Album Reviews

The greatest selection of albums, reviewed and rated

Andy Bennett – Thinkin’ Drinkin’ Singin’

Andy Bennett is best known as a member of Ocean Colour Scheme, in which he played guitar for over a decade before leaving the band last year to focus on his own solo projects.  He’s just released his solo album, Thinkin’ Drinkin’ Singin’ via Swan Music. In terms of the …

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Obzidian – Obliteration Process

        Obzidian return with their third full length album ‘Obliteration Process’, marking a triumphant follow up to 2014’s acclaimed ‘Concrete Psychosis’, and what a hefty slab of Metal it proves to be       ‘Obliteration Process’ is one of those albums that just does not mess …

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Jon Lord – Gemini Suite (2016 reissue)

Jon Lord is best remembered by rock fans as the keyboard player from Deep Purple.  His Hammond Organ sound was a key part of Deep Purple’s music, but he was far more than just an ordinary keyboard player – he was a composer too.  By composer I don”t mean he …

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Heart – Live at the Royal Albert Hall

There are some bands that tour every year, while others like the Rolling Stones very rarely tour.  If you live in the US then you’d say Heart fall into the first category, while those fans in Europe and the UK would say they’re in the latter category.  It’s been 12 …

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Testament – Brotherhood of the Snake

Testament have always been a staple of the worldwide thrash scene, first introduced to the world supporting Anthrax in 1987.  This is the 11th studio album, unfortunately their history has been fraught with continuing line-up changes, illness and the general fickleness of the music industry. Throughout this, Testament have continued …

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Karg – Weltenasche

              Weltenasche represents Karg’s  fifth full release since forming in 2006, and is one hell of a powerful record, brimming with so much technical wizardry and jaw dropping ‘punch’, a real beauty to behold I’m full of admiration for anyone that can sit down …

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Primordial – Gods To The Godless

This is more than just a live album from Pagan metallers Primordial. The unharnessed emotional intensity could be used for a super hero motion film soundtrack. The eighty minutes long Gods To The Godless opus will be available via Metal Blade Records on November 25th 2016. Their set was recorded …

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Camel Of Doom – Terrestrial

The Camel of Doom re-released album Terrestrial is to put it bluntly a tough listen for those not familiar with the psych/doom genre.  On the other hand, for those that know all about it, what joy this album brings.  Kris Clayton, the driving force behind Camel Of Doom, has been making music since he was a 13 …

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Bowling for Soup – Drunk Dynasty

In the English language, the term ‘cheeky scamps’ is usually reserved for boys no older than 10 who are generally well-behaved and sweet, but amuse themselves by partaking in the odd prank and harmless game of knockdown ginger. That the expression is as equally fitting to Bowling for Soup twenty-two …

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Fireland – Fireland III: Believe Or Die

On the 17th October 2006, my 16 year old self walked into the Mandela Hall in Belfast to watch none other than the kings of cheesy, power metal; DragonForce. It was on this night that my teenage ears were also introduced to the support band who were none other than …

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Death valley high – Cvlt (As Fvk)

Cvlt (As Fvk) is the new album from Californian industrial rock band Death Valley High.  I have to confess they’re a band I havent listened to before, so for this review I was diving into the unknown.  After listening to the first few songs, my reaction can be descrbed as …

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Black Aces – Shot In The Dark

Aussie Wrecking Crew stalwarts Black Aces released their debut album Shot In The Dark at the end of September 2016 via French record label Bad Reputation. The album was produced by Craig Harnath and mixed by Jim Giddings at Hothouse Studios, St Kilda’s and mastered by Tony Mantz at Deluxe …

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Biffy Clyro – Ellipsis

In the history of music when have you ever heard an album start with the band’s lead singer shouts “ha, ha, record this?!” What’s that? You can’t think of anyone? Well that was how Scottish giants Biffy Clyro kicked off their seventh release; “Ellipsis.” Suppose when you have been on …

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Obituary – Ten Thousand Ways To Die

It is a good sense of timing to say the least when I got the chance to review the latest Obituary release Ten Thousand Ways To Die a few days after seeing them crush all those who saw them play at the Academy 2 in Manchester a few days earlier. …

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Enbound – The Blackened Heart

As a reviewer it’s always interesting what pieces of material get sent your way. One question you start asking yourself will be “is this album going to be worth listening to?” So when I received an email with an album entitled “The Blackened Heart” by Swedish melodic metal band Enbound; …

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Theocracy – Ghost Ship

Before I get started with this review, in 2008 an album entitled “Mirror Of Souls” graced the world of metal. This release is hands down one of my all time favourite albums but who is this band that released such an album? Well known other than Georgia’s very own Theocracy, …

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Splintered Halo – The Splintered Minds Asylum

The Splintered Minds Asylum is the debut album from Glasgow based Splintered Halo.  If this album guarantees you one thing it is that you will likely not have heard anything like this before.  I caught up with front woman Evilyn Van Der Hyden, who is the driving force for the band, to discuss her influences …

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Bad Touch – Truth Be Told

Norfolk may be that somewhat sleepy county over to the extreme right of the map but there’s nothing sedate about the second album from Bad Touch, Truth Be Told. Stacked with oomph, riddled with self-assurance and oozing vitality, this is an album tailor made for when the good times are flowing. …

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Skeletonwitch – The Aphotic Gloom EP

‘The Aphotic Gloom’ comes three years since Skeletonwitch‘s last full-length release  “Serpents Unleashed” and after the departure of vocalist Chance Garnette. There was much buzz about their new vocalist and this four track EP does indeed feature the powerhouse that is Adam Clemans of Wolvhammer fame. The EP itself is something of …

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