Category Archives: PURE METAL (All posts)

Album review: PARADOX – Heresy II, End Of A Legend

Posted on September 17, 2021 by brianmc

AFM Records [release date: 24.09.21] German giants of Thrash, Paradox are well known within the genre. They have a sizeable coterie of discerning fans who’ve followed them since the band’s inception in 1986. Had their chosen genre been say, power … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged AFM Records, album, Cathars, Charlie Steinhauer, Europe, Helloween, Iron Saviour, Paradox, review, thrash metal | Leave a comment

Album review: SAVATAGE – Sirens and Dungeons Are Calling (remasters)

Posted on September 16, 2021 by brianmc

ear-MUSIC [release date 3.09.21] We’re cranking the machine way back to 1982, and Savatage’s twin debuts, Sirens and Dungeons Are Calling, both independently released. The band, Jon and Criss Oliva, Keith Collins and Steve Wacholz recorded and mixed all the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Criss Oliva, Ear Music, EP. remasters, heavy metal, Jon Oliva, LP, review, Savatage | Leave a comment

Album review: IAN PARRY’s ROCK EMPORIUM – Brute Force

Posted on September 11, 2021 by brianmc

Metal Mind [release date 14.07.21] Singer/songwriter, Ian Parry has always been master of his own destiny, moving from project to project and label to label over the course of his 30 year career. He counts Hammerhead, Elegy, Ayreon and Vengeance … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Allan Sorensen, Ayreon, Elegy, Hammerhead, Ian Parry, Kris Gildenlow, Lucas Sillito, Metal Mind, Neo Classical, Patrick Johansen, Patrick Rondat, review, Rock Emporium, symphonic metal, Vengeance | Leave a comment

Album review: BRAINSTORM – Wall Of Skulls

Posted on September 10, 2021 by brianmc

AFM Records [release date 17.09.21] Judging by this new release, Brainstorm turned the pandemic related lockdown to good advantage, in writing and recording Wall Of Skulls. It’s no more than an incremental step up from last album, Midnight Ghost, but … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Brainstorm, Maiden, power metal, Priest, review | Leave a comment

Album review: GAMMA RAY – 30 Years Live Anniversary

Posted on September 8, 2021 by brianmc

Ear Music/Edel [Release date 10.09.21] In 2020, it looked like this could become the new normal. A live gig without an audience. Kai Hansen’s Gamma Ray know what it is to play live…they’ve been doing it for 30 years. It becomes … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Gamma Ray, Kai Hansen, live, power metal, Ralf Scheepers, review, Teutonic Metal | Leave a comment

Album review: OVERKILL – The Atlantic Years 1986-1994

Posted on September 5, 2021 by jason

BMG [Release date 29.10.21] New Jersey band Overkill, named after the Motorhead album/song, formed in 1980 and were part of the early US thrash scene. Nineteen studio albums, three live and three EPs later, there’s quite a legacy there. There … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Reissues | Tagged Bobby Elisworth, box set, metal, NWOBHM, Overkill, review, The Atlantic Years 1986-1994, thrash metal | Leave a comment

News: ANVIL, TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT, ALAN PARSONS (September 2021)

Posted on August 31, 2021 by jason

UFO – Shepherds Bush Empire, London, 4 April 2019

Abba release a new album ‘Voyage’ – their first in 40 years – on November 5. They have also announced a new live show, ‘Abba Voyage’, will open at the new 3,000 capacity Abba Arena in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Exhibitions, Festivals & Large Events, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP | Tagged Alan Parsons, albums, alternative, Americana, anvil, blues, country, festivals, folk, gigs, melodic rock, metal, New releases, news, pop, prog rock, RIP, rock, singles, Temperance Movement, tours | Leave a comment

Album review: ORANGE GOBLIN – Healing Through Fire (2CDs w/bonus tracks)

Posted on August 19, 2021 by brianmc

Cherry Red Records [Release date 20.08.21] This expanded Orange Goblin compilation centres on their 2007 Disaster Album, Healing Through Fire. Only a Heavy Metal band could take The Great Fire Of London and the Great Plague as the theme for its … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged 2 CDs, album, bonus tracks, demos, heavy metal, Live Mean Fiddler, Orange Goblin, review, stoner rock | Leave a comment

News: VANGELIS, SLADE, GENESIS (August 2021)

Posted on August 1, 2021 by jason

JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR - O2 Ritz, Manchester, 17 March 2019

Bryan Adams has signed with BMG who will release his new album later this year. Elles Bailey has released a new single ‘Cheats & Liars’. It’s the first single from her third album ‘Shining in the Half Light’ which is due next … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP | Tagged Album News, All Posts, Americana, Band Entrees & Exits, blues, books, country, Festivals & Large Events, folk, melodic rock, metal, rock, Vangelis | Leave a comment

Album review: INNER STREAM – Stain The Sea

Posted on July 14, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date 16.07.21] Produced by talented Argentinian producer, Guillermo De Medio, Inner Stream’s debut album, Stain The Sea is a minor delight of Symphonic Metal, programmed sounds and Gothic Rock. The band is primarily singer/songwriter, Inez Vera Ortiz, who … Continue reading →

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LAURENNE/LOUHIMO – The Reckoning

Posted on July 3, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers [release date 09.07.21] Laurenne/Louhimo’s The Reckoning is an interesting new release from Frontiers. A musical “lockdown made me do it” marriage of Smackbound’s Netta Laurenne and Battle Beast’s Noora Louhimo. They’ve written a dozen or so Symphonic Rock songs … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Alicia Keys, Battlebeast, Frontiers, Laurenne Louhimo, Netta Laurenne, Nino Laurenne, Noora Louhimo, Norah Jones, review, Smackdown, Symphonic Metal Rock, Thunderstone | Leave a comment

Album review: THOR – Alliance

Posted on July 2, 2021 by jason

Deadline/Cleopatra [Release date 16.07.21] Canadian bodybuilder, historian, actor, and musician John Mikl Thor has produced some very fine metal over the years, debuting in the mid 70s. Since the turn of the millennium Thor has been particularly prolific, and this … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Alliance, Danko Jones, metal, power metal, RAVEN, review, Ross the Boss, Thor | Leave a comment

Album review: SOCIAL DISORDER – Love 2 Be Hated

Posted on June 18, 2021 by brianmc

AFM Records [Release date 18.6.21] Social Disorder is not just another punk rock band, in fact despite its misleading name (and album title), it’s not a punk rock band at all. Love 2 Be Hated is pretty cool melodic metal, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged AFM Records, album, LA Guns, melodic metal, Quiet Riot, review, Rudy Sarzo, Social Disorder, Thin Lizzy, Tracii Guns, Whitesnake | Leave a comment

Album review: TIMO TOLKKI’s AVALON – The Enigma Birth

Posted on June 11, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release date 18.06.21] Living legend of power/symphonic metal, Finland’s Timo Tolkki has again hooked up with fast rising guitarist/ writer/ producer Aldo (Secret Sphere/Sweet Oblivion) Lonobile on this, Avalon’s fourth album. As the memory of Tolkki’s longtime band, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Aldo Lonobile, Avalon, Caterina Nix, Fabio Lione, Frontiers, Jake E, James LaBrie, Marina LaTorraca, PELLEK, Raphael Mendes, review, Stratovarius, Symphonic Rock Metal, The Enigma Birth, Timo Tolkki | Leave a comment

Album review: TERRA ODIUM – Ne Plus Ultra

Posted on June 6, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers Records [Release date 11.06.21] In its more expansive moments, Norwegian band Terra Odium’s album resonates with the sci-fi dissonance of tech metal. The kind that Brad Fiedel and Wendy Carlos wielded on “The Terminator” and “The Shining” film scores. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Brad Fiedel, Dream Theater, Frontiers Records, Ne Plus Ultra, Pagan's Mind, progressive metal, Progressive Rock, review, Transatlantic, Wendy Carlos | Leave a comment

Album review: BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER – S/T

Posted on June 6, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers Records [Release date 11.06.21] Frontiers clearly think highly of Brother Against Brother. The label compares this recording by two vocalists, Renan (Electric Mob) Zonta and Nando (Sinistra) Fernandes, relatively unknown outside of their native Brazil, to the Allen/Lande project. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Brother Against Brother, Electric Mob, Frontiers, heavy metal, Nando Fernandes, power metal, Renan Zonta, review, Sinistra | Leave a comment

Album review: NERGARD – Eternal White

Posted on June 5, 2021 by brianmc

Pride & Joy Music [release date 21.04.21] Norwegian musician/songwriter/producer, Andreas Nergard creates symphonic experiences which enthrall audiences. The fact that he uses “Metal” as his chosen vehicle is almost incidental. You could add that the fact he uses voices is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Eternal White, Finland, Nergard, Norway, pop metal, power metal, Pride & Joy Music, review, Sweden, symphonic rock | Leave a comment

EP review : RHAPSODY OF FIRE – I’ll Be Your Hero

Posted on June 3, 2021 by brianmc

AFM Records [Release date 04.06.21] There’s no band more adept at sucking us into their fantasy world of bombastic, exhuberant Metal than Champions League Melodic Metal band, Rhapsody Of Fire. This is one of those rarities we call an EP. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Single and EP reviews | Tagged AFM Records, album, EP, melodic metal, power, review, RHAPSODY OF FIRE, symphonic | Leave a comment

Album review: BLOODBOUND – Creatures Of The Dark Realm

Posted on May 26, 2021 by brianmc

AFM Records [release date: 28.05.21] When Bloodbound’s principal songwriters, Fredrik Bergh and Tomas Olsson rerouted their musical artistry from the AOR of Street Talk to the land of Power Metal, they brought the underlying principles of hooky melodic rock with … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged AFM Records, album, Bloodbound, Fredrik Bergh, Game Of Thrones, power metal, review, Street Talk, symphonic metal | Leave a comment

Album review: SUNBOMB – Evil And Divine

Posted on May 22, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date 15.05.21] An outsider may see Sunbomb as the completion of Michael Sweet’s journey to the darkside. A restlessly talented musician finally freeing himself from the strictures of Christian Rock, crossing into the world of the Sunset Strip’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Doom Metal, Evil & Divine, Frontiers, LA Guns, melodic metal, Michael Sweet, review, Stryper, Sunbomb, Tracii Guns | Leave a comment

Album review: SONIC HAVEN – Vagabond

Posted on May 20, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release date 07.05.21] Sonic Haven is Herbie Langhan’s band. He of Firewind, Avantasia and others fame. He’s produced it, Sacha Paeth has mixed it and old Radiant chum, Carsen Stepanowicz plays guitar. So, with three vastly experienced artists … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album review, AVANTASIA, Firewind, Frontiers, heavy metal, Herbie Langhan, power metal, Sacha Paeth, Sonic Haven, Teutonic Metal, Vagabond | Leave a comment

Album review: SCREAMACHINE – Screamachine

Posted on April 6, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date 09.03.21] Screamachine comprises five experienced metallers, all of whom deserve a mention, but most notably, vocalist Valerio Caricchio and guitarists, Alex Mele and Paulo Campitelli, all of whom are veterans of the Italian/European Heavy Metal scene. The … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album review, DGM, Firewind, Frontiers, Herbie Langhans, power metal, Rossini, Scream Machine, Simone Mularoni, Stormlord, Traditional Heavy Metal | Leave a comment

Album review: BLAZE BAYLEY – War Within Me

Posted on April 5, 2021 by jason

Blaze Bayley Recording [Release date 09.04.21] If you like your rock of the metal variety you are in for a treat – this is a blistering, classic metal album in the making. The guitar work is simply put superb – … Continue reading →

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Album review: ARION – Vultures Die Alone

Posted on April 2, 2021 by brianmc

AFM [release date: 9.04.21] Over the 10 years since their debut, Arion have swapped teenage Eurovision notoriety for cutting edge symphonic rock. Like other Power Metal bands, their music is emphatic, and heavy on the drama. They know how to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged AFM Records, album review, Arion, AVANTASIA, Kamelot, power metal, Stratovarius, symphonic rock | Leave a comment

News: POWERWOLF, TONY IOMMI, OPETH, TRIFECTA (April 2021)

Posted on April 1, 2021 by jason

Lee Aaron (pictured) will release her latest album, ‘Radio On!’, on July 23. Bellowhead release a live album, ‘Reassembled’, on June 18. This was recorded at the band’s one-off online reunion show last December. The Black Keys release a blues … Continue reading →