Single and EP Reviews

Bisongrass, a heavy metal band from Scotland and not bovine informers channel their inner Mastodon, a band not an extinct mammal with their single ‘The Beast Of L.A’, probably in Los Angeles than lower Aberdeen! I was lucky to see them supporting Anvil at the Cathouse in Glasgow 2013, giving …

A very metal welcome back to Master Charger as they return from the blackest heart of the Midlands with their first single since 2020 ‘Social Witch Hunt’. Time has not calmed them down as the trio tackle the subject of the dark side of social media and how users constantly …

Hang onto your hearing as A Titan, A Deity return with their raging new single ‘Shattered By The Touch’. It’s definitely shattering and more brutal than just a touch as riffs of mass destruction potency writhe and churn around a seismic drum battery that’s offset by a lung shredding lead …

Blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa returns by kicking down the doors for new single ‘I Want To Shout About It’ that’s to be featured on an upcoming studio album in 2023 on his J&R Adventures label. It’s a cover of the blues classic by Ronnie Earl And The Broadcasters that Joe …

Welcome back When Rivers Meet! The husband and wife dynamic duo of Grace and Aaron Bond return with a new single ‘Perfect Stranger’ taken from forthcoming studio album Aces Are High, due for release late summer 2023 that follows their debut album We Fly Free and sophomore album Saving Grace. …

Recall The Remains return with an overwhelming new single ‘Empty Woods’, only six weeks since the release of ‘Fairfield’. Once again their take on symphonic death metal never fails to impress. Simple but effective riffing also has the power to tear your ears off. The lighter symphonic parts intersperse between …

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 …

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, …

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 …

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 …

Even though I’m fast reaching sixty years old I’m always looking for new bands to impress me and Acrolyth have easily done this with their overwhelming, recently released on all streaming platforms debut single ‘Perspective’. It’s all tumultuous technical death metal at its Hellishly heavy best. Driven by intense snare …

To be honest the genre melodeath is a bit hit and miss for me but my hopes have been easily restored as Akilla have certainly caught my attention with their stunning new single ‘Serpent And The Son’ taken from their forthcoming debut album The Gods Have Spoken due for release …