ALBUM REVIEWS

RECENT ALBUM REVIEWS

  • DIVINE ELEMENT – Divine Element

    First of all I have to say that I am impressed with the professional package these Greeks have come up with. For a self released album, the cover artwork and digipack pressing looks better than most label releases I come over these days. In addition the production is not bad at all. Divine Element is…

  • THE POODLES – No Quarter

    One of the front runners in the burgeoning Scandinavian melodic hard rock resurgence, it was only a matter of time before a live album would chronicle their exploits. "No Quarter" captures The Poodles on tour last year in support of their third studio album "Clash of The Elements" – so it shouldn’t be surprising that…

  • THE INTERSPHERE – Interspheres><Atmospheres

    As a metalhead it is hard to stay objective when presented with such a sugar-coated pop-infused album as this. After listening to it countless times, I just have to settle with the fact that I’ve got a love/hate relationship with The Intersphere. Half of the songs send chills down my spine in disgust, mostly because…

  • UFO – The Best of a Decade

    Judging by the title, you’d think this was a compilation from the latest decade, but that’s only partially true. It’s a collection of songs from the albums recorded after Vinnie Moore took over the guitar duties from Michael Schenker. In other words the songs are compiled from “You Are Here” (2004), “The Monkey Puzzle” (2006),…

  • GOTTHARD – Heaven – Best Of Ballads Part 2

    Tragedy struck this Swiss hard rock veteran act when 47 year old singer Steve Lee died on October 5, 2010 due to a tractor trailer skidding into his parked motorcycle in Nevada. Gotthard may not be the most famous band peddling conventional bluesy hard rock in the history of the genre – but I would…

  • T – Anti-Matter Poetry

    It is certainly an original brew that Mr. T is presenting in this one-man-band, anti-art-voyage. The promotion following this album is a statement claiming that this music is a statement against the clichés of art, poetry and music. The album is supposedly an anti-matter product in a world spewing out conformist predictabilities to its unknowing…

  • GOLDEN RESURRECTION – Glory To My King

    As a teenager watching the expansion of hard rock and metal on a international platform, I remember the first time hearing “I’ll See The Light Tonight” from Yngwie Malmsteen – just knowing that his classical knowledge and fleet of finger power would influence the next generation in immeasurable ways. Looking at this Swedish act, it’s…

  • VEÉR – The Measure of Waste

    “…every spring is the last.” Veér hail from Hungary. In contrast to most other East-European Black Metal acts, they do not sing nostalgic and epic songs about the beautiful snowy landscape. They celebrate ugliness. Their album is very hard to get into and I admit that I still struggle. At time I notice some parts…

  • TANKARD – Vol(l)ume 14

    Steady as always, German alcoholic thrash band Tankard have the appropriate title for their fourteenth album. To the uninitiated, this is pure old school thrash with punk-like tendencies, topped off by the raw barking delivery of vocalist Andreas Geremia. Expect song titles of beer (“Beck’s In The City”) and the raging tales that happen as…

  • KEN’S DOJO – Reincarnation

    Ken Ingwersen is a busy man in the musical world. He’s a guitarist, songwriter, producer, music publisher, and he owns and run the recording studio Oslo Recordings. He’s working with loads of different musicians, from the disco queen Gloria Gaynor to the hard rockers TNT, to the black metal band Tulus. I was first introduced…

  • CONSPIRACY – Irremediable

    “Irremediable” is the work of multi-instrumental virtuoso Carpathian Wolf (better known as Al’ Hazred of Melechesh). The music is probably best described as Symphonic Black Power Metal, as it mixes classic BM with orchestral-style keyboards, both BM and clean vocals and the odd metal/power metal riff here and there. The result is something like Absu,…

  • DARK MOOR – Ancestral Romance

    Eighth full length from this Spanish symphonic metal band. Continuing in the tradition of "Autumnal", the band explore more Arabic and Spanish musical themes in tracks like the instrumental “Guiding Light” and “A Day Without The Sun”. Expertly recorded at New Sin Studio in Italy, "Ancestral Romance" may not be the most innovative album in…

  • SAL – Conversations with My Therapist

    Sal are a Welsh melodic rock band with female vocals. While the material seems to be written to be accepted by every mainstream radio station, it can also be played at your local Irish pub. The way that the singer keeps overpronouncing the lyrics really sucks when you actually have a look at them. If…

  • DARKWATER – Where Stories End

    The second album from this Swedish five-piece, "Where Stories End" balances the skill of Symphony X or Tad Morose with the moodiness and diverse heavy atmosphere of Evergrey. Guitarist Henrik Bath possesses one of those cleaner progressive voices, easily engaging the followers with supreme melodies on “Into The Cold” and even the slow building epic…

  • VULTURE INDUSTRIES – VI The Malefactor’s Bloody Register

    As with “The Dystopia Journals”, I hear a lot of Arcturus in Vulture Industries on this album. There is no lack of identity on “VI TMBR” as Vulture Industries presents what appears to be a more mature album than its predecessor. I would say that this new album is better on almost all accounts. Still,…

  • SAYYADINA – The Great Southern Revisited

    There are, as I see it, 3 kinds of people: the ones who don’t like Sayyadina, the ones who dislike Sayyadina and then there are the sickos who actually like Sayyadina. I am among the sickos. If you read this, you are probably a sicko too. I won’t say it’s the most advanced metal I…

  • SODOM – Lords Of Depravity Part II DVD

    Most bands are unwilling to spend years pulling together a DVD package these days. German thrash mainstay Sodom however, aren’t just your ordinary band. The follow up to their original "Lords Of Depravity" 5 hour part 1, we gain the good fortune of 5 more hours of history, videos, interviews, stories and live concert footage…

  • THE BURNING – Hail The Horde

    One of the pleasures I gain from constant exposure to the latest metal albums would be the discovery of foreign bands who may not necessarily receive domestic support or licensing for North American territories. In the case of this particular foursome from Denmark The Burning, their track record in terms of Danish Metal Awards exposure…

  • NOCTIS IMPERIUM – Nihil

    “Nihil” represents almost 30 minutes of Venezuelan death metal in the vein of early Morbid Angel but with some modern touches and production to bring the classic sound up to date. Nick Barker does a solid job as guest sticksman, but fails to put a rocket up the backside of the songs. The material is…

  • STRATOSPHERE – Fire Flight

    Scandinavian hard rock with strong Rainbow and Yngwie Malmsteen influences here on the debut album Fire Flight. Journeyman singer Goran Edman easily captures the lows and highs of material like “Russian Summer”, “The Battle Within” plus a tender ballad such as “Princess Of The Night”. “Rendevouz” gives keyboardist Jeppe Lund and guitarist Jonas Larsen the…

  • CRYSTAL VIPER – Legends

    The metal scene appears very healthy indeed in Poland. Regular touring bands often gain the opportunity to film their show and festival gigs there, and we’ve seen the growth and development of various acts from Behemoth to Vader gaining substantial attention and touring opportunities full time. The true metal movement also receives modest appeal, and…

  • KOREA – The Delirium Suite

    Swedish modern rock act with their second album. Understated vocal approach and atmospheric-like guitar movements recall a heavier version of Radiohead with the power groove rhythm factor of acts like Disturbed and Godsmack. A multitude of melodic hooks keep me returning to material like “From The Ashes…” and “Prozac Gen”. Not every day fare for…

  • MASTER – The Human Machine

    “The Human Machine” is the tenth full-length studio album from Chicago veterans Master. So, after nearly twenty years recording together, what have they got to offer? Right from the start, you can hear the flavour of the age in which Master was born. The punk/hardcore/crossover influences are less well blended than they are in many…

  • ANGRA – Aqua

    The band that helped put power metal on the map in South America, Angra returns with their seventh album and longest break between studio records in their illustrious career. Due to disagreements with their management firm, the band took a lengthy hiatus to resolve their situation and made a slight member change with drummer Aquiles…

  • BIGELF – Hex (Reissue)

    Immediately on the first song on “Hex” a noticeable turn towards 70’s hard rock is prominent. On opening track “Madhatter” a heavier more guitar oriented Bigelf steps out of the shadows. In addition they seem to have grown as songwriters as the melodic composition is catchier yet long lasting thanks to the bands ability to…

  • ANGREPP – Warfare

    “Warfare” is the first full-length release by Swedish thrashers Angrepp. The name means ‘assault’ and so the cover has the obligatory battlefield scene and the record starts with the noise of gunfire, tanks and planes… wait a minute – didn’t Whiplash do that in 1986? I must admit that I am way past bored with…

  • AMBERIAN DAWN – End Of Eden

    Watching the development of this Finnish symphonic power metal band they’ve certainly shaped their sound into a multi-dimensional platform ready for the rigors of the road life.  After touring with acts like Kamelot, Sons of Seasons, Epica and Dream Evil during the summer and fall of last year, main songwriter Tuomas Seppala (guitars and keyboards)…

  • IRON FIRE – Metalmorphosized

    “Metalmorphosized” is Iron Fire’s 6th album, and consists of 4 completely new songs + 8 re-recorded demo-tracks. All former members contribute with guest appearances, so is quite a treat for the fans. Iron Fire’s two first albums weren’t any good really, just average power metal without any outstanding songs. Then they disappeared for 5 years,…

  • GRAND MAGUS – Monument (reissue)

    This second album from the Swedish traditional/ doom metal trio focuses more on longer, epic arrangements that prove these gentlemen can combine jam tendencies with solid, deep grooves. “Baptised In Fire” at 8:11 slays with its southern sludge meets early Sabbath/ Cathedral despair- JB howling at the moon as well as bellowing deep from a…

  • SIGNUM REGIS – The Eyes Of Power

    Originality naturally appears a rare commodity in the metal world circa 2010. Especially with so much product hitting the streets from all countries, it’s tough to release something groundbreaking that will make listeners sit up and take notice. Bassist / songwriter Ronnie Konig understands this aspect and set about on this second album from Signum…