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Bob Dylan Shares Over a Dozen More 2026 Tour Dates
He'll be on tour for much of June and July. Continue reading… -
Album Review: Cnoc An Tursa – A Cry For The Slain
Album Review: Cnoc An Tursa – A Cry For The Slain
Reviewed by Oli Gonzalez
After an almost 10 year absence, Cnoc and Tursa are ready to emerge from the Scottish wilderness and present to us their first release in a decade with “A Cry Of The Slain”. With shows lined up that include the inaugural Tynebound Festival in Newcastle, this gives us a glimpse of what they’ve been up to in the studio. Will this be a heroic return, though, is the question? Let’s find out…
Immediate first impressions; the band’s sound is built upon a raw and aggressive foundation, steering more towards post-hardcore than black metal at times. This is perhaps best personified by Alan’s lead vocals, primitive and raw in every sense of the word. Perhaps deviating from the high pitch shrieks you’d typically expect from the genre. Though this results in superior story telling and a narrative that would otherwise be lost in a sea of inaudible screams. I mean, listen to one of the lead singles of the album ‘Alba In My Heart’ and try not to feel the passion and pride in his voice as he bellows out the infectious chorus! An instantly memorable climax, and just one example of the choruses acting at the melodic focal point and amongst salient feature in each song.
Though Cnoc an Tursa don’t just rely on the choruses for a quick soundbite. No, throughout the album you’ll be introduced to a vast array of opulent melodies and aesthetically pleasing textures. This is achieved via the more traditional deployment of lead guitars blazing majestically above the solid rhythmic foundations. Here, the expected tremolo picked patterns played at break speed and with dissonant unsettling chromatic patterns are abandoned. Instead, the guitars lean into more Gaelic inspired melodies and patterns, more upbeat and positive, sitting in the major scales. Again, not what the black metal genre necessarily dictates but provide a unique impetus that give Cnoc an Tursa a clear identity within this crowded sub-genre. A similar approach to the likes of Saor, offering a more symphonic and epic feel to their music, though Cnoc an Tursa tend to be less expansive and prefer the route one approach rather than their Scottish counterparts. The clever use of synths and background keys provide a more epic undertone and feel to the music, adding drama and intrigue when it’s needed and offers a welcome boost in energy when deployed.
Yes, there’s certainly a lot to admire from “A Cry Of The Slain”. One of the more unique offerings to the world of black metal in 2026 and will satiate any fans of the genre looking for something extra and more indulgent than what you’d expect from this realm of metal.
The post Album Review: Cnoc An Tursa – A Cry For The Slain appeared first on The Razor's Edge.
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PRINCE OF FAILURE Share New Single ‘Horizon’
Prince of Failure marks a significant shift in Daniel Tompkins’ creative world. Written and developed over several years with Paul Ortiz (Chimp Spanner), the upcoming album traces a long internal process rather than a single moment of inspiration. The material reflects on neurodivergence, masking, and the psychological weight of living out of alignment with expectation […] -
Every SLAYER Album Ranked From Worst To Best: The Final Verdict
Slayer’s discography is a 35-year massacre of uncompromising thrash. From the raw, Satanic speed of Show No Mercy to the crushing modern aggression of their final studio salvo, Repentless, we have ranked all 12 records based on their impact, songwriting, and the legendary interplay of the Araya/King/Hanneman/Lombardo lineup. With the band back in the headlines for their 2026 Reign in Blood 40th-anniversary shows, the hierarchy of these records has never been more relevant. Scroll down to see if the controversial Diabolus in Musica stayed at the bottom and why Reign in Blood still wears the crown in our essential Slayer Albums Ranked list.
What is the best Slayer album?
While the metal community is notoriously tribal, the undisputed consensus among critics and die-hard fans is that Reign in Blood (1986) is the best Slayer album. Clocking in at a lean 29 minutes, its relentless speed and Rick Rubin’s dry, clinical production set a benchmark for extremity that remains untouched decades later.
As the band continues their massive 2026 reunion run (tickets available here), albums like Seasons in the Abyss and South of Heaven are seeing a massive surge in “Experience” rankings. These records offer a melodic depth and atmospheric dread that provide a necessary counterpoint to the band’s trademark high-velocity assault.
Loaded Radio Recommends: The 13 Best Thrash Metal Bands of All Time – The Definitive Loaded Radio Ranking
12. Diabolus in Musica (1998)
Someone has to be in the cellar, and in the Slayer discography, it’s this nu-metal-adjacent experiment. Released during a period of massive industry shift, the record saw the band flirting with down-tuned, groove-heavy riffs that felt alien to their high-speed thrash DNA.
While Kerry King has since distanced himself from the project, tracks like “Stain of Mind” have a percussive charm that still hits hard in a live setting. However, it remains a rare moment of identity crisis for a band usually defined by iron-clad conviction and refusal to follow trends.
11. Repentless (2015)
This album is draped in tragedy and historical weight, serving as the first and only record without the late, legendary Jeff Hanneman. While Gary Holt of Exodus did an admirable job stepping into the role, the “Hanneman-shaped hole” in the songwriting process is impossible to ignore.
The title track “Repentless” is a modern thrash banger, but the record lacks the eerie, melodic minor-key shifts that Hanneman brought to the table. It is a pure Kerry King aggression machine—powerful and punishing, but ultimately one-dimensional compared to the band’s mid-career masterpieces.
10. Undisputed Attitude (1996)
Often dismissed by casuals as “just a covers album,” we treat this as a vital piece of the Slayer puzzle. This is the band paying homage to the punk and hardcore legends like Minor Threat, D.R.I., and T.S.O.L. that provided the blueprint for their early speed.
It’s a raw, stripped-down blast of energy that captures the band’s primal influences. The hidden gem here is “Gemini,” the lone original track, which is a sludgy, doom-laden monster proving Slayer could be just as terrifying when they slowed the tempo to a suffocating crawl.
9. World Painted Blood (2009)
This stands as the final recording of the original Araya/King/Hanneman/Lombardo lineup, making it a piece of metal history. It serves as a “sampler platter” of the band’s various eras, blending the punk-fueled energy of “Snuff” with the epic, evil scope of the title track.
While it’s a respectable swan song for the founding four, it lacks the singular, cohesive “through-line” found in their top-tier work. It is a solid B-tier record that proved the kings could still deliver the goods well into their third decade of dominance.
8. God Hates Us All (2001)
Released on the morning of September 11, 2001, this album accidentally became the nihilistic soundtrack to a world on fire. It is Slayer at their most abrasive and modern, stripped of 80s polish and replaced with a claustrophobic, street-level rage.
Tom Araya’s vocals on “Disciple” and “Bloodline” are shredded and hateful, showing no signs of aging. This record proved that even after twenty years, the band could sound more genuinely pissed-off than any of the “nu-gen” acts they originally influenced.
7. Christ Illusion (2006)
The return of original drummer Dave Lombardo felt like a lightning strike to the band’s creative core. Christ Illusion is the spiritual successor to Seasons in the Abyss, recapturing the high-speed, technical precision that only Lombardo can provide behind the kit.
From the Grammy-winning “Eyes of the Insane” to the absolute blitzkrieg of “Flesh Storm,” this record was a loud, bloody reminder that Slayer had reclaimed their throne. It stands as the strongest of their 2000s-era output.
6. Divine Intervention (1994)
This is the “sterile and clinical” era of Slayer, featuring the studio debut of powerhouse drummer Paul Bostaph. The band shifted their lyrical focus from Satanic imagery to the horrors of the real world—serial killers, warfare, and human depravity.
The result is a suffocating, dense record with absolutely no room for air. Tracks like “Killing Fields” and “Dittohead” are masterclasses in controlled chaos, proving the band could remain the fastest entity on the planet even without their founding drummer.
5. Show No Mercy (1983)
The “Big Bang” of the Slayer mythos. Drenched in the influence of Venom and the NWOBHM, this is the sound of four kids accidentally inventing a genre in a Huntington Park garage. It leans more toward “evil heavy metal” than pure, modern thrash.
However, the sheer velocity of “Black Magic” and the iconic opening scream of “The Antichrist” laid the foundation for every extreme metal subgenre that followed. It’s essential, raw, and remains a perfect time capsule of metal’s evolution.
4. Hell Awaits (1985)
Where the debut was a knife fight, Hell Awaits was a full-scale demonic invasion. The songs became labyrinthine and the atmosphere became genuinely terrifying. The back-masked intro to the title track is still the gold standard for “spooky” in the metal world.
This is the pivotal moment where Slayer transcended their early influences and became a terrifying entity all their own. It is dark, progressive in its own twisted way, and remains a favorite among the band’s most hardcore underground following.
3. South of Heaven (1988)
The ultimate power move in the history of thrash. How do you follow the fastest album ever made? You slow down and get heavier. South of Heaven proved Slayer had the musicality and restraint to back up the gimmick of pure speed.
The clean, haunting opening of the title track and the war-torn dirge of “Mandatory Suicide” are strokes of pure compositional genius. It’s an atmospheric masterpiece that proved heaviness isn’t always about the BPM on the metronome.
2. Seasons in the Abyss (1990)
The flawless synthesis of everything that makes this band great. It takes the breakneck speed of Reign in Blood (exemplified by “War Ensemble”) and fuses it with the melodic dread of South of Heaven (found in “Dead Skin Mask”).
It represents the peak of the original lineup’s creative powers and is often cited by fans as the most well-rounded and “listenable” Slayer record. Every single track is a stone-cold classic that remains a staple of their 2026 setlists.
1. Reign in Blood (1986)
The undisputed king of the genre. 29 minutes. No waste. No mercy. This record changed the face of music forever. From the opening scream of “Angel of Death” to the final rain-soaked feedback of “Raining Blood,” it is a monument to pure, weaponized aggression.
Rick Rubin’s dry production made the guitars sound like literal chainsaws cutting through the mix. It is the greatest thrash album ever recorded, serving as the blueprint for death metal and grindcore. End of story.
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Loaded Radio Insight
Ranking Slayer isn’t just about music; it’s about weighing the cultural impact of a band that never blinked. While some legacy acts softened their sound to chase radio play, Slayer doubled down on the darkness. For my money, the “Unholy Trinity” of the late 80s (Reign, South, Seasons) is the greatest three-album run in metal history. Even their “worst” efforts like Diabolus still possess a level of venom that modern bands struggle to replicate. In 2026, as we watch them command festival stages, it’s clear: there is no replacement for the Hanneman/King riff machine.
Stay tuned to the Loaded Radio Daily Podcast for more deep dives into metal history, or catch the live 24/7 heavy metal stream.
The post Every SLAYER Album Ranked From Worst To Best: The Final Verdict appeared first on Loaded Radio.
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MERESIN second album coming soon at Via Nocturna
The band was created in 2021 in Kraków as a collaboration of two musicians: Seraphiel – the frontman of Cracow formation: Blessing ov Fire, and Perun. After a very spontaneous and intense work in the studio the first album titled “Black Messiah” was released by Via Nocturna. It was a mix of black, industrial and […] -
AN NCS ALBUM PREMIERE (AND A REVIEW): DEVOID OF THOUGHT – “DEVOID OF THOUGHT”
(Andy Synn has his own thoughts about an album which is far from devoid of them) I wasn’t supposed to be writing this article. I’m serious… it wasn’t until yesterday when I name-checked this Italian Death Metal battalion in another review that Islander slid into my DMs to inform me that we had this premiere scheduled […]
The post AN NCS ALBUM PREMIERE (AND A REVIEW): DEVOID OF THOUGHT – “DEVOID OF THOUGHT” appeared first on NO CLEAN SINGING.
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MALEBESTE premiere new track at Black Metal Promotion
Today, French black metallers Malebeste premiere the new track “Palefroi du Diable” at the Black Metal Promotion YouTube channel. The track is the second to be revealed from the band’s highly anticipated debut album, Monestherou, set for international release on May 25th via Antiq. Hear Malebeste‘s “Palefroi du Diable” in its entirety exclusively HERE. Formed in 2024 in a small town of western France, Malebeste are a five-piece […] -
Reese Maslen Back in Bilmuri Even Though He Quit Over Abuse Allegations
Months after abuse allegations made by a former partner forced him out of Bilmuri, guitarist Reese Maslen is back in the fold. Whether or not the court of public opinion has fully let go of those allegations has yet to be seen.
Maslen originally quit Bilmuri by releasing a statement that suggested he was walking out of the spotlight in order to try to become a better person.
“I exhibited behavior on several fronts during a previous relationship that I deeply regret.
“I am so sorry not only to her, but to anyone else these behaviors have affected. At this point, I can only apologize and take the steps to be a better person for myself and everyone else in my life. Effective immediately, I am stepping down from Bilmuri. I loved every second of my time with them, but it’s important that I take this time to work on myself.”
It’s unclear if four months is enough time to really reflect on your alleged poor behavior and turn things around, but here we are. News of Maslen’s return to Bilmuri actually cropped up before the band’s April 17 show. He personally confirmed that he was back in the band ahead of that gig, admitting that the chance to redeem himself within the band came about suddenly.
“Since stepping down from Bilmuri last December, I’ve been doing the work to be better for myself and everyone around me. I assumed I would not be asked to rejoin the band, so I acted and spoke publicly as such.
“On Sunday, I was laying in bed when I got a call from Johnny; I’m coming back for the Kinda Hard tour. See you 2nite Denver”
Only time will tell if the amount of “work” he’s done will be enough for the people he allegedly affected and hurt.
If you want to catch Bilmuri with Maslen live, you can do so at any of the shows listed below. You can get your tickets today.
4/21 San Diego, CA SOMA
4/24 Dallas, TX South Side Ballroom
4/25 San Antonio, TX Boeing Center at Tech Port
4/26 Houston, TX Bayou Music Center
4/28 Oklahoma City, OK The Criterion
4/30 Minneapolis, MN The Armory
5/1 Chicago, IL Aragon Ballroom
5/2 Madison, WI The Sylvee
5/3 Detroit, MI The Fillmore Detroit
5/5 Atlanta, GA Coca-Cola Roxy
5/7 Charlotte, NC Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre
5/8 Raleigh, NC The Red Hat Amphitheater
5/11 Moon Township, PA UPMC Events Center
5/12 Cincinnati, OH The Andrew J Brady Music Center
5/13 Nashville, TN The Pinnacle
5/15 New York, NY The Rooftop at Pier 17
5/16 Washington, DC The Anthem
5/17 Boston, MA MGM Music Hall at Fenway
7/18 Grand Rapids, MI Upheaval Fest
9/4 Orlando, FL Hard Rock Live
9/5 North Myrtle Beach, SC House of Blues
9/6 Birmingham, AL Avondale Brewing Company
9/8 Indianapolis, IN Egyptian Room @ Old National Centre
9/10 Philadelphia, PA The Fillmore Philadelphia
9/11 Philadelphia, PA The Fillmore Philadelphia
9/12 Buffalo, NY Buffalo RiverWorks
9/13 Toronto, ON HISTORY
9/15 Milwaukee, WI Landmark Credit Union Live
9/18 Columbus, OH KEMBA Live! Outdoor Amphitheater
9/20 St. Louis, MO The Pageant
9/22 Omaha, NE Steelhouse Omaha
9/23 Fayetteville, AR Ozark Music Hall
9/25 Albuquerque, NM Revel Entertainment Center
9/26 Phoenix, AZ The Van Buren
9/27 Anaheim, CA House of Blues
9/30 Seattle, WA Paramount Theatre
10/1 Portland, OR Theater of the Clouds
10/3 Reno, NV Grand Theatre at The Grand Sierra Resort
10/4 San Francisco, CA The MasonicThe post Reese Maslen Back in Bilmuri Even Though He Quit Over Abuse Allegations appeared first on MetalSucks.
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Portrayal Of Guilt: “Maybe religion is at the back of my mind torturing me, and then it all comes out when I write lyrics”
Posted on April 21st 2026, 4:00p.m.
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KÕDU stream new ANTIQ album at Black Metal Promotion
Today, Estonian black metallers Kõdu stream the entirety of their highly anticipated second album, Kirjad Sõgedate Külast, at the Black Metal Promotion YouTube channel. Set for international release on April 25th via Antiq, hear Kõdu‘s Kirjad Sõgedate Külast in its entirety exclusively HERE. Kõdu’s second full-length, Kirjad Sõgedate Külast is a concept album that unfolds as a collection of letters from a forgotten village on the brink of […]