Album Reviews

FACTICITY is the debut album from OVER YOUR THRESHOLD, a progressive death metal quintet hailing from Munich in Germany. Formed in 2006 and having released a EP, ‘Progress in Disbelief’ in 2008, the band entered the studio in 2011 to record the album. They suffered a setback at the beginning …

“21st century freaks” is the fourth album from Fatal Smile.  The band come from Stockholm in Sweden, and over the last ten years have built up a good reputation with their albums and their live shows.  Fatal Smile have toured with bands like Dio, W.A.S.P., Queensryche, Lordi, Doro, Winger, and …

Ive always had a soft spot for Robert Cray, often overlooked in favor of BBKING, and overshadowed quite recently by Joe Bonamassa, Ive often felt he had more to offer, and with this, his 16th full length record he has struck gold. The five time Grammy winner is back with …

SNEW are a new band to me, hailing from Hollywood, you can just see these guys hanging out at the Rainbow Bar and Grill, drinking Jack Daniels and loving every second of it. Snew’s debut album, released was June 2008, entitled “Snew You” was named one of the Top Ten hard …

Triaxis are finally back with the long awaited follow up to their 2008 debut album (Key to the kingdom).  Whereas the debut album was self released, for this new album, Triaxis have signed to Rocksector records.  Since releasing their debut album Triaxis have been busy touring at regular intervals as …

Originally founded back in 2001 when guitarist Leon del Muerte left Impaled – and subsequently put on hold when he went on to join Exhumed – MC have been kicking around in one form or another ever since, first making their mark with their self-titled debut EP two years ago, …

If there are two words in the musical lexicon that fill most reviewers – and especially this one, if must be admitted – with fear, then they are ‘progressive’ and ‘technical’. Especially when they are conjoined. I mean, I’m of a generation when both terms were applied to bands like …

For those you who have been sitting under a rock, Dublin Death Patrol is a collaborative side project led by Testament vocalist Chuck Billy and his predecessor Steve ‘Zetro’ Souza (he was the singer in Legacy, the original version of aforesaid thrash legends, before going on to make his name …

Formed in Sweden in 2009 The Graviators are on a mission to bring back the sound of 70’s heavy metal.  With heavy yet melodic riffs, they immediately caught the ear of local record label Transubstans who helped them release their self titled debut in the same year.  The band began …

Yesterday saw the release of ‘REVELRY & RESILIENCE’, the second album from American rockers GYPSYHAWK on Metal Blade Records. Formed in October 2008, the band released their first album, ‘Patience and Peserverance’ in July 2010, an album recorded – as proudly stated on their blog – in the space of …

Dead Cowboy’s Sluts are a metal band from Paris, formed in 2010. They recorded their first album at the Studio St. Marthe in august 2011 called The Hand Of Death and were promptly signed to French label M&O MUSIC for the release of said album in 2012. Their style brings …

    Hamburg based hard rockers Lofft should really have a record deal by now judging by the quality of the 9 songs on their latest album, The Bitterness Of Life.It is currently available on cd directly from Lofft’s website  and digitally via major outlets  Amazon, iTunes,Spotify etc. Fans of …

Essex rock band, Held by Horses, were formed in January 2011.  A few months later they released their self titled debut EP, and are now ready to release their second EP – “In History”.  In terms of live shows, they’ve played gigs with bands such as Missing Andy, Mallory Knox, …

Best known these days as front woman for symphonic metal band Leaves Eyes , Liv occasionally veers off the Metal beaten path and does her own thing. “Libertine” represents her fourth solo effort, and sits quite happily in the Pop Rock camp. The album manages to encompass a fairly broad …

A recent name change from Bison (uk) to Bisongrass has not deterred this hard hitting 5 piece metal band. Formed late 2010 in Aberdeen, Bisongrass have their self titled debut album available as a hard copy on September 15th via their own record label Sweaty Beef Records and digitally via …

Sound Storm are a symphonic heavy metal band formed in 2002 in Turin, Italy.  Having released various E.P’s, 2008 saw them release their first full length album “Twilight Opera” celebrating it’s release at the “Ilha Do Ermal” festival in Portugal alongside the likes of Sepultura and Firewind.  The band toured …

Formed by Guitarist and composer Chris Frost back in 2006, Splintered Soul have undergone various lineup changes since then and with their debut album expected later this year, have chosen to release a three track EP.  They describe their music as “Cinematic metal”, and it does seem a fairy good …

When power metal is done well, it is done bloody well. When it’s done badly, it’s done bloody atrociously. The second album by re-united Sicilian trio Holy Knights falls somewhere between these two extremes. Way back at the turn of the 21st century, Holy Knights could have been, in words …

It’s been an eventful year for In this moment.  Two of the bands founding members (Guritarist Blak Brunzel and Drummer Jeff Fabb) quit the band as did their long term manager. While Brunzel and Fabb work with an American Idol contestant, Singer Maria Brink and Guitarist Chris Howarth have rebuilt …

  The majority of my album reviews are heavy rock/metal but when i was asked to review Ian Hunter’s latest album, When I’m President  i was delighted as i grew up with early 70’s music , an era when his previous band  Mott The Hoople were in their heyday. After …