Fronted by Russian-born guitarist/vocalist Nil Dilian, this Bergen-based quartet have self-released an eight-track debut album that is fairly standard second wave of Norwegian black metal fare, made up of crunchy groove-laden riffs over mixture of clean and deathbeat drumming. Opener ‘Delirium’ is nothing special – the sort of thing the …

Built around members of various other Belfast combos – most notably the mighty War Iron – this four piece, to paraphrase a well-known TV advert, do exactly what it says on the label… hammer the living fuck out of you. Their no holds barred approach is evinced right from the …

Arising from the ashes of local combos OceanFall, Third Harvest and Stoned Messiah, this five piece from the beautiful orchard county of Armagh have wasted no team in launching their debut four-track EP – clocking in at just shy of a mammoth 27 minutes (fuck, that’s longer than some albums!). …

Tonight’s headliners became the envy of every metal band in Ireland – and beyond – when they managed to secure the opening slot at Machine Head’s forthcoming only two headline dates outside Download. To get themselves fighting fit for the challenge of the brace of shows in Belfast and Dublin, …

Just under two weeks before this metal monster of a quadruple bill rolled into Belfast, the demolition crews moved into the neighbouring Spring and Airbrake (separated only from the Limelight by the width of the rawk ‘n’ roll watering hole that is Katy Daly’s) to gut the place out in …

For all its many inherent faults, the internet, and especially social media, is a wonderful tool for those of us in the music business who are always on the hunt for new bands, new experiences and new sounds. So, when this quartet from Teesside contacted PM via our Facebook page …

When New Orleans black metallers Goatwhore hit the UK, in support of both their fifth studio album, ‘Blood For The Master’  and 3 Inches Of Blood, we caught up with vocalist Ben Falgoust as the tour hit Belfast, where he updated us on the reaction to said album, talked about …

Irish trio Dead Label! became the envy of bands all over the island of Ireland when they landed the prestigious opening slot for Machine Head’s only headlining shows outside Download – at Belfast’s Ulster Hall on May 28 and Dublin’s Olympia Theatre two nights later. As the young band gear …

I’ve never been one to believe the weather forecast, so when the local BBC failed to predict a massive storm front breaking over Belfast on an otherwise un-seasonally cold late Spring Saturday evening – well, you just know that they simply haven’t got a clue…. Not that they hadn’t been …

There I was, ’round my local Wetherspoons, quietly minding my own business and reading my Sunday newspaper while enjoying my traditional Ulster Fry when I saw a headline which nearly made me choke on my extra piece of grilled potato bread… “The Vikings Are Coming Back” it proudly proclaimed! The …

Northern Ireland’s premier metal band, Stormzone, are preparing for their first headlining show in their home city of Belfast in more than three years – at the Spring and Aibrake this coming Saturday (April 28)  – to promote their third album, ‘Zero To Rage’ (released on Steamhammer last November). We …

County Fermanagh, nestled in the south-western corner of Northern Ireland and in the elbow crook of its border, is the Province’s equivalent of the Lake District – a haven of quiet and tranquillity, a place of outstanding natural beauty which serves as a retreat away from the hustle and bustle …

As they prepare to return north of the border in support of fellow Celts Darkest Era, and put the finishing touches to their debut full-length album, we catch up with Dubliners Celtachor to talk about ancient mythologies (and to learn a few words of Gaelic…) First of all, can you …

The first thing that strikes you about this self-released debut full-length offering from this French five piece is it’s lavish packaging – stunning artwork on a highly professionally produced gatefold sleeve, and a well-designed lyric booklet. They’ve obviously put a lot of work into it. But, that’s entirely understandable, given …

Despite the success of many, many western bands in that part of the world – and the nation’s adoration of all things metal – very few Japanese bands have managed to return the compliment and break out of the land of the rising sun with any degree of credibility or …

If ever an album was mis-titled, it is this one, as there is absolutely nothing new about it. Now, that’s not to say that it isn’t a good album – in fact, it has some very pleasing moments – but it doesn’t exactly set the world on the fire with …

This debut album from this Welsh quartet is literally rammed to the very last groove with big, ballsy, romper-stomper riffs, instantly memorable hooks, melodies and choruses – and enough attitude to refloat the Titanic. Right from the opening right-between-the-eyes shotgun attack of ‘Adrenalise’ you know you’re in for a real …

Like most bands in their genre and of their longevity, Dutch doom/death crossover crew Asphyx have enjoyed/endured their fair share of upheavals in their 25-year career – numerous line-up changes (only drummer Bob Baghus has remained a constant), splits and reformations (three of each at the last count) and a …

A quarter of a century into their career, the godfathers of grindcore prove that they are still as acerbic, still as angry, still as pissed off – and, more to the point, still highly relevant –in their silver jubilee year. This, their 14th album, was recorded against the backdrop of …

Normally, in conversation down the pub, if the words ‘Israel’, ‘power’ and ‘metal’ come in proximity it’s usually referring how much of one the former has used to drop tonnes of the latter on the Gaza Strip or elsewhere… (not that we’re not getting political, like…). Which is a roundabout …