Born in Wales, Gwyn Ashton moved to Australia as a child in the 1960s, and has been playing guitar since an early age. For five years he fronted Band of Friends, the Rory Gallagher tribute act with Gerry McAvoy. The acts he’s toured with or supported over the years include …
Read More »Hammerfall – Dominion.
As Queen once said, “You know it’s time for the hammer to fall” and it will on August 19th as Swedish power metallers Hammerfall unleash their eleventh studio album Dominion via Napalm Records. They hit hard and heavy from the off as ‘Never Forgive, Never Forget’ bludgeons with big powerchords …
Read More »Words That Burn – Pyres
‘Pyres’ landed on my desk only last week so I’m a little late in reviewing this one as I do like to get reviews out a week prior to release, but not to worry. We’re here now and lovely too. Words That Burn are a four piece unit from Dundalk …
Read More »T.O.W.E.R.S – Towers
Nottingham has always been synonymous with forests but could this be soon replaced with talk of ‘T.o.w.e.r.s’ This energetic young band have managed to simultaneously create an album with the sweet, nostalgic sound of the 80s hard rock (with a female twist) movement whilst also maintaining their own stylistic values; …
Read More »DeWolff – Live & Outta sight II
Dutch psychedelic-blues band DeWolff released their latest studio album in May last year and now they’re following it up with a new live album – Live & Outta sight II. As the name suggests, it’s their second live album, with the original “Live & Outta sight” having been released in …
Read More »Sons Of Liberty – Aged In Oak
If I had to describe Sons of Liberty as a drink they would defiantly be a bottle of Jack Daniels or Jim Beam. From the outset their new EP Aged in Oak oozes out heavy country infused riffs straight from the planes of Texas. The first track “If it ain’t …
Read More »Gloryhammer – Legends from Beyond the Galactic Terrorvortex
Gloryhammer are back with their third album – Legends from Beyond the Galactic Terrorvortex. It continues the story of Angus McFife from the first two albums. It doesnt seem that long since Gloryhammer first appeared on the Power Metal scene after Alestorm’s Chris Bowes decided to see how many power …
Read More »Death Angel – Humanicide
‘Humanicide’ is incredibly only Death Angel’s ninth full-length studio album spanning a thirty six year career since their initial demo ‘Heavy Metal Insanity’ in 1983. Agreed, they did have a fourteen year hiatus between 1990 & 2004. I’ve not listened to them for years. In fact, not since my late …
Read More »Spreading The Disease – Mindcell EP.
I very much doubt that Spreading The Disease will ever record anything acoustic as they continue to batter us into submission once more with the Mindcell EP. Currently available on their webpage for £8 it certainly hits hard and heavy. Opener ‘Obsession’ is a full on rant from the off. …
Read More »Headsticks – Kept In The Dark
Headsticks, a band who describe themselves as ‘revolutionary punk roots rock’n’roll’ hail from the world capital of ceramics Stoke-on-Trent. These ‘Potters’ were assembled in 2012 from pieces of Tower Struck Down and Jugopunch. They released their third album Kept In The Dark earlier this year via STP Records. The album …
Read More »Footprints In The Custard – A New Low.
With all the crap going on in the World, you can always rely on class clowns Footprints In The Custard to make you forget about it, point proven by current release A New Low. To these ears the Crewe/Manchester based band have reached a new high with 13 pieces of …
Read More »Possessed – Revelations Of Oblivion.
In all my years of listening to rock/metal I can’t think of any album that has blown me away than Revelations Of Oblivion by Possessed. Death metal can be repetitive at times but to keep my full attention for just under an hour takes some doing. Released on Nuclear Blast …
Read More »Blind Haze – Red Light Fever EP
I can remember Leeds based nutters Blind Haze play a hangover curing set at Bloodstock Open Air Festival a few years ago and it’s good to see they have still got that fire as they hit the ground running with their latest EP Red Light Fever. It’s currently available for …
Read More »Entombed – Clandestine Live
Well here is a thrilling blast from the past to say the least! Clandestine Live sees Entombed joined by the Malmo Symphonic Orchestra to blast out their 1991 studio album Clandestine on November 12th 2016 in Malmo, Sweden. Three original members from that line up, Alex Hellid on guitar, Uffe …
Read More »Vader – Thy Messenger EP
Vader, a band I’ve heard of but criminally have heard nothing by until now and I have certainly got a lot of catching up to do judging by the quality of soon to be released EP via Nuclear Blast called Thy Messenger. Formed in 1983 in Olsztyn, Poland, they open …
Read More »Kneel – Interstice
Kneel is a solo project by Portuguese drummer Pedro Mau which began in 2011. Containing elements of thrash, technical death, math metal and hardcore, Kneel’s genre-defying compositions can be characterized by the use of dynamic guitar riffs, dissonant chords, aggressive paces, harsh and heavy vocals, loud and challenging song structures …
Read More »Diamond Head – The Coffin Train.
It’s hard to contemplate that only a few years ago, founding member Brian Tatler of Diamond Head, who formed the band in 1976 did not envisage recording anymore albums but with the arrival of vocalist Rasmus Bom Andersen in 2014 and a self titled studio album in 2016, latest album …
Read More »Takeaway Thieves – This Is Rocknroll EP
Formed just over a year ago, I’ve seen early promise a few times from the Takeaway Thieves at the Waterloo Music Bar in Blackpool and they have carried that vibe with them into the studio for their debut EP This Is Rocknroll ,currently available on CD and digital music sites …
Read More »Duff McKagan – Tenderness
While on the Guns’n’Roses “Not In This Lifetime” tour, which lasted two and a half years and saw the band travel around the world, Duff mcKagan somehow found time to write an album. Apparently he was writing for a book he had planned, but the notes he made ended up …
Read More »Bullet – Live
Swedish band bullet will release a live album in July. Called “Live” (simple and to the point), it’s a double album featuring 18 songs recorded at a show in Sweden. If you’re not familiar with Bullet, they’re a no-frills Swedish metal band. There’s no cleverly crafted image, just a bunch …
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