Category Archives: PURE METAL (All posts)

Album review: P.O.D. – Veritas

Posted on March 29, 2024 by jason

Mascot Records [Release date 05.05.24] It has been 30 years since they broke onto the scene with their debut album. Being a keen Nu-Metal fan, this was very exciting for me and highly anticipated. I was hoping that the album would … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Mascot records, metal, nu-metal, P.O.D. Veritas, Randy Blythe, review | Leave a comment

News: ARMORED SAINT, SKID ROW, ANTHRAX (April 2024)

Posted on March 28, 2024 by jason

HALESTORM- Shepherds Bush Empire, London, 13 March 2022

ABBA release a 50th anniversary edition of their ‘Waterloo’ album on April 5 via Polar Music International. The reissue will include a limited edition box set of three vinyl singles originally released in 1974. Anvil release their new album ‘One And Only’ via AFM Records on … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP | Tagged Anthrax, Armored Saint, classic rock, folk, gigs, metal, New releases, news, punk, rock, Skid Row, tours, Tyketto | Leave a comment

Album review : FIREWIND – Stand United

Posted on March 24, 2024 by brianmc

AFM Records [Release date : 08.03.24] 10th album from Power Metal band, Firewind. The band, Gus G, Herbie Langans, Petros Cristo and Jo Nunez have established their Power Metal credentials over and over again during the last 25 years, with … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Firewind, Gus G, Herbie Langans, Iron Maiden, Jo Nunez, Judas Priest, Petros Cristo, power metal, review, Stand United | Leave a comment

Album review: LILLIAN AXE – The Box Vol 2, The Quickening

Posted on March 22, 2024 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 29.03.24] The Quickening is the second instalment of a two part series documenting the recorded life and times of metal’s most underrated band, Lillian Axe. There are six CDs. CD1: Deep Red Shadows (2010) w/7 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News | Tagged boxset, Deep Red Shadows, Fields Of Yesterday, heavy metal, Lillian Axe, Quickening, review, Steve Blaze, The Days Before Tomorrow | Leave a comment

Album review : TROJAN / TALION – The Complete Recordings 1984/90 (5 CD Boxset)

Posted on March 20, 2024 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 28.03.24] Boxset of remastered material from UK Thrash/Speed Metal band, Trojan, aka Talion. 5 CDs, 49 tracks. CD1: TROJAN : Chasing The Storm studio album, 1985 CD2: TROJAN : Capturing The Storm – Live At … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged boxset, Graeme Wyatt, onslaught, Pete Wadeham, Speed Metal. Thrash Metal, Talion. NWOBHM, Testament, Trojan, Wigan | Leave a comment

Album review : LEAVES’ EYES – Myths Of Fate

Posted on March 15, 2024 by brianmc

AFM Records [Release date : 22.03.24] Fans of the band, or even just the genre, will know that German Symphonic Metal band, Leaves’ Eyes are totally immersed in Nordic and Celtic mythology. Pipes, fiddles, choirs, growls, all spin up through … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Alexander Krull, Celtic, Elina Siirala, German, Jonah Weigarten, Leaves' Eyes, Nordic, review, symphonic metal | Leave a comment

Album review : LORDS OF BLACK – Mechanics Of Predacity

Posted on March 8, 2024 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date : 15.03.24] The Lords Of Black are on their sixth album now, so they must be doing something right, Mechanics… is a thematically sound treatise on the human condition, in which they“embark on a profound exploration of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts) | Tagged album, Lords Of Black, power metal, Predator, Prey, prog metal, review, Ronnie Romero, Survival | Leave a comment

News: EPICA, KATE BUSH, LOVERBOY (March 2024)

Posted on March 2, 2024 by jason

THOSE DAMN CROWS – Islington Assembly Hall, London – 24th February 2023

Jon Anderson’s 1988 album ‘In The City Of Angels’, is to be reissued on May 3 through the Floating World/Voiceprint. Babylon A.D. release their new studio album ‘Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day’ in May. Sebastian Bach releases his latest solo album, ‘Child Within … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Re-issues/special editions, RIP | Tagged albums, AOR, blues, Epica, folk, gigs, Kate Bush, Loverboy, melodic rock, metal, news, prog rock, reissues, RIP, rock, tour dates | Leave a comment

Interview: BRING BACK PERSEPHONE

Posted on February 9, 2024 by jason

I have been involved in the music industry long enough to know that bands with passion and clear musical vision are not lacking in this world. One such band, Metalcore enthusiasts Bring Back Persephone, just so happens to hail from … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews | Tagged Bring Back Persephone, Dead Man’s Hand, Dennis (guitars), interview, Kostas (vocals), Lars Ulrich, metal, metalcore, Rising Stars, Spotify | Leave a comment

Album review : KMFDM – Let Go

Posted on February 5, 2024 by brianmc

Metropolis Records [Release date : 02.02.24] KMFDM’s 23rd album is a mixed bag of sights and sounds, each one contributing to a predominant image of a patchwork musical quilt. Each track is an auditory outcry, all cleverly stitched together in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, heavy metal, KMFDM, Lucia Ciferelli, mountain lion, NDY, Rammstein, review, Sascha Konietsko, Stahlmann | Leave a comment

News: ELLES BAILEY, HEART, BON JOVI (February 2024)

Posted on January 30, 2024 by jason

JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR - O2 Ritz, Manchester, 17 March 2019

Lee Aaron will be releasing a covers album ‘Tattoo Me’ via Metalville Records on April 26. Ayreon release ’01011001 – Live Beneath The Waves’ through Music Theories Recordings/Mascot Label Group on May 17. Elles Bailey releases a new EP ‘The Night Owl & the Lark’ on February … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP | Tagged albums, AOR, blues, Bon Jovi, Elles Bailey, folk, gigs, Heart, melodic rock, metal, news, prog rock, reissues, RIP, rock, tour dates | Leave a comment

Album review: DYMYTRY – Five Angry Men

Posted on January 18, 2024 by brianmc

AFM Records [Release date : 26.01.24] Second English language album from Czech Power Metal band, Dymytry, (their sixth overall). The arrival of vocalist, Alen Lubic has made all the difference in creating an international appeal. Musically, this new album is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Alen Lubic, Czech Republic, Dymytry, Five Angry Men, Goth Rock, NDH, Oppenheimer, power metal, review, social media | Leave a comment

Singles review: NIGHTMARE, ALTERIUM

Posted on January 15, 2024 by brianmc

AFM Records [Release date : 12.01.24] Formed in 1979, Power Metal French band, Nightmare have been worshipping the mighty riff for 11 albums now. Ex Songbird frontwoman, Barbara Mogore, is the band’s new vocalist, subsequently showing off her vocal versatility on a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Single and EP reviews | Tagged Alterium, Barbara Mogore, French, Italian, Nicolletta Rosselini, Nightmare, power metal, review, singles | Leave a comment

Album review: EXIT EDEN – Femme Fatales

Posted on January 12, 2024 by jason

Napalm Records [Release date 12.01.24] Exit Eden are down to the trio of Clémentine Delauney (Visions Of Atlantis), Anna Brunner (League Of Distortion) and Marina La Torraca (Phantom Elite), for this, their second album, after Amanda Somerville left the band … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged Amanda Somerville, Anna Brunner, Clémentine Delauney, Exit Eden, Femme Fatales, Heart, League Of Distortion, Marillion, Marina La Torraca, melodic metal, Napalm Records, Nightwish, Pet Shop Boys, Phantom Elite, symphonic metal, Visions Of Atlantis | Leave a comment

Album review: METALITE – Expedition One

Posted on January 8, 2024 by brianmc

AFM Records [Release date 19.01.24] Is this 15 track, high concept sci-fi metal album meant to be fun? Because it most certainly is. Not funny, but fun. It’s high energy, as well as high concept. It’s got a slick, sophisticated, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, concept, Edwin Premberg, Erica Ohlsson, Expedition One, Metalite, review, symphonic rock | Leave a comment

Album review: THE GRANDMASTER – Black Sun

Posted on January 5, 2024 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release date: 12.01.24] For The Grandmaster’s second album, mainman, guitarist and Edguy co-founder, Jens Ludwig has recruited ex Fate vocalist, Peer Johansson. Surprisingly, given the accessibility of the material they created in previous employment, much of Black Sun … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Edguy, Fate, Jens Ludwig, NWOBHM, Peer Johansson, power metal, review, Secret Sun, Teutonic, The Grandmaster | Leave a comment

News: KREATOR, ARCH ENEMY, DAN PATLANSKY (January 2024)

Posted on December 31, 2023 by jason

Art Of Anarchy release their third studio album, ‘Let There Be Anarchy’, on February 16 via Pavement Music. Jon Votta (guitar),Vince Votta (drums) and guitarist Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal are joined by vocalist Jeff Scott Soto and bassist Tony Dickinson. The Black Keys new album ‘Ohio Players’ is due … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews, Re-issues/special editions, RIP | Tagged albums, AOR, Arch Enemy, blues, Dan Patlansky, folk, gigs, Kreator, melodic rock, metal, news, prog rock, reissues, RIP, rock, tour dates | Leave a comment

Album review : EVERDAWN – Venera

Posted on December 10, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date 08.12.23] Classy and classic symphonic metal from Everdawn. Who could ask for more? This US band made a few waves with their debut, (when they were known as Midnight Eternal), only to have internal disputes lead to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Alina Gavrilenko, Eric Rachel, Everdawn, review, Russian, symphonic metal, Tommy Hansen, Venera | Leave a comment

Album review : LAIBACH – Nova Akropola (3 CD set)

Posted on November 30, 2023 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 01.12.23] It was only when Slovenia gained independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, that avant garde, politically aware metal band, Laibach gained wider acceptance in the country of their birth. Culturally, Yugoslavia was already the most … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Balkans, EU, extreme metal, Laibach, Morbid Angel, Nova Akropola, political, Slovenia, Type O Negative | Leave a comment

News: SPINAL TAP, PROG FOR PEART, MARTYN JOSEPH (December 2023)

Posted on November 29, 2023 by jason

Big Big Train will release their 15th studio album ‘The Likes Of Us’ on March 1 via InsideOut Music. Founding Crimson Glory members Ben Jackson (guitar), Jeff Lords (bass) and Dana Burnell (drums) are being joined by new vocalist Travis Wills and guitarist Mark “Borgy” Borgmeyer. Two new singles, ‘Triskaideka’ and ‘Indelible Ashes’, … Continue reading →

Posted in 20th Anniversary 2003-2023, Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP | Tagged albums, AOR, blues, folk, gigs, Martyn Joseph, melodic rock, metal, news, Prog fof Peart, prog rock, reissues, RIP, rock, Spinal Tap, tour dates | Leave a comment

Album review : LILLIAN AXE – The Box Volume One Resurrection

Posted on November 26, 2023 by brianmc

Cherry Red / HNE [Release Date : 24.11.23] Lillian Axe is the thinking man’s heavy metal band. Even if you hadn’t heard the music, mainman Steve Blaze (writer/guitarist/producer) writes a cracking set of liner notes. Here is just a glimpse: … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged heavy metal, Lillian Axe, Resurrection, review, Sunset Strip | Leave a comment

Album review : SECRET SPHERE – Blackened Heartbeat

Posted on November 4, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date 10.11.23] Blackened Heart is the tenth studio album from the EU’s Power Metal poster boys, Secret Sphere. It’s also the second with original vocalist, Roberto Messina, who reunited with the band on 2021’s Lifeblood, after an 8 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged Aldo Lonobile, Blackened Heartbeat, concept, Lifeblood, power metal, review, Roberto Messina, Secret Sphere | Leave a comment

News: KOBRA PAIGE, FIREFEST, TRAGIK (November 2023)

Posted on October 30, 2023 by jason

GLENN HUGHES- Electric Ballroom, London, 25 October 2023

Bon Jovi have released a new song ‘Christmas Isn’t Christmas’. Caligula’s Horse release their new album ‘Charcoal Grace’ through InsideOut Music on January 26. Sheryl Crow will release her new album, ‘Evolution’, on March 29, 2024 via The Valory Music Group, … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP | Tagged albums, AOR, blues, Firefest, folk, gigs, melodic rock Kobra Paige, metal, news, prog rock, RIP, rock, tour dates, Tragik | Leave a comment

Album review: DORO – Conqueress – Forever Strong and Proud

Posted on October 29, 2023 by jason

Nuclear Blast [Release date 27.10.23] Doro Pesch is one of metal’s most consistent performers, both on stage and in the studio, having lost none of her vocal range and power, as opener ‘Children Of The Dawn’ ably illustrates. The Queen … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Bonnie Tyler, classic metal, Conqueress – Forever Strong and Proud, Doro, melodic metal, metal, Nuclear Blast, review, Rob Halford | Leave a comment

Album review : VENOM – Live From The Hammersmith Odeon (CD/DVD Deluxe Digipak)

Posted on October 28, 2023 by brianmc

Venom-Live-at-Hammersmith-CD_DVD-expanded-2-scaled 150

Cherry Red [Release date : 27.10.23] Formed in England’s industrial North East in 1979, there was none heavier, none more extreme and indeed none more influential in the heavy metal genre than Venom. The band’s reputation was born out of … Continue reading →