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Upcoming Gigs & Albums
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Latest Gig Reviews
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Gig review: PAUL McCARTNEY- 02 Arena, London, 18 December 2024
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Gig review: BLACK EYED SONS- The Lexington, London, 16 December 2024
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Gig review: BRAVE RIVAL – Thames Side Brewery, Staines, 8 December 2024
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Gig review: STRAY – The Cavern, Raynes Park, London, 7 December 2024
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Gig review: THE SHEEPDOGS, THE COMMONERS – Islington Assembly Hall, London, 5 December 2024
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Gig review: GUN – Barrowlands, Glasgow, 14 December 2024
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Featured Album Reviews
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Album review: ESBE – I Might Be Dreaming
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Album review: SEAN TAYLOR – The Beat Goes On
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Feature: GRTR!@20 Anniversary – Melodic Rock – Primer
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Album review: DEEP PURPLE – In Concert ’72 (2012 Mix)
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Album review: HOW WE LIVE – Dry Land (Steve Hogarth)
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Album review: ELOY – The Vision, The Sword and The Pyre (Part II)
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Category Archives: Pure Metal/Album reviews
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
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
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
GRAND MAGUS – “THE HUNT”
GRAND MAGUS – “THE HUNT” NUCLEAR BLAST (2012) Since their inception back in 1996, Swedish Heavy Metal trio Grand Magus have experienced quite a few label changes in their quest to achieve maximum value in the Metal market. Though their … Continue reading
JOB FOR A COWBOY – “DEMONOCRACY”
JOB FOR A COWBOY – “DEMONOCRACY” METAL BLADE (2012) Job For A Cowboy is a Death Metal/Deathcore quintet that was first unleashed upon the world back in 2003 and which, almost from day one, has enjoyed the full support of … Continue reading
SIX FEET UNDER – “UNDEAD”
SIX FEET UNDER – “UNDEAD” METAL BLADE (2012) When Chris Barnes decided to leave US legends Cannibal Corpse in order to pursue a different musical path with Six Feet Under back in 1993, my initial reaction was not that positive … Continue reading
INVIOLATE – Feast of Ashes
At the recent KISS Expo in Atlanta that I was lucky enough to attend, there was a table set up with the band Atlanta based band called Inviolate, where I met the lovely and delightful singer Kadria. She had a … Continue reading
Posted in PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
Tagged Feast of Ashes, INVIOLATE
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PATHFINDER – Fifth Element
Sonic Attack Records 2012 Reviewing albums can be a hit and miss affair. When a new package arrives you never know what to expect, good, bad or occasionally, downright ugly. On the flip side though is the odd gem that … Continue reading
AFFECTOR – “HARMAGEDON”
AFFECTOR – “HARMAGEDON” INSIDE OUT (2012) The concept of the “end of days” is one that has been troubling humanity for many centuries and with 2012 being likewise marked in the Mayan calendar I am sure that there are quite … Continue reading
HEADSPACE – “I AM ANONYMOUS”
HEADSPACE – “I AM ANONYMOUS” INSIDE OUT (2012) Inside Out is one of those labels that have proven over the years that they have a good instinct when it comes to discovering young and promising bands, however, in the case … Continue reading
WRATHBLADE – “INTO THE NETHERWORLDS REALM”
WRATHBLADE – “INTO THE NETHERWORLDS REALM” EAT METAL RECORDS (2012) Being a teenager into Metal back in the 80s in Greece meant that not only did I experience first-hand the first few legendary gigs that took place in Athens, but … Continue reading
CATTLE DECAPITATION – Monolith Of Inhumanity
With titles like ‘Gristle Licker,’ ‘A Living, Breathing Piece Of Defecating Meat,’ and my personal fav ‘Forced Gender Reassignment,’ I was instantly entranced. Indeed, Cattle Decapitation has quickly found its way into my shortlist of my favorite extreme metal bands. … Continue reading
Posted in PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
Tagged Cattle Decapitation
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SIX FEET UNDER – Undead
Metal Blade 2012 Here’s the thing: I’ve never really been a fan of six Feet Under. I my original dislike of Cannibal Corpse has been documented here, though I now love them. For me though, it’s the albums after Corpsegrinder … Continue reading
Posted in PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
Tagged Metal Blade, Six Feet Under
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ODDLAND – “THE TREACHERY OF SENSES”
ODDLAND – “THE TREACHERY OF SENSES” CENTURY MEDIA (2012) Music contests are functions that I absolutely love to hate! I am not sure whether that is a result of me living in the United Kingdom for the last decade, where … Continue reading
HEADSPACE – I Am Anonymous
Inside Out 2012 www.insideout.de Not a name – yet – but you will doubtless know the band members: vocalist Damian Wilson (Threshold/Ayreon), Adam Wakeman on keyboards (Ozzy Osbourne), guitarist Pete Rinaldi, bassist Lee Pomeroy (Take That/It Bites) and drummer Richard … Continue reading
ANGELUS APATRIDA – “THE CALL”
ANGELUS APATRIDA – “THE CALL” CENTURY MEDIA (2012) Spain may not be the biggest market for Metal music, far from it, but no-one doubts the passion and devotion of our Iberian brothers to metal. Actually, if memory serves, Angelus Apatrida, … Continue reading
EXUMER – “FIRE & DAMNATION”
EXUMER – “FIRE & DAMNATION” METAL BLADE (2012) As a young 80s Thrasher I was naturally interested in the works of bands such as Metallica, Exodus, Slayer and Megadeth, but after a while, I found myself drawn to more obscure … Continue reading
