Album Reviews

Has it really been nine years since I last saw self proclaimed “Heraldic, Templar Metal, Castle Dwelling, Cacophoni” band Jaldaboath lay waste to a packed out Sophie Lancaster Stage at Bloodstock Open Air Festival in 2014? Maybe they have spent too long conquering new lands but have now returned to …

Recently released via Joe Bonnamassa’s Journeyman Records, the four track One Of A Kind EP is another strong addition to the recorded output from Robert Jon & The Wreck available on all digital platforms . Formed in Orange County, Southern California in 2011 this highly charged quartet of songs open …

Now this is the way thrash metal should be played as Sheffield based lunatics Psython who formed in 2014 re-hatch with their first single since 2018, ‘Hatchling’ taken from a forthcoming ten track studio album titled “Fun?”. The single is utterly utterly thrashtastic and, erm, is thrashed till death, taking …

No April Fools Day today from noisy bastards Black Coast as they unleash their five track self titled EP at the end of this month. The Stoke On Trent (in) famous five return once more to terrify us whilst pushing the boundaries of metal to its limit. They sound absolutely …

Welcome back Demonstealer AKA Sahil Makhija, the quietly spoken creator of Demonic Resurrection but it’s Demonstealer we are talking about as he will release his latest studio album The Propaganda Machine via Black Lion Records on March 31st 2023. Dubbed as technical symphonic death metal, these eight tracks are overwhelming …

Nashville, Tennessee based Tyler Bryant & And The Shakedown unleash their brand new Dirty Work EP via Rattle Shake Records, made up of six shimmering songs that will leave you breathless! As it’s self produced these tunes are as raw as you want it which makes for a very rewarding …

On April 21st 2023 Jim Kirkpatrick releases his second solo album Dead Man Walking, the long awaited follow up to his highly impressive debut Ballad Of A Prodigal Son. Mainly known for being lead guitarist in FM and dubbed “England’s equivalent to Joe Bonnamassa” by Blues Matters, he has recently …

It’s been a few years since I’ve had chance to review ‘Southside’ London based deathcore metallers ‘Dygora’ and it’s a welcome return as they have lost none of their don’t give a fu*k attitude when it comes to expressing their dissatisfaction of the current state of affairs with ‘Find Yourself …

It’s very apt that as I was about to start reviewing ‘Dressed For Fear’, new single by The Midwich Affair, that the rain stopped and out came glorious sunshine! Recently released it’s a short but sweet ankle biter of power pop par excellence, point proven by a jabbing main riff, …

I have had a rocky relationship with Haken over the years, whilst their shows have been somewhat of mixed quality their albums have remained consistent, but that consistency has sometimes felt like their albums are something of a facsimile of others. Come 2023 and Fauna is upon us.  This is …

The first time I saw Empyre I must admit they did nothing for me, they didn’t click at, all but at last year’s Firestorm Festival it was like watching a different band so when their new album came up for review I was eager to have a listen. The first …

Some collaborations work, some don’t work (sorry Lars!), but HOST make theirs work as they release their album IX via Nuclear Blast Records. It’s a synth -pop side project by Nick Holmes and Greg Mackintosh from Paradise Lost that is “Taking the concept of what we attempted to do on …

Tygers Of Pan Tang start 2023 with a roar as they release brand new single ‘Fire On The Horizon’, taken from their forthcoming thirteenth studio album Bloodlines due out on May 5th via Mighty Music. Formed in 1978 Whitley Bay, Newcastle Upon Tyne, they took a hold on the NWOBHM …

Eschewing their usual pop punk/indie roots, Stafford based bull terriers The Midwich Affair calm us down with their latest single ‘Lead Me On’, available on all major streaming sites. It glides along on keyboard swathes, sparse snare snaps and a honey soaked lead vocal that carries a powerful message that …

THE ANSWER releases their long-awaited new album ‘Sundowners‘ on 17th March 2023, via Golden Robot Records and 7Hz. Celtic beats draw you in on album opener Sundowners. The psychedelic vibe is hard and heavy and almost hypnotic as Cormac Neeson’s smokey vocals sing over the entrancing rhythm. It’s like The Doors and Led …

Formed in 2012, Telford terrors Recall The Remains unleash a brand new single ‘Fairfield’ the first of three to be released in 2023. They portray themselves as “A blend of metalcore and deathcore, stating that unity, love and respect promote their gut wrenching music”. Right from the off their gruelling …

Stoke-On-Trent based ear bruisers Black Coast return with a bang as latest single ‘Chains’ bangs the head that does not bang! As per usual their songs always contain a message, point proven by a clarion call of ‘Chains’ being “About escaping everything, getting away and feeling like the weight of …

Splice the mainbrace and set sail to your local music shop for Heimdal, the brand new sixteenth studio album from Enslaved! Formed in Haugesund, Norway in 1991, by Ivar Bjornsen and Grutle K Jellson, the only sole constant band members. Their music draws heavily on the Viking cultural and religious …

Set all your calendars, mobile phones etc to March 17th 2023 as the self proclaimed “Elles Bailey, the smokey voiced, human dynamo” releases her Shining In The Half Light Deluxe Edition, to coincide with a full headlining tour to promote it. Basically it’s the original album released in February 2022 …