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Category Archives: PURE METAL (All posts)
Gig review: AMON AMARTH – London, The Forum, 17 November 2013
Support Acts: Carcass, Bleed From Within, Hell Review by Yiannis (John) Stefanis Oh how times change! One thousand three hundred years ago, a ‘visit’ from the people of Scandinavia to these shores would have been accompanied by sheer terror and … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Gig reviews
Tagged 17 November 2013, Amon Amarth, Bleed From Within, Carcass, Death Metal, Forum, gig, Hell, London, metal, review
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Album review: RHAPSODY OF FIRE – Dark Wings Of Steel
AFM Records – [Release date 25.11.13] Keyboard wizard Alex Staropoli, founding member of the Symphonic Metal outfit Rhapsody (Rhapsody Of Fire since 2006), is a man who has suffered trials and tribulations and undoubtedly grown a second skin through relentless … Continue reading
Interview with ALEX STAROPOLI (Rhapsody Of Fire) – 7 November 2013
Name changes, line up changes, legal disputes: Rhapsody Of Fire have been through and survived all these last couple of years. What is quite surprising, though, is the fact that they have emerged looking stronger and with a top quality … Continue reading
Interview with MICHAEL SCHENKER – 15 November 2013
If ever there was an example of looking to the past for a catalyst for the future, then ‘Bridge The Gap’ is it. Award winning guitarist Michael Schenker is back with some familiar faces on an album that plays to … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars, Pure Metal/Interviews
Tagged Bridge The Gap, Doogie White, Francis Buchholz, guitar, guitarist, Herman Rarebell, interview, Michael Schenker, Michael Voss, November 2013, Pete Way, Robin McAuley, Temple Of Rock, UFO, Wayne Findlay, William Shatner, Yngwie Malmsteen
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Gig review: LEPROUS – London, The Underworld, 9 November 2013
Support Acts: Blindead Review by Yiannis (John) Stefanis Photos by Emily Dgebuadze Two weeks or so ago I was contacted by Inside Out’s London PR rep about reviewing the upcoming London show of Norwegian Progressive Metal band Leprous. Up until … Continue reading
Posted in GIG REVIEWS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Gig reviews
Tagged 9 November 2013, gig, LEPROUS, London, progressive metal, review, rock, Underworld
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Gig review: PARADISE LOST, Lacuna Coil, Katatonia – London, The Roundhouse, 3 November 2013
My introduction to the chromatic world of Death Metal took place exactly twenty three years ago and one of the albums responsible for my immediate conversion was Paradise Lost’s debut “Lost Paradise”. It was not at all surprising, then, that … Continue reading
Posted in GIG REVIEWS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Gig reviews
Tagged 3 November 2013, anniversary, gig, Katatonia, Lacuna Coil, London, metal, Paradise Lost, review, Roundhouse
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Album review: THE VISION BLEAK – Witching Hour
Prophecy Productions – Out Now. Goth and Metal are two musical genres which, though closely related in some ways, are obviously quite distinct. It was in the early 90s and in the truly capable hands of bands like Anathema, Paradise … Continue reading
Album review: DEATH ANGEL – The Dream Calls For Blood
Nuclear Blast – Out Now. Twelve years ago, and following a ten year Sabbatical, the vast majority of the original line up of the Bay Area Thrashers Death Angel reunited for the purpose of participating in Thrash of the Titans … Continue reading
Interview with ANNEKE VAN GIERSBERGEN (ex-The Gathering) – 19 October 2013
Meeting an artist whose work over the years has had a profound effect on you on a purely emotional level is like a double-edged sword: a good experience can further enhance your appreciation of them, whereas the opposite can cause … Continue reading
Album review: DUSKMACHINE – Duskmachine
Massacre Records – Out Now. Duskmachine are a ten year old Power/Thrash Metal outfit that started out like every other struggling, up-and-coming band. Following various line-up changes, however, they ended up being the right environment in which ex members of … Continue reading
Album review: AYREON – The Theory Of Everything
Inside Out [Release date 28.10.13] Telling a story through music is a tried and tested method and is certainly as old as Rock itself. Examples are too many to mention, but the most celebrated works would undoubtedly have to be … Continue reading
Album review: ANNEKE VAN GIERSBERGEN – Drive
Inside Out – Out Now I have always been a strong supporter of the idea that the boundaries which separate the average musician from the real artist are strict and always clearly defined. Those who belong in the former category … Continue reading
Album review: SHADES OF REMEMBERANCE – Veil
Burn All Records [Release Date: 26.04.13] Ohio’s Shades Of Remembrance are metal band with proggy leanings on an album that straddles both genres rather than fuses the two. ‘Veil’ duly delivers enough speed, intensity, resolute playing and dark themes to … Continue reading
Album review: THE FLOWER KINGS – Desolation Rose
Inside Out – Out Now. It was almost a year ago that I was granted a thoroughly delightful and highly entertaining interview with Roine Stolt during which I openly questioned his priorities by stating that having a band like The … Continue reading
Album Review: DARK DESIGN – Prey For The Future
Heaven And Hell Records – Out Now. Young bands are the lifeblood of any music scene and innovations in recording technology have only seen their numbers grow in recent years. Sadly, easy access to said technology does not always guarantee … Continue reading
Gig review: ANNEKE VAN GIERSBERGEN, Trillium – London Jazz Cafe, 19 October 2013
Fifteen years ago, at the now demolished Rodon Club in Athens and in the good company of another two thousand fans of atmospheric/progressive metal, the author of this review enjoyed one of the most artistically satisfying and emotionally charged performances … Continue reading
Album Review: CHURCH OF VOID – Dead Rising
Svart Records – Out Now. Debut albums from young and up-and-coming bands are released pretty much on a daily basis but, judging from many positive past experiences, it is mainly those which carry the seal of approval of the independent … Continue reading
Rock Stars: Interview with ROINE STOLT (The Flower Kings) – 2 October 2013
Normally, by this time of year, most of you would have made a decision as to which albums you consider as most important for 2013. Well, I strongly suggest that you postpone this exercise until the end of October, as … Continue reading
Interview with MATT BARLOW (Ashes Of Ares, ex-Iced Earth) – 27 September 2013
There are not many singers whose contribution to the mid-90s Metal scene has been as instrumental as that of ex-Iced Earth front man Matt Barlow – a man whose unique pipes have blasted classic compositions, such as “Dante’s Inferno” and … Continue reading
Album review: RUNNING WILD – Resilient
SPV – [Release date 7.10.13] Few bands can claim to have fans across the globe who are as passionate and devoted to their craft as those belonging to the legendary German Heavy/Power Metalers Running Wild. Even they, however, had their … Continue reading
Gig review: POWERWOLF, ASHES OF ARES – The Underworld, London, 27 September 2013
Friday the 27th of September was a day that I had been looking forward to with feverish antiscipation, the way I would have done when I was in my teens. Why? Well, Matt Barlow and his Power Metal troupe Ashes … Continue reading
Gig review: ALEX SKOLNICK TRIO – Jazz Cafe, London, 29 September 2013
This always promised to be a curious night, but if some of the audience were taking a leap of faith they were amply rewarded by a band who clearly relished a challenge as much a sharing their enjoyment with their … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Pure Metal/Gig reviews
Tagged 29 September 2013, Alex Skolnick Trio, fusion, guitar, guitarist, jazz, Jazz Cafe, London, rock, Testament
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Interview with MAURIZIO IACONO (Ex Deo) – 10 September 2013
When you put a passionate and dedicated student of history (yours truly) in the same room as a very intelligent musician who loves all things related to ancient Rome, the likelihood of the conversation following a pre-planned line of questioning … Continue reading
Album review: ANNIHILATOR – Re-Releases- Double Live Annihilation , All For You, Schizo Deluxe
UDR Music (Release date – out now) Following Annihilator releasing their new album ‘Feast’ recently, the band’s new label, UDR Music has re-released three of their previous albums to allow potential new fans to catch up on … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Pure Metal/Album reviews
Tagged album, All For You, Annihilator, CD, Double Live Annihilation, Jeff Waters, metal, review, Schizo Deluxe, Thrash, UDR
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Album review: FATES WARNING – Darkness In A Different Light
Inside Out [Release date 30.09.13] When Jim Matheos, leader of the Connecticut-based Progressive Metal legends Fates Warning, decided to put his band into a dormant recording state back in 2004, even he could not have expected this period to last … Continue reading
