Category Archives: Pure Metal/Album reviews

Century Media – Out Now. When Celtic Frost decided to ‘pull the plug’ for a second time in their career back in 2008, the world of extreme Metal began mourning the loss of perhaps its most innovative and influential bands. … Continue reading →

Byelobog Productions – Out Now. Since his release from prison back in 2009, Kristian “Varg” Vikernes has found himself in a truly creative mode, with every passing year witnessing the release of another new Burzum album. His first recordings as … Continue reading →

Metal Blade – Out Now. 70s Heavy Rock is back in fashion. I do not suggest for a moment that bands like Black Sabbath, Cream and Pentagram ever stopped being a massive influence on young artists, especially those of a … Continue reading →

Nuclear Blast [Release date 30.05.14] Line-up changes have been a constant feature in the life of the Death Metal combo Vader since their inception back in 1983 but, as their relatively modest album collection clearly suggests, every new addition has … Continue reading →

Metal Blade – Out Now. Attracting the attention of a label as established and well respected as Metal Blade is no easy feat, however, Italian Technical Metalers Destranged have achieved precisely that. It was on the strength of their 2012 … Continue reading →

Prophecy Productions – Out Now. Even though they began life as a Melodic Black Metal act back in 1996, it was not long before Austrian trio Dornenreich started to follow a similar route to the majority of their Norwegian contemporaries … Continue reading →

Svart Records – Out Now. Forty years ago, Britain was the epicentre of all things prog and psychedelic, but with time, it started to gradually share its unique status with other European countries, mainly those in Northern Europe. While one … Continue reading →

Napalm Records – Out Now. As the birthplace of Black Sabbath, Great Britain has always been the ultimate breeding ground for Doom Metal bands, so the fact that Doom/Stoner trio Conan also hails from the Albion is no great surprise. … Continue reading →

Season Of Mist [Release 25.4.2014] Controversy and instability have characterised Norwegian Black Metal pioneers Mayhem since their very inception back in 1984, so when long standing guitarist Blasphemer decided to leave the fold after thirteen years of active service nobody … Continue reading →

Napalm Records – Out Now. Press releases are like propaganda leaflets: they allow you quick access to information otherwise unattainable, but by nature they are massively biased and their accuracy questionable. Normally I try not to pay much attention to … Continue reading →

Indie Recordings – Out Now. The start of 2014 has been quite exciting as far as new music is concerned as most of the albums I have been asked to review have been by bands whose work I have never … Continue reading →

Inside Out – Out Now. Canadian quintet Incura I have only just discovered, through their same-titled debut release, but the fact that they are releasing this work under the moniker of Inside Out was enough to make me jump up … Continue reading →

Steamhamer/SPV – Out Now. When you think of the San Francisco Thrash Metal scene, the very first band name that springs to mind is that of Metallica, closely followed by Exodus and Slayer. It takes a pretty knowledgeable and devoted … Continue reading →

Kscope – Out Now. The description by a well respected UK Rock magazine of Gazpacho as “Norway’s best kept Prog secret” is one that truly baffles me, not because I do not share the enthusiasm and excitement for the music … Continue reading →

Svart Records – Out Now. Sami Albert “Witchfinder” Hynnien is a much loved figure, especially in the Doom Metal scene, as, under the Reverend Bizarre moniker, he recorded some of the catchiest, dirtiest and, face it, funniest compositions of said … Continue reading →

Metal Blade – Out Now. There isn’t a single person I know who’s into underground classic Metal (and believe me when I say I know quite a few people so inclined), who hasn’t tried at some point or another to … Continue reading →

Season Of Mist – Out Now. Ask any fan of the US Progressive Metal trio Cynic if six years is a very long time to wait for the release of a new album from their beloved band and chances are … Continue reading →

Svart Records – Out Now. Even though we live in the information age, there’s not much out there in English on the Sludge Metal outfit Loinen – a totally different case altogether if one possesses a decent command of Finnish. … Continue reading →