Tag Archives: album review

Hailing from the darkest nether reaches of Florida, but drawing their lyrical and musical influence from Greece (their name comes from the Greek term “religion of knowledge”) both ancient and modern, Gnosis deliver a dark and malificent brand of dark and dank black metal that is as primeval and primordial …

Part homage, part parody, and all in-your-face, Massachusetts thrash-mongers Lich King‘s seven-song EP, titled Do-Over, is a jungle of fist-pumping, headbanging riffage. Released by Evil Eye Records on Christmas Day 2014 (as a present to the band’s fans old and new), this EP is an advance warning shot, serving to …

Having made their debut at the recent Primordial-curated Redemption Festival in their home city of Dublin, Vircolac are a quartet who believe in taking things back to the old school – to the extent that (at the time of writing) this four-track EP is only available on cassette. The result …

This second album from New York trio Occultation is a dark, eerie and esoteric opus which combines classic elements of doom metal, progressive rock and ambient electronics into a package which is atmospheric, thought-provoking and strangely pleasant in more or less equal measures. Ploughing a furrow somewhere between the darkest …

As a journalist, I must hold my hands up and admit that it is those of us who chosen to pursue this particular path to critique music who have invented all sorts of little pigeon holes into which slot particular bands and the “style” or “type” of music they choose …

This third album from this Croatian quartet ploughs a furrow that criss-crosses back and forth between traditional groove metal, nu-metal and world (more specifically eastern European) music in a way which sounds like a heady amalgam of Slipknot, Linkin Park (in their darker, heavier moments), King 810 and Subway For …

Maverick, a young five piece hard rockin heavy metal band born in Belfast a very short two years ago and raised through the school of hard knocks, release their debut album ‘Quid Pro Quo’ the day after tomorrow (Friday November 28) through Massacre Records. This is good old fashioned rock/metal album …

This debut album from Dublin dark metallers Zom – they’ve previously released a demo and a 7″ single, both to great acclaim in this particular corner of planet mosh – is dark and murky as you can imagine the deepest parts of the foulest sections of the River Liffey to …

I love Machine Head; they’re innovators of groove metal… but this one is as dull as dishwater.  There are points that almost hurt reviewing this album, because it gets close to being outstanding – then the vocals come in and ruin it. On the surface, this is a good album. …

The primary intention of this Italian black metal crew is to resurrect the darkened spirit of the Nineties Norwegian scene, and particularly the energy brought at that time by the likes of Ulver, Darkthrone, Borknagar and Burzum. To a degree they succeed, as this self-titled debut is a very raw, …

The latest in a new generation of blackened metal acts to emerge from the previously very un-metal (apart from the likes of Aborted and Enthroned) domain of Belgium, Saille (pronounced sahl-yeh) plough the sort of dark gothicism meets extreme brutality route previously explored by acts such as Akercocke. A concept …

It takes a brave decision by any band to continue following the death of not only a founder member but also one regarded as the cornerstone of the act concerned.  Some – such as Led Zeppelin – have decided not to attempt to replace such a key element, while others, …

For many bands, the difference between their first and second albums can be a jump of almost cosmic immensity:  how to capture the energy and enthusiasm of your debut opus while at the same time applying the lessons learned from the earlier process and using them to adapt/moderate/progress your sound …

The Quireboys are currently celebrating their 30th Anniversary year which in wedding terms would be their Pearl Anniversary. Life on the road may well be like a marriage, they broke up for a time tried different ventures then got back together and made the marriage work, despite some line-up changes, the …

London Alternative Rock four piece Fur Cough released their self-titled debut EP, Fur Cough, via Baby Baboon Records on 29th October 2014. Formed in April 2013 by brothers Aaron and Hayd Brown and joined by Karen Jones on drums and Debbie Ahakpo on bass. The brothers share lead vocals and …

There’s an old – and very much overused (as these things tend to be) – saying about how you should never judge a book by it’s cover… in terms of reviewing heavy metal albums, it is perhaps fair to adapt this ancient adage to CDs and their artwork… On first …

It may be four-fifths of a decade since Lordi firmly put their particular brand of comic book metal well and truly on the international map with their sensational, tongue-in-cheek win at the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest – an achievement which equally abhorred and united metallians across the continent – but …

Crazy Lixx are a five piece hard rock band from Sweden, who were formed in 2002 and released their first album in 2007. The current line-up consists of Danny Rexon – vocals , Andy Dawson – guitar, Joél Cirera – drums, Jens Sjöholm – bass and Edd Liam – guitar. …

1977 was the year KISS released their sixth studio album titled Love Gun. Their line-up was Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley , Gene Simmons and Peter Criss. This album was the last studio album to feature all of the original line-up, on all tracks. It was produced by KISS and Eddie …