Kent based 5 piece band The Self Titled have certainly had a tumultuous 18 months since their formation. Line up changes and putting their debut album on hold for almost a year to concentrate on their live act have given them an edge judging by the quality of the 3 …
Read More »Kill Devil Hill debut.
Over the last few years,a few “supergroups” have come to the fore. So along with Black Country Communion,Chickenfoot and Them Crooked Vultures,we can now add the very worthy Kill Devil Hill,the brain child of drummer Vinnie Appice (Black Sabbath,Heaven And Hell and Dio). The seeds of the band …
Read More »Goatwhore-Blood For The Master
Even though its only February,Goatwhore’s 5th full studio release Blood For The Master is well on the way to being my album of 2012. Ten songs covering 38 minutes of sheer intensity. Everything is thrown into the melting pot here,black metal/thrash/doom and heavy. Guitars churn and slash throughout backed up …
Read More »Interview with Brian Tatler of Diamond Head.
Following my review of the remastered Lightning To The Nations album i put a few questions to Diamond Head’s guitarist Brian Tatler which he graciously answered. My 1st Diamond Head gig was at Donington 1983,they opened the show followed by Dio,Twisted Sister,ZZ Top,Meatloaf and Whitesnake.Does Brian have any memories from …
Read More »Cadaverous Condition-Burn Brightly Alone.
A quote in the press release by the band states “This is not just a compilation of songs for us,this is our life” and the variety of material on the 12 original songs + one cover version here hammers home that statement. Cadaverous Condition will not get on the Billboard …
Read More »Vengeance-Crystal Eye
Dutch band Vengeance,formed over 30 years ago by vocalist Leon Gowie has assembled an impressive band line up to record their 9th studio album Crystal Eye due to be released on Feb 27th 2012 by Steamhammer/SPV records. Vengeance probably will not be mentioned in the same breath as current …
Read More »Anvil – Strength Of Steel and Pound For Pound and Worth The Weight (re-releases) [3-in-1]
For many people, Anvil were not known until their dvd, Anvil-The Story Of Anvil, was released in 2009. Also a lot of rock/metal fans may only be familiar with their 3 classic album releases, Hard And Heavy, Metal On Metal and Forged In Fire from 1981,1982,1983 and their 2 most …
Read More »Dogstate e.p War Baby
It is a strange coincidence that two of the band,Rich and Paul, share the same surname as John Garcia,vocalist of Kyuss who unfortunately disbanded many years ago. The first two tracks on Dogstate’s debut e.p War Baby come rumbling out with the classic groove of Wretch era Kyuss. First …
Read More »Derision – Ancient.
Clocking in at just under 50mins,the debut cd from Bolton/Wigan based thrashers Derision pulls no punches from the mauling riffs of opener Pain Of Conviction to the lightspeed buzzsaw riffs of closing track Final Solution.Quite simply,as debut albums go, the quality of material here is on a par with …
Read More »Cirith Ungol-Servants Of Chaos
Where to start with this one eh?31 tracks on 2cds and a bonus live dvd as well.Metal Blade Records,due to demand,have re-released Servants Of Chaos from the vastly underrated and sadly disbanded Cirith Ungol.Originally released as a dbl cd in 2001,Servants Of Chaos contains rare,demo,live and unreleased tracks from …
Read More »Agincourt, Hard Rock Hell festival, Prestatyn, 3/12/2011
Midlands based band Agincourt had their work cut out on the nwobhm stage,having to follow 2 awesome sets from Stampede and Bronz but they rose to the challenge by giving us 8 tracks from their excellent debut album ‘Angels Of Mons‘. Even a few technical difficulties arising from Paul Anderson’s …
Read More »Stampede, Hard Rock Hell festival, Prestatyn, 3/12/2011
Well,here we are again,Hard Rock Hell V,the annual festival that goes from strength to strength and part of the weekend’s festivities was a stage devoted to nwobhm on Saturday afternoon from 12pm-17.30pm.The proceedings were opened in style by a 40min classic hard rock set from Stampede who have just finished …
Read More »Lazarus Syndrome E.P Flatline.
Hailing, and hailing very loudly from Liverpool, Lazarus Syndrome have composed 4 tracks of melodic brutality. The Flatline e.p is not available yet but is mixed and ready for release. Apparently a lazarus syndrome is an awakening from the dead. Well,judging by the quality of Flatline, the band are certainly …
Read More »Diamond Head – Lightning To The Nations *deluxe edition*
Deluxe edition is certainly an understatement of this dbl cd digipack which also includes a 16 page booklet charting Diamond Head’s history to the present day written by Dave Everly with comments by guitarist Brian Tatler,one of the founder members and the only one remaining in the current line …
Read More »Manowar,Leeds Carling Academy,4/11/2011
“The sound of metal so loud it cracks the beams”.A line taken from Manowar’s song Gloves Of Metal and judging by volume levels reached at Leeds Carling Academy last Friday night,i would not be surprised if this were true.Their new p.a system certainly delivered but it had a few glitches …
Read More »Blasphemist – Shadowtorned World.
From their beginnings as Zodiac in Furstenfeld,Austria,the signing to Noisehead Records earlier in 2011 prompted a name change to Blasphemist to fit a new musical direction.The 6 piece band play technical/melodic/death metal and considering this is their debut album,they now have an arsenal of excellent material for future gigs. Considering …
Read More »Behemoth – Demonica.
Behemoth fans are in for a treat with this release. Demonica is a 2xcd 23 song compilation box set compiled from demo’s,unreleased and re-recorded songs.Only 10,000 are for sale and include an A5 digipack,slipcase and a 44 page book with rare photos and lyrics. The bulk of Demonica comes from:- …
Read More »Martyr – Circle Of 8.
Well this is a true phoenix rising from the flames story!Dutch metal band Martyr,formed in 1982 in Utrecht,Holland but disbanded in 1987 are now a full time band again.Circle of 8 is released via Metal Blade Records on November 8th.Martyr were also featured on the Metal Massacre VI compilation also …
Read More »Agincourt – Angels of Mons
Agincourt.Even by the name of the band,one can conjure up what is in store here.Classic hard rock/ metal played by experienced musicians.To my ears it is unashamedly NWOBHM.Big riffs,catchy hooks/choruses,no ott guitar solos,just written to fit the mood of the song and a lung busting vocalist.The vocalist here is …
Read More »Apollyon-Wrexham Central Station,19/10/2011
Supporting Evile at this gig,2nd onstage on a 4 band bill,Apollyon shook the rafters of Central Station with a set of lightspeed technical thrash metal.The 3 piece from Queensferry took no prisoners with frontman/bassist Gareth Owen summoning the ever growing crowd to the front.With only a short set in front …
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