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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 →
Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS
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Tagged Backbeat Books, book review, Brian Slagel, Dimebag Darrell, metal, Metal Blade, Neil Daniels, Pantera, Reinventing Metal- The True Story of Pantera
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1 Comment
Gig review: SKINDRED/SOiL – 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 →
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
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Tagged 2 February 2014, gig, Manchester Academy, metal, reggae, review, rock, Skindred, Soil, Viza
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Quick Plays: HEAVY METAL NINJAS, TIDE, KATIE COLE

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 →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
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Tagged album, CD, country, country pop, Heavy Metal Ninjas, Interstellar Abduction, Katie Cole, metal, New Zealand, No 4, prog, review, Richie Allan, rock, Sheryl Crow, Slovakia, Steve Vai, Tide
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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 →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, Brazil, CD, Luiz Fernando Poleto, metal, Perc3ption, prog, Reason And Faith, review, rock, Wellington Consoli
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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 →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged AFM Records, album review, Blind Guardian, Helloween, IRON SAVIOR, Mando Diao, metal, power metal, Rise Of The Hero
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Album review: 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 →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, Beyond, Freedom Call, Gamma Ray, Helloween, metal, power metal, review
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Gig review: 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 →
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Gig reviews
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Tagged 6 February 2014, gig, London, metal, O2 Islington Academy, review, Sepultura
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Album review: DEREK SHERINIAN – Reissues (Inertia,Black Utopia,Mythology,Blood Of The Snake,Molecular Heinosity)

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 →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
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Tagged Allan Holdsworth, Black Utopia, Blood Of The Snake and Molecular Heinosity, Derek Sherinian, Dream Theater, Inertia, John Petrucci, John Sykes, keyboards, metal, Mythology, Planet X, progressive, reissue, rock, Simon Phillips, Slash, Steve Lukather, Tony Franklin, Virgil Donati, Yngwie Malmsteen, Zakk Wylde
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Quick plays: CREMATORY, SONJA KRISTINA, SECTION A, SEB BACH, OVERLAND

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 →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
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Tagged ABachalypse Now”, album, Antiserum, AOR, Beautiful Disaster, Crematory, Curved Air, epic, Exodus, FM, melodic, metal, Overland, review, rock, Seb Bach, Section A, Shameless, Signum Regis, Sonja Kristina, The Seventh Sign
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Gig review: I AM I, Barfly, Camden, 23 January 2014

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 →
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
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Tagged 23 January 2014, Barfly, Camden, Dragonforce, heavy rock, I Am I, London, metal, rock, ZP Theart
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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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Tagged album review, BLOODGOOD, Christian rock, Dangerously Close, Les Carlsen, metal, Michael Bloodgood, Oz Foxx, Stryper, white metal
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Album review: 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 →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged AC/DC, album, Alice Cooper, CD, classic rock, Def Leppard, Kiss, metal, Motley Crue, review, rock, Running With The Dogs, The Treatment, Thin Lizzy, This Might Hurt
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Album review: 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 →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged acoustic, album, Black Sabbath, Driving Mrs Satan, Helloween, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, metal, Metallica, pop, Popscotch, review, rock
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Album Review: 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 →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, Benidorm, CD, Costa Blanca, Hangin' With The Bad Boys, metal, review, rock, White Coast Rebels
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Album review: 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 →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, Black Diamond, CD, Iron Maiden, Last Man Standing, metal, review, rock
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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 →
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 →
Posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS, PURE METAL (All posts)
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Tagged 2012, Amon Amarth, festival, Ghost Brigade, metal, Michael Denner, Nesum, rock, Saxon, Scorpions, Suffocation, Testament, VOLBEAT, Wacken
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Album review: 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 →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged Family, Frank Zappa, fusion, guitar, Jazz rock, Kind of Saltz, King Crimson, Lars Andreas, metal, moog, Norwegian rock, prog rock, review, Skjalg Reithaug, SOT, tube
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Interview with LIV KRISTINE (Leaves’ Eyes) – 12 December 2013

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 →
Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews
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Tagged December 2013, Germany, goth, interview, Leaves' Eyes, Liv Kristine, metal, Norway, rock, symphonic, Symphonies Of The Night
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Album review: 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 →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged classic rock, electro, hard rock, James Hutchison, Led Zeppelin, Let Go Or Be Dragged, Liam Gallagher, metal, Orren Karp, Ozzie Rodgers, prog, review, rock, Rush, Tamir Kap, The Manic Shine
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Gig review: HARD ROCK HELL 7 – Pwllheli, Wales, 28-30 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 →
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events
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Tagged 28-30 November 2013, AIRBOURNE, Alunah, Arthur Brown, Attica Rage, Bernie Torme, Black Spiders, Black Star Riders, Blaze Bayley, Cage The Gods, festival, Hard Rock Hell 7, heavy rock, Kyrbgriner, metal, Michael Monroe, Pat McManus, Paul Di'Anno, Phil Campbell, Pwllheli, Skindred, THE ANSWER, THE JOKERS, The Screaming Eagles, The Treatment, Wales
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Album review: 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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Tagged album, Bruce Bouillet, G3, guitar, guitarist, metal, Paul Gilbert, Racer X, review, shred, The Order Of Control, The Scream
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Gig review: MARDUK – London, The Underworld, 5 December 2013

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 →
Posted in GIG REVIEWS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Gig reviews
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Tagged 5 December 2013, Camden, Death Wolf, gig, Grave, London, Marduk, metal, review, Underworld
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Interview with TED LUNDSTROM (Amon Amarth) – 17 November 2013

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 →
Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews
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Tagged 17 November 2013, Amon Amarth, bass, Death Metal, interview, metal, Sweden, Ted Lundstrom
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Gig review: AMON AMARTH – London, The Forum, 17 November 2013

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 →
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Gig reviews
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Tagged 17 November 2013, Amon Amarth, Bleed From Within, Carcass, Death Metal, Forum, gig, Hell, London, metal, review
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