Album Reviews

...there are no fillers on this album; the song-craft, musicianship and intensity have all combined perfectly to make a record in which all involved should be incredibly proud.

This fourth album from French blackened death metallers Aosoth is suitably dark, punishingly brutal and apocalyptically nihilistic. Built on barbaric rhythms and crushing riffs, topped with the sort of evil vocal that the Lord of Hades himself would struggle to imitate, it’s by turns depressively dirge-like and neck-snappingly fast, but …

The word emotional has been denigrated in recent years by it’s association with the dreaded ‘core scene, and its attribution to a raft of bands who have used the pretence of caring what goes on in the world about them to worm their way into the hearts, and souls, of …

This Barcelona mob get off to a less than masterly start by failing the first test of any band, never mind one from an overseas country submitting their material to an English language website:  not only do they provide very little supporting material – no biog, no background information, not …

Oxford trio Headcount’s sound has previously been described, elsewhere I hasten to add, as “Adam And The Ants being sodomized by Therapy?”. Certainly, on the basis of this new album, I can see the former comparison, as well as to the likes of Teardrop Explodes and maybe early, commercialized, stoner, …

Die No More are a British Metal band from Penrith, Cumbria. Formed in 2011 they started out playing under the name of Dynamo but changed their name to Die No More earlier this year, due to foreseeable issues with magician Dynamo, before announcing the release of their début album Blueprint. …

Chapter Zero is the latest album from Blackpool Punk/Rock Band The Senton Bombs. Formed in 2004 as The Terrorists they have already released four Demos and two studio albums, ‘Sweet Chin Music’ and’ Gambit’. Signed to STP Records in March 2013, Chapter Zero is their first label released album. With …

"As for Blues Pills own guitarist French born Dorian Sorriaux , well I can only describe him as an 'alchemist' of modern proportions. The Edward Scissor Hands of lead guitarists"

Following on from two self-released EPs, Swedish wannabe power metallers Majestic Dimension released this, their debut album earlier this year.  Unfortunately, both the band and the album are mis-named, and in numerous ways. There is nothing which even warrants the descriptive ‘majestic’ and the everything is strictly one dimensional, with …

Having earned 8/10 from PM with their debut ‘False Idols and Pyrite Thrones’ album at the beginning of 2012, Falmouth nu-thrash crossover mob KaiDekA return with this impressive sophomore, which cements their Slipknot-meets-MachineHead style with aplomb and panache. Right from the opening bars of ‘Pre-Requisite’, the south coasters hit the …

Proving that first impressions can indeed be deceptive, Vattnet Viskar, despite their Swedish monicker do not, in fact, hail from the northern wastelands of Scandinavia but rather from the shores of the eastern United States… their name (which translates as ‘The Water Whispers’), however, is a definite homage to the …

Think of Barcelona and you think of sun-kissed beaches, curvaceous ladies and cold sangria – and that is exactly the feeling that this debut album from Spanish AOR mob Hardreams evokes. This is bright and breezy hard pop-rock, filled with catchy hooks and pleasing melodies – but, not a lot …

While many of their fellow countrymen have sought to adapt traditional Irish mythologies to a more blackened style of metal, Mael Mórdha have deliberately crafted a sound which is very much rooted in the Celtic folk ethic, which gives their approach to the doomier end of the spectrum a more …

Given that they’ve been around in one form for eight years, it is understandable that this debut offering from south Wales trio Kamasupazundown should be an accomplished and mature offering, especially in the songwriting and musical ability stakes. And that is certainly true:  but, the problem is that it seems …

Alter Bridge are back with their fourth album – Fortress.  It’s been three years since their last album, ABIII, and the band have certainly been busy in that time, touring in support of the album as well as Mark Trmonti doing his solo tour and shows with Creed and Myles …

Since their formation in 1996,Birmingham based death metallers Warlord UK have weathered a storm which would have finished most bands but Mark White (the only original member left) has not been beaten even though they are now without a major record deal and being made to change their name from …

The interestingly named Slut Machine are an all female, punk band formed in Italy in 2011. They are now on to their third lead vocalist, Bianca. I had high hopes for this album and listening to the first track Lump In My Throat I thought, fast drumming, fast guitars just …

Female fronted alternative rock band White Clouds & Gunfire formed in Peterborough in 2009. Following their debut EP ‘Zero to Hero’ their album ‘For All the Non Believers’ was released on 2nd September 2013. A keyboard intoduction led into the opening song ‘Bruised not Broken’ a soft rock track with …

Swedish Metal Band Sister Sin’s first album Dance of the Wicked was originally released in 2013. Ten years later it has been re-released by Victory Records. Now with, not only all 8 original tracks but, 3 previously unreleased demo tracks, and a bonus track featuring German Rock Goddess Doro Pesch. …

Reckless Love are a Finnish Glam Rock band who these days do their own music and songs, after initially starting out as Reckless Life, a Guns N’ Roses tribute. Olli Herman, their very good-looking (he’s like the male equivalent of Pamela Anderson) frontman joined Crashdiet for a time before concentrating …