Yearly Archives: 2011

10 Q's with JOE VANA of MECCA

Joe Vana of Mecca fills us in on the band's eagerly awaited second album… 1. What are you currently up to? I am preparing for Mecca II, I am writing it with Tommy Denander…and Eric Ragno will be involved as … Continue reading

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HARD STUFF – Bulletproof/Bolex Dementia

Angel Air continue their mining of the recently deceased John Du Cann’s catalogue with two discs, originally released on Purple Records, that visit his post Atomic Rooster (the first time!) days and his all too short collaboration with future Roxy … Continue reading

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ICED EARTH Gig Review

ICED EARTH Gig Review Support: Fury UK London / O2 Islington Academy, Friday 4th November 2011 Review by Yiannis (John) Stefanis My ‘relationship’ with the US Power/Thrash Metal quintet Iced Earth goes a long way back in time. It all … Continue reading

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VOYAGER – The Meaning Of I

Album number four from this rather good progressive metal band. Not sure why this band have never made a bigger impact as all their albums are of a high standard. They do have a few line-up changes though as sole … Continue reading

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DARKTHRONE – “RAVISHING GRIMNESS”

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

DARKTHRONE – “RAVISHING GRIMNESS” PEACEVILLE (2011) Human beings are, for better or for worse, creatures of habit. Most of us follow a certain routine in our working environment, have a preference as to which side of the road we park … Continue reading

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AMON AMARTH Gig Review

AMON AMARTH Gig Review Support: Septicflesh & As I Lay Dying London / The Forum, Sunday 23rd October 2011 Review by Yiannis (John) Stefanis Earlier in the year Swedish Death Metal legends Amon Amarth visited the United Kingdom in support … Continue reading

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HUNTED (Steven Barberini & Jonathan Letson) INTERVIEW

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

HUNTED (Steven Barberini & Jonathan Letson) INTERVIEW The United Kingdom has been at the forefront of Heavy Metal since its very inception back in the early 70s, and it is really encouraging to see more inspiring young bands coming out … Continue reading

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THE TANGENT – “COMM”

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

THE TANGENT – “COMM” INSIDE OUT (2011) Looking now back at my musical upbringing with the well-trained musical ears of a thirty seven year old, I realise that, even when I was going through the most ‘extreme phase’ of my … Continue reading

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BYFROST (Mads “Alkolust” Lilletvedt) INTERVIEW

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

BYFROST (Mads “Alkolust” Lilletvedt) INTERVIEW When I first accepted the task to do an interview with the Norwegian Black/Thrash Metal trio Byfrost, I did that as a favour to a friend, not having listened to a single note of their … Continue reading

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BYFROST – “OF DEATH”

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

BYFROST – “OF DEATH” AFM RECORDS (2011) Being a part-time music journalist is a time-consuming task. So, in answer to the question I have often heard: “Why write – why not just enjoy your own choice of music?”, my response … Continue reading

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ICED EARTH (Jon Schaffer & Stu Block) INTERVIEW

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

ICED EARTH (Jon Schaffer & Stu Block) INTERVIEW Change is inevitable in any band that’s been around for as long as the American Power/Thrash Metal powerhouse Iced Earth, however seeing members coming and going has become the norm for guitarist … Continue reading

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AUTOPSY – “MACABRE ETERNAL”

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

AUTOPSY – “MACABRE ETERNAL” PEACEVILLE (2011) When Californian Death Metal legends Autopsy disbanded back in 1995, following the release of their fourth studio album entitled “Shitfun”, the Metal world lost one of the most honest and purely aggressive bands of … Continue reading

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ABSU – “ABZU”

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

ABSU – “ABZU” CANDLELIGHT RECORDS (2011) Rock music and the occult are separate concepts whose ‘paths’ first crossed in the late 50s and which have been intertwined ever since. The number of bands at the extreme end of this musical … Continue reading

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10 Q's with GLYDER

Glyder are back with a new line-up and a new album, 'Backroads To Byzantium'. Here we catch up with band members Bat, Pete and Jackie… 1. What are you currently up to? JACKIE: We have a couple of dates supporting … Continue reading

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10 Q's with STEVE NEWMAN

Steve Newman and his band Newman have just released an excellent new album ’Under Southern Skies’. Over to Steve…    What are you currently up to then Steve?    “Hey Jason!! Hope you’re doing OK. It’s good to talk with … Continue reading

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10 Q's with Chandler Mogel of OUTLOUD

Chandler Mogel of Outloud gives us the lowdown on their new album ’Love Catastrophe’ and more… What are you currently up to chap? “Hi Jason! Well, we are really quite busy at the moment. We’re getting ready for some shows … Continue reading

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10 QUESTIONS: SERPENTINE

Serpentine’s Gareth Vanstone (Bass) fields the questions… What are you currently up to lads? “Well Jason, we've just got back from playing at the Heat Festival in Germany, which was our first gig outside the UK. It was a great … Continue reading

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RIOT – “IMMORTAL SOUL”

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

RIOT – “IMMORTAL SOUL” SPV (2011) Monastiraki is a beautiful market area at the very foot of the Athenian Acropolis – an area which includes, among others, a great number of second-hand record shops where vinyl connoisseurs can find that … Continue reading

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10 Q's with ROBIN GEORGE

Robin George together with his LovePower and Peace band have just released an excellent album on Angel Air. All the profits of the album will be split between three worthy childrens charities. Over to Robin for more about the album… … Continue reading

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ANATHEMA Gig Review

ANATHEMA Gig Review Support: Nosound, Engineers & Bruce Soord (The Pineapple Thief) Acoustic. London / The Union Chapel, Friday 30th September 2010 Review by Yiannis (John) Stefanis One of the negative things about the ever growing importance of technology in … Continue reading

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Rising Stars – EARTHPRAYER

What are you currently up to? We've got gigs every weekend this month so we're in the studio rehearsing and also writing material for the second album Brief history of Earthprayer … We're a 4 piece Rock/Blues band from London. … Continue reading

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ARCH/MATHEOS – “SYMPATHETIC RESONANCE”

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ARCH/MATHEOS – “SYMPATHETIC RESONANCE” METAL BLADE (2011) Progressive Metal is a genre that’s responsible for the release of some truly amazing pieces of work, none more impressive and influential than Fates Warning’s 1986 opus “Awaken The Guardian” – an eight … Continue reading

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GEHENNA – “WW”

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

GEHENNA – “WW” PEACEVILLE (2011) If you are a devout supporter of all things Black Metal and, most importantly all this Norwegian in extreme music, then the name Gehenna ought to be quite familiar to you. Gehenna were first formed … Continue reading

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MY DYING BRIDE (Hamish Glencross) INTERVIEW

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

MY DYING BRIDE (Hamish Glencross) INTERVIEW When you have been a fan of a band for mere twenty one years, you are excused in believing that you know exactly what the band in question is all about and also what … Continue reading

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PAIN OF SALVATION – “ROAD SALT TWO”

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

PAIN OF SALVATION – “ROAD SALT TWO” INSIDE OUT (2011) Early October 2000. Spending a whole morning counting imported goods was part of my responsibility as a record shop salesman – a process that I thoroughly enjoyed as it meant … Continue reading

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