Album Reviews

The greatest selection of albums, reviewed and rated

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Specter At The Feast

This latest album from the psychedelic American West coast rock band was released on the 18th March 2013 from Abstract Dragon Records. The band have also released the track “Let The Day Begin”  EP for free off this new album, it came out on 8 April 2013. From their first debut album B.R.M.C., which …

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Cultes Des Ghoules – Henbane (Hells Headbangers Records)

Black Magic, ancient rituals, demonic possession and witchcraft are the lyrical themes and signed to Hells Headbangers. Hailing from Poland Cultes Des Ghoules discharge a potent mix which channels the likes of Mayhem, Venom and Hellhammer but provide a denser sound and a wider range of ideas. Opening track “Idylls …

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Spin Doctors – If the river was whiskey

I have to be honest and say that until I was sent this album to review, I’d only ever heard two songs by the Spin Doctors – their two massive hits from the early ’90s ‘Two princes’ and ‘Little miss can’t be wrong’, both from the album ‘Pocket full of …

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De La Cruz – Street Level

It may be 2013, and they may hail from the Gold Coast of Australia, but De La Cruz look and sound just like they’ve stepped out of a strip bar somewhere off LA’s Sunset Boulevard sometime back in the mid- to late-80s. ‘Street Level’ is very much from the Ratt …

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Suicide Bombers – Criminal Record

Being a rock DJ can be an extremely hazardous job – nearly as dangerous as trying to survive as a music journalist.  Please believe when I say this:  on and off, I’ve been spinning heavy rock and metal discs and writing shit about said same nonsense for more than two …

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Skarlett Riot,Tear Me Down.

This the first time I’ve been able to listen to this group’s songs and I think my record collection has been deficient for it!  The groups singer/guitar player Skarlett, has a really strong rock style which belays her tender years and diminutive stature.  While it’s Danny, Tom and Luke who make up …

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Satan – Life Sentence

Satan –  Life sentence   Life Sentence is the upcoming album of the NWoBHM band Satan. Satan are a band from Newcastle,  formed in 1980,splited up  in 1998 and reformed in 2011. Their style can be described as a mix of very early thrash metal, a little bit doom influences …

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Skarthia – Retaliate

London band Skarthia decribe themselves as Melodic Death/Groove Metal.  It’s a good starting point to describe them but doesn’t really give a proper idea of how varied the music is – one of the inherent problems in trying to come up with a short genre description for a band.  The …

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Jade Vine – Nothing Can Hide from Light

Jade Vine is a rock band from London that was formed in 2006 by brothers Constantine and Marios Magdalinos.  They toured as a duo for two years under the name “Uncaused Creation”.  In 2008 they were joined by two new members to become a four piece, and after a year …

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Donovan’s Devils – Brothers Above All

Donovan’s Devils are a rock band from New Jersey that formed in 2011.  The band takes it’s name from a unit of the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) in World War 2 that was commanded by General William Donovan and whihc became known as Donovan’s Devils.  One of the members …

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Acolourfall – Eleven: Eleven

Hailing from the Nottingham/Derby area, young four piece acolourfall describe themselves as “an alternative/grunge-metal band” and assert their musical mission is to “bridge the gap between bands like Sevendust, Neurosis, Downset, Fear Factory, Deftones and a perfect circle”. This debut EP certainly displays most of those influences, and quite a few …

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Axecatcher – Sparks & Spears

Axecatcher are a trio from the town of Limavady, an otherwise innocuous and inoffensive town perched in the north west corner of jolly ol’ Norn Iron which most people tend to find only if they take the wrong turning on the road to the current so-called “UK City Of Culture”, …

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Stonelake – Monolith.

Stonelake come up with the goods on an album not to be missed. Sweden has a damn fine habit of producing bands of high quality and that tradition is continued with Stonelake. ‘Monolith’ actually represents the bands sixth full length release but they may be a band who have slipped …

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Gloryhammer -tales from the Kingdom of Fife

The news that Alestorm’s Christopher Bowes had launched a power metal band got my interest straight away.  The thought of Alestorm’s humour being applied to power metal sounded like a perfect match – after all, a lot of power metal lyrics are cheesy and over the top.  With Gloryhammer, Christopher …

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Requinox – Through the Eyes of the Dead

Requinox are a heavy metal band from Norway that was formed in 2010.  The members have all played in other bands before joining Requinox.  In 2011 they started touring, both around Norway and in Sweden.  In 2012 they entered the studio to record their debut album, and released ‘Through the …

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Gate 6 – God Machines

Dutch band Gate 6 was formed in 2005 by Jan Koster and Tony ten Wolde, initially as a project but it quickly developed into a full band.  Before forming Gate 6 Jan played guitarist in Challenge and Isolation, while Tony played keyboards with Dutch prog band marathon, so as you …

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Blanco Diablo – Attack the Fire.

Hailing from Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, 3 piece blues rock band Blanco Diablo have penned 12 hard hitting numbers on their 3rd full length studio album Attack The Fire and when you have the legendary producer Chris Tsangarides in the driving seat then you can do no wrong! Attack The …

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