Articles by Nik Young

"There are definite flashes of brilliance to be found here." Prog metallers Vola evolve in (mostly) the right ways on fourth album Friend Of A Phantom

By Nik Young published 29 October 24

Vola continue to move their sound forward on album number four

Touche Amore team up with Ross Robinson to make post-hardcore perfection on Spiral In A Straight Line

By Nik Young published 8 October 24

The Los Angeles band's mix of angst and anthems prove to be as effective - and emotionally resonant - as ever

"Splicing together the old and new in a way that is heavy, honest, infectious and just the right mix of chaotic and creepy." Graphic Nature turn Korn, Deftones and Slipknot influences into something fresh on Who Are You When No One Is Watching?

By Nik Young published 12 July 24

Graphic Nature kicked doors down with their nu metalcore debut in 2022. Now they're ready to take on the mainstream

Of Mice & Men's Tether: another assured, mature offering from one of modern metalcore's most reliable names

By Nik Young published 10 October 23

Of Mice & Men continue to grow and evolve, and Tether is another top tier example of that

Where Do We Go From Here? is a perfect encapsulation of Asking Alexandria's fascinating journey so far...apart from the bits that sound like Maroon 5

By Nik Young published 25 August 23

From anthemic stadium rock to hard-hitting metalcore, Where Do We Go From Here? is a reminder of everything Asking Alexandria have brought to the table

Best metalcore albums of 2022: Rolo Tomassi/Ithaca/Parkway Drive/Heriot/Bleed From Within

The 10 best metalcore albums of 2022

By Rich Hobson published 17 December 22

From Architects and Parkway Drive to Ithaca and Motionless In White, these are the 10 best metalcore albums of 2022

Metallica take Aftershock festival back in time through The Black Album

By Nik Young last updated 20 September 22

Metallica's two headline sets at Sacramento's Aftershock Festival offer exclusives and outright exhilaration

Hollywood Undead: Hotel Kalifornia album review

Hollywood Undead’s Hotel Kalifornia: rap-metal party starters get serious

By Nik Young published 9 August 22

Album review: rap-rockers Hollywood Undead fight the trials of modern life on new album Hotel Kalifornia

Beatdown kings Terror’s Pain Into Power is a tough record for tough times

By Nik Young published 4 May 22

Not yet rated

Album review: veteran bruisers Terror serve up authentic hardcore noise on new album Pain Into Power

Original horrorpunks the Misfits bring the Halloween spirit to Aftershock Festival

By Nik Young published 10 October 21

Dave Lombardo joins the original Misfits as Glenn Danzig, Jerry Only and Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein reunite

A photograph of Cypress Hill on stage at Aftershock

Cypress Hill get high on life at Aftershock festival

By Nik Young published 8 October 21

California hip hop masters Cypress Hill headline day one of Aftershock with Misfits and Metallica to come

Rise Against’s Nowhere Generation: agit-punk warriors hit another energy spike

By Nik Young last updated 3 June 21

Nine albums in and Rise Against’s spirit hasn’t dented an inch if Nowhere Generation is anything to go by

Touché Amoré’s Lament: post-hardcore lifers spead their wings with help from Ross Robinson

By Nik Young published 4 October 20

Impassioned post-hardcore crew Touché Amoré expand their scope on soaring new album Lament

Papa Roach – Who Do You Trust? album review

By Nik Young published 20 January 19

The nu metal survivors cast their sonic net wide on album number 10

Jesus Piece – Only Self album review

By Nik Young published 22 August 18

Pennsylvanian mob Jesus Piece mix brains and brawn to thrilling effect on Only Self

Madball – For The Cause album review

By Nik Young published 14 June 18

NYHC mainstays madballs keep plenty of fuel in their tanks for For The Cause

Cover art for Turnstile - Time And Space album

Turnstile - Time And Space album review

By Nik Young published 4 March 18

American punk rockers get a guest-strewn upgrade

Cover art for Start A Revolution - Survivors album

Start A Revolution - Survivors album review

By Nik Young published 4 March 18

Socially minded post-hardcore that fails to ignite

Cover art for Sharptooth - Clever Girl album

Sharptooth - Clever Girl album review

By Nik Young published 3 January 18

Baltimore’s hardcore punks bring the fight to the barricades

Cover art for Earth Caller - Crystal Death album

Earth Caller - Crystal Death album review

By Nik Young published 3 January 18

Melbourne’s deathcore desperados stay on the positive

Cover art for Nick Oliveri - N.O. Hits At All Vol. 3 album

Nick Oliveri - N.O. Hits At All Vol. 3 album review

By Nik Young published 7 December 17

Former Kyuss/QOTSA guitarist rakes up more of his past

Cover art for Stick To Your Guns - True View album

Stick To Your Guns - True View album review

By Nik Young published 10 October 17

Orange County hardcore crew keep losing their grip

Cover art for Hollywood Undead - Five album

Hollywood Undead - Five album review

By Nik Young published 9 October 17

LA’s rap-rockers put their money where their masks are

Kublai Khan - Nomad album review

By Nik Young published 8 September 17

Self-reliant, metallic hardcore with a socially conscious kick

Cover art for Wage War - Deadweight album

Wage War - Deadweight album review

By Nik Young published 20 July 17

Soaring, diverse metalcore from the Sunshine State

Nik Young

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