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Tag Archives: metal
Album review: ARCHON ANGEL – Fallen

Frontiers [Release date 14.02.20] Archon Angel is a new project born from a meeting between producer/guitarist Aldo Lonobile (Secret Sphere) and former Savatage and Circle II Circle vocalist Zak Stevens during the making of Timo Tolkki’s Avalon’s Return To Eden … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, Archon Angel, Circle II Circle, Fallen, metal, progressive metal, review, Savatage, Zak Stevens
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Album review: FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH – F8

Better Noise Records [Release date – 28.02.20] This is album number 8 from Five Finger Death Punch and it’s one that marks a number of firsts for the band. It is the first album to feature new drummer Charlie Engen, … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, CD, Charlie Engen, Chric Kael, F8, Five Finger Death Punch, Inside Out, Ivan Moody, Jason Hook, metal, review, rock, Zoltan Bathory
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Album review: ABSOLVA – Side By Side

Rocksector Records [Release date 18.10.19] Absolva formed from the ashes of Fury (UK) in 2012, featuring Chris Appleton (vocals, guitar), Luke Appleton (guitar, vocals), Martin McNee (drums) and bassist Karl Schramm, who joined the band in 2014. The band also … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
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Tagged album, Blaze Bayley, Fury UK, Iced Earth, Iron Maiden, Luke Appleton, melodic metal, metal, review
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Album review: RAGE – Wings Of Rage

SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 10.01.20] Every family has a black sheep. That one relative who never gets invited to Christmas lunch. Rage are that family member, the unhinged uncle who is usually locked in an attic or roaming around the woods. … Continue reading →
Album review: METAL CHURCH – The Elektra Years 1984-1989

Cherry Red Records [Release date 28.02.20] Before Kurdt Vanderhoof went off to invent a new genre with his band, Hall Aflame, in 1991, he released 3 albums with his startup venture, Metal Church. Cherry Red Records have bundled these into … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Reissues
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Tagged album, box set, Cherry Red Records, classic metal, David Wayne, Keith Howe, Kurdt Vanderhoof, metal, Metal Church, review, The Elektra Years 1984-1989, thrash metal
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Album review: BIRDEATSBABY – The World Conspires

Bandcamp [Release date 18.10.19] ‘The World Conspires’ is the fifth album from birdeatsbaby, who started out in 2009. Birdeatsbaby’s current line-up consist of Mishkin Fitzgerald (vocals, piano, accordion, synths), Hana Maria (violin, cello, vocals, harp, hurdy-gurdy), Garry Mitchell (bass, guitars, … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, Birdeatsbaby, experimental, folk, gothic, metal, progressive, review, rock, World Conspires
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Album review: ROSS THE BOSS – Born Of Fire

AFM Records [Release date 06.03.20] Just when you thought that there was no band more ‘metal’ than Manowar or Judas Priest, along comes Ross ‘the Boss’ Friedman and his crew to combine elements of both and more to provide an … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
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Tagged AFM Records, album, Born Of Fire, Dictators, guitarist, Judas Priest, Manowar, metal, Motorhead, review, Ross the Boss
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Backstage Hero Interview: MARTIN DAVID PORTER

Photographer Martin David Porter gives us an insider view form the other side of the photographer’s lens. You can view his work on his website and the Mart’s Arts Photography Facebook page. How did you become interested in photography? I’ve … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Backstage Heroes
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Tagged Backstage Hero, Gene Simmons, interview, Leader Of Down, Martin David Porter, metal, music, photography, rock, rock photographer, Toby Jepson
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Album review: BIFF BYFORD – School Of Hard Knocks

Silver Lining Music [Release date 21.02.20] One of British heavy metal’s finest icons, vocalist (and occasional bassist) Biff Byford has fronted Saxon since the mid 70s, when they were called Son Of A Bitch. And after talk of a solo … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars
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Tagged album, Biff Byford, classic rock, interview, metal, NWOBHM, OPETH, review, rock, Saxon, School Of Hard Knocks
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Gig review: FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH – Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, 30 January 2020

This was my first visit to the Cardiff Motorpoint Arena and on arrival at the venue prior to the doors opening I was greeted with massive queues waiting to get into the sold out venue. Thankfully local boy and crack photographer Darren Griffiths was a … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
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Tagged 30th January 2020, Bad Wolves, Cardiff, Dave Ellefson, Dave Mustaine, Dolores O'Riordan, F8, Five Finger Death Punch, gig, Ivan Moody, Jason Hook, Megadeth, metal, Motorpoint Arena, Peace Sells, rock, The Cranberries, Wrong Side Of Heaven, Zoltan Bathory, Zombie
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News: MARILLION, NICK MASON, STYX, BLUE OYSTER CULT (February 2020)

Marillion release an expanded version of ‘Script For A Jester’s Tear’ on April 3 as a 4CD/Blu-ray package and on 4LP. Nick Mason’s Saucerful Of Secrets will release ‘Live At The Roundhouse’ (2LP, 2CD/DVD and Blu-ray) on April 17 through … Continue reading →
Album review: SONS OF APOLLO – MMXX

Inside Out [Release date 17.01.20] Second studio outing from the prog metal supergroup Sons Of Apollo who consist of vocalist Jeff Scott Soto, bassist Billy Sheenan, guitarist Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal, drummer Mike Portnoy and on keyboards Derek Sherinian. Sons Of … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
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Tagged album, Billy Sheenan, Bumblefoot, Derek Sherinian, Dream Theater, Guns 'N' Roses, Jeff Scott Soto, Journey, melodic metal, metal, Mike Portnoy, MMXX, prog metal, progressive, review, Sons Of Apollo
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Single reviews: SOLD, FALSE HEARTS, HELLZ

SOLD ‘Empty Words’ Seemingly making quantum leaps with each new release, Estonia band Sold have really hit things out of the ballpark with ‘Empty Words’. A snarling wildcat of a song, its mix of growling male and clean female vocals … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
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Tagged False Hearts, Halestorm, Hellz, melodic metal, metal, new bands, review, singles, Sold
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Album review: ALUNAH – Violet Hour

Heavy Pysch Sounds [Release date 29.10.19] Midlands four-piece Alunah show that, without doubt, you can take something primal and brutal but turn it into a thing of beauty. Their 60’s tinged doom metal follows in the footsteps of pioneers Black … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, Alunah, Black Sabbath, Doom Metal, Heavy Psych Sounds Records, metal, psychadelic, review, Violet Hour
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Album review: SERPENTYNE & OPEROSE

Hell Fury Records [Release date 21.11.19] There is always so much to explore in music, as you explore every sub-genre of a sub-genre. Modern Symphonic Metal is a good case in point and, what was once just purely the domain … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged albums, Angels of the Night, Jennifer Coleman, Lion Music, Maggiebeth Sand, melodic, metal, Oceans Of Starlight, Operose, review, Serpentyne, symphonic metel
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Single reviews: SHADES OF GRAY, KOBURG, THUNDERSTICK

SHADES OF GRAY – I Get Up In a dark world, there are few things that unite us and raise our spirits more than music. Not many people understand this as fully as Myke Gray and the guitar guru/songwriter/producer offers … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
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Tagged alternative, Bastette, Derange, indie, Junk Food Death, Koburg, metal, Molly Karloff, Planet Rock Allstars, Powderhead, review, rock, Shades Of Gray, singles, Thunderstick
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Album review: KOBURG – Position Of Power

Bandcamp [Release date 01.01.20] It sounds like a fairy tale but, at the stroke of midnight, as the old year passed into the next decade, a new Queen was crowned. Now, America has Amy Lee, Holland has Floor Jansen, Sweden … Continue reading →
News: FM, SKAGARACK, AIRRACE, NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA (January 2020)

Compiled by Jason Ritchie Got news? We want to hear it! Contact us now FM (pictured) have completed work on their new album and it will be released on Frontiers in April. THE DOGS D’AMOUR are planning to release a … Continue reading →
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, Re-issues/special editions, RIP
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Tagged Airrace, album, AOR, classic rock, FM, gigs, January 2020, melodic rock, metal, Neil Innes, New releases, NEWMAN, news, Night Flight Orchestra, RIP, Skagarack, the Brothers
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Album review: MOB RULES – Beast Over Europe

SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 13.09.19] Germany has long been a hotbed for rock and metal, with the Scorpions, Accept, Doro and Bonfire leading the way and the huge Waken Open Air festival bringing Teutonic thunder to the world. Celebrating their 25th … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
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Tagged album, Beast Over Europe, live, melodic metal, metal, Mob Rules, power metal, review
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Album review: ANVIL – Legal At Last

AFM Records [Release date 14.02.20] It’s impossible not to love Anvil. Sure, prior to the 2008 ‘Anvil! The Story of Anvil’ documentary they were just scratching a living, playing anywhere and everywhere that would have them but that film was … Continue reading →
Quick plays: SANGUINE, GRAHAM PARKER & THE RUMOUR

SANGUINE Cold Blood [Release date 06.13.19] Sanguine caught this reviewer’s attention with their 2016 release ‘Black Sheep’, where they successfully melded melodic metal riffs with the impressive vocals of Tarin Kerrey, along with some screamo vocals from guitarist Nick Magee … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
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Tagged album, alternative metal, blues, Cold Blood, Graham Parker, live, metal, pub rock, Quick Plays, review, rock, Sanguine, the Rumour
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News: CROWDED HOUSE, EAGLES, DENNIS DEYOUNG, 10CC, THE CULT (December 2019)

News compiled by Jason Ritchie Got news? We want to hear it! Contact us now Dennis DeYoung’s new album ’26 East: Volume 1,’ will be released Spring 2020 via Frontiers and will feature the duet “The Good Old Days” with … Continue reading →
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, Re-issues/special editions
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Tagged 10CC, classic rock, Crowded House, December 2019, Eagles, folk, melodic rock, metal, New releases, news, Queen, rock, The Cult, tour dates
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Album review: PAUL DI’ANNO – Hell Over Waltrop: Live In Germany

Metalville [Release date 31.01.20] Forever known as the original Iron Maiden vocalist (and something he’s somewhat played on over the years), Paul Di’Anno and his band were asked to play this festival in 2006 and the recently discovered tapes are … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged Alex Harvey, classic metal, Hell Over Waltrop, Iron Maiden, Live In Germany, metal, Paul Di'Anno, punk
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EP review: THE SELF-TITLED – Beers & Bulls

http://www.theselftitled.com Four piece the Self-Titled have been around a few years, releasing their debut album ‘Defaced’ in 2012 and now they have a new four song EP ‘Beers & Bulls’ out. The band consist of vocalist Tom Procter, drummer Paul … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
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Tagged album, alternative, Beers & Bulls, EP, Faith No More, metal, modern rock, RATM, review, rock, the Self-Titled
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Album review: QUIET RIOT – Hollywood Cowboys

Frontiers [Release date 08.11.19] “After nearly ten years since the loss of his friend and co-founding member and bandmate Kevin DuBrow, and with careful consideration, soul searching and with the blessings and support of Kevin DuBrow’s family, Frankie has moved … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, classic rock, Frankie Banali, Frontiers, hard rock, Hollywood Cowboys, James Durbin, Kevin DuBrow, metal, Quiet Riot, review
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