Album Reviews

The greatest selection of albums, reviewed and rated

Herman Frank Right In The Guts CD

For any fan of Euro metal, Herman Frank must be high on everybody’s list, Without any doubt Herman Frank is one of the most prestigious German metal guitarists of the past 30 years. His dynamic compositions with their raging riffs, hooks and intelligent virtuoso solos have graced not only the …

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Power Theory – An Axe to Grind (cd)

  Power Theory was envisioned and created in 2007 by Bob “BB” Ballinger with the intention to form a True Metal band with a mix of the nwobhm, 80’s German Power Metal, and a little Bay Area Thrash thrown in to shake it up. Power Theory became a tight metal …

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Burning Point – The Ignitor (CD)

Finnish metallers Burning Point have released The Ignitor – their follow up record to 2009’s Empyre and their first on new label Scarlet Records. Formed in 1999 and having toured with Sebastian Bach in the past, the four piece have given us an album full of big choruses and catchy …

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Lykaion – ‘Nothin’ But Death’

It’s taken these four Italian signori nigh on nine years of solid gigging in their homeland to get round to unleashing their particular brand of old-school, straight-through-the-middle metal on the rest of the planet. Taking their name from the twin-peaked mountain in the central Greek Peloponnese, where the sacred altar …

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Gun – Break the Silence CD

Scottish rockers Gun are back with their new album ‘Break the Silence’. This is their first full length release in 14 years! ‘Break the Silence’ was recorded in Wales at Rockfield Studios and produced by Dave Eringa, who has worked with bands like The Manic Street Preachers and Ocean Colour …

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Pictured – The Strand Of Time.

 Pictured, from Quimper in Brittany are yet another quality metal band to hail from France and their debut full length studio album The Strand Of Time is another contender for my album of 2012. Released  May 25th, on Klonosphere/Season Of Mist Records, via Viral Propaganda PR. Formed in 2007 and …

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The Agonist – Prisoners

The Agonist are a Canadian metalcore band from Montreal.  Formed by singer Alissa White-Gluz and bassist Chris Kells in 2004, they signed to Century Media in 2007 where they remain to this day.  The band have just released their third album – Prisoners. Opening track “You’re coming with me” opens …

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New Manic Spree – Hollywords and galaxies

New Manic Spree formed in Australia in 2009, and quote a wide range of influences – from classical composers such as Debussey to Indie rock bands such as the Klaxons. Their EP “Hollywoods and galaxies” has been receiving plenty of airplay in Australia, but at the moment the band remains …

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Dead City Ruins – Midnight Killer CD

Dead City Ruins, a five piece band from Australia, are about to unleash their devastatingly effective new album “Midnight Killer” onto an unsuspecting world. Scheduled for release via their self-funded label on 23rd July, the release follows on the heels of their recent 50-plus date tour that saw them pound …

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Splatter – Fear of the Park CD review

Punk rockers Splatter are back with their new studio album Fear of the Park, and although the sound quality of it may be as poor as a crippled hobo living in North London – Fear of the Park has some rather interesting and enjoyable moments that are great to sing …

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Whitechapel – Whitechapel (CD)

It’s been a busy 24 months for Whitechapel. Third album A New Era of Corruption blazed its way into the top Billboard 200, they supported metal giants Job for a Cowboy across Europe and North America, they released the Recorrupted EP in 2011 and are now due to head out …

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Livarkahil – Wrath Of God ep.

  When it comes to French metal bands, the older generation would probably recall Trust and the newer generation,  Gojira. But a new and worthy name can be added to the list, the crushing Livarkahil. I reviewed their last full length studio album Signs Of Decay for Planetmosh last September …

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Nachtblut – Dogma CD

Nachtblut are prepared to conquer the dark scene with their second album. “Dogma” which was release 25th May through Napalm Records. The title track ‘Dogma’ starts off the album in great style. It has a superb heavy groove filled will drum beats, bass lines and riffs along with some evil …

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Spineshank – Anger Denial Acceptance CD

Anger Denial Acceptance is Spineshank’s fourth full length and first one in almost a decade, where has the time gone! The album was released in Europe on the 18th June via Century Media Records. ‘After the End’ starts off with a huge scream and continues on in an angst driven …

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7 Horns 7 Eyes – Throes Of Absolution

Seattle’s progressive death metallers, 7 HORNS 7 EYES, released their first full-length album, ‘Throes Of Absolution’, throughout Europe on 23rd April this year via Basick Records. ‘Divine Amnesty’ gets us off to a slow, very melodic start before we get greeted by a small barrage of riffs, drums and screams that continues …

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Merrimack – ‘The Acausal Mass’

Over the past 18 years – and certainly in the decade since the release of their brutal debut album, ‘Ashes of Purification’ – Merrimack have been slowly building a reputation as one of the forerunners of the French black metal movement and have drawn comparison, not unfairly, with the likes …

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Embassy Of Silence – ‘Antler Velvet’ cd review.

This is Finnish band Embassy Of Silence’s second full length offering, following on from 2009’s ‘Euphorialight’ which was released to much critical acclaim in their homeland, with it’s musical twists from light to dark, it immediately got the band noticed. ‘Antler Velvet’ however see’s the band progress firmly to a …

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