There is epic; and then there is EPIC. It isn’t all about track length, but how much organized chaos and doom you can cram into that frame. And France’s Eibon, with their sophomore album, have packed a lifetime worth of hard nosed riffs and screaming vocals into songs of intimidating length. “II” is a fucking death blow.

http://sorroweternal.blogspot.com/2013/05/eibon-ii-2013.html

Don’t try to judge this book by its cover. Churchburn may have a name and artwork that conjures up some intense feelings, but their music will do much more, if you give it a chance. On their new self titled EP, they put doom, death, and black metal in a blender, and give you a swig of the protein shake that is formed.

http://sorroweternal.blogspot.com/2013/05/churchburn-churchburn-ep-2013.html

With the release of their 4th album, Shadow Empire have taken the next logical step from good band to great. They’ve ironed out the kinks, rounded off the edges, and released an album that would make others in the genre jealous. Move over Dimmu Borgir. Step aside Fleshgod Apocalypse. “Omega Arcane” is a juggernaut.

http://sorroweternal.blogspot.com/2013/05/shade-empire-omega-arcane-2013.html

The old LV syndrome, or Lead Vocalist Syndrome for those who don’t know, may have led to the demise of the position. With the recent influx of instrumental metal and rock bands, vocals may go the way of the dinosaurs. And Polyphia, with their “Inspire” EP, are proof positive that lyrics don’t make the man.

http://sorroweternal.blogspot.com/2013/05/polyphia-inspire-ep-2013.html

Italy’s Infinita Symphonia turned a lot of heads with the release of their debut album some two years ago. But as quickly as they made us believe Italy was the home for true progressive power metal, they make us second guess that notion. Their new, self titled album lacks the edge of their debut, and pushes them from the front, back into the pack.

http://sorroweternal.blogspot.com/2013/05/infinita-symphonia-infinita-symphonia.html

Today is the day we like to thank our mothers for carrying our lazy fetus-asses around for nine months, birthing us, and putting up with our shit for God knows how many years. I suggest we celebrate not only our own mothers, but the headbanging mothers across the world. To do that, I sat down in a brief period of rest to discuss the albums of the week, the mixed bag that we call our content.

http://sorroweternal.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-podcast-episode-83-happy-metal.html

With Spotify now all the rage among downloaders (both legal and otherwise) and music fans of all kinds, it seems to the perfect time to slow down and reevaluate where our money goes when we pay for music in various forms. While their premium subscription may seem like an end to piracy, there is more math at play that needs to be explored, and a better way to pay artists must be found.

http://sorroweternal.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-podcast-episode-82-spotify-you-let.html

Having invested 18 years, give or take a hiatus, into their craft, Italy’s Trinakrius have a lot left to prove, and even more left to accomplish. Their take on progressive power metal certainly isn’t perfect, but they have a whole lot of bright spots to point to. On “Seven Songs Of The Seven Sins,” they take the seven deadly sins to task… perhaps for a bit too long.

http://sorroweternal.blogspot.com/2013/05/trinakrius-seven-songs-of-seven-sins.html

With many feeling that his glory days are long behind him, metal journeyman Jason Newsted has returned with a band that not only bears his name, but his aging soul. With a album that sounds like a revival of the 20th century thrash he once helped to strengthen, but without the intensity he once promoted, “Metal” is not a return to form.

http://sorroweternal.blogspot.com/2013/05/newsted-metal-ep-2013.html

Don’t be afraid when Brian tells you that the new Dark Moor is different from previous efforts. They haven’t abandoned all that make them fantastic. But with their new album, due out in June on Scarlet Records, they needed to give you something new. And on “Ars Musica,” they succeed… in a big way.

http://sorroweternal.blogspot.com/2013/05/dark-moor-ars-musica-2013.html