Monthly Archives: August 2012

DEPARTURE – Hitch A Ride

Escape Music www.escape-music.com Departure is the brainchild of American Mike Walsh, who has produced three fine melodic rock albums under this moniker.  “Hitch a ride” is his fourth effort and it incorporates the vocal efforts of Andi Kravljaca (Silent Call). … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Charlie Shred – S/T

Liljegren Records/Doolittle Group Tommy ReinXeed is a busy man.  Having been involved in his own band, ReinXeed, he has also been feverishly working on Golden Resurrection and other projects.  Now, he takes more of a back seat as he plays … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , | Leave a comment

NILE – “AT THE GATE OF SETHU”

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

NILE – “AT THE GATE OF SETHU” NUCLEAR BLAST (2012) As a young man growing up in 70s/80s Athens, there were two things in life that I felt really passionate about: Egyptology and Heavy Metal. Happily, I have fulfilled my … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Leave a comment

BEFORE THE DAWN – “RISE OF THE PHOENIX”

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

BEFORE THE DAWN – “RISE OF THE PHOENIX” NUCLEAR BLAST (2012) Before The Dawn is a thirteen year old band which has always ended up falling beneath my radar somehow, even though a close friend of mine has prompted me … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Leave a comment

MNEMIC – “MNEMESIS”

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

MNEMIC – “MNEMESIS” NUCLEAR BLAST (2012) It was back in 2003 that I was first introduced to the Danish Industrial/Progressive/Extreme metallers Mnemic but I still remember how impressed I was by the band’s debut release “Mechanical Spin Phenomena”. Following the … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Leave a comment

KREATOR – “PHANTOM ANTICHRIST”

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

KREATOR – “PHANTOM ANTICHRIST” NUCLEAR BLAST (2012) It was twenty seven years ago that the Essen-based Thrash Metal legends Kreator released their ground-breaking debut “Endless Pain”. Since then, they have managed to etsablish themselves in the consciousness of every extreme … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Leave a comment

PAUL CARRACK – Good Feeling

Paul Carrack - Good Feeling

www.paulcarrack.net Paul Carrack is in that comfortable twilight zone at the moment.  He tours regularly and releases albums on his own label.  In short it’s all on his own terms and his adoring fans love him for it. Carrack has … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR – Almost Always Never

Joanne Shaw Taylor - Almost Always Never

Ruf Records RUF 1181 [Release date 17.09.12] Joanne Shaw Taylor has made much progress in the past few years, ultimately gaining a growing reputation on the other side of the pond where fans have evidently warmed to her US-influenced blues … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

FOGHAT’S ROGER EARL TO BE INDUCTED INTO THE BLUES HALL OF FAME

Foghat’s contribution to classic rock will forever be great, as they penned such classic party anthems as “Slow Ride” and “Fool for the City,” both of which remain rock radio standards to this day. But the group was never shy … Continue reading

Posted in Album News, NEWS | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Will WALLNER / Vivien VAIN

www.wallnervain.com (Ed’s note: this CD will be re-issued by Metal Mind in the autumn) This guitarist and vocalist duo have produced a fine rock album, plenty of polished shred, and more name guests than the Queen’s garden party. The keyboard … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

RED JASPER re-issues

Action Replay 3.5/5 Anagramary 3.5/5 Angel Air 2012 Red Jasper were an English prog rock band who released several acclaimed yet low key albums in the late 80s and early 90s, and they are getting a decent reissue campaign here. … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , | Leave a comment

BLONDIE – Live

Eagle Records 2012 This live CD was recorded back in 1999 in the Town Hall in New York, the band’s first hometown gig in 17 years. The album contains 17 tracks covering Blondie’s career from their early days through to … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

OF MICE & MEN – The Flood

(Re-Issued) Rise Records 2012 The Flood was originally released on June 14th 2011 and was re-released July 24th 2012, featuring 4 new songs. Selling over 13,000 copies in its first week, it’s already clear that The Flood was a very … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , | Leave a comment

PAUL McCARTNEY – Ram

Deluxe Box Edition reissue (Hear Music) 2012 Originally released in 1971, “Ram” was the only album credited to both Paul and Linda McCartney and was the second solo album he released between quitting The Beatles and forming Wings. The album … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , | Leave a comment

FATAL SMILE – 21st Century Freaks

GMR 2012 “21st Century Freaks” is the 4th album from Fatal Smile and is good old European metal- heavy yet melodic and with big choruses thrown in. Produced by the band’s guitarist Mr Y and engineered by drummer Philthy, Fatal … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged , | Leave a comment

CRUCIFIED BARBARA – The Midnight Chase

GMR 2012 Crucified Barbara is Sweden’s, if not music in generals, premier female metal band. The four-piece has been together since 1998 and have just released 3rd album “The Midnight Chase”. Pretty much picking up where its predecessor, 2009’s “Til … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Steve Winwood’s ‘Arc Of A Diver’ re-issued in October

Universal Music Catalogue is proud to announce the release of the Deluxe Edition of Steve Winwood’s Arc Of A Diver. This 2-CD set comprises the original album plus a second CD featuring bonus tracks and a full length audio documentary. … Continue reading

Posted in Album News, NEWS | Tagged , | Leave a comment

THRESHOLD announce track-by-track and re-issues

THRESHOLD upload track-by-track pt.1, kick off fan video contest & announce re-releases! Legendary British progressive metallers THRESHOLD have recently uploaded the first of two track-by-track videos for their upcoming new masterpiece “March Of Progress” (out on August 24) to YouTube. … Continue reading

Posted in Album News, NEWS | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

GOTTHARD – “FIREBIRTH”

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

GOTTHARD – “FIREBIRTH” NUCLEAR BLAST (2012) Losing a fellow band member and a dear friend is an unbelieveably difficult situation for any musician to deal with, especially when this person happens to be as inspiring as Gotthard’s frontman Steve Lee. … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Leave a comment

SONATA ARCTICA – “STONES GROW HER NAME”

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

SONATA ARCTICA – “STONES GROW HER NAME” NUCLEAR BLAST (2012) It is not unheard of for me to be unaware of the works of high-profile popular bands…in fact, the more popular a band becomes with the mainstream music press, the … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Leave a comment

MUNICIPAL WASTE – “THE FATAL FEAST”

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

MUNICIPAL WASTE – “THE FATAL FEAST” NUCLEAR BLAST (2012) Pick up any extreme music related magazine, check out any Metal blog or Internet site and chances are that you will come across a piece of information that’s related to the … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Leave a comment

NACHTMYSTIUM – “SILENCING MACHINE”

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

NACHTMYSTIUM – “SILENCING MACHINE” CENTURY MEDIA (2012) Nachtmystium is a US based Black Metal quintet whose name has been popping up quite often in the music media, unfortunatelly not always for all the right reasons. Their decision to release their … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Leave a comment

JON OLIVA’S PAIN (Jon Oliva) INTERVIEW

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

JON OLIVA’S PAIN (Jon Oliva) INTERVIEW Jon Oliva is one really difficult guy to get a hold of for an interview. Though I did manage to meet him for a signing session when touring the UK for the promotion of … Continue reading

Posted in INTERVIEWS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

QUICK PLAYS: High Spirits, Fear Report, Bewilderland, Bones & Comfort

High Spirits – Another Night High Roller Records Album covers can be deceiving at times. Looking at the cover of Another Night I was fully expecting an 80’s hair metal cheesefest but High Spirits are a bit harder edged than … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

NEKROFEIST – Without Reserve Or Regret

Self Release 2012 I recently reviewed Nekrofeist’s debut EP which had been kicking around for a couple of years in their native Australia and awarded it 4/5 as it contained some rather good classic thrash. The band got in touch … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged , | Leave a comment