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Gig review: CHEZ KANE- Fighting Cocks, Kingston upon Thames, 2 April 2026
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Gig review: BRAVE RIVAL – The Stables, Milton Keynes, 14 March 2026
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Gig review: A VERY SPECIAL EVENING OF MOTT THE HOOPLE – Riverside Studios, London, 27 February 2026
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Gig review: EMERALD MOON – Le Marquee, Peyrignac, Dordogne, SW France, 7 March 2026
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Category Archives: PURE METAL (All posts)
KORPIKLAANI -“MANALA”
KORPIKLAANI -“MANALA” NUCLEAR BLAST (2012) Folk Metal has evolved enormously since the early 90s, a period when bands like Skyclad gradually began convincing people that folk tunes and organs, such as the violin, in Metal can be an inspiring rather … Continue reading
DEW-SCENTED – “ICARUS”
DEW-SCENTED – “ICARUS” METAL BLADE (2012) Dew-Scented is a band that will forever stay in my memory as one of the first ever reviews I wrote back in 2003 was for the band’s then release “Impact”. Since then there have … Continue reading
TANKARD – “A GIRL CALLED CERVEZA”
TANKARD – “A GIRL CALLED CERVEZA” NUCLEAR BLAST (2012) How does a band manage to play the same style of music for thirty years, restricted to a specialised and somewhat controversial topic, and still manage to make a decent career … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
Tagged A GIRL CALLED CERVEZA, TANKARD
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DORO – Raise Your Fist In The Air
DORO – “RAISE YOUR FIST IN THE AIR EP” NUCLEAR BLAST (2012) Metal music has employed the services of many female vocalists over the years, none being more influential, respected and humble than Dorothee Pesch – the petite Dusseldorf-born blond … Continue reading
BURY TOMORROW – “THE UNION OF CROWNS”
BURY TOMORROW – “THE UNION OF CROWNS” NUCLEAR BLAST (2012) Portsmouth and Southampton have spawned numerous Metalcore outfits over the years, one of which, the melodic quintet Bury Tomorrow, is clearly doing enough to attract the attention of a major … Continue reading
KAIPA – “VITTJAR”
KAIPA – “VITTJAR” INSIDE OUT (2012) It feels very strange to be reviewing a band which released its debut effort around the same year you were born but this is indeed the link between me and the Swedish Prog Rockers … Continue reading
NILE – “AT THE GATE OF SETHU”
NILE – “AT THE GATE OF SETHU” NUCLEAR BLAST (2012) As a young man growing up in 70s/80s Athens, there were two things in life that I felt really passionate about: Egyptology and Heavy Metal. Happily, I have fulfilled my … Continue reading
BEFORE THE DAWN – “RISE OF THE PHOENIX”
BEFORE THE DAWN – “RISE OF THE PHOENIX” NUCLEAR BLAST (2012) Before The Dawn is a thirteen year old band which has always ended up falling beneath my radar somehow, even though a close friend of mine has prompted me … Continue reading
MNEMIC – “MNEMESIS”
MNEMIC – “MNEMESIS” NUCLEAR BLAST (2012) It was back in 2003 that I was first introduced to the Danish Industrial/Progressive/Extreme metallers Mnemic but I still remember how impressed I was by the band’s debut release “Mechanical Spin Phenomena”. Following the … Continue reading
KREATOR – “PHANTOM ANTICHRIST”
KREATOR – “PHANTOM ANTICHRIST” NUCLEAR BLAST (2012) It was twenty seven years ago that the Essen-based Thrash Metal legends Kreator released their ground-breaking debut “Endless Pain”. Since then, they have managed to etsablish themselves in the consciousness of every extreme … Continue reading
FATAL SMILE – 21st Century Freaks
GMR 2012 “21st Century Freaks” is the 4th album from Fatal Smile and is good old European metal- heavy yet melodic and with big choruses thrown in. Produced by the band’s guitarist Mr Y and engineered by drummer Philthy, Fatal … Continue reading
CRUCIFIED BARBARA – The Midnight Chase
GMR 2012 Crucified Barbara is Sweden’s, if not music in generals, premier female metal band. The four-piece has been together since 1998 and have just released 3rd album “The Midnight Chase”. Pretty much picking up where its predecessor, 2009’s “Til … Continue reading
GOTTHARD – “FIREBIRTH”
GOTTHARD – “FIREBIRTH” NUCLEAR BLAST (2012) Losing a fellow band member and a dear friend is an unbelieveably difficult situation for any musician to deal with, especially when this person happens to be as inspiring as Gotthard’s frontman Steve Lee. … Continue reading
SONATA ARCTICA – “STONES GROW HER NAME”
SONATA ARCTICA – “STONES GROW HER NAME” NUCLEAR BLAST (2012) It is not unheard of for me to be unaware of the works of high-profile popular bands…in fact, the more popular a band becomes with the mainstream music press, the … Continue reading
MUNICIPAL WASTE – “THE FATAL FEAST”
MUNICIPAL WASTE – “THE FATAL FEAST” NUCLEAR BLAST (2012) Pick up any extreme music related magazine, check out any Metal blog or Internet site and chances are that you will come across a piece of information that’s related to the … Continue reading
NACHTMYSTIUM – “SILENCING MACHINE”
NACHTMYSTIUM – “SILENCING MACHINE” CENTURY MEDIA (2012) Nachtmystium is a US based Black Metal quintet whose name has been popping up quite often in the music media, unfortunatelly not always for all the right reasons. Their decision to release their … Continue reading
JON OLIVA’S PAIN (Jon Oliva) INTERVIEW
JON OLIVA’S PAIN (Jon Oliva) INTERVIEW Jon Oliva is one really difficult guy to get a hold of for an interview. Though I did manage to meet him for a signing session when touring the UK for the promotion of … Continue reading
NEKROFEIST – Without Reserve Or Regret
Self Release 2012 I recently reviewed Nekrofeist’s debut EP which had been kicking around for a couple of years in their native Australia and awarded it 4/5 as it contained some rather good classic thrash. The band got in touch … Continue reading
DORO – Under My Skin: A Fine Collection Of Doro Classics
(2CD) AFM Records www.afm-records.de Doro Pesch is a true metal legend who has given her all for her fans and music (a telling interview I read with her said how she gave up any idea of raising a family as … Continue reading
Ministry, HMV Forum, Friday 20th July
Ministry, back on the road for the first time since a split in 2008, have lost nothing of their intensity and rage. In front of a pretty packed Forum crowd, mainman Al Jourgenson snarled and barked out barbs of political … Continue reading
Kiss and Motley Crue gig review
So when you’ve seen the same band 20+ times over the progress of nearly 30 years (yes, I know, there are others that have seen bands much more than that. They can go write their own story, this is mine) … Continue reading
LUCA TURILLI’S RHAPSODY – “ASCENDING TO INFINITY”
LUCA TURILLI’S RHAPSODY – “ASCENDING TO INFINITY” NUCLEAR BLAST (2012) Can somebody please explain to me what on earth is going on with the guys in Rhapsody? Having made quite an impression with their unique blend of Symphonic and Euro-Power … Continue reading
MESHUGGAH – “KOLOSS”
MESHUGGAH – “KOLOSS” NUCLEAR BLAST (2012) My introduction to the Umea-based experimental metallers Meshuggah was what many would consider an adventurous one, as it included a very…challenging trip back from a prestigious UK Metal festival in my small car during … Continue reading
BLACKMORE’S NIGHT – “A KNIGHT IN YORK” DVD
BLACKMORE’S NIGHT – “A KNIGHT IN YORK” DVD UDR/EMI (2012) Back in 1997, when guitar legend Ritchie Blackmore decided to abandon the world of classic Rock and instead indulge in his medieval folk musical fantasies with the help of his … Continue reading
MOONSPELL – “ALPHA NOIR”
MOONSPELL – “ALPHA NOIR” NAPALM RECORDS (2012) You know when you really begin to realise that you are getting older? When a band whose music you first came across what seems like only yesterday are celebrating their twentieth anniversary! One … Continue reading
