Album Reviews

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 …

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 …

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 …

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, …

  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 …

          Ronnie James Dio,born as Ronald James Padavona sadly left us almost 2yrs ago on May 16th 2010.  A sad day for many of us but we will always raise the devil horns listening to  the music he left behind!  So on that note, Universal Music …

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 …

  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 …

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 …

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 – …

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 …

  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 …

German sleaze rockers Kissin’ Dynamite released their last record, Addicted to Metal, in 2010 via AFM records and to say it bluntly……. It was a bit of a disappointment. So many different sub-genres of rock and metal mixed together on one album really does not work. But with their new …

The North West of England is home to many an awesome hard rock band, but Carnforth based southern rock band Massive Wagon’s are a band that are a cut above the rest, combining groovy guitar riffs that reek of the 80’s, driving rhythm sections and slick, Black Label Society esque …

Hailing from Lancaster, Promethium is a super group made up of local North West based bands such as: Skin Crawl, Bodies, Desolate, Natural Thing and Massive Wagons. With a distinctive, outside the box approach to heavy metal, Promethium are a band who hold no punches, especially on their latest album, …

“Where angels fear” is the fifth album from Lullacry and the first Lullacry release since 2005’s “Vol. 4” and was produced by Mikko Herranen.  Lullacry are a gothic metal band from Finland. Whereas many gothic or symphonic metal bands have female singers who sing in an almost operatic, very pure …

My Dynamite are a new Australian band who play classic rock in the Led Zeppelin vein, with comparisons also being made to Black Crowes, The Faces, Free and more.  There is a definite 1970’s feel, but not so much that it feels dated – instead it evokes memories of some …

Hard to believe that Overkill have been around since 1980, what’s even harder to believe is that this new release could quite easily trounce all their previous albums and become known as the bands finest hour. Not only are we treated to a whopping 50 minutes playing time (which is …

Midnight Realm are a 6 piece melodic death metal band from Newcastle upon Tyne. The band originally started as a project between guitarist Daniel Russell and former keyboard player Alan Woodham back in 2007 but has since grown to become a complete unit with an ever growing fan base around …

Good news for fans of US Thrashers Municipal Waste – their fifth album, The Fatal Feast is out next month. This is the bands first album since moving from Earache to Nuclear Blast and its clear that the move to a major label hasnt led to them toning things down …