Album Reviews

Hailing from Salerno, Campania, Italy Heimdall give us their latest musings over their countries heritage, with the apt name of Aeneid. The first track on the album is named Prologue, which of course is an intro. This fades in with slow dramatic sounding trumpets and drums which builds up to …

The announcement last year that three quarters of the ‘golden days’ Dokken line up – guitarist George Lynch, bassist Jeff Pilson and drummer ‘Wild’ Mick Brown – were working together again had fans seeking a long-overdue reunion of the classic original incarnation of the LA rockers positively salivating with expectation …

It may seem somewhat of anomaly, in these days of internet downloads, for a band to release a good old-fashioned ‘Double A Side’ – especially when said release is only be made available in digital format and not pressed to ye olde plastic.  But, that’s what Belfast progressive post-rock quartet …

This self-released debut album from Manchester-based four piece The Goddamn Electric – or GDE as they like to be abbreviated to – bears all the hallmarks of a band brimming with confidence, not afraid to take a myriad of influences, from classic metal through southern blues to even sleaze rock …

High Priest Of Saturn unleashes a four song, doom-laden offering, to satiate the cosmic Deities.   According to their official Facebook page, Norway’s, High Priest Of Saturn play heavy psychedelic rock. Do not be mistaken by this. They are a doom band with a psychedelic sensibility. And as with all …

When you get to the position and standing in the industry that Anthrax are in as a band you’re allowed certain indulgences. Their latest album, EP, collection, call it what you will is most definitely an indulgence for the guys. It’s also a good look into some of the artists …

Amidst the streams of asinine tripe we’ve been subjected to from heavy music in the past few years, it’s something to be thankful for that occult rock is enjoying something of a resurgence these days. Despite not having a strict “sound” so to speak, it’s always a pleasure when a …

Reviving The Animus are a band that came onto the scene in 2011, with a distinctive edge of Djent metal.  They are a five piece from Barnet London. On vocals we have Kevin Lowdermilk, dual guitars Alexei Zalesskiy and Jay Bryant, bass guitar Miguel Paredes and Jack Keller-Miall on drums. Their Debut EP ‘Infinitely Unlimited’ is out now …

Of late it’s great to see that Scandinavia is not just the domain of symphonic metal, dark or otherwise. There are some right rip-roaring retro styled rock bands coming through and making waves, with Free Fall being another one of these. Brothers in arms to the likes of Graveyard et …

Vocalist/guitarist Lee Pistolero fronted The Gypsy Pistoleros for three critically acclaimed albums and an EP not long ago, but after an acrimonious split, Lee parted company with the Pistoleros. And now he’s back, doing it his own way, with a change in musical direction, complete with a new hairstyle and …

Uncompromising display of bludgeoning Death Metal from Danish female fronted Metalers.   Danish Female Fronted Metalheads Illnath return with their fourth full length album ‘4 Shades Of Me’, and what a resounding success it has turned out to be. Now, we all know that the tag ‘Female Fronted’ gets thrown …

Excellent E.P. from Yorkshire’s bright young stars.   Formed in the deep dark wilderness of Yorkshire, Waking Theo have just released this highly impressive three track E.P. With a full length album proposed for later this year, this could be seen as an appetite whetting for what is to come. …

Finnish power metal band Stratovarius are due to release their new studio album, Nemesis, on 25th February.  Fans have already had a taster of what to expect with the song “Unbreakable” having been released as an EP last month. Brief comments on a few tracks The opening to ‘Unbreakable’ with …

The Lidocaine is a rock/metal band from Finland.  The band formed in 2007 and in 2009 released their debut album, “Voices and noises of Kiling Koling”.  In 2011 they started work on their second album,  “On the road to Miero” which has just been released in February 2013. Brief comments …

Skadika are a metal band from Cologne, Germany.  The band was founded in 2005, and after evolving their musical style released their debut album, Winter, in 2010.  In 2012 the lineup changed leaving singer Jule as the only remaining founder member.  Since changing the lineup the band have recorded their …

I’m always fascinated by the etymology of band names, just as I am with that of words in general.  To me, the name ‘Chariots Of The Gods’ immediately takes me back to my teenage years and the works of the madcap Swiss author Erich von Daniken – the person more …

Over the past 25 years or so, Suffocation are one of a handful of bands who have towered over the US death metal scene, producing a handful of classic genre-defining – and, indeed, re-defining – albums, such as iconic debut ‘Effigy Of The Forgotten’, the majestic comeback ‘Souls To Deny’ …

Sink hail from Finland and have been torturing humans with their mix of black metal and drone for ten years. The band lurks somewhere in the dark reaches of your mind that is only presented when that blackened room is opened. This is an album that defies categorization. It is …

Northless immerse the soul in depressive Doom magic.   Northless really have an uncanny knack of being able to make Doom and Sludge sound even more intense and depressive than many others are capable of. This three track E.P. is a prime example of that, throwing out dark, malevolent waves …

Great White celebrated their 30th anniversary last year with a special gig at the Key club on the Sunset strip in Los Angeles.  The band formed in 1982 if you count back 30 years from 2012 but 1982 wasnt the start of the band.  The band really formed in 1978 …