RECENT ALBUM REVIEWS
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MOTÖRHEAD – Bad Magic
Certain things can’t be killed… cockroaches, climate change, and Motörhead. The veterans weather any health concerns thrown at bassist/vocalist Lemmy to release another studio album with "Bad Magic", a 13 song effort with 12 originals plus a closing cover of The Rolling Stones’ "Sympathy for the Devil". The formula doesn’t vary much from previous records…
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GUS G – Brand New Revolution
The well-known guitar genius that is Gus G. (Firewind, Ozzy Osbourne) is one busy gentleman. Ever since he launched a solo career last year by means of the album "I Am The Fire", he has toured extensively and yet somehow found the time to compose and record a follow-up to the aforementioned album. The new…
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ALFAHANNE – Blod Eld Alfa
The Swedish horde known as Alfahanne is a strangely fascinating musical entity that I find very hard to sum up or categorize in just a few words, but is that not the beauty of music at times? To put it briefly, Alfahanne has a delightfully twisted way of mixing old-school black metal, classic (hard) rock,…
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PARADOX – Reel Life & Beyond
The 1980’s – a glorious time for heavy metal, but also a time when major money could make or break a band based on proper promotion and exposure channels. Many unsigned acts with just as much talent and ability would fall through the cracks… which brings us to this Minnesota band Paradox. They would release…
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SOILWORK – The Ride Majestic
Once you ascend to the top of the mountain in heavy metal, the hard work begins to maintain that level of respect and popularity. So many factors see bands crumble, from the inside in terms of goals and work ethic, and from the outside in terms of proper management and label support. Fortunately for Soilwork,…
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LUCA TURILLI’S RHAPSODY – Prometheus – Symphonia Ignis Divinus
The second full-length after the friendly Rhapsody split as keyboardist Alex Staropoli going the Rhapsody (Of Fire) route with Fabio Lione while guitarist Luca Turilli maintained the Rhapsody name with his own LT’s Rhapsody is another symphonic, cinematic metal adventure. What can you expect on this 11 track, 69 minute record my friends? Everything from…
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ALFAHANNE – Blod Eld Alfa
You may have missed Sweden’s Alfahanne on their first foray (2014’s ‘Alfapokalyps’), but with their second album ‘Blod Eld Alfa’ this is a band that are becoming much more difficult to ignore. I actually really enjoyed ‘Alfapokalyps’ and was still returning to it for a regular fix. Until I heard this latest release that is.…
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BLISS – Reverie
Reverie is the debut full-length release from Danish Black metal four-piece Bliss. Those familiar with the Invictus Productions catalogue will recognise many of the trademarks of the label’s recent sound here: there is dirty, brutal black/death metal, intelligent progressive elements abound and a slight occult-rock feel permeates the whole. In terms of approach this reminds…
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WATERTANK – Destination Unknown
Post-hardcore, noise rock, alternative for sure – welcome to French quintet Watertank and their second full-length "Destination Unknown". Already a fixture on the domestic live front with an appearance at last year’s Hellfest plus touring with Torche and Membrane, their sound has that early 90’s jagged appeal. Remember when bands would use a little bit…
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LIONCAGE – Done At Last
A German AOR-oriented band, Lioncage contains three main members in vocalist Thorsten Bertermann, guitarist Lars König and drummer Torsten Landsberger, along with 12 other supplementary players on bass, vocals, keyboards, and sax to finish off this "Done at Last" album. These 10 songs seem to straddle a lot of the American school of shimmering melodies,…
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LYNCH MOB – Rebel
George Lynch: axe hero, solid performer, adept at a variety of hard rock and metal styles – these are a few ways I would describe the guitarist who won over a lot of people with his playing through Dokken in the 1980’s. After the band’s split in the late 80’s, he would assemble Lynch Mob…
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HATE ETERNAL – Infernus
For de av dere som fryktet at Hate Eternal skulle mykne med årene, dere kan ta det helt med ro. Det er null spor av noen som helst form for formykning på den nye skiva til Erik Rutan og vennene hans. Det er som vanlig brutalt til tusen, null melodiske innslag og uptempo låter all…
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BLAZE OF PERDITION – Near Death Revelations
Polish Blaze Of Perdition has risen from the ashes after the fatal accident in 2013, where bassist Wojciech "Ikaroz" Janus was killed, while vocalist Sonneillon ended up in a coma. However, it was clear from day one that the band wanted to continue, and the result is "Near Death Revelations". The title of the album should be self-explaining considering…
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STARBORN – The Dreaming City
Power metal has gone through many phases, but the roots of the genre embody a lot of Black Sabbath, Dio, Rainbow, and Judas Priest influences – as well as Iron Maiden. UK act Starborn live for that early power, along with fusing a bit of the excitement from many European spawn, on this 5 song…
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CUT UP – Forensic Nightmares
Cut Up hails from the ashes of the mighty Vomitory (RIP). For those unknown of Vomitory or thier brand of death metal, their metal can be described in two words, VERY GOOD! The sweedes kept the death metal flame burning bright from 89 to 2013 and now some of the past members have gotten together…
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BLOODROCUTED – Doomed to Annihilation
Belgian thrash quartet Bloodrocuted and their current record label Punishment 18 Records feel the time is ripe to reach back into their catalog and release their debut album "Doomed to Annihilation" from 2013. Originally appearing on the market through the band’s own means, this is a quick hitting affair that contains 8 tracks and is…
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CHAINSHEART – Leaving Planet Hell
Greek quintet Chainsheart formed in 2011, releasing their debut album "Just Another Day" independently the following year. The follow up "Leaving Planet Hell" has the Pitch Black Records seal of approval, and so this is my first foray into the band’s style. Those familiar with acts that straddle the melodic hard rock and metal lines…
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SARPENTRA – Supernova
Russiske Sarpentra er på leting etter et plateselskap som vil gi ut debutalbumet sitt. Skiva er ferdig innspilt og vi i Eternal Terror har vært så heldige å få anmelde den her og nå. Det opplyses i presseskrivet at dette er extreme metal for fans av Behemoth ,Melechesh og Nile. Det kan man vel si…