Incorruptible, the twelfth studio album by Iced Earth is another strong release spearheaded by founding member Jon Schaffer who formed the band in Tampa Bay, Florida 1985. After a few plays, two songs midway let it down a bit so it has not got a full five out of five …

A rightly deserved place in the big four bands of German thrash metal, Kreator have come a long way from their beginnings as Tyrant in 1982, then Tormentor, then Creator, the word chosen from ‘Mountains’, a Manowar song before finally settling with Kreator. On June 9th 2017, BMG will be …

If you thought that Temples Of Artifice, the debut album from Twisted Illusion was as mad as the film One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, then the follow up double album Insight To The Mind Of A Million Faces sees the cuckoo laying a clutch of eggs in it and …

Well this certainly cleared a few insomnia fuelled cobwebs at 7am on a Sunday morning! The Infinite Growth Paradigm Vs Finite Resources (Mk II) from Exeter based Codex Alimentarius, formed in 2009 will be releasing this six track E.P on June 1st. Looking at the band line up saw me …

Since 1990, Ice- T has vehemently made a stand against authority with his band Body Count. Inspired by Black Sabbath, Suicidal Tendencies and Slayer, his lyrics deliver a much more powerful message than the watered down commercial rap that the radio force feeds us. The subject matter of his lyrics …

My first experience of Ghost Bath arose at the 2016 Bloodstock Open Air festival. They were the first band on the main stage at 11.30am Sunday morning and as I was reviewing and dashing between stages the plan was to watch the first half of their set and the second …

In my opinion an E.P should not be overly long and leaves you wanting more which is what Manchester based noisemongers Impavidus have done effortlessly with the storm they have whipped up in the studio for their latest release Eradication Of Mankind. The quartet go straight for the throat with …

An over the top album launch at Manchester Rebellion club for The First Chapter, the debut album from Bury based metallers Vice resulted in this review. They like to write long songs riddled with over the top guitar solos from Tom Atkinson and Jack Trelawny with Connor Summers smashing the …

I caught a live set by Silverchild a few weeks ago when they were part of a four band bill at the Underground in Stoke and was so impressed I had to check out their recorded material, so here are my thoughts on their seismic The Red Desert EP. You always …

It may be a daunting task when your next studio album follows an excellent double live album release but with ‘Don’t Let Up’, San Francisco veteran rockers Night Ranger make it look easy. Self produced and released via Frontiers Music its the perfect album to blast out in the car …

After listening to rock/metal for almost forty years, albums that really grab me by the scruff of the neck are few and far between but the self titled tenth album by Tampa Bay death metallers Obituary can be added to the list. The atmosphere they create on this ten track …

If it were ever to happen, Blaze Bayley O.B.E has a great ring to it I think. Since singing with Wolfsbane from 1988-94, Iron Maiden from 1994-99 and a solo career from then until the present day, he has doggedly flew the flag for British heavy metal. The title of …

An earlier start with almost twice as many bands as the previous day saw a mad dash for a Wetherspoons fry up before heading off once again to the Snooty Fox Club. On arrival a line up change saw planned third band Cadence Noir opening proceedings as they were two …

A welcome return for me to Wakefield for the annual Bad Ass Bash saw all the bands booked by event organiser Martin Short playing for free with the proceeds once again going to Ian’s Chain and chART charities. Seventeen bands for only £14.50 was a sure fire bargain with proceedings …

Its been a five year wait for Immortals, the latest studio album released via Century Media Records from Greek power metallers Firewind but the wait is well worth it as founding member Gus G leads from the front with guitar heroics throughout its nine tracks. Founded in Thessaloniki in 1998, …

Triple Threat, the new release from Annihilator is so named as it consists of a live set played at the 2016 Bang Your Head Festival, an Unplugged : The Watersound Studio sessions and a live DVD of the Bang Your Head Festival set. Currently released by UDR Music, it highlights …

Since their formation in Essen 1984, Kreator have consistently delivered an impressive caustic catalogue of thrash metal, proving that the Germans do it better than anyone else and Gods Of Violence their fourteenth studio album shows they are still at the forefront of that genre. Currently available on Nuclear Blast …

Big Rocks, the latest album from Swiss legends Krokus is the perfect way to cure the January blues! It is made up of thirteen songs, twelve covers and a new version of their ‘Backseat Rock ‘N’ Roll’ song which featured on their ground breaking 1980 Metal Rendezvous album. The dozen …

With their fourteenth studio album Metal Messiah, thrash metal legends Sepultura are still raising the middle finger to the “Bring back Max” computer keyboard warriors. Lead vocalist Derrick Green has fronted them for over twenty years now and personally speaking he has earned his stripes many times over, point proven …

Steadfastly moving on with the original line up since their formation in 1979, NWOBHM band Sparta release No Retreat, No Surrender on Suspect Records. Eight new tracks plus a travel back in time to 1981 for one song shows a rich vein of songwriting. A lo fi production makes it …