Originally posted to our prior and, as of NYE 2024, now suddenly/sadly defunct old site (RIP). This is a primer/introduction to a year-in-review/sporadic round-up series dubbed Behind Screen and Speaker. This series aims to corral a number of our Riffs (articles) into retrospective and prospective thoughts alike into an omnibus style series. Music, hobbies, riffs, art, gaming, TV, shows, it’ll all be here!

Rochester (NY)/ Athens (GR): from the #heavynews desk we have word George Kollias (drumming legend of Nile fame) hasn't let the Euro-circuit conclusion allow for laurel-resting. Nope, he's right back in the studios in Greece for prog-death-metal project Contrarian w/ guitarist Jim Tasikas. The pair are laying tracks under the guise of George Bokos of Athens' Grindhouse Studios! The latest LP comes courtesy of Willowtip Records.

ISC Heavy News: As the release of their new album Everything Rots approaches CABAL unless another ferocious slice of deathcore with the new single 'Redemption Denied'. The new album Everything Rots will be released on March 21st via Nuclear Blast Records. In spring 2025 CABAL will support CALIBAN on their "Back From Hell Tour". Check link for single, preorders, tour dates and more!

From the Heavy News desk - New Transcending Obscurity Records signing Dead Chasm from Italy deliver a short but highly potent slice of dark, doomy death metal that they have been perfecting since their debut. They’re unleashing they next LP Spectral Tyranny in May 2025 - check the link for title-track single video, artist bio, album preorder link, band/label links and more!

This one was originally posted on Christmas Eve 2024, right before our old site suffered an unexpected, untimely death on NYE (RIP). For this Music Monday segment (and in the context of Christmas at the time) I decided to go full Krampus and do a Suomilainen special! There’s a whole slew of Finnish punk, hardcore, death metal, black metal from across the decades. Dedicated to our Finnish members From The Legion. Sataana Perkele!

Originally posted on our sadly as-of-NYE-2024-now-defunct old website (RIP), we’re lucky enough to have access to the old site back-end and thus can repost another Elodie-derived Tabletop Thursdays classic in ‘A Love Letter to The GMPC’. Check out our resident RPG-design whiz’s thoughts on NPC’s walking alongside dungeonmasters right here!

One of my more acerbic and honest/critical self-reflective pieces (as well as just plain lengthy), this is an honest neurodivergent-peer review of 2024, originally posted to our prior now-dead website (RIP) late last year. I pull no punches here (and content warning - discussions of mental health, anxiety, depression etc) about the impact living with ADHD had on me last year, my whole life, and some frustrations with stereotypes. It’s not all bad, though - I discuss many positives about being ND, too!

Not all of Canberra is as authoritative and complacent as stereotypes may have you believe. Nay, not if Blackened Dred and their blackened-thrash/trad-metal rocking debut Satan Is The Law have anything to say about it! Check out our latest review by Brady, who explores this deliciously evil (and fun) homage to everything from NWOBHM and punk to classic rock. See also for full album stream, artist links and ticket links for tour dates with Abigail and Stalker!

The UK has been gaining increasing notoriety of late when it comes to black metal, and albums such as Abduction’s Existentialismus provide solid examples of why attention should be paid. Follow ISC staffer Dean through a philosophical and comprehensive review of this equally heady and mind-bending 6-track LP via the link. Also included are artist links, music videos and more! Courtesy of Candlelight Records.