Articles by Laura Taylor

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  Sirenia

  An Elixir for Existence

  PUBLISHED Mar 1, 2004

  Instead of carrying Sirenia further away from their ex-Tristania status, the followup to their 2002 debut sounds even more like the band th...

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  Vintersorg

  The Focusing Blur

  PUBLISHED Mar 1, 2004

  A metaphysical concept of exploration, the newest edition in the Vintersorg saga is a strange bird. The blackened metal that forms the foun...

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  Hammers of Misfortune

  The August Engine

  PUBLISHED Feb 1, 2004

  San Francisco’s Hammers of Misfortune are somewhat of an anomaly. Their sophomore album, The August Engine is a strange interweaving of pro...

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  Asterius

  A Moment of Singularity

  PUBLISHED Feb 1, 2004

  In a stylistic frenzy, Germany’s Asterius have released an album morphed out of black metal and prog that first recalls Solefald then break...

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  Elenium

  For Giving — For Getting

  PUBLISHED Feb 1, 2004

  A Finnish festival of progressive death metal, Elenium’s debut opens with a head-bashing wallop, starting heavy before it ranges into more...

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  Falkenbach

  Ok Nefna Tysvar Ty

  PUBLISHED Feb 1, 2004

  Though it’s described as Viking metal, Falkenbach’s first album in six years is almost more folk than metal. Ok Nefna Tysvar Ty, the band’s...

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  Tiamat

  Prey

  PUBLISHED Feb 1, 2004

  Smothering recent criticisms and disappointments, Tiamat’s latest takes a step back toward a more brooding, doom-laden incarnation of the b...

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  Azrael

  Into the Shadows Act I: Denial

  PUBLISHED Dec 1, 2003

  As the title suggests, Denial is merely the first part of a larger work — Act II bears the longer name Through Horned Shadows Glimpse. Alth...