Category Archives: PURE METAL (All posts)

Album reviews: HEXVESSEL – No Holier Temple

Svart Records – Out Now. A year or so ago I remember coming across a review from a fellow journalist which was pretty complementary of “Dawnbearer”, the debut release by the Finnish Folk Metal outfit Hexvessel and even though I … Continue reading

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Interview with BIFF BYFORD (Saxon)

I have been in the presence of many fellow music journalists, all of whom had at least one disappointing tale to tell of meeting with a music idol who failed to meet their expectations. Though I dreaded the same, I … Continue reading

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ALASTOR – Out Of Anger

    Metal Mind Records (Release date – out now) Polish thrashers, Alastor, have become something of a legend in their home country. Formed back in 1986 the band have had a mixed career, releasing four well received  albums . … Continue reading

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SABBATH ASSEMBLY – Ye Are Gods

Svart Records – Out Now. Religion and Mysticism have been closely linked with Rock throughout its history, providing both artists and bands with subjects for inspiration and discussion through music. While images of the goat have been sported on many … Continue reading

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JOLLY (Joe Reilly) Interview

  None of the interviews I have conducted so far has ever been as revealing about the artist as this one! Apparently, I’ve been choosing the wrong breakfast cereal for the past (almost) four decades of existence – thanks for … Continue reading

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GOD SEED – I Begin

Indie Recordings – Out Now. How many bands can you name which have recorded a live album at a festival as prestigious as Wacken Open Air before having released even a single note under their name? Chances are that, apart … Continue reading

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DARKTRIBE – Mysticeti Victoria

Massacre Records – Out Now. It’s typical that during an economic recession, the art world suffers most…state funds are reduced (if not scrapped altogether), people’s attendance at shows declines and record labels tend to invest less in their artists. It … Continue reading

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I SPIT ASHES – Inhaling Blackness…Reflecting Light

Massacre Records – Out Now. A picture is worth a thousand words, isn’t it? Normally, I would agree, however, this is not always the case…Take, for instance, the album cover of “Inhaling Blackness… Reflecting Light”, the debut release of the … Continue reading

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UNHERZ – Die Wahrheit Liegt Dazwischen

Masscare Records – Out Now. The Rhineland-Palatinate is one of the most culturally and linguistically varied areas of the Germany, bordering with Belgium and Luxembourg. It is quite natural, then, that this area would produce a band like Unherz – … Continue reading

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JOLLY – The Audio Guide To Happiness Part II

Inside Out – Release Date: 4/3/2013 One of the few major benefits of getting older is becoming more accepting and “open-minded” – a word much hated by a certain close friend of mine. Twenty years ago I would never have … Continue reading

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SEREMONIA – Seremonia

Svart Records – Out Now. Svart Records is a Finnish label whose releases I only recently managed to gain access to and, so far, I have been fairly impressed by both the variety and quality of music on offer. The … Continue reading

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SCORNAGE – Reafearance

Massacre Records – Out Now Aachen is a tranquil and picturesque Germany city located near the border with Belgium and the Netherlands, where the mineral springs and spa have been enjoyed by figures as important as the Holy Roman Emperor … Continue reading

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HOLY GRAIL – Ride The Void

Nuclear Blast – Out Now. It is official ladies and gentlemen: what people my age call “classic” and the younger generation refers to as “retro” Heavy Metal is back in fashion! All you have to do is visit a few … Continue reading

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Album review: CODE OF SILENCE – Dark Skies Over Babylon

Code Of Silence - Dark Skies Over Babylon

Mausoleum [Release date 25.02.13] Put together by Eden’s Curse bassist Paul Logue, Code Of Silence - if this debut album is anything to go by - is surely a band on the cusp of great things. Fronted by Brazilian vocalist Gus Monsanto … Continue reading

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NIGHTFALL – Kassiopeia

Metal Blade – Out Now. Nightfall and I go back a long time, all the way to the classic days of the late 80s/early 90s, the time when my country’s extreme Metal scene gave birth to some of the most … Continue reading

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VOIVOD – Target Earth

Century Media – Out Now 2013 is a very important year for Voivod. Having survived the passing of founding member Denis “Piggy” D’Amour, various line up changes and, most importantly, Mayan calendar prophesies of the end of days, the Canadian … Continue reading

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SAXON – Sacrifice

Saxon - Sacrifice

UDR/EMI 2CD  [Release date 04.03.13 ] NWOBHM Legends Saxon have been on a bit of roll with recent albums and tours getting much acclaim. And this new album sees no let up at all. This album is to the last … Continue reading

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FEAR FACTORY (Dino Cazares) Interview

Dino Cazares is a man who needs no introductions. When not blasting riffs through projects of true extreme quality such as Brujeria and Divine Heresy, he is responsible for all those killer riffs and flamboyant melodies that have made Industrial … Continue reading

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FREITOD – Regenjahre

Van Records – Out Now When the second wave of Black Metal, the one instigated by the likes of Darkthrone, Mayhem and Burzum, first made its impact on the world in the early 90s, the idea of Black Metal bands … Continue reading

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WINTERSUN – Time I

Nuclear Blast – Out Now Most of you are probably aware of ‘second album syndrome’, where bands that have received a decent level of exposure on their debut album find it difficult to create an equally good follow-up. In most … Continue reading

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PARADOX – Tales Of The Weird

AFM Records – Out Now Paradox are one of the most impressive Thrash Metal bands of the 80s which never managed to acquire a name and status worthy of their skill and musical abilities. The story of this Würzburg quartet … Continue reading

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THERION – Les Fleurs Du Mal

Self Published – Out Now Being a recording artist for twenty five years non-stop is an achievement that not many musicians can lay a claim to but Christofer Johnsson, lead guitarist and driving force behind the Swedish Symphonic/Classical Metal outfit … Continue reading

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THE RESISTANCE – Rise From Treason

    e.a.r Music (Release date – 28.01.13) The Resistance are a new band but one with a fantastic pedigree. The mainstays in the band are Jesper Stromblad and Glenn Ljungstrom both of whom were in In Flames, Jesper being … Continue reading

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ORCHID – Heretic

Nuclear Blast – Out Now Being a huge fan of the 70s I am quite content, yet somewhat baffled, by the music industry’s current fascination with the Rock scene of said era, and especially since a more commercially-orientated label like … Continue reading

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DUNDERBEIST – Songs Of The Buried

Indie Recordings – Out Now As a rule, if you cannot explain to people how to do something then you are better off doing it yourself. That seems to be the motto of the Norwegian sextet Dunderbeist – a band … Continue reading

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