Nicholas Franco, Author at Cryptic Rock

Dymna Lovta - The Land Under the Black Wings: Blood album art

Dymna Lotva – The Land Under the Black Wings: Blood (Album Review)

Nicholas FrancoNicholas FrancoNovember 1, 2023

Belarus may not be the first place that comes to mind when one thinks of Heavy Metal bands, but after hearing Dymna Lotva, it will certainly not be the last. Steeped in enough struggle and persecution to lend them oodles of authenticity, Dymna Lotva soldiers ... Read More

Primordial – How It Ends (Album Review)

Nicholas FrancoNicholas FrancoOctober 17, 2023

In these modern times of over-produced, churned out music for the masses, it’s easy to become jaded and think that perhaps Heavy Metal’s glory days are well and truly behind it. There are, however, voices in the void who resist the cheapening of art, and ... Read More

Tsjuder – Helvegr (Album Review)

Nicholas FrancoNicholas FrancoJune 23, 2023

In the world of Norwegian Black Metal, there are few names as synonymous with uncompromising consistency as Oslo’s dark sons, Tsjuder. Formed in 1993 as Ichor by Jan-Erik Romøren aka Nag, the band etched its foothold during second wave Black Metal’s formative years, though they ... Read More

Dødheimsgard – Black Medium Current (Album Review)

Nicholas FrancoNicholas FrancoJune 5, 2023

With all the years of their rich history, it might seem strange that Norwegian Black Metal originators Dødheimsgard have only just released their sixth full-length album. Black Medium Current comes to us via Peaceville Records, and sees the brainchild of Yusaf Parvez, aka Vicotnik, coming ... Read More

Immortal – War Against All (Album Review)

Nicholas FrancoNicholas FrancoJune 2, 2023

The word for Immortal these days is revitalization. Having long-ago fractured beneath the weight of internal conflict, the Norwegian Black Metal masters returned five years ago, helmed by Harald Naevdal, known in such frozen circles as Demonaz, with a new album. The co-founder of one ... Read More

Enslaved – Heimdal (Album Review)

Nicholas FrancoNicholas FrancoMay 5, 2023

The wheels of creation keep turning for Bergen, Norway’s eclectic purveyors of Extreme Metal, the ever-evolving Enslaved. Released back on March 3, 2023 through Nuclear Blast, album number sixteen, Heimdal, continues a legacy growing since 1991 with its gnarled roots embedded in the old school Black ... Read More

Nicholas Franco

Dymna Lotva – The Land Under the Black Wings: Blood (Album Review)

Primordial – How It Ends (Album Review)

Tsjuder – Helvegr (Album Review)

Dødheimsgard – Black Medium Current (Album Review)

Immortal – War Against All (Album Review)

Enslaved – Heimdal (Album Review)

Dymna Lotva – The Land Under the Black Wings: Blood (Album Review)

Primordial – How It Ends (Album Review)

Tsjuder – Helvegr (Album Review)

Dødheimsgard – Black Medium Current (Album Review)

Immortal – War Against All (Album Review)

Enslaved – Heimdal (Album Review)

This Week In Horror Movie History – The Faculty (1998)

This Week in Horror Movie History – When a Stranger Calls (1979)

This Week In Horror Movie History – Motel Hell (1980)

Developing Artist Showcase – Silent Hearts

Developing Artist Showcase – Blood Command

Developing Artist Showcase – Whitney Lindquist

Interview – Maria Canals-Barrera

Interview – Aaron Stainthorpe of High Parasite & My Dying Bride

Interview – Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol

God Is An Astronaut – Embers (Album Review)

Gwen Stefani – Bouquet (Album Review)

Bastille – “&” (Album Review)