Tag Archives: metal

Quick plays: CREMATORY, SONJA KRISTINA, SECTION A, SEB BACH, OVERLAND

Crematory - Antiserum

CREMATORY – Antiserum SPV www.spv.de [Release date 24.02.14] Crematory have a been around awhile starting out as a death metal band with gothic leanings and gradually steering more away from the death metal sound to a more industrial/gothic sound. This … Continue reading

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Gig review: I AM I, Barfly, Camden, 23 January 2014

I AM I

Breaking a quiet January for gigs, the cramped surroundings of the Barfly was the London stop on a brief UK tour by I Am I, the new musical vehicle for former Dragonforce singer ZP Theart. As with many bills at … Continue reading

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Album review: BLOODGOOD – Dangerously Close

Doolittle www.bloodgoodband.com Back in the late 80’s I discovered the delights of Christian rock/metal or white metal as it was known. Now the lyrics can be OTT and preachy at times but the bands on the whole were very good … Continue reading

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Album review: THE TREATMENT – Running With The Dogs

The Treatment - Running With The Dogs

Spinefarm Records [Release date – 3.01.14] The Treatment are a band who have lived a bit of a charmed life so far. Their first album ‘This Might Hurt’’ was recorded in the studio of Steve Harris from Iron Maiden and … Continue reading

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Album review: DRIVING MRS SATAN – Popscotch

Driving Mrs Satan - Popscotch

www.drivingmrssatan.com Does the world need an album of metal covers by acts like Helloween, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Anthrax, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Slayer and Faith No More? You might not think so, but when it’s something as unique as Popscotch, by … Continue reading

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Album Review: WHITE COAST REBELS – Hangin’ With The Bad Boys

WHITE COAST REBELS – Hangin’ With The Bad Boys

Self Release [Release date – out now] White Coast Rebels may be a name familiar to anyone who has spent time on the sun kissed beaches of the Costa Blanca. The band are based in the holiday region and play … Continue reading

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Album review: BLACK DIAMOND – Last Man Standing

BLACK DIAMOND – Last Man Standing

On Parole Productions [Release date – out now] When listening to this album one thing springs to mind – Iron Maiden. The band have an obvious love of Eddie and pay homage to Britain’s finest throughout the album. Where ‘homage’ … Continue reading

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Gig review: TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA – Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, London, 4 January 2014‏

The first time that I saw Trans-Siberian Orchestra live, it turned out to be one of the musical highlights of the year for me. The year was 2011, the venue exactly the same as tonight (note: then called The Hammersmith … Continue reading

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DVD Review – VARIOUS ARTISTS – Live At Wacken 2012

        UDR ( Release date – out now) As anyone with an ounce of metal in their veins knows the Wacken Festival is one of the longest established and heaviest festivals in Europe. This three DVD package … Continue reading

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Album review: SOT – Kind of Saltz

SOT - Kind Of Saltz

Soltanic Sounds [Available now] ‘Kind of Saltz’ appears to have been released some time ago but has just popped again in my pile of CD’s be reviewed.  It’s a wide ranging and engaging album, best described as 70’s jazz-rock fusion, … Continue reading

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Interview with LIV KRISTINE (Leaves’ Eyes) – 12 December 2013

Leaves

There are few people who I have thoroughly enjoyed talking to over the years in my capacity as a music journalist, and Liv Kristine, leading member of the Symphonic/Gothic Metal sextet Leave’s Eyes is certainly one of them. Hours prior … Continue reading

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Album review: THE MANIC SHINE – Let Go Or Be Dragged

THE MANIC SHINE – Let Go Or Be Dragged

The Animal Farm – [Release date: 27.01.14] It’s rare to hear an album crammed full of original ideas, great playing, a subtle production and crossover rock songs with real commercial potential. The aptly named The Manic Shine is a powerful … Continue reading

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Gig review: HARD ROCK HELL 7 – Pwllheli, Wales, 28-30 November 2013

Area 51 - Hard Rock Hell, November 2013

Roll Up, Roll Up, Roll Up (Rizlas? ed.) for the greatest show on earth, this certainly encompasses the feeling around the HRH community as “Hard Rock Hell 7 – Cirque De Rock” rolls into its now well established new home … Continue reading

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Album review: BRUCE BOUILLET – The Order Of Control

Bruce Bouillet - The Order Of Control

Music Theories Recordings [Release date 21.01.14] Instrumental guitar albums are a “difficult” genre to do well.  At GRTR! Towers we are subjected to all manner of offerings; most are over-indulgent, unoriginal and badly produced.  Bruce Bouillet may hold more of … Continue reading

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Gig review: MARDUK – London, The Underworld, 5 December 2013‏

Death Wolf

Support Acts: Grave, Death Wolf, Valkyrja Review & Photos by Yiannis (John) Stefanis With Morgan Steinmeyer Håkansson being the top guy that he is and Marduk one of the most energy driven and high performance black metal bands around, one … Continue reading

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Interview with TED LUNDSTROM (Amon Amarth) – 17 November 2013

Ted Lundstrom - Amon Amarth

The Forum is a large London-based venue, a place that many bands dream of selling out but something which only a handful are capable of achieving. This old theatre has been the home of the Swedish Melodic Death Metal band … Continue reading

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Gig review: AMON AMARTH – London, The Forum, 17 November 2013‏

Hell

Support Acts: Carcass, Bleed From Within, Hell Review by Yiannis (John) Stefanis Oh how times change! One thousand three hundred years ago, a ‘visit’ from the people of Scandinavia to these shores would have been accompanied by sheer terror and … Continue reading

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Quick Plays: THE DEEP END, PERFECT CRIME, RUSTED

The Deep End

THE DEEP END – Cop This Bad Reputation [Release date – 15.12.13]) Think Australian rock and no doubt AC/DC, Rose Tattoo and latterly Airbourne spring to mind. The Deep End take elements of all three and blend them into one … Continue reading

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Album review: FALLING RED – Empire Of The Damned

Falling Red

Self Release [Release date – 27.01.14] There can’t have been many rock bands from Carlisle over the years but Falling Red may be about to put the town firmly on the rock map. Over the last 6 years the band … Continue reading

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Album review: CRYSTAL VIPER – Possession

Crystal Viper - Possession

AFM Records www.afmrecords.de With an album cover looking like a tacky horror movie or a bad King Diamond album from the 1980’s the preconceptions start before I’ve even listened to this new release from Polish metal band Crystal Viper. Crystal … Continue reading

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Interview with ALEX STAROPOLI (Rhapsody Of Fire) – 7 November 2013

Name changes, line up changes, legal disputes: Rhapsody Of Fire have been through and survived all these last couple of years. What is quite surprising, though, is the fact that they have emerged looking stronger and with a top quality … Continue reading

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Album review: BADHOVEN – Obsession

        ATS Records (Release date – out now) The last group I can think of that broke out of Austria were the Von Trappe Family Singers who went on to find success in America. With the right … Continue reading

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Album review: SAXON – Unplugged And Strung Up

Saxon - Unplugged And Strung Up

UDR Music [Release date 18.11.13] Saxon are one of the enduring British rock bands who have consistently delivered the metal clad goods. This new album though offers something a little different in that the band have taken some of their … Continue reading

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Album review: FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH – The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell – Volume 2

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH – The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell – Volume 2

Eleven Seven Music [Release date 18.11.13] This album is the second instalment of Five Finger Death Punch’s masterplan to dominate the top spot in my end of year best of album round up. ‘Volume 1’ released earlier this year gained … Continue reading

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Album review: MOTORHEAD – Aftershock

      UDR Music [Release date 25.11.13] Aftershock is Motorhead’s 21st studio album in their impressive 38 year career. There may have been a few variations in the line-up over the years but Lemmy has always been in charge … Continue reading

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