Battle Helm started in 1998 with the infamous premiere issue heralding the return of true metal in all it’s forms. This was followed by 8 more print issues (9 total) featuring some of the most classic bands in metal history before moving to an entirely online format in 2000 and ran until 2021. While we would love to continue our passion, we must now pull off our iron-shod boots, lay down our swords and hang up our helms. I wish to thank all of the writers past and present who have contributed over the years. All the labels, festivals and ..read more

Carcass – “Torn Arteries” (Nuclear Blast Records) A legendary band in the annals of British Death Metal history, Carcass return after 8 years with their 7th studio album “Torn Arteries”. Named with reference to a demo tape recorded by ex co-founder drummer Ken Owen when he was a teenager, “Torn Arteries”, still with co-founders Bill Steer (guitars) and Jeff Walker (bass / lead vocals) remains true to serving up more – well more in fact – than their band’s name and indeed genre might suggest, while remaining true to what Walker calls the “Carcass mythos” as its 10 tracks amp ..read more

Rage – “Resurrection Day” CD / 2LP / Boxset (Steamhammer / SPV) No stranger to line up changes in its 37-year history, fans were nevertheless delighted when founder bassist / vocalist ‘Peavey’ Wagner announced a return to the twin guitar days of the mid 90s that saw classic albums like “Black In Mind” and “End Of All Days”. Still with Vassilios ‘Lucky’ Maniatopoulos on the double bass pedals, Rage is now joined by Stefan Weber (ex Axxis) and Jean Bormann (Angelinc) on its 25th release, the aptly titled “Resurrection Day”! Together they have produced 12 tracks in the classic vein ..read more

Criminal – “Sacrificio” (Metal Blade Records) Probably Chile’s most famous death / thrash band, Criminal were formed in 1991 and draw direct comparisons to Sepultura from Brazil in their raging style and socio-political lyrical stance. Releasing 8 prior albums, relocating at different points in time to the UK and Spain, Criminal have supported Metallica, Megadeth, Motörhead and Kreator as well as playing Wacken Open Air. Still fronted by sole original member, vocalist/guitarist Anton Reisenegger (Brujeria, Extreme Noise Terror (live), Lock Up, Pentagram Chile), “Sacrificio” bears all the fruit ..read more

ILLT – “Urhat” (Indie Recordings) Although late into metal and never really an out and out headbanger, the extreme metal alter ego of Norwegian Emmy award winning film composer Roy Westad has been undetachable since he was 15 years old as he learned to play guitar, recording hundreds of riffs over the years without having the real know how of making them into song arrangements. Lacking the experience to join bands, Westad continued in his career, writing scores for countless films and TV projects until now, aged 36, whereupon he’s felt the need to issue this debut or leave ..read more

Earlier this year, Napalm Records presented the next chapter in psychedelic rock icons MONSTER MAGNET’s rabbit hole deep dive, A Better Dystopia (out now) – a delightfully (and psychotically) curated collection of 60’s and 70’s proto-metal and late-era psych obscurities covered by the heavy New Jersey legends themselves. A Better Dystopia sees the band pay homage to some of their favorite songs of all time, while reflecting on the paranoia, dystopia and revolution of both now – and then. Today, MONSTER MAGNET releases the lyric video for their version of The Scientists ..read more

With a bond forged in youth and decades-old friendship, the undisputed masters of thrash metal return with their eleventh studio album, Persona Non Grata due to be released on November 19th via Nuclear Blast Records. Today, the band releases a lyric video for their second single Clickbait which can be viewed here. Gary Holt comments, “Very excited to launch the release of Clickbait from our upcoming record! Crushing and aggressive as hell, it captures the power of the new record perfectly! Getting more excited by the day. November 19th can’t come fast enough ..read more

After shaking the world to its foundation with the announcement of their 13th manifesto, Existence Is Futile, that will see the light of the day on October 22nd – Cradle Of Filth gather again to bring their next sacrifice to the devilish forces of Dark Metal: today, the band reveals the second single off their new album – Necromantic Fantasies. Directed by Vicente Cordero, this video was shot back-to-back with his previous work for the band, the horribly apocalyptic Crawling King Chaos, though both are remarkably contrasting. Dani Filth had this to ..read more

Three years after the release of The Hunt for White Christ (2018), iconic Swedish death metal legends UNLEASHED return with their new studio album, No Sign of Life, out November 12, 2021 via Napalm Records – once again setting the ultimate standard of death metal! The Swedish crew is led by founding frontman Johnny Hedlund, and features drummer Anders Schultz and two guitarists Tomas Måsgard and Fredrik Folkare – delivering and defining supreme death metal for over 32 years. On No Sign of Life, the band formed of Viking descendants transports the listener straight ..read more

Black/death metal veterans THULCANDRA are back! After six years of silence, the band’s brand new studio album, A Dying Wish, will be released on October 29, 2021 via Napalm Records – once again carrying the burning torch of the glorious death metal era. Since their foundation by Obscura mastermind Steffen Kummerer in 2003, THULCANDRA became an indispensable protagonist in the European extreme metal-sphere that reaches way back to the magnificent origins of their genre. THULCANDRA are musically and visually shaped by bands like Entombed, Sacramentum and Unanimated, but mainly influenced by genr ..read more