Dave McCallum

Old enough to know better. I have been a metalhead for a long time, I am a lifelong collector of vinyl and cds, the more the better.

Nomadic Rituals / Tome – Split (Self Released)

Two relatively new bands from Northern Ireland have come together to unleash this monstrous split vinyl onto an unsuspecting public. Nomadic Rituals released a full length “Holy Giants” last year which was well received and this one track “The Great Dying” is picking up where it left off. Its 2 …

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Bast – Spectres (Burning World Records)

Bast are a 3 piece from London who deals in Doom and suffocating atmospheres. They have been on the circuit now for 6 years and in that time have perfected their sound whilst supporting the likes of Ufomammut, Bong and more recently with Conan. “In the Beginning” plunges headfirst into …

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Visigoth – The Revenant King (Metal Blade)

Visigoth from Salt Lake City, Utah released an impressive mini lp in 2013 which was picked up by Sarlacc and the much respected Cruz De La Sur. This mini LP was filled with a traditional heavy metal attack that landed them a deal with Metal Blade who has released this …

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Unhold – Towering (Czar of Crickets)

Unhold split up in 2012 after being together for 20 years. They released 3 full-length albums but it has been 7 years since the last release, so here they are back in 2015 with a new lineup and a most challenging affair of a new album. Most of the influences …

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Keeper / Sea Bastard – Split (Dry Cough)

This split brings together 2 of the most oppressive sounding bands to come from opposite sides of the Atlantic. First up is Keeper who hail from California and bring to the table a 14-minute dirge “777” which has a slow punishing beat with a guitar riff that lurches along at …

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Corr Mhóna – Dair

Corr Mhóna are an Irish band whom sings entirely in their native language. Formed in 2009 the bands released one ep in 2010 before going on hiatus but now have returned with this very impressive full length debut. In recent times there has been a trend to refer to music …

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Nuclear Perversion – Desolation Rituals

Hailing from Germany, this is the debut release and reeks of bestial butchery. There are many adjectives to describe how insanely inhumane this tape sounds; the guitars are full of buzz and are razor sharp in their delivery. Vocally the band have used a dose of reverb to achieve an …

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Alunah – Awakening the Forest

English band Alunah have been doing the rounds for a few years now and have appeared on prestige festival line-ups such as Desertfest and Hard Rock Hell. Awakening the Forest is their third full length release and one that sees a step up from the previous 2 records. Being roughly …

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Necroholocaust – Holocaustic Goat Metal (Iron Bonehead)

Canadian Black/Goat Metal band Necroholocaust have now delivered a full length after an 11 year existence and a myriad of 7” split releases. They continue the tradition of Christ bashing violence as laid down by forefathers such as Blasphemy and Conqueror. From the beginning this is utter chaos, riffs bashed …

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October 31 – Bury the Hatchet (Hells Headbangers)

Somewhat of an underground super-group featuring King Fowley (Deceased) and Jim Hunter (Twisted Tower Dire, While Heaven Wept). Both these guys have been associated with many classic underground recordings such as Deceased “Fearless Undead Machines”, While Heaven Wept “Of Empires Forlorn” and Twisted Tower Dire “The Isle of Hydra” which …

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Manimalism – Manimalism (Adversum)

What is post black metal really mean? It is a tag that provides a convenient and lazy description for music which deserves much more analysis and respect. This is what has been said about this band, it is far from the reality. As far as taking your time to put …

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Energumen – Void Spiritualism 7″ (Blood Harvest)

This is the debut 7” outing from this Swiss Death Metal outfit, the Swiss always seem to produce metal with that extra air of malevolence about it. Opening track “Self Abortion Ritual” instantly is reminiscent of Napalm Death’s “Mentally Murdered “period, the powerful bass driven guitar sound with that beautiful …

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Nautilus – Nautilus (Self-Released)

Nautilus are a 5 piece Stoner Doom act from Dublin Ireland. They began as a recording project in 2011 and released their first Ep ‘Trials’ in early 2013 and since have been gigging regularly around the Irish gig circuit. This is their second ep which boasts 6 tracks clocking in …

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