Metal Briefs: EPs of 2013

Quickly, There's No Time

Sometimes, it's good to be brief and to the point.

Arkhamin Kirjasto: Undead Priest of Holy Trinity of Death
4 out of 5 stars

Parts of the title track sound just like something Solefald did a few years back, or maybe like something Ghost would do. Other than that, this EP is full of that awesome sing-along heavy metal with Swe-death veneer that Arkhamin Kirjasto introduced us to last year. They're easily one of the most interesting and entertaining bands in Finland right now.




Lord Impaler: Babylon Whore
4 out of 5 stars

I know almost zero about the Greek black metal scene, but if Lord Impaler is any indication then I'm missing out. Babylon Whore is riff-oriented black metal with excellent production and no pretension. The closest comparison I can make is to Immortal: It's black metal for people who are fans of metal, not just for fans of black metal or its many sub-scenes.



Baroness: Live at Maida Vale - BBC
4.5 out of 5 stars

Baroness's Yellow & Green had more than its share of fantastic songs, in addition to the stuff you'd only want to hear if you were listening to the whole thing. The new EP consists of live recordings of four of the best songs from that double-album. Whether you loved Y&G so much you want to hear new versions of those songs, or you passed it up for any reason, you should get this EP. In fact, everyone else should get it, too. These really are four of the best songs from last year, with zero filler.