Album Reviews

Hailing from Italy Adimiron are due to release their third album K2 on the 28th of November 2012 by Bakerteam Records. The first track on the album Oriens starts off with an interesting traditional Asian excerpt. This is then drowned out by five chunky riffs and the track starts to …

Stigmhate’s new album The Sun Collapse is uncompromisingly Black Metal.  The Sun Collapse shall be released on the 26th of March 2012 by Bakerteam Records. It has a heavy and theatrical feel with an evil, grating vocal sound. I am reminded of Belphegor and Naglfar when listening to this album. I …

Located in Germany Lay Down Rotten are to release their newest album Mask of Malice on the 28th of February 2012 by Metal Blade Records. This album is the first recorded with their new guitarist Daniel “Kensington” Seifert after Daniel Jakobi decided to leave the band. I am interested to see …

Desaster is a black / thrash band hailing from Germany since 1989. The Arts of Destruction, which was recorded at ToxoMusic Studios and mixed at Temple of Disharmony, shall be their 7th album and will be released on the 28th February 2012. My first thought was ‘wow’ when I was …

Bejelit, originating from Italy will be releasing their fourth full length album. It will be the first album to be realised after being signed to Bakerteam Records. Emerge will be realised on the 26th of March 2012. Bejelit’s new release Emerge embraces the use of accordions and violins which layer up with solid groovy riffs to create …

Released on 1 October 2011 ‘A New Beginning’ is the second album from the Belgian death metal band, Suicide of Demons.   Formed in 2005 by brothers Fern and Jo, their first self-produced  album ‘Before Our Eyes’ was originally released in 2008 and sold over 1000 copies prior to being re-released …

Last year the press picked up on a band that was seen to be the future of thrash metal. This year, that band has released their 2nd full studio album. A ferocious work of art; combining storming dual guitar lines, pounding rhythm sections and killer choruses to form the mother …

The Scottish heavy metal scene is well known for being heavy as hell – bringing the world some of the finest death metal and grindcore bands around. From Cerebral Bore to Achren the musical calibre from Scottish musicians is superb, and it only seems fitting to introduce who break free …

Italian based symphonic metal band CrimsonWind have just recently their debut album entitled The Wings of Salvation on Ice Warrior records and from the glimmering keyboard opening lines to the pounding riffs that follow closely behind, CrimsonWind have written and performed some fine examples of power metal. The Wings of …

February 17th sees the release of the new album from Hungarian neo-thrash band Ektomorf; ‘The Acoustic’.  For those of you that bought their earlier release, ‘Redemption’ (2010) you will be familiar with the song ‘Sea Of My Misery’, a melancholic, semi-acoustic track in which leader Zoli switches his vocals to …

Even though its only February,Goatwhore’s 5th full studio release Blood For The Master is well on the way to being my album of 2012. Ten  songs covering 38 minutes of  sheer intensity. Everything is thrown into the melting pot here,black metal/thrash/doom and heavy. Guitars churn and slash throughout backed up …

24th February sees the release of Lyriel’s fourth album, Leverage.  It could be said that this album is more powerful in many ways than their previous ones, but don’t go expecting anything heavy, because that’s not what Lyriel are about.  Simply put, this is not heavy metal.  So what is …

Mark Spiro is an American singer-songwriter with an impressive track record – 45 gold and platinum records, and six solo albums. He’s written songs for a number of films and TV series – most notably the song “Mighty Wings” which was performed by Cheap Trick for the film Top Gun. …

Danish band Fate are a band that has been through plenty of lineup changes since the band first formed in 1984. After almost ten years, several lineup changes and several album releases, the band split in 1993. The band then reformed in 2006, and since then have had yet more …

A quote in the press release by the band states “This is not just a compilation of songs for us,this is our life” and the variety of material on the 12 original songs + one cover version here hammers home that statement. Cadaverous Condition will not get on the Billboard …

On 20 January, Stahlmann released their second album entitled Quecksilber (Quicksilver).  Formed in 2008 the German electro rockers have a style (a combination of rock, metal and electronic dance) not totally dissimilar to Rammstein – though definitely distinctive in its own right. The album starts of relatively softly with Engel …

  Dutch band Vengeance,formed over 30 years ago by vocalist Leon Gowie  has assembled an impressive band line up to record their 9th studio album Crystal Eye due to be released on Feb 27th 2012  by Steamhammer/SPV records. Vengeance probably will not be mentioned in  the same breath as current …

    Translation ”The Journeys of The Soul “ Since their groundbreaking 2005 debut the e.p “Le Secret”, Alcest have created quite a stir amongst the black metal scene, creating their own unique brand of gothic themed doom laden sounds utilising the many talents of Neige. Opening track “Autres Temps” …

Belgium based Max Pie are a progressive metal act that are only just getting the credit they deserve. Since forming in 2005, the band have gone on numerous tours, played numerous festivals, but unfortunately only waited until 2011 to record their debut album. Now in 2012, Max Pie have finally …