Category Archives: Pure Metal/Album reviews

VENDETTA – “FEED THE EXTERMINATION” MASSACRE (2011) 1987 was a very important year for me. Having been introduced to the likes of Metallica and Slayer through older acquaintances friends and the invaluable guidance of the Greek Metal Hammer, it did … Continue reading →

ANGEL WITCH – “AS ABOVE, SO BELOW” RISE ABOVE (2012) It really is no exaggeration to say that London-based NWOBHM combo Angel Witch is one truly unique band. Having formed back in 1977 (under the moniker “Lucifer”) by guitarist/vocalist Kevin … Continue reading →

ALCEST – “LES VOYAGES DE L’AME” PROPHECY PRODUCTIONS (2012)   One of the things that music journalists love to do, especially the ones involved in the ever expanding Metal scene, is to create new sub-genres and then christen them with … Continue reading →

Prophecy Productions Writing about music is an activity I have undertaken with much passion and devotion over the last decade and, as it happens with every occupation outside work, it does tend to occupy much of my free time. So … Continue reading →

 The story of Varg Vikernes has been very well documented and is well known by all fans of Metal music through the years. In 2009, fifteen whole years after being first incarcerated for the murder of Mayhem’s leading man Oystein … Continue reading →

Irish trio, Dead Label, formed in 2008, won a nationwide battle of the bands the following year and released an EP in 2010. This album release then is the natural progression for the band and one they hope will move … Continue reading →

Antipodean thrashers 4 Arm have been peddling their wares for the past 8 years and have gathered a good fan base and a number of equipment endorsements along the way. This is the band’s 3rd album, the others being 2005‘s … Continue reading →

Fourth Autumn are clearly a band with a with a sense of humour, all be it of the black variety. This is the Welsh death metaller’s debut album and the band describe their sound as a mix of Behemoth, The … Continue reading →

VADER – “WELCOME TO THE MORBID REICH” NUCLEAR BLAST (2011)

MY DYING BRIDE – “THE BARGHEST O’WHITBY” PEACEVILLE (2011) Yorkshire-based Doomsters My Dying Bride have never been the kind of band which shies away from experimentation. Clear evidence can be found in any of the band’s recordings including “Evinta” – … Continue reading →

Venom, now there is a name from the past. My earliest encounter with Cronos and co was way back on the early 80 ’s Channel 4 rock programme ‘ ECT’ playing ‘Too Loud For The Crowd’, happy days. The band … Continue reading →

THE DEVIL’S BLOOD – “THE THOUSANDFOLD EPICENTRE” VAN RECORDS (2011) Two years ago, during one of my numerous pilgrimages to beautiful Germany whilst visiting a very dear friend of mine, I was introduced to the sounds of an album entitled … Continue reading →

DIABOLOS DUST – “RUINS OF MANKIND” MASSACRE RECORDS (2011) The music industry has changed dramatically over the years when it comes to finding and supporting young talent. Back in the 80s, all a band had to do was to record … Continue reading →

DESCENDING – “NEW DEATH CELEBRITY” MASSACRE RECORDS (2011) Greece may indeed be a tiny country, especially when compared to places like Germany and UK, however both its contribution towards, and support of Metal music over the years has been undeniable. … Continue reading →

VALLENFYRE – “A FRAGILE KING” CENTURY MEDIA (2011) Human loss is dealt with in a personal way by anyone affected by it, but it has also been one of the topics that art, as a channel for conveying human emotion, … Continue reading →

WARBRINGER – “WORLDS TORN ASUNDER” CENTURY MEDIA (2011) The year 2004 is a seminal one for Thrash Metal as it witnessed the birth of a number of young acts who are directly responsible for what has been widely recognised as … Continue reading →

CRADLE OF FILTH – “EVERMORE DARKLY…” PEACEVILLE (2011) Fame and commercial success may be well be the main goals of every person that ever picked on an instrument, however, there are plentiful of examples where this has led to some … Continue reading →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →