something just...beyond...fans of Ulver and Headcontrolsystem and Solefald should check it out.

AUDIOPAIN - Revel in Desecration [CD/2002] 5/10=Kickass demo, along with Aura Noir these guys are premiere Norse retro-thrash, filthy and pummeling.
AUDIOPAIN - The Traumatizer [CD/2004] 7/10=Very cool record, if on the brief side, they take your standard oldschool thrash and manage to remain inventive with some dischordant, almost post-hardcore aesthetics.
AUDIOPAIN - 1986 [CD/2005] 7/10=A re-issue of one of the early Audiopain EPs, six more tracks to enjoy.
AUDIOPAIN - Contagious [CD/2005] 7/10=Another re-issue of one of the band's early EPs, and it's business as usual for Audiopain, who write intriguing primal thrash metal well worth some replays.
AUDIOPAIN - The Switch to Turn Off Mankind [CD/2007] 9/10=These guys really 'get' thrash, and this is their strongest effort so far, and a fantastic album all around. Burning, painful speed/thrash from hell.

AURA NOIR - Dreams Like Deserts [CD/1996] 6/10=The birth of their derivative blackened thrash metal, but I still enjoyed the EP and gave it six points for six tunes.
AURA NOIR - Black Thrash Attack [CD/1997] 8/10=Nothing wrong here, an insane retro-thrash/black metal crossover, snarling and raging all the way to the bank.
AURA NOIR - Deep Tracts of Hell [CD/1998] 7/10=This record is just a complete black thrash attack, and quite original although it wears its German influences on its sleeve, I can't help but to enjoy this.
AURA NOIR - Increased Damnation [CD/2000] 3/10=It's got a few tidbits for fans, but otherwise a compilation of previously released material.
AURA NOIR - The Merciless [CD/2004] 7/10=They delve further into the Celtic Frost/Darkthrone area on this record, as opposed to the thrashier past records. Often has some doom elements, too. Still a good listen.
AURA NOIR - Deep Dreams of Hell [CD/2005] 5/10= A re-issue of Deep Tracts of Hell but with an early EP tagged on and some other tracks. Fans skip the original and just get this package.
AURA NOIR - Hades Rise [CD/2008] 8/10=The band rarely if ever fails, this is a great new album, one of their best, loaded with excellent riffs and memorable retro tunes.

AUTECHRE - Cavity Job [CD/1991] 2/10=Their initial release, only two tracks, and not bad but nothing compared to where they were headed. Heaviest use of samples in Autechre ever.
AUTECHRE - Incunabula [CD/1993] 8/10=It has begun...the unique electronic soundcraft...the unwillingness to repeat themselves, even between measures, the bizarre song titles, perhaps their most accessible full length album.
AUTECHRE - Amber [CD/1994] 9/10=Their second album is somewhat more obscure than Incunabula, and it's also better. There are few things you can compare Autechre to now, perhaps Aphex Twin, perhaps Spacetime, that's about it.
AUTECHRE - Anti- [CD/1994] 6/10=Three quirky new tracks from Autechre equal six points from Scotter.
AUTECHRE - Tri Repetae [CDx2/1995] 10/10=One for the ages...not just a new album comprised of Autechre's best work yet, but two fucking discs of said best work yet! In my opinion, this is as mandatory as electronica gets.
AUTECHRE - Chiastic Slide [CD/1997] 10/10=Another of my favorites by this band, and just as amazing as Tri Repetae despite there being less of it. Autechre continue to govern that hazy area left of the beaten path.
AUTECHRE - Cichlisuite [CD/1997] 7/10=Another of Autechre's many EPs, this being one of the best, five new tracks of odd electronic bliss to chomp on.
AUTECHRE - Envane [CD/1997] 6/10=A crisper and slightly noisier EP, still quality material with four tunes, perhaps the mark that they are about to embark on an even more obscure path.
AUTECHRE - LP5 [CD/1998] 8/10=In its own way, this is a more aggressive album than the past four, it also divided some of the fans, but I wasn't about to get off the ride just yet.
AUTECHRE - Peel Sessions [CD/1999] 8/10=It's considered a great honor to broadcast live with John Peel, and Autechre made the most of it, essentially granting us a new EP in the process...great, but not their best.
AUTECHRE - EP7 [CD/1999] 8/10=Another fine album, this is more of a full length than an EP so don't let the title fool you. Definitely worthwhile.
AUTECHRE - Confield [CD/2001] 8/10=This is a great album, but I will admit it takes multiple listens to begin to catch, a wonderful experience if you have the patience.
AUTECHRE - Gantz_Graf [CD/2002] 6/10=Another of their many EPs, this is three songs for six points once again, some nice material but not enough of it for the price.
AUTECHRE - Draft 7.30 [CD/2003] 7/10=The latest full length, and as you can see from the score not my favorite, though still worth several spins. I think the band has gotten too prolific for their own good and a break is needed.
AUTECHRE - Quatristice [CD/2008] 8/10=It's their most interesting album in some years, and I found some new sounds here for Autechre among the shifting structures and glitch. Pretty damn cool.

AVENGER (GER) - Prayers of Steel [CD/1985] 8/10=Peavy Wagner's former band which later morphed into the mighty Rage. This was a great heavy metal album for 1985 and easily marked that transition into the much-loved German band.
AVENGER (GER) - Depraved Into Black [DVD52/1985] 5/5=Excellent fucking EP, just before they changed into Rage, this has two great songs and two live tracks, but it's just so goddamned good...

AYUMI HAMASAKI - A Song for XX [DVD10/1999] 7/10=She may not be the singer Utada Hikaru is, but she's always been better because she never tainted her music with hip hop/R&B bullshit. A true JPOP idol here.
AYUMI HAMASAKI - Ayu-mi-x [DVD10/1999] 7/10=She is also notorious for having countless albums of remixes of her limited catalogue of songs, many of which end up being BETTER than her original songs...
AYUMI HAMASAKI - LOVEppears [DVD10/1999] 7/10=Her second true album, pretty much every tune here is the same catchy JPOP you expected on the first, though there is nothing that stands out as 'incredible', just well done all around.
AYUMI HAMASAKI - Ayu-ro Mix [DVD10/2000] 7/10=Her second career year and she's already on the 2nd remix album...but there are some great mixes year, and wait, there's more...
AYUMI HAMASAKI - Ayu-mi-x II: Version US+EU [DVD10/2000] 8/10=You fucking guessed it, check out this promotion...THREE new mix CDs, after she's already had the two released...this is the US+EU with different mixes than the JPN.
AYUMI HAMASAKI - Ayu-mi-x II: Version Acoustic Orchestra [DVD10/2000] 7/10=Not only does her voice work when her pop tunes are mixed into catchy dancehall techno, but when applied to symphonic and acoustic remakes...
AYUMI HAMASAKI - Ayu-mi-x II: Version JPN [DVD10/2000] 8/10=I swear the clubs in Japan and all of Asia must have eaten this shit up, there are like 4x as many remixes of her songs as the actual songs themselves, but they are good!
AYUMI HAMASAKI - Au-mi-x II: Version Non-Stop Mega Mix [DVD10/2000] 2/10=Okay, so I lied, there was a fourth in this series, non stop mega mixed for your dancing pleasure...I'd just skip this entirely and get the other three.
AYUMI HAMASAKI - Duty [DVD10/2000] 8/10=Her third 'official' album in two years, Ayumi was truly taking off. This is actually a more mature, better record than the first two. Now I await the torrent of new remix albums...
AYUMI HAMASAKI - Ayu-mi-x III: Version Acoustic Orchestra [DVD10/2001] 7/10=I didn't have to wait long now did I? The sequel to the Ayu-mi-x II Version Acoustic Orchestra.
AYUMI HAMASAKI - Ayu-mi-x III: Non-Stop Mega Mix Version [DVD10/2001] 2/10=Maybe I'm missing something here as I do not have any other Ayu-mi-x III records asides from the Acoustic and this dance mix.
AYUMI HAMASAKI - A BEst [DVD10/2001] 1/5=Prime example of Japanese consumerism grabbing you by the FUCKING BALLS. She's had like 8 remix albums, and 3 albums of originals over 2 yeras and already a 'best of' album. Fucking $$$ whores.
AYUMI HAMASAKI - Ayu-ro Mix 2 [DVD10/2001] 7/10=The sequel to her first Ayu-ro Mix 2, this is fucking ridiculous but deviously and meticulously organized, fortunately the music on all these remix records does deliver in quality.
AYUMI HAMASAKI - Ayu Trance [DVD10/2001] 7/10=You guessed. It's the TRANCE remix record...once again, a little hard to hate on because it has some good dance songs and by now we have all her lyrics memorized. Heh.
AYUMI HAMASAKI - Rainbow [DVD10/2002] 9/10=With ease her best album yet, the actual album tracks have matured a lot without even a need for all those remixes we are going to get anyway. Every song is catchy, great JPOP record.
AYUMI HAMASAKI - No Way to Say [DVD10/2003] 2/3=A pretty good single, you get a new song and various remixes of that song that are all pretty good.
AYUMI HAMASAKI - My Story [DVD135/2004] 7/10=I keep sounding like a fool, going back and discovering she's been using more rock in the sound for awhile now. Not my favorite album by her, but a good one.
AYUMI HAMASAKI - (miss)Understood [DVD135/2005] 8/10=When she's doing her original albums, she is usually quite good, and this is no exception. Increased presence of guitars for a heavier j-pop edge.
AYUMI HAMASAKI - Secret [DVD135/2006] 8/10=Injecting yet more rock into her sound, she continues to evolve herself, as usual most of the material is catchy as hell.
AYUMI HAMASAKI - Guilty [DVD135/2008] 9/10=Ayumi continues to favor some hard rock sound in her recent material, though there are some good tracks here that harken back to her dancy days. An excellent album, one of her best.