Album Reviews

Fates Warning are synonymous with the Progressive Metal revolution and along with fellow alumni Queensryche and Dream Theater, are key players responsible for this unique and exciting aspect of metal.  Beginning life in Hartford, Conneticut way back in 1982 with an original line up consisting of vocalist John Arch, guitarists …

Harlan Flo formed in Chicago in 2007, and play blues rock – with a fairly strong emphasis on the blues element.  The members of the band have a diverse range of musical backgrounds and influences including blues, gospel, rock and more. The vocals are very light and smooth and suit …

  To be honest, when i see the word symphonic used in a band’s description it always leaves me cold but Litrosis use keyboards and string arrangements to add texture to their music and not to swamp it! Their debut album, I Am Death, released on May 1st 2012 is …

It’s not very often that an album comes along with such an interesting story as 100%. Back in August 2011, The Wildhearts‘ lead singer Ginger set up a PledgeMusic campaign in which fans could fund the recording and production of the new album. In just under 6 hours the campaign …

It has been nearly three decades since their self-titled, multi-platinum debut was released, hence this latest one being called XXX, though in this digital age, XXX means something different than the Roman number for 30. During these last 30 years Asia have released some good songs, and had a few …

This Best Of Black Sabbath takes tracks from the band’s first four releases, and has got most tracks you’d want to hear from the Ozzy era, Including Paranoid, Iron Man, War Pigs, Fairies Wear Boots, Sweet Leaf, Snow Blind, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath and Children Of The Grave. Whilst I think …

  Well this is a real phoenix from the flames! Originally released in 1988, the debut and only full length album, Spectrum Of Death by Wisconsin, USA based thrash metal band Morbid Saint has been re-released on June 19th 2012  in vinyl format via Relapse Records. 1980’s thrash metal albums …

  Welcome to the world of Wizard! When a song begins with the lyric  ” Who is this mighty man outside? The one who killed the trolls, will he be staying here tonight or returning where the thunder rolls? “, then it’s a safe bet that you can expect some …

  Hailing from Greece Acid Death releases their first album in ten years after the band’s reunion, not one to miss. Released on the 1st of June by Noisehead Records. I am very excited to hear this. Track one is called Blind Reflection. I began to get annoyed at the …

American rock quintet Dark New Day have finally released a follow-up album titled ‘New Tradition’ to their debut release ‘Twelve Year Silence’ released back in 2005.  The band that has been described as an American ‘supergroup’ features Brett Hestla of Virgos Merlet, Clint Lowery of Sevendust, Corey Lowery from Eye Empire, Will Hunt from Evanscence and …

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers ‘Playback’ is a 6 disc box set, originally from 1995 which contains album tracks, B-sides, outtakes & early songs. This comprehensive set has not been available outsideNorth America since 2005. Playback is a career retrospective spanning Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers’ stay at MCA Records. …

For any fan of Euro metal, Herman Frank must be high on everybody’s list, Without any doubt Herman Frank is one of the most prestigious German metal guitarists of the past 30 years. His dynamic compositions with their raging riffs, hooks and intelligent virtuoso solos have graced not only the …

  Power Theory was envisioned and created in 2007 by Bob “BB” Ballinger with the intention to form a True Metal band with a mix of the nwobhm, 80’s German Power Metal, and a little Bay Area Thrash thrown in to shake it up. Power Theory became a tight metal …

Finnish metallers Burning Point have released The Ignitor – their follow up record to 2009’s Empyre and their first on new label Scarlet Records. Formed in 1999 and having toured with Sebastian Bach in the past, the four piece have given us an album full of big choruses and catchy …

It’s taken these four Italian signori nigh on nine years of solid gigging in their homeland to get round to unleashing their particular brand of old-school, straight-through-the-middle metal on the rest of the planet. Taking their name from the twin-peaked mountain in the central Greek Peloponnese, where the sacred altar …

Scottish rockers Gun are back with their new album ‘Break the Silence’. This is their first full length release in 14 years! ‘Break the Silence’ was recorded in Wales at Rockfield Studios and produced by Dave Eringa, who has worked with bands like The Manic Street Preachers and Ocean Colour …

 Pictured, from Quimper in Brittany are yet another quality metal band to hail from France and their debut full length studio album The Strand Of Time is another contender for my album of 2012. Released  May 25th, on Klonosphere/Season Of Mist Records, via Viral Propaganda PR. Formed in 2007 and …

The Agonist are a Canadian metalcore band from Montreal.  Formed by singer Alissa White-Gluz and bassist Chris Kells in 2004, they signed to Century Media in 2007 where they remain to this day.  The band have just released their third album – Prisoners. Opening track “You’re coming with me” opens …

New Manic Spree formed in Australia in 2009, and quote a wide range of influences – from classical composers such as Debussey to Indie rock bands such as the Klaxons. Their EP “Hollywoods and galaxies” has been receiving plenty of airplay in Australia, but at the moment the band remains …

    Norwich based Fist Full Of Lies, formed in August 2010 by brothers Ben and Sam Taylor are certainly flying the flag high for UK hardcore judging by the quality of the songwriting on their debut ep If It Wasn’t For This I’d Still Have Everything. It’s 4 tracks  …