Category Archives: Quick Plays

SEREMONIA – Seremonia

Svart Records – Out Now. Svart Records is a Finnish label whose releases I only recently managed to gain access to and, so far, I have been fairly impressed by both the variety and quality of music on offer. The … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Quick Plays | Leave a comment

SCORNAGE – Reafearance

Massacre Records – Out Now Aachen is a tranquil and picturesque Germany city located near the border with Belgium and the Netherlands, where the mineral springs and spa have been enjoyed by figures as important as the Holy Roman Emperor … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Quick Plays | Leave a comment

HOLY GRAIL – Ride The Void

Nuclear Blast – Out Now. It is official ladies and gentlemen: what people my age call “classic” and the younger generation refers to as “retro” Heavy Metal is back in fashion! All you have to do is visit a few … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Quick Plays | Leave a comment

NIGHTFALL – Kassiopeia

Metal Blade – Out Now. Nightfall and I go back a long time, all the way to the classic days of the late 80s/early 90s, the time when my country’s extreme Metal scene gave birth to some of the most … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Quick Plays | Leave a comment

VOIVOD – Target Earth

Century Media – Out Now 2013 is a very important year for Voivod. Having survived the passing of founding member Denis “Piggy” D’Amour, various line up changes and, most importantly, Mayan calendar prophesies of the end of days, the Canadian … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Quick Plays | Leave a comment

JOE WALSH – Ordinary Average Guy & Songs For A Dying Planet

It’s hard to believe that 20 years has elapsed since the release of second of these two albums in 1992 and Joe’s recent ‘Analog man’. But rather than absence making the heart grow fonder, both albums appear to be remnants … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays, Reissues | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

CAROUSELS & LIMOUSINES – Home To Andy’s

(Released 25th February) Carousels & Limousines have changed a bit since they released an enjoyable EP last year under the name Grace. They have changed drummer and their style, switching from Quo riffs and a Led Zeppelin stomp to the … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

DALLAS FRASCA – Sound Painter

www.dallasfrasca.com Dallas Frasca hails from Australia and this is her second album getting a UK release (it has been out since last May in her homeland). She also has a famous fan in Slash who has been playing this album … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

FREITOD – Regenjahre

Van Records – Out Now When the second wave of Black Metal, the one instigated by the likes of Darkthrone, Mayhem and Burzum, first made its impact on the world in the early 90s, the idea of Black Metal bands … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Quick Plays | Leave a comment

WINTERSUN – Time I

Nuclear Blast – Out Now Most of you are probably aware of ‘second album syndrome’, where bands that have received a decent level of exposure on their debut album find it difficult to create an equally good follow-up. In most … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Quick Plays | Leave a comment

PARADOX – Tales Of The Weird

AFM Records – Out Now Paradox are one of the most impressive Thrash Metal bands of the 80s which never managed to acquire a name and status worthy of their skill and musical abilities. The story of this Würzburg quartet … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Quick Plays | Leave a comment

THERION – Les Fleurs Du Mal

Self Published – Out Now Being a recording artist for twenty five years non-stop is an achievement that not many musicians can lay a claim to but Christofer Johnsson, lead guitarist and driving force behind the Swedish Symphonic/Classical Metal outfit … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Quick Plays | Leave a comment

HORSE IN TRANSIT – If I Were A God

Mercurial Records ( release date – 28.01.13) ‘If I Were A God’ is the first EP release from the Scarborough based hardcore crew Horse In Transit. The band have produced 6 heavyweight, hardcore nuggets for this release which is a … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, Quick Plays, Single and EP reviews | Tagged , | Leave a comment

ORCHID – Heretic

Nuclear Blast – Out Now Being a huge fan of the 70s I am quite content, yet somewhat baffled, by the music industry’s current fascination with the Rock scene of said era, and especially since a more commercially-orientated label like … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Quick Plays | Leave a comment

DUNDERBEIST – Songs Of The Buried

Indie Recordings – Out Now As a rule, if you cannot explain to people how to do something then you are better off doing it yourself. That seems to be the motto of the Norwegian sextet Dunderbeist – a band … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Quick Plays | Leave a comment

HAMMERFALL – Gates Of Dalhalla (2CD version only)

Nuclear Blast – Out Now Traditional Heavy Metal is a genre that is currently very popular with younger audiences, evidenced by the prominence of bands like Enforcer, Bullet and In Solitude in the hearts and…on the hard discs of many … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Quick Plays | Leave a comment

RETALIATORY MEASURES – Withdrawal Syndromes

Massacre Records – Out Now The phenomenon of illegal downloading has put the whole of the music industry under pressure in recent times. Luckily, we still have labels wanting to promote new bands, such as Massacre Records, who have done … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Quick Plays | Leave a comment

ERYN NON DAE – Meliora

M&O Music Oh no, an avant-garde doom album. I wince as this platter falls from the slip case and recall Celtic Frost’s finer works. In fact, this lot are so far off the scale they make Tom G Warrior’s ground-breaking … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

PAPERBACK FREUD – Hardrock City

        Longfellow Deeds Paperback Freud (not the most rock ‘n’ roll name it has to be said) formed back in 2002 and this is their third album. Like fellow Swedes Graveyard they tap into the 70′s classic … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

CARRIE RODRIGUEZ – Give Me All You Got

  Ninth Street Opus (Released 4th Feb) www.carrierodriguez.com Carrie Rodriguez came to prominence working with singer/songwriter Chip Taylor (who is heavily involved in the songwriting on the album) and since 2006 has released three solo albums to date. On this … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Quick Plays: AEROSMITH, ZZ TOP, MAGNUM, FREEDOM CALL

LOVER UNDER COVER – Set The Night On Fire (Escape Music) Lover Under Cover is a new band emerging from Sweden, providing rock aficionados with another slice of Scandi rock. Mikael Erlandsson from Last Autumn’s Dream and Salute fame has … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

ROUGH CUT – Rollin’ Thunder EP

www.facebook.com/roughcutband (Released 7th Jan) Not the 80′s US hair metal band (although they had an extra ‘t’) but a young UK based four piece consisting of Jack Simkin (vocals/guitar), Simon J Court (guitar), James Simkin (bass) and Jes Hartley (drums). … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays, Single and EP reviews | Tagged , | Leave a comment

MARTIN HARLEY BAND – Mojo Fix

60/20 Records www.martinharley.com Martin Harley is set to release this, his fifth album, in February and he is a very talented slide guitar player who has been heavily influenced by Ry Cooder. In fact listening to songs like ‘Rum Shack’ … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Mercury Underground, Waking Theo, City Of Ashes, When We Were Wolves

MERCURY UNDERGROUND – Mercury Underground EP Anchorage Records (Release Date – Out Now) Mercury Underground are a three piece from Glasgow. The guys play a blues infused hard rock which has a lot to commend it. There are three tracks … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays, Single and EP reviews | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

SHAWN JONES – Struggle Makes You Stronger

High Drive Records www.shawnjonesmusic.com (Release date 11th Feb) Shawn Jones has already released four studio and one live album prior to this new album. He has also been out on tour with BB King, Buddy Guy and Robert Cray amongst … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment