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Category Archives: Pure Metal/Album reviews
Metal album reviews
Album review: METAL CHURCH – Damned If You Do

Nuclear Blast [Release date 7.12.18] Metal Church rank up among the founders of the early US thrash metal scene. Although never quite breaking into first tier territory, they remain a worthy outfit to this day with a series of classic … Continue reading →
Album review: RAVEN – Screaming Murder Death From Above – Live In Aalborg

SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 18.01.19] Most often associated with the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, Raven formed in the mid 70′s and had some notoriety in the early 80′s. Playing their brand of Athletic Rock, they were a big influence … Continue reading →
Album review: SOEN – Lotus

Silver Lining Music [Release date 01.02.19] Swedish based progressive metal band Soen were formed in the mid 00′s, and are an extreme metal supergroup of sorts, with their founder members having a collective CV of Opeth, Testament, Death, Willowtree and … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
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Tagged album, extreme metal, Lotus, metal, OPETH, review, Soen, Testament, Tool
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Album review: EVERGREY – The Atlantic

AFM Records [Release date 25.01.19] ‘The Atlantic’ is the eleventh album from Evergrey, the masters of dark and atmospheric metal. Tom S Englund and the band have really worked on every detail of the album, be it the sea theme … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
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Tagged AFM Records, album, atmospheric, dark metal, Evergrey, melodic, metal, progressive, review, the Atlantic, Tom S Englund
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Album review: ROINE STOLT’S THE FLOWER KING – Manifesto Of An Alchemist

Inside Out [Release date 23.11.18] The last time Uppsala-born guitar maestro Roine Stolt released a solo record was eight years ago, when “Supernal Endgame – Touch The Sky” was first brought into this world. Accusing the sixty-two-year-old musician of tardiness, … Continue reading →
Album review: ANNEKE VAN GIERSBERGEN – Symphonized

Inside Out [Release date 16.11.18] In the summer of 1992 a good friend came to mine for a visit carrying with him “Always…”, the debut release of an atmospheric Death Metal outfit named The Gathering. My attraction to the work … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
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Tagged album, Anneke van Giersbergen, live, metal, review, Symphonized, The Gathering
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Album review: SAXON – The Eagle Has Landed

BMG [Release date 19.10.18] To coincide nicely with their latest opus Thunderbolt, we get this reissue of Saxon’s classic 1982 live album. This rounds off the BMG reissues of the Carrere and Phonogram catalogue. Originally a single LP, this comes … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Reissues
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Tagged album, Biff Byford, classic metal, heavy metal, live, metal, MWOBHM, re-issue, review, Saxon, The Eagle Has Landed
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Quick plays: THEM, SODOM, BROTHERS OF METAL

THEM Manor of the Se7en Gables SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 26.10.18] US/German thrash/power metal band return with their second album, a horror story featuring witchcraft, murder and they use a series of spoken word parts to keep the story moving along. … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Quick Plays
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Tagged albums, Brothers Of Metal, metal, Mike Lepond, Paul Sabu, power metal, review, Sodom, Symphony X, Them, Thrash
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Quick plays: DREAM CHILD, THE UNITY, PLASTIC TEARS

DREAM CHILD Until Death Do We Meet Again Frontiers [Release date 14.09.18] Dream Child is formed around former Dio guitarist Craig Goldy, who is joined by fellow Dio member drummer Simon Wright, former Ozzy/Whitesnake bassist Rudy Sarzo, Wayne Findlay (ex-MSG) … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Quick Plays
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Tagged album, Angels With Attitude, Craig Goldy, Dio, Dream Child, Gamma Ray, glam, Jollymon, melodic metal, metal, Plastic Tears, pop rock, review, Rise, rock, Slimboy, The Unity, Until Death Do We Meet Again
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Album review: DORO – Forever Warriors, Forever United

Nuclear Blast [Release date 17.08.18] Doro Pesch celebrates thirty five years in metal with the release of her twentieth album and to mark this special occasion it is a double album called Forever Warriors, Forever United. Her band remains that of guitarists … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
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Tagged album, Amon Amarth, Doro, Doro Pesch, Forever United, Forever Warriors, Johan Hegg, Lemmy, metal, metal queen, review, Warlock, Whitesnake
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Album review: FATES WARNING – Live Over Europe

Inside Out [Release date 29.06.18] A live album by Fates Warning is always a pretty welcoming proposition, as the US Prog Metal giants belong to that elite category of bands whose live performances outdo, in principal, those featured in … Continue reading →
Album review: POWERWOLF – The Sacrament Of Sin

Napalm Records [Release date 20.07.18] Powerwolf are back with their seventh album, or as the band would put it their latest set of psalms! They have been building on their fanbase with each successive release and tour – they are … Continue reading →
Album review: HAKEN – L-1ve

Inside Out [Release date 20.06.18] UK prog metalers Haken have the world at their feet these days. Top ranking album reviews and in depth interviews adorn the pages of some of the most high profile music magazines such as … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
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Tagged album, Haken, Inside Out, L-1ve, live album, meldoic, melodic, metal, progressive metal, review
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Album review: EVERTHRONE

In 2015 the band Everthrone released easily one of the best albums that year (The Dawning, which in fact topped my Top 5 of the year without much competition). They decided to crowd fund the follow-up and without much fanfare … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
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Tagged album, Everthrone, melodic, metal, prog metal, progressive, review, The Dawnig
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Album review: KNIGHTMARE – Walk Through Fire

Bandcamp [Release date 16.03.18] Knightmare, out of the Raleigh, NC area have been around for a bit, and are a phenomenal live band to witness. A hybrid mix of USPM and NWOBHM, these young guys show the utmost respect, and … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
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Tagged album, Bandcamp, Knightmare, metal, NWOBHM, review, trad metal, Walk Through Fire
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Album review: ROSS THE BOSS – By Blood Sworn

AFM Records [Release date 20.04.18] Ross the Boss has already laid out a pretty legendary career. From his time with The Dictators to Manowar to Dick Manitoba’s Wild Kingdom to his most recent group DeathDealer, Ross has recorded some pretty significant … Continue reading →
Album review: BOREALIS – The Offering

AFM Records [Release date 23.03.18] Borealis started out in 2005 as a female fronted symphonic metal band before guitarist Matt Marinelli took over vocal duties in 2007. They have changed bassists since their last album with Trevor McBride replacing original … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
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Tagged album, Borealis, melodic metal, metal, progressive metal, review, the Offering
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Album review: SPREADING THE DISEASE – Insurrection

Facebook page [Release date 26.01.18] I reviewed Spreading The Disease’s EP a couple of years ago and that featured the awesome song ‘Bulldozer’ – a song that did what it said on the tin, namely rolling over the listener with some … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Pure Metal/Interviews
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Tagged album, band, Breed 77, Insurrection, interview, modern metal, Pantera, review, Rising Stars, SLIPKNOT, Spreading The Disease, Thrash
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Album review: LEAVES’ EYES – Sign Of The Dragonhead

AFM Records [Release date 12.01.18] Back in April 2016 Leaves’ Eyes parted ways with singer Liv Kristine, which led to various accounts of how the departure came about surfacing on social media and ill feeling between both parties. So this … Continue reading →
Album review: ALMANAC – Kingslayer

Nuclear Blast [Release date 24.11.17] Second album from the band Almanac, which was formed by former Rage guitarist Victor Smolski, who utilises a trio of vocalists, namely Andy B. Franke (Brainstorm), David Readman (Pink Cream 69) and Jeannette Marchewka (Lingua Mortis … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
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Tagged album, Almanac, David Readman, Kingslayer, metal, Pink Cream 69, power metal, Rage, review, Victor Smolski
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Album review: TANKARD – Hymns For the Drunk

AFM Records [Release date 12.01.18] I’ve said it before and I’ll say it until I’m tits up and in the ground: Germany has produced some of the best Metal bands around. From so many varying sub genres, the German Metal … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
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Tagged album, Germany, Hymns For The Drunk, metal, review, TANKARD
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Album review: PREMIATA FORNERIA MARCONI – Emotional Tattoos

. Inside Out [Out Now] Andy Tillison is a man whose opinion I value and truly respect. Many times in the past has the leader of the The Tangent sung the praises of the Italian Rock combo Premiata Forneria Marconi … Continue reading →
Album review: DEVOID – Cup Of Tears

MelodicRock Records [Release date 13.10.17] Devoid is the brainchild of French guitarist Shad Mae and features vocalist Carsten ‘Lizard’ Schulz (Evidence One and many other guest vocal spots), keyboardist Jorris Guilbaud, bassist Ben Toquet and drummer Ben Wanders. Joining this core … Continue reading →
Album review: ANNIHILATOR – For The Demented

[Release date 03.11.17] Annihilator’s brief rise to fame in the late 80’s early 90’s was one that helped propel heavier music into the mainstream along with bands like Metallica, Megadeth, Pantera, and many others. With a hyper aggressive aproach to … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
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Tagged album, Annihilator, For the Demented, Jeff Waters, metal, review, rock, Thrash
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Album review: KAIPA – Children Of The Sounds

Inside Out [Release date 22.09.17] According to Cambridge Online Dictionary, inspiration is defined as “the use of imagination or original ideas to create something”. The artists of the ancient world believed that their abilities came from the Gods and prayed … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
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Tagged album, Children Of The Sounds, Kaipa, prog, Progressive Rock, review, rock
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