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Upcoming Gigs & Albums
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Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD/Bluray) 2025
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Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD/Bluray) 2026
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Upcoming: UK & Ireland Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2025)
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Upcoming: UK & Ireland Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2026)
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Upcoming: Festivals UK & Europe (2026)
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Upcoming: European, USA & World Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2025)
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Upcoming: European, USA & World Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2026)
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Category Archives: PURE METAL (All posts)
Album review: DEVOID – Cup Of Tears
MelodicRock Records [Release date 13.10.17] Devoid is the brainchild of French guitarist Shad Mae and features vocalist Carsten ‘Lizard’ Schulz (Evidence One and many other guest vocal spots), keyboardist Jorris Guilbaud, bassist Ben Toquet and drummer Ben Wanders. Joining this core … Continue reading
Album review: ANNIHILATOR – For The Demented
[Release date 03.11.17] Annihilator’s brief rise to fame in the late 80’s early 90’s was one that helped propel heavier music into the mainstream along with bands like Metallica, Megadeth, Pantera, and many others. With a hyper aggressive aproach to … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
Tagged album, Annihilator, For the Demented, Jeff Waters, metal, review, rock, Thrash
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Album review: KAIPA – Children Of The Sounds
Inside Out [Release date 22.09.17] According to Cambridge Online Dictionary, inspiration is defined as “the use of imagination or original ideas to create something”. The artists of the ancient world believed that their abilities came from the Gods and prayed … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
Tagged album, Children Of The Sounds, Kaipa, prog, Progressive Rock, review, rock
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Album review: SONS OF APOLLO – Psychotic Symphony
Inside Out [Release date 20.10.17] Sons Of Apollo only formed earlier this year and come labelled with the ‘supergroup’ tag, which can be a blessing or a curse – luckily a blessing in Sons Of Apollo case. The Sons Of … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, The Best of 2017
Tagged album, Billy Sheehan, Derek Sherinian, Dream Theater, Jeff Scott Soto, metal, Mike Portnoy, progressive, Psychotic Symphony, review, rock, Ron Bumblefoot Thal, Sons Of Apollo
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Album review: ICE AGE – Breaking The Ice
GMR [Release date 21.10.17] Many fans of 80s thrash may well remember all girl Swedish band Ice Age. Originally formed in Gothenburg by Sabrina Kihlstrand, Pia Nystrom, Sabrina’s sister Helena (later replaced by bassist Viktoria Lafsson), and drummer Tina Stromberg, … Continue reading
Album review: GAMMA RAY – Reissues (Land Of The Free/Alive ’95)
earMUSIC [Release date 29.09.17] earMUSIC’s Gamma Ray re-issue schedule continues with the band’s fourth studio album (original released in 1995) getting a deluxe 2CD re-issue. The second disc adds three songs (including the band’s blistering cover of Holocaust’s ‘Heavy Metal … Continue reading
Album review: THRESHOLD – Legends Of The Shires
Nuclear Blast [Release date 08.09.17] Threshold have been in the metal news a lot recently after vocalist Damian Wilson left the band in March and they announced former vocalist Glynn Morgan was returning to the band – he left them back … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, The Best of 2017
Tagged album, Damian Wilson, Glynn Morgan, Karl Groom, Legends Of The Shires, metal, Nuclear Blast, prog metal, progressive metal, review, Richard West, Threshold
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Album review: KLOGR – Keystone
Zeta Factory/Phd [Release date 06.10.17] Keystone is the new album from Italian-American alternative metal outfit, Klogr. Some may find the juxtaposition of very melodic, rather proggy instrumentation with grungy, alt-rock vocals something of an acquired taste but there are certainly … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
Tagged album, alternative, Keystone, Klogr, metal, review, rock
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Interview: METAL CHURCH (Mike Howe)
Mike Howe is very happy man these days and it shows. Having returned to Metal Church after a twenty year period gap, the Michigan-born singer has help Kurdt Vanderhoof and Co create in “XI” one of the most impressive comeback … Continue reading
Album review: EDGUY – Monuments
Nuclear Blast [Release date 14.07.17] Edguy are celebrating their 25th anniversary in style with this 28 song compilation that has an added live CD and DVD. Edguy main man Tobias Sammet never does things by halves and there are five … Continue reading
Interview: THE TANGENT (Andy Tillison)
Andy Tillison is a man I had the pleasure of talking to a couple of times in the past so when I was asked whether I would be interested in having a chat with him with regards the release of … Continue reading
Album review: ORDEN OGAN – Gunmen
AFM Records [Release date 07.07.17] Orden Ogan are back with their new studio album ‘Gunmen’ which follows hot on the heels of last year’s ‘The Book of Ogan’ compilation. They have already released a well received western themed video on … Continue reading
Interview: GRAVE DIGGER (Chris Boltendahl)
In my capacity as a music journalist, I have had the chance of meeting up and chatting with Grave Digger’s frontman Christ Boltendahl many times over the years and there’s never been a single occasion where I have found the … Continue reading
Interview: ORDEN OGAN
GRTR! recently caught up with Orden Ogan’s Dirk and Seeb ahead of the band’s upcoming album, ‘Gunmen’ which is released on AFM Records on July 7. The ‘Gunman’ video is very good indeed and will the storyline be carried onto the next … Continue reading
Album review: RHAPSODY OF FIRE – Legendary Years
AFM Records [Release date 26.05.17] After a lot of turmoil, and a number of recent line-up changes, the new look Rhapsody Of Fire lay their cards on the table with their new album, which sees the new line-up rerecord a … Continue reading
Album review: DANZIG – Black Laden Crown
AFM Records [Release date 26.05.17] My history with Glenn Danzig as a solo artist has been kinda iffy. I loved his stuff with The Misfits and Samhain, and the first three solo Danzig albums are stunningly brilliant. The fourth had … Continue reading
Gig review: SABATON / ACCEPT – 117 Piraeus Academy, Athens, 8 March 2017
European Power Metal has always enjoyed a healthy level of support in my home country but not even the most optimistic of music fans would expect that a venue as big as the Academy (can accommodate approximately 1600 people), of … Continue reading
Posted in GIG REVIEWS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Gig reviews
Tagged 117 Piraeus Academy, 8 March 2017, Accept, Athens, gig, Greece, power metal, review, Sabaton, Twilight Force
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EP review: PROWESS, BACKBONE CAST
BACKBONE CAST Power Within Ourselves EP Scandinavian blues rock anyone? Based around the Hannah’s soulful vocals and Hata Salmi’s evocative guitar work, with the sound filled out by Jony Oittinen (drums), Sami Vataja (bass) and Jani Kemppinen (Hammond and piano), … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Single and EP reviews
Tagged Backbone Cast, blues rock, EP, Headfirst, metal, Power Within Ourselves, Prowess, review, rock
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Album review: ACCEPT – Restless And Wild
Nuclear Blast [Release date 13.01.17] Legendary German metal band Accept has been a dominant force in the genre for a few decades now. Fewer bands have been as heralded and influential as Accept. Years ago original vocalist Udo Dirckschneider parted … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
Tagged Accept, album, classic, live, metal, Restless and Wild, review, rock, Wolf Hoffmann
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Interview: STEVE GRIMMETT
We catch-up with Steve Grimmett ahead of some South American dates and find out that there will be more from Grimmstine and the wonders of tea for singers… What can fans expect from the new album ‘Walking In The Shadows’? … Continue reading
Album review: AMON AMARTH – Jomsviking
Metal Blade [release date 25.03.16] You wouldn’t think prog rock legends Pink Floyd would have a lot in common with Swedish death metal gods Amon Amarth, however, there you’d be wrong – both bands have broken the boundaries with their … Continue reading
Album review: NOSOUND – Scintilla
Kscope [Release Date 2.9.16] Italian maestro Giancarlo Erra has been honing his craft under the Art/Progressive Rock moniker Nosound since 2002 and, according to the press release issued by the band’s current label Kscope, in studio album number six entitled “Scintilla”, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
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EP review: SEVEN KINGDOMS – In The Walls
Band Facebook page There are so many reasons why it makes me happy to no end that I am a fan of so many great local bands (many of which I also call great friends.) Not only do I have … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Single and EP reviews
Tagged EP, Evergrey, In The Walls, metal, review, rock, Sabrina Cruz, Seven Kingdoms
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Album review: TESTAMENT – Brotherhood Of The Snake
Nuclear Blast [Release date 28.10.16] How many bands with let’s say a 20-30 year lifespan can you name that have consistently released excellent albums from album #1 to <insert latest>? It’s not as easy as it seems. Most bands with … Continue reading
Album review: NO POWER NO CROWN – The Wake Up Call
One of the most energetic and entertaining live bands out of the Charlotte, NC area also happens to be one that tends to fall under the radar. They’re called No Power No Crown and they’ve been delivering their brand of … Continue reading
