-
Upcoming Gigs & Albums
Latest Album Reviews
Latest Gig Reviews
-
Gig review: BLACK EYED SONS- The Lexington, London, 16 December 2024
-
Gig review: BRAVE RIVAL – Thames Side Brewery, Staines, 8 December 2024
-
Gig review: STRAY – The Cavern, Raynes Park, London, 7 December 2024
-
Gig review: THE SHEEPDOGS, THE COMMONERS – Islington Assembly Hall, London, 5 December 2024
-
Gig review: GUN – Barrowlands, Glasgow, 14 December 2024
-
Gig review: THE DAMN TRUTH – The Grace, London, 26 November 2024
-
Featured Album Reviews
-
Album Review: KING KING – Maverick
-
Album review: TUCKY BUZZARD – The Complete Tucky Buzzard (Box set)
-
EP review: AMY THATCHER – Let What’s In, Out
-
Album review: CHRIS FARLOWE – Stormy Monday – The Blues Years 1985-2008 (3CDs)
-
Album review: JUPITER FALLS – Revolution
-
Album review: MIKE VASS – Decemberwell Decade
-
Features
Single & EP Reviews
DVD Reviews
Book Reviews
News
Category Archives: PURE METAL (All posts)
Album review: VICIOUS RUMORS – Welcome To The Ball (Remaster)
Rock Candy [Release date : 24.05.24] Rock Candy Records are perhaps, unfairly, more associated with AOR and Melodic Rock than they are Metal, but among reissue labels they have no peers when it comes to value judgement. The always underrated … Continue reading
Album review : ANVIL – One And Only
AFM Records [Release date: 28.06.24] There’s Old School Heavy Metal bands, and there’s Anvil. On their 20th album now, the aptly titled One And Only, these Canadian legends have shed any pretence of “modernising” their sound, reaching back to the … Continue reading
News: AL ATKINS, NEONFLY, HEART (June 2024)
The Angels have announced their first album in a decade. Entitled ‘Ninety Nine’ it will be released via Bloodlines on June 28. Former Judas Priest vocalist Al Atkins has revealed a 50th anniversary edition of Judas Priest’s ‘Rocka Rolla’, as well … 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 Al Atkins, albums, classic rock, EP, festivals, folk, gigs, Heart, metal, Neonfly, New releases, news, punk, rock, singles, tours
Leave a comment
Album review : NIGHTMARE – Encrypted
AFM Records [Release date: 06.06.24] Formed in 1979, French Power Metal band, Nightmare have been worshipping the mighty riff for 11 albums now. Their 12th album, Encrypted, sees ex Songbird songbird, Barbara Mogore (a smart bit of recruitment by Yves … Continue reading
Album review : RHAPSODY OF FIRE – Challenge The Wind
AFM Records [Release date : 31.05.24] Fans of the Symphonic Metal genre will know ROF is a band big on concept. This new album, Challenge The Wind, is the third in their “Nephilim Empire Saga”. The second, Glory For Salvation, … Continue reading
Single review: SPREADING THE DISEASE – Addicted
Website [Release date 17.05.24] Kent based metal muthas Spreading the Disease have been on hiatus since late 2019, whilst undergoing a major line up, change, then Covid, Brexit and other reasons the band had to deal with. Now Spreading the Disease are … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Single and EP reviews
Tagged Addicted, metal, nu-metal, review, screamo, single, Spreading The Disease
Leave a comment
News: ATLANTIC, THE ALARM, THE DEAD DAISIES (May 2024)
Atlantic release their second album ‘Another World’ through Escape Music on June 21. The band’s first album ‘Power’ was released in 1994 and featured Phil Bates (ex-ELO Part 2) on vocals. Simon Harrison remains from that line-up teaming up with … 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 Atlantic, classic rock, festivals, folk, gigs, metal, New releases, news, Our Price Records, punk, rock, The Alarm, The Dead Daisies, tours
Leave a comment
Album review: WARHORSE – The Recordings 1970-72
Cherry Red [Release date : 26.04.24] In 1970, on leaving Deep Purple, bassist/songwriter, Nick Simper, joined Marsha Hunt’s backing band, later striking out on its own under the band name, Warhorse. In the seventies, Metal and Hard Rock blossomed in … Continue reading
Album review: BALANCE OF POWER – Fresh From The Abyss
Massacre Records [Release date 19.04.24] Balance of Power are a band this reviewer has been aware of, mainly for featuring former vocalist Lance King, but would never class myself as a fan. Balance Of Power seemingly went missing in action … Continue reading
Single review : RHAPSODY OF FIRE – Brave New Hope
AFM Records [out now] Rhapsody Of Fire’s vocalist, Giacomo Voli sounds more like Brother Firetribe’s Pekka Heino every day. Or maybe it’s the other way round. Those expressive vocals, bringing a lyric to life, are hard to match. ‘Brave New … Continue reading
Album review : BLOODBOUND – The Tales Of Nosferatu – Two Decades Of Blood (CD and DVD)
AFM Records [Release date : 19.04.24] It was 20 years ago today that Swedish keyboard player Fredrik Bergh and guitarist Tomas Olsson jumped the genre ship from AOR to Power Metal. They left behind popular melodic rock band, Street Talk, … Continue reading
Album review: P.O.D. – Veritas
Mascot Records [Release date 05.05.24] It has been 30 years since they broke onto the scene with their debut album. Being a keen Nu-Metal fan, this was very exciting for me and highly anticipated. I was hoping that the album would … Continue reading
News: ARMORED SAINT, SKID ROW, ANTHRAX (April 2024)
ABBA release a 50th anniversary edition of their ‘Waterloo’ album on April 5 via Polar Music International. The reissue will include a limited edition box set of three vinyl singles originally released in 1974. Anvil release their new album ‘One And Only’ via AFM Records on … 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 Anthrax, Armored Saint, classic rock, folk, gigs, metal, New releases, news, punk, rock, Skid Row, tours, Tyketto
Leave a comment
Album review : FIREWIND – Stand United
AFM Records [Release date : 08.03.24] 10th album from Power Metal band, Firewind. The band, Gus G, Herbie Langans, Petros Cristo and Jo Nunez have established their Power Metal credentials over and over again during the last 25 years, with … Continue reading
Album review: LILLIAN AXE – The Box Vol 2, The Quickening
Cherry Red [Release date : 29.03.24] The Quickening is the second instalment of a two part series documenting the recorded life and times of metal’s most underrated band, Lillian Axe. There are six CDs. CD1: Deep Red Shadows (2010) w/7 … Continue reading
Album review : TROJAN / TALION – The Complete Recordings 1984/90 (5 CD Boxset)
Cherry Red [Release date : 28.03.24] Boxset of remastered material from UK Thrash/Speed Metal band, Trojan, aka Talion. 5 CDs, 49 tracks. CD1: TROJAN : Chasing The Storm studio album, 1985 CD2: TROJAN : Capturing The Storm – Live At … Continue reading
Album review : LEAVES’ EYES – Myths Of Fate
AFM Records [Release date : 22.03.24] Fans of the band, or even just the genre, will know that German Symphonic Metal band, Leaves’ Eyes are totally immersed in Nordic and Celtic mythology. Pipes, fiddles, choirs, growls, all spin up through … Continue reading
Album review : LORDS OF BLACK – Mechanics Of Predacity
Frontiers [Release date : 15.03.24] The Lords Of Black are on their sixth album now, so they must be doing something right, Mechanics… is a thematically sound treatise on the human condition, in which they“embark on a profound exploration of … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts)
Tagged album, Lords Of Black, power metal, Predator, Prey, prog metal, review, Ronnie Romero, Survival
Leave a comment
News: EPICA, KATE BUSH, LOVERBOY (March 2024)
Jon Anderson’s 1988 album ‘In The City Of Angels’, is to be reissued on May 3 through the Floating World/Voiceprint. Babylon A.D. release their new studio album ‘Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day’ in May. Sebastian Bach releases his latest solo album, ‘Child Within … 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), Re-issues/special editions, RIP
Tagged albums, AOR, blues, Epica, folk, gigs, Kate Bush, Loverboy, melodic rock, metal, news, prog rock, reissues, RIP, rock, tour dates
Leave a comment
Interview: BRING BACK PERSEPHONE
I have been involved in the music industry long enough to know that bands with passion and clear musical vision are not lacking in this world. One such band, Metalcore enthusiasts Bring Back Persephone, just so happens to hail from … Continue reading
Album review : KMFDM – Let Go
Metropolis Records [Release date : 02.02.24] KMFDM’s 23rd album is a mixed bag of sights and sounds, each one contributing to a predominant image of a patchwork musical quilt. Each track is an auditory outcry, all cleverly stitched together in … Continue reading
News: ELLES BAILEY, HEART, BON JOVI (February 2024)
Lee Aaron will be releasing a covers album ‘Tattoo Me’ via Metalville Records on April 26. Ayreon release ’01011001 – Live Beneath The Waves’ through Music Theories Recordings/Mascot Label Group on May 17. Elles Bailey releases a new EP ‘The Night Owl & the Lark’ on February … Continue reading
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP
Tagged albums, AOR, blues, Bon Jovi, Elles Bailey, folk, gigs, Heart, melodic rock, metal, news, prog rock, reissues, RIP, rock, tour dates
Leave a comment
Album review: DYMYTRY – Five Angry Men
AFM Records [Release date : 26.01.24] Second English language album from Czech Power Metal band, Dymytry, (their sixth overall). The arrival of vocalist, Alen Lubic has made all the difference in creating an international appeal. Musically, this new album is … Continue reading
Singles review: NIGHTMARE, ALTERIUM
AFM Records [Release date : 12.01.24] Formed in 1979, Power Metal French band, Nightmare have been worshipping the mighty riff for 11 albums now. Ex Songbird frontwoman, Barbara Mogore, is the band’s new vocalist, subsequently showing off her vocal versatility on a … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Single and EP reviews
Tagged Alterium, Barbara Mogore, French, Italian, Nicolletta Rosselini, Nightmare, power metal, review, singles
Leave a comment
Album review: EXIT EDEN – Femme Fatales
Napalm Records [Release date 12.01.24] Exit Eden are down to the trio of Clémentine Delauney (Visions Of Atlantis), Anna Brunner (League Of Distortion) and Marina La Torraca (Phantom Elite), for this, their second album, after Amanda Somerville left the band … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
Tagged Amanda Somerville, Anna Brunner, Clémentine Delauney, Exit Eden, Femme Fatales, Heart, League Of Distortion, Marillion, Marina La Torraca, melodic metal, Napalm Records, Nightwish, Pet Shop Boys, Phantom Elite, symphonic metal, Visions Of Atlantis
Leave a comment
