TORTURE SQUAD

Death and chaos from the jungle

Some of you may not know it. But this Brazilian crew spreads the virus of deadly thrash metal since 1990. For almost 20 years they’ve been true to their roots while creating another chapters in the history of sonic destruction and now finally seems that they’re paid back for their passion and perseverance. Things got definitely better after they’ve won Metal Battle at Wacken in 2007. Their latest effort “Hellbound” definitely marked the new beginning for the band. Quality of TS music connected with the fact that it’s one of the most dedicated bands on extreme metal scene forced us to get in touch with Castor – TS bass player – who found some time between intense touring to answer our questions. If you want to why caipirinha isn’t Castor’s favorite drink and who’s his favorite Brazilian football player please read that article and things will become much more clearer. More...

EARTH CRISIS

Straight Edge warriors strike back

After eight long years of silence American veterans of metalcore return under CENTURY MEDIA flag with the new album simply called “To The Death”. Band’s guitarist Scott Crouse told us almost all about: band’s reunion, finding a perfect home at the metal label and staying loyal to the same ideals after so many years. More...

HELLSAW

Satan is inside of us

At the end of March Austrian black metallers HELLSAW released their third full length effort “Cold”. Its refreshing simplicity combined with brutal riffs, rapid rhythms and straightforward Satanic attitude should immediately draw attention of black metal freaks. The following interview with band's vocalist Aries might help them understand the nature of HELLSAW's dark and violent art. More...

SACRED REICH

Follow the American Way

If we'll live to see the day when something like Thrash Metal Hall of Fame is created, without any doubts it'll be necessary to invite SACRED REICH to be a part of this enterprise. Those Arizona headbangers simply deserve it. It's enough to mention the legendary „American Way” album to shut the mouths of all those whowould try to oppose it. Now the new generations of metal maniacs have a chance to bow their heads before the majesty of immortal anthems like „Who's To Blame” or „Love/Hate”. The re-issue of that classis was a great opportunity to ask Mr. Phil Rind about band's past, present and future. More...

WARDRUNA

Guardian of secrets

WARDRUNA is a folk/ ambient musical project founded a few years ago by former GORGOROTH drummer Kvitrafn (real name: Einar Selvik). So far only one album has been produced under the name of WARDRUNA. I mean “Runaljod - Gap Var Ginnunga”- the first part of a trilogy that will interpret the runes of the Elder Futhark. A few days ago I had an honor to conduct an interview with Kvitrafn himself. It turned out to be a great opportunity to visit his dark, gloomy world of sounds & silence and fathom the mystery of this unique creation. More...

CLOSER

A darker kind of salvation

Hailed from Sweden, death metal band CLOSER has a potential to become another rising star of Scandinavian metal scene in a very short amount of time. Released a few months ago throught Pulverised Records band's debut album contains a delicious coctail of heaviness and groove with some Swedish melodic death metal ingredients. A few days ago CLOSER vocalist and guitarist Per Bergquist met up with Metal Portal to discuss „A Darker Kind Of Salvation” and some other aspects of band's activity. More...

RAZOR OF OCCAM

Conflict between science and religion

After over ten years of spreading metal disease in the underground Australia's RAZOR OF OCCAM (currently based in the UK) finally released their long awaited full length album. It's called “Homage To Martyrs” and contains eight songs of ferocious black thrash death metal attack. I don't have any doubts about the fact that's one of the strongest records in Metal Blade's catalogue for 2009. A few days after its worldwide premiere I talked to band's vocalist and guitarist Matt. More...

SOULFLY

Arise again

Max Cavalera and his fellows are definitely on the right way. SOULFLY’s last album “Conquer” continues victorious march which has began four years ago with “Dark Ages” and was prolonged last year with CAVALERA CONSPIRACY’s incredible debut album “Inflikted” – the march towards their thrashin’ roots. Once again the spirit of the group leader’s past let us enjoy the highest quality of primal, raw and powerful metal. So there was no other way. We were really determined to make this interview. We had a chance to talk to Marc Rizzo -– one of the most hyperactive stage animals on the metal scene and one of the most talented young guitar players – few hours before SOULFLY’s gig at this years METALMANIA FEST in Warsaw. And although he seemed not to be quite awaken – that damn coffee machine refused to cooperate – and in a result he wasn’t too talkative, I guess that this conversation at least shows clearly that things may only get better for SOULFLY. The band seems to be really unstoppable now, Those guys simply know what they’re looking for. And there are more good news for those who look forward to even more heavy and more brutal band’s incarnation. So let’s join Marc in his trip to conquer the metal scene. More...

LACUNA COIL

It's friendship not a business

With their previous album „Karmacode” this Milan based female-fronted act joined the company of another top-selling rock-goth-metal bands. First official DVD „Visual Karma – Body, Mind and Soul” has strenghten LACUNA COIL’s position as one of the hottest names on today’s scene. So it’s quite obvious that the expectations connected with „Shallow Life” are really high. I’m definitely not a prophet but something tells me that quality of new, melodic songs – together with undisputtable Cristina’s charm – will let those really nice guys reach another level in their astonishing career. So if you want to know how the gold – or even maybe platinum – was made please follow this conversation. Our guest today is Cristino Migliore, LACUNA COIL’s guitarist. More...

EXODUS

Fuck everybody if you don't wanna hear it

Mixed reactions to the latest effort of the California thrash metal veterans are quite natural. It’s pretty obvious that they could have expected it, ‘cause there are many orthodox metalheads who see re-recording of classic albums as a white day robbery and desecration of true metal cult. But EXODUS’ vocalist Rob Dukes seem not to care about it at all. He’s got very simply advice to all the nay-sayers: fuck off everybody. This self-confident man told us about it few hours before band’s appearance on this year’s METALMANIA FEST in Warsaw. More...