Album Reviews

The greatest selection of albums, reviewed and rated

Zero Degree, ‘Surreal World’ cd review.

  Being a big fan of the Melodic Death Metal genre I was really looking forward to hearing this debut offering from one of Germany’s most promising bands for some time, and boy I am suitably impressed. A stunning collection of songs of the utmost brilliance that I honestly find …

Read More »

Les Discret, ‘Ariettes oubliees…’ CD Review.

  With roots going as far back as 2003,the band was formed as a companion and vehicle of expression for the art of guitarist/singer/composer Fursy Teyssier. Although no concrete releases came until 2009 with the appearance of a split EP which was followed in 2010 with the bands first full …

Read More »

ILL – Gotten Gains CD review

ILL is an Atlanta-based three-piece rock band and “Gotten Gains” is their second full-length album. The members of ill, Damion Goodpaster (Synth, Piano, and Vocals), Marlon Patton (Drums), and Ryan Waters (Guitar and Vocals) describe their sound as, “Big blues riffs done with a punk attitude and very much rooted …

Read More »

3 Inches Of Blood – Long Live Heavy Metal

3 Inches of Blood are like Dungeons and Dragons. They are a band whose lyrics, concepts and artwork appeals to “Nerds” or in heavy metal terms; fans of power and symphonic metal. Although they may not be a melodic metal band themselves, 3 Inches of Blood adopt the imagery and …

Read More »

Rejected Youth – Fuck the Contest CD review

Punk bands get a load of stick and get branded as “Those guys with spiky hair, who can’t really play their instruments and just play noise”, when in fact what the haters don’t realise is that punk is one of the hardest types of music to play and takes real …

Read More »

Zoltar speaks – Treatment EP

Despite listening to and attending gigs by numerous female fronted metal bands, Zoltar speaks are a new name to me.  They come from Somerset, and according to their bio have toured in the South and in Wales, which presumably means they havent toured much in the rest of the country …

Read More »

Metal Scent – ‘Homemade’

Normally, in conversation down the pub, if the words ‘Israel’, ‘power’ and ‘metal’ come in proximity it’s usually referring how much of one the former has used to drop tonnes of the latter on the Gaza Strip or elsewhere… (not that we’re not getting political, like…). Which is a roundabout …

Read More »

Gory Blister – ‘Earth-Sick’

If ever an album did exactly what it said in its title, it is this one. For this, the fourth album from this Italian outfit, is one sick mutha of an album. After the brooding intro of ‘The Breeding’, the title track well and truly sets the scene, and the …

Read More »

Accept – Stalingrad

Formed in 1976 it is  correct to say that Accept are one of Germany’s high profile metal bands. Since their inception they are now on their 5th vocalist. Founding member Udo Dirkschneider left in 1987 ,rejoined in 1992 but after a band split from 2005-2009 he did not want to …

Read More »

Gorod – ‘A Perfect Absolution’

Typical, isn’t it? You complain about the apparent lack of decent French metal bands and then, like buses to the mysterious ‘Not In Service’, a whole bunch come along at once. ‘A Perfect Absolution’ is the third full-lengther – and the second on Listenable – from this Bordeaux five-piece and, …

Read More »

Exumer-Fire And Damnation.

  GERMAN THRASH METAL IS BACK WITH A VENGEANCE!! Well it never really went away but over the last few years classic German thrash metal bands have made welcome returns to the UK.  Accept have headlined Hammerfest and done a UK tour. Others like Kreator,Sodom,Destruction and Holy Moses have  all …

Read More »

Words of Farewell – Immersion

Formed in 2007, Words of Farewell are a progressive death metal band from Germany who signed to AFM Records in January of this year and are due to release their debut album ‘Immersion’ on 30 March 2012. I took some time to write the review for this album as there …

Read More »

Watain – Opus Diaboli (dvd)

  Opus Diaboli is the celebration of Watain’s 13 year anniversary. It represents a stunning and fascinating insight into the forbidden realms of Satanic black metal and presents the manifesto of a truly unique band that have chosen a path very few bands have dared to tread. This package is …

Read More »

9xDead – Cursed

From a land steeped in harsh industrial history and ancient myth come’s a new sound, a new attitude and a new force in dark music. 9xDead come to the fore with a history of growth, rebirth, and reinvention spanning a decade and a sound spanning genre’s. 9xdead explore the depths …

Read More »

Meshuggah ‘Koloss’ cd review.

The Prince’s of the Polyrhythm return with their follow up to 2008’s ‘obZen’ which was the bands most commercially successful release to date, however this monster should surpass it’s predecessor with ease. Opening track ‘I Am Colossus’ sets the tone beautifully for a feast of Math Metal/Technical Death Metal/Avant – …

Read More »

Gun Barrel ‘Brace For Impact’ cd review.

Although this is the bands 5th studio album release in a career spanning some 12 years, the UK has yet to latch on to the German guys offerings, until now that is, for this should turn a fair few heads with a truly winning formula of dirty, sleazy, metal tinged …

Read More »

Unleashed ‘Odalheim’ cd review.

  Swedish Death Metal Pioneers return with a vengeance with the follow up to ‘As Yggdrasil Trembles’ ,continuing the theme of a Norse Mythology Doomsday vision. Johnny Hedlund and his horde deliver an epic serving of regal Death Metal second to none. From opener ’Fimbulwinter’ you’re quickly left in no …

Read More »