ALBUM REVIEWS

RECENT ALBUM REVIEWS

  • PRO-PAIN – Voice of Rebellion

    15 studio albums in 24 years – you have to admire the determination and passion for the groovy hardcore/metal act Pro-Pain. "Voice of Rebellion" is the latest in a long line of hard hitting records – still seething in anger, gang-oriented choruses and simple yet effective riffing/rhythms the name of the game here. 14 tracks…

  • UNDER NIGHT’S COVER – The March of Avernus

    Starting in 2009, Sydney, Australia’s Under Night’s Cover have been carving out their traditional/progressive metal sound for a few years, settling into a permanent quintet lineup and finally releasing their debut EP "The March of Avernus". There seems to be something special in the land down under when it comes to their craft, as they…

  • BLACK BOOK LODGE – Entering Another Measure

    The second studio album from Danish stoner progressive metal act Black Book Lodge "Entering Another Measure" appears swiftly after last year’s "Tûndra" debut. A power trio lineup allows the focus to be primal, honing in on specific moods or feels and expanding upon hooks and riffs like a fully forming tree. Sometimes adding in a…

  • GEORGE KOLLIAS – Invictus

    I am a big fan of drummer George Kollias but just can’t get into Nile at all so I am delighted that now that George has recorded this first solo album I can enjoy him without all the shite of that overhyped death metal institution. First fact up is quite an amazing one when you…

  • PAUL DI’ANNO – The Beast Arises

    Legendary vocalist Paul Di’Anno needs no introduction as he handled the vocals on two of the very best heavy metal records of all time, namely «Iron Maiden» and «Killers» by Iron Maiden. Need I say more? Right, let us get on with it then, shall we? «The Beast Arises» is quite the entertaining and interesting…

  • BOON – Red Alert

    Active in Austria since 1998, Boon is finally coming to my attention because of guitarist Ken Straetman, who is also in the death/thrash metal band Days of Loss. "Red Alert" is their latest EP, consisting of 6 songs (5 originals and a remix of "Fire" that ends the recording) in the groove metal vein –…

  • DYSRIDER – Bury the Omen

    Transitioning from their previous years as a symphonic power metal band Trophallaxy into a symphonic death metal act, Switzerland’s Dysrider aren’t your typical ‘newcomer’ quintet as a result of the style swing. "Bury the Omen" contains brilliant contrasts, keyboard runs in line with Children of Bodom while cello passages that bring about the darker, classical…

  • THRUST – Fist Held High / Reincarnation

    Anyone remember the early Metal Massacre series of records that gave the world their first exposure to up and comers developing in the underground? Outside of the expected California and New York bands given a chance to expose their wares, we would often get a lot of Illinois bands, like the following traditional metal act…

  • ACID KING – Middle of Nowhere, Center of Everywhere

    You know a band has been around for a while when I remember reviewing their debut album "Zoroaster" in 1995 when we had in print fanzines and magazines as the norm. Hailing from San Francisco, California, the trio Acid King return with their fourth full-length "Middle of Nowhere, Center of Everywhere". This is essential 5…

  • BROTHERS OF THE SONIC CLOTH – Brothers of the Sonic Cloth

    Former Tad guitarist/ vocalist Tad Doyle has a new trio of doom and gloom from the Pacific Northwest, the aptly named Brothers of the Sonic Cloth. Active since 2007 and only releasing a split 10" vinyl and demo to date, this self-titled debut full-length is 44 minutes of primal sludge in a doom metal package.…

  • MAGIC PIE – King for a Day

    Magic Pie is a Norwegian progressive rock act that has been around for nearly 15 years now. Despite the fact that guitarist/vocalist Kim Stenberg and the rest of Magic Pie ensemble have released three full-length albums and gained a bit of a name for themselves among lovers of prog rock, I have never actually sat…

  • HELLOWEEN – My God-Given Right

    The pioneers of the European power metal movement still pump out regular studio records on 2-3 year intervals, and none the worse for wear. Those harping for a Michael Kiske reunion might as well lay that to rest – vocalist Andi Deris has been in the band for a solid 21 years, providing a solid…

  • MAINPAIN – The Empirical Shape of Pain

    Receiving a wider push through the Punishment 18 Records distribution channels, this second studio album from Italy’s MainPain is a journey into conventional meets semi-crunchy metal. "The Empirical Shape of Pain" is a 63 minute affair, unafraid to flex a little bit of free-flowing instrumental openness and allow bassist Daniele Tamborini a chance to be…

  • ALKALOID – The Malcuth Grimmoire

    The hype surrounding "The Malcuth Grimmoire" has been such that, after finishing my review to the magnificent new Barren Earth album, so far having given this one a mere cursory listen, I decided to immerse myself in it. To say that I do not regret this decision is an understatement because what I discovered made…

  • PERFECT BLUE SKY – Emerald

    The members of the Swedish band Perfect Blue Sky perform something akin to psychedelic folk music mixed with classic rock. The album has a very strong sense and aura of 60s/70s psychedelic rock while the lyrics are quite uplifting and liberating somehow. A few parallels to bands such as Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, and Jethro…

  • WHITESNAKE – The Purple Album

    Oh man, I must say that I have been looking forward to listening to this album for months now. One might say that I have been anxiously awaiting its release. Ever since it was made official that the hard rocking monster that is Whitesnake would release a full-length album consisting of re-interpreted Deep Purple songs…

  • POSSESSION – 1585-1646

    Possession (Belgium) rules! Their first EP "Anneliese" from 2014 took me by storm and now their follow up "1585-1646" creates a new storm in my black/death glas of water.This EP has (almost) everything that you demand from a "modern" blackish death metal band. 4 songs of true extreme metal without any fancy s**t.Great sound, great…

  • SILENTLIE – Layers of Nothing

    Slow and measured development in a band’s career arc can win the race in establishing a permanent following. Italy’s SilentLie for instance have been honing their gothic hard rock/ metal craft since 2005, releasing two EP’s "Behind the Face" in 2008 and "Blood Under Snow" in 2013 before signing with Bakerteam and going to work…

  • VIOLENT REACTION – Marching On

    UK act Violent Reaction play hardcore punk as if it were 1992. At times Minor Threat are referenced (and the band are straight edge too), but there is also an element of Oi and fans of the UK scene will find elements of many of the classic British bands here too. Production is spot on,…

  • SABOTER – Saboter

    Active for only a year as Saboter, this Greek quartet perform a brand of thrash with classic heavy metal at heart on their self-titled debut EP. Imagine a mix of Judas Priest/ Saxon-like riffs over the course of some Metallica energy and a vocalist in Antonis Vailas that can hit some piercing Halford highs while…

  • STRYNN – Alienation

    Strynn is a French black metal outfit that was conceived a few years ago, and «Alienation» is the band’s second full-length album so far. The eleven songs that constitute this album are all rooted in ugly, primitive, and dissonant black metal, and while that may sound pretty cool and okay and whatnot on paper, the…

  • RUNNING DEATH – Overdrive

    Hailing from Germany, Running Death are not your proto-typical metal act even if the name seems very familiar. Active since 2004, they’ve slowly assembled three releases (one demo, two EP’s) before finally signing with Punishment 18 Records to record/ release their debut album "Overdrive". The 10 songs in the main (outside of the quieter 1:07…

  • DEVATHORN – Vritra

    ‘Vritra’ is the second full length for Greek three-piece Devathorn, following cold on the heels of the 2007 debut ‘Diadema’. Stylistically this isn’t as Greek as I expected, although the strong rhythmic element does give the game away somewhat. This is melodic black metal done extremely well indeed. It is fairly obvious that all of…

  • IMPALERS – Prepare for War EP – re-issue

    Impalers er et godt thrash metal band som ble dannet for åtte år siden i det sydlige Danmark. Bandet har to fullengdere, deriblant en helt ny som ble sluppet i forrige måned. Jeg har ikke fått tak i den enda, men nøyer meg foreløpig med denne EP-en som ble sluppet i fjor. Den inneholder fire…

  • A LIFE DIVIDED – Human

    German electro/ gothic oriented commercial metal here with A Life Divided, something that falls in between a commercial Static X and Nine Inch Nails along with heavier Devin Townsend or Depeche Mode elements on this 13 song record "Human". Darker keyboards and simpler tempos allow JP’s serene/ alternative singing to capture your mind and soothe…

  • GEORGE KOLLIAS – Invictus

    Nile trommisen George Kollias har spilt inn sitt første soloalbum og bare så det er helt klinkende klart: George Kollias kan mer enn å spille trommer. Han spiller alt og growler som om han ikke har gjort annet i hele livet. Visst hører man på musikken at mannen har spilt i Nile i flere år,…

  • MORGOTH – Ungod

    The German death metal machine Morgoth are finally back. After a long hiatus the pionéers of european death metal on it again. Sadly this time without orignial vocalist Marc Grewe who (after internet rumor) departed with the band because of artistic disagreements. New vocalist Jaegerman is no Grewe but he holds up his end quite…

  • DEMONIC SLAUGHTER – Haunted

    The album «Haunted» is my first encounter with the Polish horde named Demonic Slaughter, and I must say that I am quite pleased by what I am hearing here. Musically, the three members of the band perform traditional black metal harkening back to the early wave of Norwegian black metal, but the thing is that…

  • VELVET SIX – Demons Los Divas

    The best gothic music moves people in a rhythmic, hypnotic, and cerebral fashion. Sure it can be fun and entertaining, but it’s helpful to combine these three elements. Finland’s Velvet Six on their second album "Demons Los Divas" achieve the motherload, combining dance-oriented keyboards, simple but effective drum tempos, killer guitar licks and the Billy…

  • BILL WARD – Accountable Beasts

    I have been waiting eagerly for years now for legendary Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward to release another solo album. While his first effort entitled «Ward One: Along the Way» (1990) boasted a handful of strong tracks, the follow-up entitled «When the Bough Breaks» (1997) was the one that really drew me in and made…