Tag Archives: metal

Book review: ‘Reinventing Metal – The True Story of Pantera’ by Neil Daniels

Backbeat Books Or to give the book it’s full title “Reinventing Metal- The True Story of Pantera and the Tragically Short Life of Dimebag Darrell”. Another in depth and insightful rock biography from the much published Neil Daniels. This time … Continue reading

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Gig review: SKINDRED/SOiL – Manchester Academy, 2 February 2014

Skindred - Manchester Academy, 2 February 2014

3 bands, 3 music styles and 1 outcome, one awesome night of entertainment. It’s the last night of the UK leg of Skindred’s ‘Kill The Power’  tour before they head off to Europe and beyond for the next few months … Continue reading

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Quick Plays: HEAVY METAL NINJAS, TIDE, KATIE COLE

HEAVY METAL NINJAS – Interstellar Abduction

HEAVY METAL NINJAS – Interstellar Abduction Warner Music [Release date – out now] Heavy Metal Ninjas hail not from Japan as you might expect but from New Zealand. Lead by virtuoso guitarist Richie Allan, this instrumental six piece are here … Continue reading

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Album review: PERC3PTION – Reason And Faith

        MS Metal Records (Release date – out now) Perc3ption are a Brazilian outfit who have been together since 2007. This debut album was released back in their native country last year and is only now reaching … Continue reading

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Album review: IRON SAVIOR – Rise Of The Hero

AFM Records www.afmrecords.de There is a fair number of German metal bands that have a direct link to Helloween in one form or another. Iron Savior were founded by ex-Helloween man Kai Hansen, then Blind Guardian drummer Thomen Stauch and … Continue reading

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Album review: FREEDOM CALL – Beyond

Freedom Call - Beyond

SPV [Release date 24.04.14] Album number eight from Freedom Call and a couple of line-up changes with a new drummer Ramy Ali, along with the return of original bass player Ilker Irsin. I have to admit Freedom Call are one … Continue reading

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Gig review: SEPULTURA – O2 Islington Academy, London, 6 February 2014‏

SEPULTURA – O2 Islington Academy, London, 6 February 2014‏

Review by Yiannis (John) Stefanis There are many bands out there, claiming to play high velocity Thrash Metal, but only a handful can do so with the energy and conviction which characterise the legendary Brazilian quartet Sepultura. When Andreas Kisser … Continue reading

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Album review: DEREK SHERINIAN – Reissues (Inertia,Black Utopia,Mythology,Blood Of The Snake,Molecular Heinosity)

Derek Sherinian - Inertia

Armoury Records (re-issues) [Release date 10.02.14] Sherinian came to wider attention with Dream Theater in 1994 and since he left that band in 1999 the volume of his session work has grown along with stints in Black Country Communion and … Continue reading

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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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