Tag Archives: metal

Album review: BRAINSTORM – Scary Creatures

BRAINSTORM – Scary Creatures

AFM Records [Release date 15.01.16] Brainstorm’s 11th studio album “Scary Creatures” follows hot on the heels of 2014’s “Firesoul” and features ten more Euro-style power metal numbers. The Bavarian band were formed way back in 1989 and released their first … Continue reading

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Album review: EXUMER – The Raging Tides

EXUMER - The Raging Tides

Metal Blade [Release date 29.01.16] Old fashion thrashin’. It can’t be put more simply than that. Exumer released both “Possessed by Fire” and “Rising from the Sea” at the height of thrash’s popularity, the 80s. This is a band that … Continue reading

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EP reviews: MORE THAN MOST, HOMEWRECKR

MORE THAN MOST – Impossible Is Temporary

EP Review: MORE THAN MOST – Impossible Is Temporary Self release [Release date 05.02.16] This is the debut EP from the London five piece who formed back in 2014. They describe themselves as ‘electronic alt-rockers’ and contain elements from the … Continue reading

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Quick plays – HELLSPRAY, HURON, THE SHAMBOLIC

HELLSPRAY – Bring On The War

Album review: HELLSPRAY – Bring On The War Self Release  [Release date 07.08.15] This is the second album by Swedish metal band Hellspray following on from their debut ‘Part Of The Solution’. The band master in hard and fast metal … Continue reading

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Album review: MANIMAL – Trapped In The Shadows

MANIMAL – Trapped In The Shadows

AFM Records [Release date 20.11.15] Manimal return with their brand of Swedish metal in the form of “Trapped In The Shadows” but for me the band name is a little off putting as it serves as a reminder of that … Continue reading

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News: R.I.P. DAVID BOWIE

David Bowie

R.I.P. DAVID BOWIE 1947-2016 David Bowie has died at the age of 69 from cancer. His son, film director Duncan Jones, confirmed the news and a statement was issued on his social media accounts: “David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded … Continue reading

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Album review: PRONG – X: No Absolutes

PRONG - X: No Absolutes

SPV www.spv.de [Release date 05.02.16] Formed in New York City in 1986, Prong are a band that has flew under the radar to many in years gone by. The typical 80s thrash metal band also include many aspects of hardcore … Continue reading

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Album review: SANGUINE – Black Sheep

SANGUINE - Black Sheep

Odyssey Music [Release date 29.01.16] This is the second album from UK based alt metal band Sanguine who have appeared at Download and Hard Rock Hell Ibiza. The album was recorded at In Flames’ IF Studio and the band’s guitarist … Continue reading

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Quick plays: ASHBY, AMELIA WHITE, SHADES OF SORROW

ASHBY - Fragmental

ASHBY Fragmental [Release date 13.11.15] Ashby are a progressive rock quintet from Germany. Fronted by Sabina Mosel, three thoughts immediately struck me a vocal symmetry with Sam Brown and Doris Brendel, a proggy sound that put the band in a … Continue reading

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Album review: SEVEN SHOTS FROM SOBER – Songs From Stephen Ave

SEVEN SHOTS FROM SOBER – Songs From Stephen Ave

Self release [Release date 29.09.15] Named after a pedestrian mall in their native Calgary, ‘Songs From Stephen Ave’, is a smoking album from a Canadian powerhouse trio. With a name like Seven Songs From Sober, you’d expect nothing less than … Continue reading

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Quick plays: BRAD SCHECTER, ATOMIC SYMPHONY

BRAD SCHECTER - Live Your Dreams

BRAD SCHECTER – Live Your Dreams www.bradschecter.com This is Brad Schecter’s debut album (he has fronted a couple of metal bands according to his bio) and the songs on here represent 22 years of songs he has been working on. … Continue reading

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Gig review: HARD ROCK HELL IX – Hafan Y Mor, Pwllheli, Wales, 12-14 November 2015

Helloween -  HARD ROCK HELL IX - Hafan Y Mor, Pwlhelli, Wales, 12-14 November 2015

Thursday When the line-up was announced for this year’s 9th chapter of the Hard Rock Hell journey there were the usual naysayers but to be fair it’s the same for every festival… However one thing that topped everything was the … Continue reading

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Album review: SIMULACRUM – Sky Divided

SIMULACRUM – Sky Divided

Self Release  [Release date 28.08.15] This is the second album from Finnish prog metallers Simulacrum and rather good it is too. The band are led by Niklas on vocals and Chrism on keyboards who take care of the lyrics and … Continue reading

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Album review: GRAAL – Chapter 1V

Graal - Chapter IV

Code 7 – Jolly Roger [Release date 25.05.15] It ten years since the Italian prog rock band Graal’s debuted with ‘Realm Of Fantasy’ and ‘Chapter 1v’ finds them honing their craft in a genre hopping mode while revelling in instrumental virtuosity. … Continue reading

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Gig review: DEF LEPPARD/ WHITESNAKE, Hydro, Glasgow, 10 December 2015

DEF LEPPARD/ WHITESNAKE, Hydro, Glasgow, 10 December 2015

This run of shows must be one of the most hotly anticipated of 2015. A double header of Def Leppard and Whitesnake with Black Star Riders along as support, it promised an evening of classic rock heaven. Horrendous traffic (2.5 … Continue reading

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Album review: DANZIG – Skeletons

DANZIG – Skeletons

AFM Records [Release date 27.11.15] “Skeletons” is Glenn Danzig’s first studio release since “Deth Red Saboath” back in 2010 and it is an album of covers of songs that have influenced his career. The songs were supposedly recorded at various … Continue reading

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Quick plays: AMBERIAN DAWN, SUNSPOT, LUKE GASSER

AMBERIAN DAWN - Innuendo

AMBERIAN DAWN – Innuendo Napalm Records [Release date 23.1.15] Second album from the Finnish symphonic metal band to feature vocalist Capri Virkkunen and she helps lift the band from another run of the mill metal band. To be honest it … Continue reading

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Album review: PHANTASMA – The Deviant Hearts

PHANTASMA - The Deviant Hearts

Napalm Records [Release date 27.11.15] Phantasma is a project consisting of Georg Neuhauser (Serenity), Oliver Philipps (Everon) and Charlotte Wessels (Delain). Helping out are drummer Jason Gianni, bassist Randy George from Neal Morse’s band and Tom Buchberger (ex-Serenity) guests on … Continue reading

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Gig review: MOTLEY CRUE – Metro Arena, Newcastle, 2 November 2015

MOTLEY CRUE – Metro Arena, Newcastle, 2 November 2015

Almost 30 years ago, give or take a couple of months, I went along to the Edinburgh Playhouse to see Motley Crue who at that point were riding high on the success of their ‘Theatre Of Pain’ album. What a … Continue reading

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Album review: EVERTHRONE – The Dawning

EVERTHRONE - The Dawning

Tribunal Records/Divebomb Records [Release date 30.10.15] The first time I saw Everthrone they were opening for Fates Warning. As this was my first time seeing Fates Warning, frankly, I was WAY more excited about FW than any of the opening … Continue reading

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Album review: MAGNUS KARLSSON’S FREE FALL – Kingdom Of Rock

Frontiers [Release date 06.11.15] Primal Fear guitarist Magnus Karlsson returns with the second album under the Free Fall banner. Magnus handles all the instruments, bar the drums provided by Jamie Salazar and again, like the debut, he has some top … Continue reading

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Gig review: RIVERSIDE, SIXXIS, LION SHEPHERD – Ritz, Manchester, 22 October 2015

Riverside - Ritz, Manchester

With their superb new album, Love, Fear And The Time Machine to promote (check out my review), Riverside have been on tour since the end of August, taking in North, South and Central America as well as Europe. They rolled … Continue reading

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Album review: PAGAN’S MIND – Full Circle Live at Center Stage

SPV [Released 16.10.15] I have come quite late to the Pagan’s Mind party having first heard them on their 2011 release, ‘Heavenly Ecstasy’. Hailing from Norway, they play progressive metal or space metal as some have dubbed it. This show … Continue reading

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EP review: BLACKWATER DROWNING – Delusionary

BLACKWATER DROWNING - Delusionary

www.facebook.com/blackwaterdrowning If you haven’t heard the name Blackwater Drowning yet, don’t be alarmed. They’re very new on the scene and haven’t had the chance to make their presence known in the metal world. That’s what I intend to do for … Continue reading

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Album review: EXPENZER – Kill The Conductor

EXPENZER – Kill The Conductor

Czar Of Crickets [Release date 06.07.15] In the mid-Eighties thrash metal was king. Early Metallica and Anthrax releases were hailed as future classics but for me it was the first two albums by Slayer which defined the genre. ‘Show No … Continue reading

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