Album Reviews

Even though its only February,Goatwhore’s 5th full studio release Blood For The Master is well on the way to being my album of 2012. Ten  songs covering 38 minutes of  sheer intensity. Everything is thrown into the melting pot here,black metal/thrash/doom and heavy. Guitars churn and slash throughout backed up …

24th February sees the release of Lyriel’s fourth album, Leverage.  It could be said that this album is more powerful in many ways than their previous ones, but don’t go expecting anything heavy, because that’s not what Lyriel are about.  Simply put, this is not heavy metal.  So what is …

Mark Spiro is an American singer-songwriter with an impressive track record – 45 gold and platinum records, and six solo albums. He’s written songs for a number of films and TV series – most notably the song “Mighty Wings” which was performed by Cheap Trick for the film Top Gun. …

Danish band Fate are a band that has been through plenty of lineup changes since the band first formed in 1984. After almost ten years, several lineup changes and several album releases, the band split in 1993. The band then reformed in 2006, and since then have had yet more …

A quote in the press release by the band states “This is not just a compilation of songs for us,this is our life” and the variety of material on the 12 original songs + one cover version here hammers home that statement. Cadaverous Condition will not get on the Billboard …

On 20 January, Stahlmann released their second album entitled Quecksilber (Quicksilver).  Formed in 2008 the German electro rockers have a style (a combination of rock, metal and electronic dance) not totally dissimilar to Rammstein – though definitely distinctive in its own right. The album starts of relatively softly with Engel …

  Dutch band Vengeance,formed over 30 years ago by vocalist Leon Gowie  has assembled an impressive band line up to record their 9th studio album Crystal Eye due to be released on Feb 27th 2012  by Steamhammer/SPV records. Vengeance probably will not be mentioned in  the same breath as current …

    Translation ”The Journeys of The Soul “ Since their groundbreaking 2005 debut the e.p “Le Secret”, Alcest have created quite a stir amongst the black metal scene, creating their own unique brand of gothic themed doom laden sounds utilising the many talents of Neige. Opening track “Autres Temps” …

Belgium based Max Pie are a progressive metal act that are only just getting the credit they deserve. Since forming in 2005, the band have gone on numerous tours, played numerous festivals, but unfortunately only waited until 2011 to record their debut album. Now in 2012, Max Pie have finally …

You always want to fight the corner of your hometown heroes, be it your local football team or a band that have helped to put your part of the world on the musical map. You want to stand, as one, with ‘your boys’ and, shoulder to shoulder, take on all …

If you ever wanted to know what a nuclear bomb sounds like when it tears an entire city to bits, then look no further than the new EP by Def-Con-One. Based on the theme of warfare, this self titled EP from London’s finest metal heads will not only blow your …

Formed by Marthus (the ex machine behind the drums of Cradle of Filth) in 1997, Inner Fear are back after a long hiatus with their first album in nine year. First Born Fear is a ten track, power house of a gothic metal album, bringing together atmospheric keyboard effects, lightning …

Denmark’s own progressive rock heroes Royal Hunt are back with their great new album Show Me How to Live, and for those who don’t know of the mighty Royal Hunt……. Go out and shoot yourself. No, only joking, go out and buy this album because this is the best starting …

Hailing from Northern Ireland Baleful Creed are a classic rock influenced four-piece that also take a nod at the stoner rock section of the genre. With a growing number of well-received gigs and guest spots under their belts Baleful Creed are now finding themselves in what is undoubtedly their zone …

Girls in rock bands are always a welcome sight to see. The majority of rock fans may be male (although that may be debatable when you factor in the male/female breakdown at some of 2011’s rock festivals) but that doesn’t mean the vast proportion of guys don’t want to see …

February 24th sees the release of Black Messiah’s fifth album The Final Journey.  Founded in 1994, this band originally paid tribute to their black metal idols, but over the years have developed their own pagan metal style.  Though the band has seen many changes in membership over the years, one …

Us entertainment reviewers are lucky guys and girls you know, after all we quite often get to attend gigs for free, we receive countless promo CDs and merchandise items, and if we are very lucky we even get to meet some of our heroes along the way. Whilst these perks …

It’s nice sometimes to stumble upon a band you have always wanted to see and hear and yet due to circumstances beyond your control you have missed. For this reviewer Northern Irish rockers Rebels By Nature were one such band until not so long ago. These guys (and girl) were …

This debut offering from Dubliners Xerosun actually came out in their Irish homeland back in 2010, to great acclaim on both sides of the border, but now has been picked up, re-packaged and given a worldwide release by Rising Records. And much deserved the development is, as this is – …