Category Archives: Pure Metal/Album reviews

BURZUM – “FALLEN” BYELOBOG PRODUCTIONS (2011) Twenty years ago, following a short stint under the moniker Old Funeral, the Bergen born and raised Kristian Larsson Vikernes decides to form his own Black Metal project, ntitled Burzum. The story of this … Continue reading →

THE HAUNTED – “UNSEEN” CENTURY MEDIA (2011) Sixteen years ago and following the demise of the much revered and totally influential melodic Death Metal outfit At The Gates, brothers and founding members Anders and Jonas Bjorler began to look for … Continue reading →

SODOM – “IN WAR AND PIECES” SPV (2010) Thirty years ago, a young German by the name of Thomas Such was presented with a choice: either to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a coal miner in his hometown … Continue reading →

BELPHEGOR – “BLOOD MAGICK NECROMANCE” NUCLEAR BLAST (2011) According to demonology, Belphegor is a demon who helps people make discoveries and who manages to seduce them by suggesting ingenious inventions that will make them rich! Though all of the above … Continue reading →

DESTRUCTION – “DAY OF RECKONING” NUCLEAR BLAST (2011) Five years ago the legendary German Thrash metal trio Destruction decided to release a collection of re-recorded classics under the title “Thrash Anthems” – a collection which I remember describing as ‘not … Continue reading →

TANKARD – “VOL(L)UME 14” AFM RECORDS (2010) When you think of German Thrash Metal, which are the first three bands that come to mind? I can bet that the vast majority of you would name Sodom, Kreator and Destruction, and … Continue reading →

DEICIDE – “TO HELL WITH GOD” CENTURY MEDIA (2011) Deicide are one hell of a confusing and unpredictable band! Just as we all thought that a new era has started following the release of the quite impressive “Scars Of the … Continue reading →

SINISTER – “LEGACY OF ASHES” MASSACRE (2010) Death Metal is a very tricky business! I mean, how does anyone really go about it in the year 2010? Do you concentrate on technical skill by providing each of your compositions with … Continue reading →

CROWBAR -“SEVER THE WICKED HAND” CENTURY MEDIA (2011) “What? Are you serious? You’ve got to be joking, man!”. These were the exact words that came out of David, one of my best friend’s, after I blatantly informed him that I … Continue reading →

LEGION OF THE DAMNED – “DESCENT INTO CHAOS” MASSACRE (2011) When I think of Legion Of The Damned, I have this image of a group of black-clad, long haired (with the exception of drummer Erik Fleuren) lads, performing their riff-orientated, … Continue reading →

EKTOMORF – “REDEMPTION” AFM RECORDS (2010) Eight years ago, my good friend and fellow journalist Mr. Ritchie asked me to prepare a review for “Destroy” – the fifth studio effort of the Hungarian Thrash/Hardcore Metal outfit Ektomorf. I was really … Continue reading →

CRADLE OF FILTH – “DARKLY, DARKLY, VENUS AVERSA” PEACEVILLE (2010) If somebody asked me to compile a list of the most influential Black Metal albums that came out back in 1994, that list will almost certainly include Darkthrone’s “Transylvanian Hunger”, … Continue reading →

ROSS THE BOSS – “HAILSTORM” AFM RECORDS (2010) Manowar is one of those bands who can proudly claim to have some of the most loyal friends (and enemies) around the world – a band which, for the last thirty years, … Continue reading →

EXCITER – “DEATH MACHINE” MASSACRE RECORDS (2010) Every time the word classic 80s Metal is used in any article, the first few names that one expects to come across as its true and main representatives are Iron Maiden, Judas Priest … Continue reading →

ANTIMATTER – “ALTERNATIVE MATTER” PROPHECY PRODUCTIONS (2010) Anathema is one of those bands which I literally grew up listening to, a band whose sensationally dark and moody melodies helped not only answer many important questions, but also overcome various obstacles … Continue reading →

ELECTRIC WIZARD – “BLACK MASSES” RISE ABOVE (2010) Life is full of beautiful paradoxes! Take for instance the case of the Dorset-based Doom, Stoner or whatever-else-you-want-to-call-it quartet Electric Wizard. These fine British noisemakers made a whole career out of indulging … Continue reading →

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM – “THE COLD” DRIVEN MUSIC GROUP (2010) 2010 belongs to Thrash Metal! Why? Well, what else can you say when you know that the end of the first decade of the new millennium saw the release of … Continue reading →

FORBIDDEN – “OMEGA WAVE” NUCLEAR BLAST (2010) I have always hated Grunge music with a passion. Why? Apart from the fact that it provided numerous uneducated and incompetent ‘musicians’ with a platform and urged them to voice their ‘anxieties’, it … Continue reading →

VIRGIN STEELE – “THE BLACK LIGHT BACCHANALIA” SPV (2010) It feels very strange indeed when you come to realise that a band whose career you have been following from the very early days is about to release its twelfth studio … Continue reading →

DEATH ANGEL – “RELENTLESS RETRIBUTION” NUCLEAR BLAST (2010) Death Angel is a band I have been supporting from the bottom of my heart for the last twenty five years, as a) their music was always very intelligent and highly enjoyable … Continue reading →

NIGHTFALL – “ASTRON BLACK AND THE THIRTY TYRANTS” METAL BLADE (2010) When it comes to Greek extreme metal, the main ambassadors of the scene are and have always been Rotting Christ, however it was not long after Sakis Tolis and … Continue reading →

HAIL OF BULLETS – “ON DIVINE WINDS” METAL BLADE (2010) Death Metal is a genre that, in the last twenty five years, has graced us with quite a few talented people, with only a handful as important and influential as … Continue reading →

THERION – “SITRA AHRA” NUCLEAR BLAST (2010) Therion is a band that first came to my attention back in 1993 through the release of their epic third full-length “Symphony Masses: Ho Drakon Ho Megas” – an album that saw the … Continue reading →