The All-New Semi-Official Heavy Metal Thread

Throw up some devil horns and toss out some thunderous riffs.

Me, I'm still digging on Ghost's Impera.

Yeah, Impera brings the goods. The album definitely feels like a statement, like Ghost is telling the world it's ready to start headlining all those rock/metal festivals throughout the world (which desperately need new blood at the top). Even "Twenties," which is fairly divisive, works for me since it brings back the camp Ghost likes to sprinkle in - and it socially tries to tie in the opulence of the 1920s with the 2020s.

The production is aces too.

The latest Ghost album is stellar!

Impera is sublime.

Burning Witches from the M3 Rock Festival

I'm doing my yearly VAN HALEN marathon. For me, VH = Summer and I usually crank the band for the entire month of May.

Life is good.

Impera is fantastic. The new Rammstein is pretty great as well. It's been great having new releases so close together from two of the few bands remaining that still remember how well pomp and OTT stagecraft work with metal.

Halestorm Back from the Dead: I've listen to this CD a few times now. I wanted to come up with something insightful but all I have is that it rocks and Lzzy Hale is an outstanding singer! If you liked their previous album, you should enjoy this one. When I read the song titles I assumed that Raise Your Horns would be a big rock anthem, but it's actually just Lzzy singing and playing piano, and it's better for it. I like albums with some variety to them.

Oh man, I didn't know Halestorm's latest was out already! I'll have to give it a listen this weekend. Their last release, Skulls, is one of my favorite albums of the past 5 years.