Album Reviews

Jade Vine is a rock band from London that was formed in 2006 by brothers Constantine and Marios Magdalinos.  They toured as a duo for two years under the name “Uncaused Creation”.  In 2008 they were joined by two new members to become a four piece, and after a year …

Donovan’s Devils are a rock band from New Jersey that formed in 2011.  The band takes it’s name from a unit of the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) in World War 2 that was commanded by General William Donovan and whihc became known as Donovan’s Devils.  One of the members …

Hailing from the Nottingham/Derby area, young four piece acolourfall describe themselves as “an alternative/grunge-metal band” and assert their musical mission is to “bridge the gap between bands like Sevendust, Neurosis, Downset, Fear Factory, Deftones and a perfect circle”. This debut EP certainly displays most of those influences, and quite a few …

Axecatcher are a trio from the town of Limavady, an otherwise innocuous and inoffensive town perched in the north west corner of jolly ol’ Norn Iron which most people tend to find only if they take the wrong turning on the road to the current so-called “UK City Of Culture”, …

Formed by guitarist Doug Aldrich and vocalist Keith St John back in 1998, Burning Rain recorded two well-received albums – their self-titled debut and ‘Pleasure To Burn’ – before the six-string slinger left to team up (albeit briefly) with the late, great Ronnie James Dio, while the vocalist pitched his …

Stonelake come up with the goods on an album not to be missed. Sweden has a damn fine habit of producing bands of high quality and that tradition is continued with Stonelake. ‘Monolith’ actually represents the bands sixth full length release but they may be a band who have slipped …

The news that Alestorm’s Christopher Bowes had launched a power metal band got my interest straight away.  The thought of Alestorm’s humour being applied to power metal sounded like a perfect match – after all, a lot of power metal lyrics are cheesy and over the top.  With Gloryhammer, Christopher …

Requinox are a heavy metal band from Norway that was formed in 2010.  The members have all played in other bands before joining Requinox.  In 2011 they started touring, both around Norway and in Sweden.  In 2012 they entered the studio to record their debut album, and released ‘Through the …

Dutch band Gate 6 was formed in 2005 by Jan Koster and Tony ten Wolde, initially as a project but it quickly developed into a full band.  Before forming Gate 6 Jan played guitarist in Challenge and Isolation, while Tony played keyboards with Dutch prog band marathon, so as you …

Hailing from Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, 3 piece blues rock band Blanco Diablo have penned 12 hard hitting numbers on their 3rd full length studio album Attack The Fire and when you have the legendary producer Chris Tsangarides in the driving seat then you can do no wrong! Attack The …

Seven Nails are a German Symphonic progressive metal band from Southern Germany.  The band formed in 2010 and by 2012 had finalised the lineup, and recording of their debut album, Factory of dreams, started soon after. Blending Progressive and Symphonic metal with female vocals, this is a recipe that should …

Imperial Age is the brainchild of Russian musician, concert promoter and martial artist, Aor (Alexander osipov).  Aor is the only permanent member of the band, with session musicians used for the recording of the album and for any live shows.  The process of writing and recording the album was begun …

Originally founded in 1999 as a means for the then 21-year old Tobias Sammet to produce what he regarded the ultimate rock opera project – something which he apparently eventually drew a line under when he announced the end of Avantasia from the Wacken stage back in August 2011.  But, …

Despite having been around, in one shape or form, for almost a quarter of a century, and being one of the most respected but under-rated acts on the Swedish black metal scene, it’s hard to believe that this is only Grief Of Emerald’s fifth full length album… With their more …

Having loaned an entire new meaning to the phrase ‘down under’, Australia’s most OTT black metallers have split up and re-united more times than PM’s esteemed editor-in-chief has brewed a mug of Horlicks – originally calling it a day back in 1996 and then again at the beginning of 2007, …

When Cathedral announced that they were releasing one final album there was much bittersweet rejoicing. The coven was happy there would be another tome of incantations, yet disappointed that the end of one of the most important legacies in heavy metal history was nigh. With the current resurgence in the …

Ireland’s anarchic lads of thrash, Gama Bomb, return with a fourth album kicking and screaming that thrash lives, thrash is alive and well and hell mend anyone who says otherwise. Like an unruly younger brother they come, throwing themselves around like a whirling dervish, creating chaos, havoc and all manner …

Revel In Flesh is a very young band, with their first album Deathevokation released only in 2012. Their second album, Manifested Darkness, is being released by underground label FDA Rekotz in 2013. I remember when Entombed‘s Left Hand Path came out… and turned the death metal world on it’s ear. This …

Whitechapel are a fairly young band, forming in 2006. They are a death metal band, with four releases under their belt, from Knoxville, Tennessee. The band have returned with their newest offering, for Metal Blade Records: the re-release of The Somatic Defilement (their 2007 debut album), which has been re-mastered. Overall, the record …

Howl are an extreme metal quartet from Providence, Rhode Island. The band formed in 2006, so they are fairly ‘new’ or ‘young’. Howl signed with Relapse Records in 2009, releasing their first full-length effort, Full of Hell, in 2010. Their second album, Bloodlines, is slated for release by Relapse Records …