Grand Magus

The Hunt (Nuclear Blast)

Stockholm trio sacks Valhalla for its sixth platter, salvaging bits of Ian Gillan (opener “Starlight Slaughter”) and Kiss’ Paul Stanley (succeeding “Sword of the Ocean”) as voiced by JB Christoffersson, but alas it’s no Amon Amarth. Last-act acoustics plus a ramrod “Iron Hand” set the scene for slightly rawer bonus demos. Wolfskin rock. **.5

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San Francisco native Raoul Hernandez crossed the border into Texas on July 2, 1992, and began writing about music for the Chronicle that fall, debuting with an album review of Keith Richards’ Main Offender. By virtue of local show previews – first “Recommendeds,” now calendar picks – his writing’s appeared in almost every issue since 1993.