Album Reviews

Steeped in an undeniably brilliant musicianship, it’s a record that should have the ears of every prog fan pricked and listening intently.

If you’re not familiar with MaYaN , they are the side-project of Epica guitarist Mark Jansen.  For the first album (Quarterpast) he was joined by several colleagues from Epica and other musicians as well as a number of guest vocalists including Floor Jansen (Revamp, Nightwish), Henning Basse (sons of seasons), …

Back in the 90s Voodoo Sioux looked set for success.  They were touring with the likes of Little Angels and Terrorvision, were played on Tommy Vance’s Friday Rock Show on BBC Radio 1, and signed to Bleeding Hearts/Music For Nations.  Clearly something went wrong as the band then went silent …

#PlanetMosh reviews the new Blacklist Union album Til Death Do Us Part.

"... a very worthy addition to the canon of potentially classic latter day Scandinavian black metal albums."

"Plagues Of Babylon is an early yardstick in 2014 for other metal bands to try and measure up"

Finnish band Indica released their first album in 2004.  Like the next three albums it was recorded in Finnish and while enjoying considerable success in Finland, the band had a far lower profile outside Finland.  In 2010 they released their first album sung in English – ‘A way away’.  It …

"Bleak atmospherics [take] the cacophonous darkness to an even more Dante-esque level..."

There are not many bands that stick in my head nearly five years after seeing them for the first time, however Northern Ireland’s Million Dollar Reload are one of them. I first saw them at the 2nd Hardrockhell festival in 2008 when they played a 40 minute set on the …

"There is just not enough to bestow legendary status upon either band or album..."

Having retired to the Doghouse (so to speak) for over ten years. Swedish rockers Mats Leven (vocals) and Martin Kronlund (guitar) have resurrected Dogface with new members Mikael Carlsson on bass guitar and Perra Johansson on drums. Dogface last released albums Unleashed in 2000 and In Control back in 2002. November …

"Avatarium have struck more than gold, they have created it"

Excellent return to form, from Austria's Death Metal kings

This third album from Vancouver quintet Tribune is a nine song (or should that be ‘nine chapter’?) concept album, with each track inspired by an author such as HG Wells, Homer and HP Lovecraft. It’s a concept which is ambitious in its aspirations, but which ultimately fails to deliver on …

"[An] overall atmosphere of perverted sadism... as brutal, savage and depraved death metal as you are likely to encounter."

Bones first started playing together in Chicago thrash band Usurper. After Usurpers demise Jon and Joe started jamming in 2009. Chris joined later that year and Bones was disgorged upon us!

On seeing the band name, I confused Exhumer with thrash metal legends Exumer but as the disturbing soundbites of album opener ‘Admire Your Ending’ fade into the barrage of blast beats of ‘Vapours Of Cadaveric Mucilage’, this is a completely different animal altogether. Death metal in it’s purest form can …

"An excellent album... which is by turns challenging and entrancing."

"[Hammercult have] enough originality to stand, more than confidently, on their own two feet and help shape the sound of thrash metal for 2014."

‘Kingdom of Fear’ will pick you up and drag you along, before it drops you, exhausted and thoroughly entertained at the end.