Album Reviews

There are some genuinely grinding, aggressive moments tucked away in the 11 tunes that comprise The Crown‘s early 2015 release, Death is Not Dead. These Swedish extreme metal veterans have reconvened to bring their fans some more fairly melodic, high speed death-thrash as only they can. Death is Not Dead …

Sertraline are a five piece alternative rock outfit from Stoke-on-Trent, UK. Led by the enchanting Leeds lass Lizzie on lead vocals, the band features four ex members; Tom, Josh, Mike & Hendo, of local band Blue Origin who had minor success with their debut album Somnium. Aware that they, as …

Skarlett Riot are a hard rock quartet hailing from Northern Lincolnshire. Formed in 2010 they have built a reputation for a high energy live performance with solid recorded material to back this up. Following their well received 2013 album ‘Tear Me Down’, which contained a mixture of new songs and …

When I heard there was a new album from Jorn Lande up for review, I jumped at the chance. Then I read the press release that accompanied. Alarm bells sounded in my head as the words “Rock Opera Concept Album” leapt from the page. Has Jorn taken a risk too …

Do you like the band Flyleaf? Do you like to read? Here’s something made with you in mind! Flyleaf Spreads Their Wings, a digital edition of which was offered three months ago for review, is about the “Christian but not Christian” band Flyleaf, who is currently apparently on hiatus. The …

An adroit songwriter, Marilyn Manson takes song subjects that are poignant to him and moulds them into the gargoyles and angels that fill the musical cathedral that is his tenth album ‘The Pale Emperor’. It opens with the sense of going into battle with the solid electronic beats that continue …

This second album from Hamburg-based power metallers Shadowbane is one which almost did not see the light of day, as – in common with a number of other projects – it was undergoing its mastering process, at the hands of Dirk Schlächter when the Gamma Ray bassist’s Hammer Studios spectacularly …

Sicilian black metal maestro Vardan has been described as perhaps the busiest man in the genre:  and, with an amazing work rate which has seen him release an astonishing 22 albums during his career – including three (and one split EP) in 2014 alone – that is undoubtedly a more …

This fourth album by Reading’s Sylosis is one born out of trauma:  several months before they started recording it, the band were involved in a serious road accident while touring the States with DevilDriver – and it is this incident which seems to permeate the sense of darkness which pervades …

It is not the first time a well known vocalist and guitarist have done a project together, the main example being when vocalist David Coverdale (Whitesnake) and Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) joined forces. Now two titans of classic 80s glam metal, vocalist Michael Sweet (Stryper) and guitarist George Lynch (ex-Dokken), …

Finnish metal band Battle Beast are back with their third album with the UK release being the same day the band play London alongside Sabaton and Delain.  Singer Noora Louhimo has a great voice – really powerful and perfectly suited to a traditional heavy metal style, but also capable of …

Ask any person in their twenties to name a Papa Roach song and nine times out of ten it’ll be something from 2000 opus Infest – and nine times out of ten it’ll be the same song (we all know which one I’m referring to here). Contrary to opinion though, the …

Hailing from the eastern French region of Haute Savoie, Hybrid Sheep play traditional deathcore heavy enough to induce devastating avalanches on nearby Mont Blanc and send it crumbling into Lake Geneva. For where these five young guys score heavily is in their emphasis on old-school death metal sensibilities – such …

Late September 2014 saw the first FemME (Female Metal Event) held at Effenaar in Eindhoven.  It was a one-day festival featuring bands with female members (primarily on vocals).  It was a great day, and this year’s event promised to be bigger and better having been expanded to a two day …

German heavy metal legend Udo Dirkschneider is back with another album with his band U.D.O.  It’s their fifteenth studio album – this is a man who doesn’t take things easy, as he’s released an album pretty much every two years for the last couple of decades, as well as several …

Bigfoot are a five piece hard rock band that were only formed in Spring 2014 .They are from Wigan and combine powerful vocals, dual lead guitars and a heavy driving rhythm section. They state their influences are from The Eagles to Pantera. The band members are:-Antony Ellis -Lead Vocals, Sam …

        As much as I love the whole Doom Metal genre, it has become somewhat of a musical minefield in recent times, I guess the price of an ever growing popularity status amongst the masses can only mean a plethora of new bands, eager to become the …

No Bells On Sunday was vocalist Mark Lanegan‘s “warning shot”, his prelude EP released just prior to his 2014 Phantom Radio full length effort. Comprised of “extra” songs that did not make the full length, this vinyl platter is a spin through a dizzying collection of alt-rock ambiance. The EP …

Canadian-born musician Pat Travers is fortunate to have a long and storied career playing rock and roll. He’s got an extensive discography with The Pat Travers Band, including at least one touchstone live release. This latest live album, Live at The Iridium NY, released through Frontiers Records in 2015, adds …

  Lillyé a five piece hard rock band from Sydney, Australia released their self titled EP in Summer 2014. Fronted by Virginia Lillyé who, after a long stint performing in stage productions and rock bands in Germany, returned to Australia in 2008 and appeared on The Voice. Virginia then formed the band …