When the NWOBHM came to be in the late 1970’s it brought forth bands of various rock/metal styles, some of which made the big league and some of which did not and split but reformed to give it another try. Birmingham based Quartz are a prime example of one of …

Hyena, the fourth studio album by Cripper is so overwhelming I gave up taking notes about halfway through listening to it as it is almost impossible to describe these eleven tracks of an almost perfect mix of thrash and death metal. The focal point of the band for me is …

Panzer came to be when Stefan Schwarzmann, drummer from Accept approached Destruction vocalist Schmier to form a trio along with fellow Accept member Herman Frank on guitar. Since the album has been released via Nuclear Blast Records, Herman and Stefan have left Accept to concentrate on Panzer. Normally in the …

Welcome back Avenger ! Yet another North East based NWOBHM band showing they still have what it takes with the release of their new studio album The Slaughter Never Stops, available now via Rocksector Records. Avenger  formed in 1982 in Newcastle Upon Tyne  but unfortunately only got to record two …

Unfortunately the majority of the Unity Works crowd did not turn up until later on in the evening but to those that saw Defy All Reason’s set  they were in for an early Xmas treat as the band made the most of their stage time after their long trip from …

To say 2014 has been a big year for Vardis and their patient fans is an understatement. Following their reformation in 2013 after an almost 30 year hiatus, they played their 5th gig of 2014 at the Unity Works in Wakefield. This was a homecoming gig at a venue they …

My chat with Vardis prior to their headlining set.   Photo courtesy of Simon Dunkerley.

To be released mid/end of January 2015 and to be included on their full length debut album The Road Ahead at the end of March, ‘Bad Blood’ is probably the heaviest song I’ve heard from Defy All Reason but has enough hooks to make it widely accessible. It rolls along …

Just before I was to review Primordial‘s eighth studio album I was asked to compile my top 10 albums of 2014 for Planetmosh and had it all worked out until I played Where Greater Men Have Fallen. After the albums hour long duration it was a no brainer that it …

It is almost 30 years since King Diamond left Mercyful Fate in 1985 to form his solo band and is miraculously still touring following a triple heart bypass operation 4 years ago and has just completed a 2 month tour of North America . His trademark banshee vocals are still …

To say that the release of the 10th studio album Blood In, Blood Out by legendary Bay Area, California based U.S thrash metal innovators Exodus was welcomed by me and no doubt other long standing fans was a relief is an understatement following the 2010 album Exhibit B:The Human Condition. …

Ferry Damen, Vocalist & Guitarist from AntropomorphiA takes the time out to talk about their latest album ‘Rite Ov Perversion’ For anyone who has not heard of Antropomorphia, when and where was the band formed and how many original members are in the current line up? AntropomorphiA’s inception lies in …

Following on from their raging 4 track EP The Erebus and the Terror, Brighton based Jonestown follow it up with their next release ‘Cut Throat Lane’ and have recently strengthened their line up with the addition of new bassist Tony Hardwick. The song was originally planned to be on the …

Forming in Seattle way back in 1985, Sanctuary were poised for big things. Their 1987 debut album Refuge Denied was produced by Dave Mustaine from Megadeth who also helped them get signed  with CBS/Epic Records and took them out on tour but 3 years after their second album Into The …

Even though Antromorphia formed in 1990 in Tilburg,in the Netherlands I knew of the name but had heard no music by them until their latest album Rites Ov Perversion. It will be released via Metal Blade Records on Sept.12th 2014 and it is one of the most brutal death metal …

Even from their humble beginnings in Stockholm  in 1990, Opeth have always pushed the boundaries in metal and none more so with their last studio album Heritage, released in 2011. The word prog rock was bandied around here, there and everywhere but those who cry out for their death metal …

As good as Steel Thread‘s studio albums are to chill out to, their live shows are a completely different animal. A lot of it is off the cuff, with assorted cover songs with added quips from members Neil Wardleworth ( vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion ) and Laura Wilcockson ( violin, …

Dutch power metallers Lord Volture have certainly been prolific with their recorded output since forming in 2009. In the space of just 5 years they have released their debut ‘Beast Of Thunder’ in 2010, ‘Never Cry Wolf’ the following year and  Setember 12th 2014 will see the European release of …

Brighton based Jonestown have created a 4 track EP which is certainly not easy listening but in a good way. Not the sort of music you have in the background but something you have to totally immerse  into the lyrics of vocalist Harley Anderson. Every lyric seems to be a …

Bloodstock is thankfully here with us once again with another 4 days of true metal but before the 3 main days the Sophie Lancaster stage hosts 5 bands on Thursday night, highlighting the wealth of UK metal.  Opening act  Stoke On Trent based Balls Deep wasted no time in stamping …