Tag Archives: Review

“For vengeance and for love” is the new album from UK Gothic metal band Apparition.  They released their debut album ‘Drowned in Questions’ in 2006, then in 2009 released  ‘Ghosts of The Past’ – a compilation of new, old and demo’s songs.  This then is their second “proper” album.  The …

Mike Paradine, drummer with ArcticFlame, has released his first solo album “Death In The Family”. The album is a collection of personal songs, the subject matter consists of his on going feud with certain family members, growing up in the late 70’s, early 80’s in Bayonne, New Jersey, 9/11 and …

The Sticky Boys are a French rock band that was formed in 2008 when when Tom (drums) and Alex ( guitar/ vocals) decided to put an end to all their ongoing musical projects and to give France something that has been lacking for a long time – a genuine rock …

Swedish heavy metal band Katana had a very busy 2011.  They released their debut album (Heads will roll), they toured with bands including  “Where Angels Suffer”, featuring Chris Holmes and Stet Howland (ex-W.A.S.P.) and American metal legends Lizzy Borden. They also entered the studio to record their second album, “Storms …

Founded in Barcelona in 2001, Spanish Metal band Moonloop play progressive death metal (think Gojira and early Opeth).  Unusually these days, Moonloop are a band who have kept their lineup unchanged since forming ten years ago.  Their name comes from the album Moonloop, by prog band Porcupine tree, which gives …

I don’t normally agree with the idea of “best of” albums as I feel that they are more of an excuse to release something when a band can’t think of anything new to release. However, I can’t say that this is the case here! At 17 tracks, the album is …

Opening the main stage on Saturday were British metal band Hell.  They’ve exploded onto the scene this year and were generally regarded as the best band at Bloodstock 2011 by many people, and their album Human Remains has been impressing a lot of people.  Tonight they had a full hour …

Tonights main attraction for many people was the mighty Anthrax.  Apart from large festival appearances they havent played much in the UK in recent years so this tour was always going to attract a lot of fans. They came on stage to the sounds of “Worship” from their latest album, …

Despite listening to and attending gigs by numerous female fronted metal bands, Zoltar speaks are a new name to me.  They come from Somerset, and according to their bio have toured in the South and in Wales, which presumably means they havent toured much in the rest of the country …

First up were the oddly named pet slimmers of the year. Dear lord what idiot thought they were a good choice for tonight’s bill. They were a totally unsuitable choice musically and the lack of interest from the crowd during their frankly dull and tedious set was clear with them …

My Dynamite are a new Australian band who play classic rock in the Led Zeppelin vein, with comparisons also being made to Black Crowes, The Faces, Free and more.  There is a definite 1970’s feel, but not so much that it feels dated – instead it evokes memories of some …

Good news for fans of US Thrashers Municipal Waste – their fifth album, The Fatal Feast is out next month. This is the bands first album since moving from Earache to Nuclear Blast and its clear that the move to a major label hasnt led to them toning things down …

The word genius surely applies to Marc Bolan ( Mark Feld ),best known as founder/lead singer/lead guitarist for T.Rex but also a successful solo artist. He also had his own television show,a feat that many so called glam rock artists of today cannot aspire to! He had the diversity to …

At last the long wait for fans of Hanging Doll is almost over – the new album, “The Sacred & Profane” is due to be released on 30th April.  It’s been a long wait for fans of the band – their previous album, “Reason and madness” was released in 2008.  …

Tonight’s show was the last night on the UK leg of the current Rammstein European tour.  I’d been hearing great reports from friends who’d been to earlier dates on the tour so was definitely looking forward to seeing them.  Getting to photograph them just made a gig I was looking …

  On playing this album i recalled a quote from Geoff Barton when he reviewed Hell Awaits by Slayer for Kerrang (when it was worth reading) back in the 80’s. He said, “albums that make you throw back your head and shout woooooargh are few and far between”. Well,the debut …

Dorota Malek is a Polish-born singer who has lived in Austria since her early childhood. She took her first steps in show business in 1999 at the age of 14.  Dorota started her solo career in 2007 and her first release was the single “All Against Me”, which led to …

I have to be honest with you folks I think this will be an experience for me. I have the mentality of an old lady and tend to stick with what I know so this will be interesting. So here we go then! First track Flowers in Fire. Instantly I …

“Dark Adrenaline” is the sixth album from Lacuna Coil For anyone who’s been living in a cave somewhere for the last 15 years or so and doesnt know who Lacuna Coil are, they’re an Italian hard rock band with two vocalists, one male (Andrea Ferro) and one female (Cristina Scabbia).  …

“Resolution” is the eagerly awaited new album from Lamb of God – their seventh album. With a career that includes three  Grammy nominations, some very impressive album and DVD sales , and a whole host of superb live shows including supporting Metallica on their World Magnetic tour, then expectations for …

The title of the project is a bit of a moutful – Metal for Cancer Dragon slayer All star Project, but its fairly simple if you split it up – ignore the Dragon slayer part, and focus on the rest – “All star project” and “Metal for cancer” – that …

  Clocking in at just under 50mins,the debut cd from Bolton/Wigan based thrashers Derision pulls no punches from the mauling riffs of opener Pain Of Conviction to the lightspeed buzzsaw riffs of closing track Final Solution.Quite simply,as debut albums go, the quality of material here is on a par with …

  Where to start with this one eh?31 tracks on 2cds and a bonus live dvd as well.Metal Blade Records,due to demand,have re-released Servants Of Chaos from the vastly underrated and sadly disbanded Cirith Ungol.Originally released as a dbl cd in 2001,Servants Of Chaos contains rare,demo,live and unreleased tracks from …

Midlands based band Agincourt had their work cut out on the nwobhm stage,having to follow 2 awesome sets from Stampede and Bronz but they rose to the challenge by giving us 8 tracks from their excellent debut album ‘Angels Of Mons‘. Even a few technical difficulties arising from Paul Anderson’s …

Well,here we are again,Hard Rock Hell V,the annual  festival that goes from strength to strength and part of the weekend’s festivities was a stage devoted to nwobhm on Saturday afternoon from 12pm-17.30pm.The proceedings were opened in style by a 40min classic hard rock set from Stampede who have just finished …

Hailing, and hailing very loudly from Liverpool, Lazarus Syndrome have composed  4 tracks of melodic brutality. The Flatline e.p is not available yet but is mixed and ready for release. Apparently a lazarus syndrome is an awakening from the dead. Well,judging by the quality of Flatline, the band are certainly …

  Deluxe edition is certainly an understatement of this dbl cd digipack which also includes a 16 page booklet charting Diamond Head’s history to the present day written by Dave Everly with comments by guitarist Brian Tatler,one of the founder members and the only one remaining in the current line …

“The sound of metal so loud it cracks the beams”.A line taken from Manowar’s song Gloves Of Metal and judging by volume levels reached at Leeds Carling Academy last Friday night,i would not be surprised if this were true.Their new p.a system certainly delivered but it had a few glitches …

Fallstaf is a unique band – they play Brass metal – or Trombone metal to be more precise.  While this sounds like an oddity, its no more strange than Apocalyptica playing metal on Cellos, or Van Canto doing A Capella metal.  Other bands have used various unusual instruments – Chthonic …

From their beginnings as Zodiac in Furstenfeld,Austria,the signing to Noisehead Records earlier in 2011 prompted a name change to Blasphemist to fit a new musical direction.The 6 piece band play technical/melodic/death metal and considering this is their debut album,they now have an arsenal of excellent material for future gigs. Considering …

“Cold Comfort” is the fifth album from Dutch heavy rock band Autumn.  Autumn are a band that I’ve heard about regularly but for some reason I’d never got round to listening to them till now.  After listening to the album a few times I wish I hadnt put off listening …

Behemoth fans are in for a treat with this release. Demonica is a 2xcd 23 song compilation box set compiled from demo’s,unreleased and re-recorded songs.Only 10,000 are for sale and include an A5 digipack,slipcase and a 44 page book with rare photos and lyrics. The bulk of Demonica comes from:- …

Well this is a true phoenix rising from the flames story!Dutch metal band Martyr,formed in 1982 in Utrecht,Holland but disbanded in 1987 are now a full time band again.Circle of 8 is released via Metal Blade Records on November 8th.Martyr were also featured on the Metal Massacre VI compilation also …

  Agincourt.Even by the name of the band,one can conjure up what is in store here.Classic hard rock/ metal played by experienced musicians.To my ears it is unashamedly NWOBHM.Big riffs,catchy hooks/choruses,no ott guitar solos,just written to fit the mood of the song and a lung busting vocalist.The vocalist here is …

Supporting Evile at this gig,2nd onstage on a 4 band bill,Apollyon shook the rafters of Central Station with a set of lightspeed technical thrash metal.The 3 piece from Queensferry took no prisoners with frontman/bassist Gareth Owen summoning the ever growing crowd to the front.With only a short set in front …

To put it bluntly,on the 10th date of an 18 date tour,Evile lay waste to the rabid Wrexham crowd on Wednesday night.The Central Station is getting a well deserved reputation for booking some killer bands and Evile are a worthy addition to that ever growing list. I’ve seen the so …

From the riff that heralds the opening of the title track to the breakneck ending of closer The Wolf At Your Door,Lord Volture have created a heavy metal monster of an album.Released on Nov.11th, Never Cry Wolf contains 11 epic tracks. Epic is the only way to describe it as …

If Torture Garden do not take this comment the wrong way then their 2nd release Dead Romantic could be the soundtrack for the armageddon.It is so crushingly overbearing the listener feels like the weight of the world is on their shoulders.It would be unfair to dismiss it as a doom …

Well this is an interesting concept.A metal album created over the internet by 2 musicians who did not meet up until after the album was finished.Vocalist Brandon Hoover from North Michigan USA searched the internet site Compose to assemble a band.He came across a guitarist Carlos Enriquez from Florida who …

As usual,when reviewing an album,i listen to it before i read up on the band so i dont know what to expect.Look And Behold,the debut album from Sydney,Australia based band Lo! begins with the instrumental Hath.It sounds like an intro for a death metal band but surprisingly segues into Deluge(Carrnivorous …

Phew,this is intense stuff to say the least and definitely not for the faint hearted.I can honestly say that when i played this it was like hearing Slayer’s epic Reign In Blood for the 1st time.So basically if you like gutteral vocals,buzzsaw rhythm guitars with searing solos topped off by …

The night kicked off with Vine Messiah who played to a half empty room as people were still arriving.  Unfortunately their brand of heavy metal totally failed to find an appreciative crowd tonight – the audience were more interested in chatting at the bar than paying any attention to the …

In my rough notes the 1st thing i jotted down after hearing the album was “bonkers but brilliant”!The name of the band suggests they are a thrash metal band but that is not the case.I can hear a lot of nwobhm in here with Deep Purple style keyboards thrown in …

“One Meniketti,theres only one Meniketti”.This chant rang around the room a few times during the show as it did when Y&T played here exactly a year ago.The Academy 3 was full then and also last Sunday.They are still touring on the back of the excellent Facemelter album but surely a …

At the end of Stampede’s set i posted on my facebook wall “Stampede stampeded Manchester” and they certainly did with a fantastic 6 song set opening for Y&T on selected UK dates.Rewind to the beginning of the evening and Stampede opened the show in fine style with Shadows Of The …

Vida (I want you) is the first single to be released from the forthcoming album “Revival” – the third studio album by Irish rockers The Answer. Vida (I want you) is a great song with a nice catchy chorus, some great guitar work and a nice heavy blues rock feel …

When i review an album i play it before i look at any info so i can approach it with an open mind.So as soon as the opening track Timeless Days exploded through my speakers i thought “what a voice,this guy sounds just like Tim Owens”.So i played the album,looked …

  According to Peter Griffin (Family Guy) then the bird is the word. Well, it has now been replaced by React. It is the 2nd track on 3’s new album The Ghost You Gave To Me and it is a bona fide classic. When the radio stations, youtube, etc pick …

Before the review,a quick word about tribute bands.Love em or hate em you have to admire their dedication.Personally i love em as i appreciate that its done for the love of the music.Most tribute bands have full time jobs so only really get to play their gigs at weekends and …

Scythia are a folk metal band from Vancouver, Canada. The band released their debut album “…of war” in 2009, and this, their second album – “…of exile” is due to be released on 23rd September 2011. The music has a strong folk influence, and at times a medieval sound, but …

If you need to release some tension by throwing back your head and screaming “woooarghhh” then this forthcoming album by Livarkahil will certainly help you do that.11 tracks of punishing metal starting with the Manowaresque call to battle chant of In Nomine Patris to the military drumming pounding through the …

    My second Metal Blade review of the week and this was the most challenging.The album in question is The Great Southern Darkness by French metallers Glorior Belli.Due for release on Sept 27th it took a few plays to get my head around it.Vocally wise its roots are set …

[media-credit id=4717 align=”aligncenter” width=”489″][/media-credit]No Americana opened the night’s entertainment.  The venue wasn’t very busy by the time they took to the stage but this young Birmingham band still gave it 100% and put in a good performance that went down well with the audience.   Six Hour Sundown were a …

    [media-credit id=4727 align=”alignnone” width=”300″][/media-credit] Hailing from Cincinnati,Rose Funeral have raised the benchmark in 2011 for their latest release Gates Of Punishment, tho the word bellow is more fitting than hail judging by the ferocity shown over the 11 tracks on display here.To be released on Sept.27th,Gates Of Punishment …

[media-credit name=”Lucky Thir 13n” align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]Lucky Thir13n is an oddly named band from Greece. “Lucky Thirteen” would sound right but “Lucky Thir13n” just doesnt read right to me, so I’m not sure why they didnt just call themselves Lucky Thirteen. The band have supported bands including Crashdiet and WASP as …

[media-credit id=4717 align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]Seven Thorns are a Danish power metal band that were formed in 1998.  This is their second album – their first being the 2007 release “Glow of  dawn”, although legal issues that affected it’s release mean that the band describe this new album “Return to the past” …

[media-credit name=”voodoo highway” align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]Voodoo Highway are a new band from Italy.  Only formed in Spring 2010, they’ve already released an EP and now this their debut album, the oddly named “Broken Uncle’s Inn”.  Voodoo Highway play very 70’s feel hard rock in fact listening to the album you can …

“See you on the ground” is the debut album from German melodic death metal band, Deadend in Venice. Deadend in Venice have stuck to the standard formula for vocals for bands with death metal influences and who have a female singer – the female singer sings clean vocals with screams/grunts/growls …

[media-credit id=4717 align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]If you’ve never come across Van Canto before then you could be in for a shock – Van Canto do what sounds at first like a crazy idea that couldn’t possibly work, but somehow they make it work.  The old saying goes “There’s a fine line between …

Coma Divide are a new band from Germany.  I’m not clear if the name was a deliberate reference to the album of the same name by Porcupine Tree, but it’s bound to cause confusion when trying to do internet searches for instance. Coma Divine consists of singer Sonja Kraushofer, who …

This release consists of the first Bitch EP (Damnation alley) from 1982 and their first album (Be my slave) from 1983.  Both have been remastered and sound better than they’ve ever sounded before.  As well as the album and EP on a CD the package also includes a DVD containing …

First up tonight are the opening band, Method Cell, and industrial synth band from Nottingham.  They take to the stage in front of a tiny audience – being a saturday the doors open earlier than normal at 6pm, and they are on stage just a few minutes later.  The band …

Tornado were formerly known as Nemesis Divina, but changed their name to avoid people wrongly assuming they were a black metal group (Nemesis Divina also being the name of an album by black metal band Satyricon).  This release is the bands first album.  The band have been described as “Slayer …

Sarah Jezebel Deva should be a well known name to a lot of metal fans. She was backing singer for Cradle of filth for 14 years and has sung on almost all their albums and she’s also been a member of Therion and Mortis. She also had a solo project, …