Author Archives: Phil Berisford

Album review: PRETTY MAIDS – Kingmaker

Posted on November 24, 2016 by Phil Berisford

Frontiers Records [Release date 04.11.16] “Kingmaker” is Pretty Maids’ 15th studio album if you include 2014’s superb “Louder Than Ever” which contained re-recordings of old tunes plus 4 newbies and it continues their run of high quality releases. The Danish … Continue reading →

Album review: ELECTRIC SIX – Fresh Blood For Tired Vampyres

Posted on November 21, 2016 by Phil Berisford

Metropolis Records [Release date 07.10.16] American oddballs Electric Six are back with their 12th album in as many years…the strangely titled “Fresh Blood for Tired Vampyres”. To be honest I didn’t know they were still active and only remember them … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Blood for Tired Vampyres, Christopher Tait, Da Ve, Dave Malosh, Dick Valentine, Electric Six, John Nash, Johnny Na$hinal, Metropolis Records, Noah Appel, review, Rob Lower, Tait Nucleus?, Two-Handed Bob, Tyler Spencer | Leave a comment

Album review: HARDLINE – Human Nature

Posted on November 18, 2016 by Phil Berisford

Frontiers Records [Release date 04.10.16] Former super-group Hardline return with their 5th studio album “Human Nature” following on from 2012’s “Danger Zone”. Vocalist Johnny Gioeli and brother Joey formed Hardline on LA’s sunset strip back in 1991 and they found … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Anna Portalupi, Francesco Jovino, Frontiers, Hardline, Human Nature, Johnny Gioeli, Josh Ramos, melodic rock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: – LORDI – Monstereophonic – Theaterror vs. Demonarchy

Posted on November 10, 2016 by Phil Berisford

AFM Records [Release date 16.09.16] Finland’s masked melodic metal band Lordi, who will forever be widely known for winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 2006, follow up 2014’s “Scare Force One” with their 8th studio release, the split “Monstereophonic – … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AFM, album, Amen, hard rock, Hella, Lordi, Mana, metal, Monstereophonic – Theaterror vs. Demonarchy, Mr Lordi, Ox, review | Leave a comment

Album review: SERIOUS BLACK – Mirrorworld

Posted on October 14, 2016 by Phil Berisford

AFM Records [Release date 09.09.16] European supergroup Serious Black return with their sophomore release “Mirrorworld” less than 2 years after debut “As Daylight Breaks” hit the racks. The backbone of vocalist Urban breed, Dominik Sebastian (guitars), bassist Mario Lochert and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AFM, album, Alex Holzwarth, Bob Katsionis, Dominik Sebastian, Jan Vacik, Mario Lochert, melodic hard rock, Mirrorworld, review, Serious Black, Urban breed | Leave a comment

Album Review: – SOLUTION .45 – Nightmares In The Waking State – Part II

Posted on October 7, 2016 by Phil Berisford

AFM Records [release date 26.08.16] Nightmares In The Waking State – Part II is Solution .45’s third studio release and is the follow up to Part I released back in November 2015 (though recorded at the same time). Solution .45 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile) | Tagged AFM, album, Christian Älvestam, Jani Stefanovic, melodic Death Metal, Nightmares In The Waking State – Part II, Patrik Gardberg, review, Rolf Pilve, Solution .45 | Leave a comment

Album review: – KISSIN’ DYNAMITE – Generation Goodbye

Posted on September 12, 2016 by Phil Berisford

AFM Records [Release date 08.07.16] German modern hard rock band Kissin’ Dynamite are back with their fifth studio album “Generation Goodbye” and somehow they keep on improving! Previous release “Megalomania”, from September 2014, was a wonderful slice of modern melodic … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AFM, album, Ande Braun, Andreas Schnitzer, Generation Goodbye, German Modern Rock, Hannes Braun, Jim Müller, Kissin’ Dynamite, review, Steffan Haile | Leave a comment

Album review: PARADOX – Pangea

Posted on August 7, 2016 by Phil Berisford

AFM Records [Release date 03.06.16] German thrash band Paradox celebrate their 30th anniversary with the release of their seventh studio “Pangea”. Surviving founding member Charly Steinhauer has been joined by an endless array of musicians since debut “Product of Imagination” … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AFM, album, Charly Steinhauer, Gus Drax, Kostas Milonas, Pangea, Paradox, review, Thrash, Tilen Hudrap | Leave a comment

Album review: IRON SAVIOR – Titancraft

Posted on June 14, 2016 by Phil Berisford

AFM Records [Release date 20.05.16] Iron Savior’s ninth studio release “Titancraft” features more of the same from the German power metal band…namely science fiction inspired Teutonic metal a la Primal Fear/Helloween. Main-man Piet Sielck (vocals, guitar) is back again and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AFM, album, IRON SAVIOR, Jan-Sören Eckert, Joachim Küstner, Piet Sielck, power metal, review, Thomas Nack, Titancraft | Leave a comment

Album review: ORDEN OGAN – The Book of Ogan

Posted on April 20, 2016 by Phil Berisford

AFM Records [Release date 25.03.16] “The Book of Ogan” would appear to be German power metal band Orden Ogan’s way of closing the first chapter of their career as it is a very impressive double CD double DVD package. What … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AFM, album, Blind Guardian, Dirk Meyer-Beerhorn, Nils Löffler, Orden Ogan, power metal, review, Seeb Levermann, The Book of Ogan, Tobias Kersting | Leave a comment

Album review: THUNDERSTONE – Apocalypse Again

Posted on April 10, 2016 by Phil Berisford

AFM Records [Release date 01.04.16] Thunderstone are another one of AFM’s hidden treasures that I’ve never actually listened to before and now they return with their sixth studio release “Apocalypse Again”. Guitarist Nino Laurenne put the band together back in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AFM, album, Apocalypse Again, Atte Palokangas, Jukka Karinen, Nino Laurenne, Pasi Rantanen, power metal, review, Thunderstone, Titus Hjelm | Leave a comment

Album review: HUMAN FORTRESS – Thieves Of The Night

Posted on April 6, 2016 by Phil Berisford

AFM Records [Release date 18.03.16] “Thieves of the Night” is German melodic metal band Human Fortress’s follow up to the well-received “Raided Land”. The band deal in a genre populated by bands such as Kamelot, Avantasia and Virgin Steele according … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AFM, album, Andre Hort, Apostolos Zaios, Dirk Liehm, Gus Monsanto, Human Fortress, melodic metal, power metal, review, Thieves of the Night, Torsten Wolf, Volker Trost | Leave a comment

Album review: THE LAST VEGAS – Eat Me

Posted on March 15, 2016 by Phil Berisford

AFM Records [Release date 18.03.16] The Last Vegas are an American sleazy hard rock band and somehow they have managed to get their latest release “Eat Me” released on a German metal label… The band hail from Chicago, Illinois and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Adam Arling, AFM, album, Bryan Wilkinson, Chad Cherry, Danny Smash, Eat Me, hard rock, Nathan Arling, review, sleaze, the Last Vegas | Leave a comment

Album review: SINBREED – Master Creator

Posted on March 6, 2016 by Phil Berisford

German power metal band Sinbreed return with their new opus “Master Creator” which follows on from 2014’s “Shadows”. The band line-up has remained unchanged with vocalist Herbie Langhans (recently to be heard singing the part of “Eclipse” on the latest … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AFM, album, Alexander Schulz, Flo Laurin, Frederik Ehmke, Herbie Langhans, Master Creator, power metal, review, Sinbreed, speed metal | Leave a comment

Album review: THE NEW BLACK – A Monster’s Life

Posted on February 26, 2016 by Phil Berisford

AFM Records [Release date 26.02.16] “A Monster’s Life” is German band’s The New Black fourth release and follows on from the impressive “III : Cut Loose” from 2013. This time around, rather than self-producing again, they have enlisted famed Volbeat … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged A Monster’s Life, AFM, album, alternative rock, Chris Weiss, Christof Leim, Fabian Schwarz, Fludid, Günt Auschrat, melodic metal, review, The New Black | Leave a comment

Album review: SHAKRA – High Noon

Posted on January 29, 2016 by Phil Berisford

AFM Records [Release date 29.01.16] Swiss hard rock band Shakra return with their tenth studio album “High Noon” and, after the departure of vocalist John Prakesh in late 2013, surprisingly also return with previous vocalist Mark Fox who quit the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AFM Records, album, Dominik Pfister, High Noon, Mark Fox, melodic rock, review, Roger Tanner, Shakra, Switzerland, Thom Blunier, Thomas Muster | Leave a comment

Album Review: RHAPSODY OF FIRE – Into The Legend

Posted on January 27, 2016 by Phil Berisford

AFM Records [Release date 15.01.16] Rhapsody of Fire return with their 11th studio album “Into The Legend”…this is of course classing Luca Turilli’s Rhapsody as a totally separate band which I suppose it is anyway… The press release points out … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AFM Records, album, Alessandro Sala, Alex Holzwarth, Alex Staropoli, Fabio Lione, Into The Legend, orchestral metal, power metal, review, Rhapsody, RHAPSODY OF FIRE, Roby De Micheli, symphonic metal | Leave a comment

Album review: PRIMAL FEAR – Rulebreaker

Posted on January 22, 2016 by Phil Berisford

Frontiers Records [Release date 22.11.15] Teutonic metal merchants Primal Fear return with their 11th studio album “Rulebreaker” which follows a similar path to 2014’s well received “Delivering The Black” opus. Primal Fear were founded way back in 1997 when bassist … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alex Beyrodt, Francesco Jovino, Frontiers, Magnus Karlsson, Mat Sinner, metal, Primal Fear, Ralf Scheepers, review, Rulebreaker, Tom Naumann | Leave a comment

Album review: BRAINSTORM – Scary Creatures

Posted on January 18, 2016 by Phil Berisford

AFM Records [Release date 15.01.16] Brainstorm’s 11th studio album “Scary Creatures” follows hot on the heels of 2014’s “Firesoul” and features ten more Euro-style power metal numbers. The Bavarian band were formed way back in 1989 and released their first … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AFM Records, album, Andy B. Franck, Antonio Ieva, Brainstorm, Dieter Bernert, metal, Milan Loncaric, review, Scary Creatures, Torsten Ihlenfeld | Leave a comment

Album review: MANIMAL – Trapped In The Shadows

Posted on January 15, 2016 by Phil Berisford

AFM Records [Release date 20.11.15] Manimal return with their brand of Swedish metal in the form of “Trapped In The Shadows” but for me the band name is a little off putting as it serves as a reminder of that … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AFM Records, album, André Holmqvist, Henrik Stenroos, Kenny Boufadene, Manimal, metal, review, Samuel Nyman, Trapped In The Shadows | Leave a comment

Album review: BILLY SHERWOOD – Citizen

Posted on December 13, 2015 by Phil Berisford

Frontiers Records [Release date 06.11.15] Billy Sherwood, man of many talents and currently bassist for Yes, has assembled an impressive cast of guest musicians for his “Citizen” album…but the question has to be can it deliver when so many of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Alan Parsons, album, Billy Sherwood, Chris Squire, Citizen, Colin Moulding, Frontiers, Geoff Downes, Jerry Goodman, John Wesley, Jon Davison, Jordan Rudess, Patrick Moraz, Progressive Rock, review, Rick Wakeman, Steve Hackett, Steve Morse, Tony Kaye | Leave a comment

Album review: DANZIG – Skeletons

Posted on November 24, 2015 by Phil Berisford

AFM Records [Release date 27.11.15] “Skeletons” is Glenn Danzig’s first studio release since “Deth Red Saboath” back in 2010 and it is an album of covers of songs that have influenced his career. The songs were supposedly recorded at various … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AFM Records, album, covers album, Danzig, Glenn Danzig, metal, review, Skeletons | Leave a comment

Album review: GAMA BOMB – Untouchable Glory

Posted on October 30, 2015 by Phil Berisford

AFM Records [Release date 30.10.15] “Untouchable Glory” is the fifth album from Northern Ireland’s answer to vintage Anthrax, namely Gama Bomb. The band formed back in 2002 in Newry and bonded over a love of obscure thrash bands and zombies. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AFM, album, Domo Dixon, Gama Bomb, Joe McGuigan, John Roche, Paul Caffrey, Philly Byrne, review, Thrash, Untouchable Glory | Leave a comment

Album Review: 21OCTAYNE – 2.0

Posted on October 2, 2015 by Phil Berisford

AFM Records [Release date 25.09.15] 21Octayne are back with their sophomore album, thoughtfully titled “2.0”, a mere 16 months after their superb debut “Into The Open”. The line-up for “2.0” remains unchanged apart from the loss of bassist Andrew Lauer…so … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 2.0, 21Octayne, AFM, album, Alex Landenburg, alternative rock, Hagen Grohe, Marco Wriedt, melodic hard rock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: ROYAL HUNT – XIII : Devil’s Dozen

Posted on September 24, 2015 by Phil Berisford

Frontiers Records [Release date 21.08.15] Danish progressive metal kings Royal Hunt return with “Devil’s Dozen” which is, surprise surprise, their 13th studio album. The man behind Royal Hunt and its music always has been (and always will be) keyboard maestro … Continue reading →