Haunt – Mind Freeze (Review)

Haunt - Mind FreezeHaunt are a heavy metal band from the US and this is their third album.

Haunt clearly exist to worship at the altar of 80s heavy metal and NWOBHM, yet do so in a way that allows the band a contemporary edge all of their own. This new album delivers 37 minutes of anthemic tuneage, and does so with skill and aplomb. Continue reading “Haunt – Mind Freeze (Review)”

Ram – The Throne Within (Review)

Ram - The Throne WithinThis is the sixth album from Swedish heavy metallers Ram.

Since 2015’s Svbversvm, and then 2017’s Rod, I have been a huge fan of Ram. Very few heavy metal bands from the last decade or so do it for me quite like Ram. They are, quite simply, just so damn good at what they do. Continue reading “Ram – The Throne Within (Review)”

Polemicist – Zarathustrian Impressions (Review)

Polemicist - Zarathustrian ImpressionsPolemicist are a black/death metal band from the US and this is their debut album.

Polemicist mix black and death metal with a heavy metal influence, to create songs that have an epic feel, but without the epic lengths. Continue reading “Polemicist – Zarathustrian Impressions (Review)”

Frantic Amber – Bellatrix (Review)

Frantic Amber - BellatrixThis is the second album from Swedish melodic death metallers Frantic Amber.

Boasting ex-members of Insision and Ice Age in their ranks, Frantic Amber play death metal that combines melody and brutality into songs that are well-written and tight. Continue reading “Frantic Amber – Bellatrix (Review)”

Wolf Blood – II (Review)

Wolf Blood - IIWolf Blood are a US doom metal band and this is their second album.

2014’s Wolf Blood made a great impression on me, but it would be another four years before we heard from them again. Then, last year’s Tsunami/Home appeared. It may have been short, but it was mighty. Well, I’m very pleased to say that there’s no four-year Continue reading “Wolf Blood – II (Review)”

Veil of Deception – Dissident Voices (Review)

Veil of Deception - Dissident VoicesVeil of Deception are a metal band from Austria. This is their third album.

This is the follow up to 2015’s Tearing up the Roots, and offers 48 minutes of metallic anthems and energetic riffs. Continue reading “Veil of Deception – Dissident Voices (Review)”

Interview with Spirit Adrift 2019

Spirit Adrift Header

Spirit Adrift’s new album Divided by Darkness is my favourite album yet by this superlative band. Filled with rousing songs, engrossing melodies, infectious riffs, and quality writing, Divided by Darkness is sure to make an impact on many best of 2019 lists I’m sure.

I quizzed band mastermind Nate Garrett about the band’s latest release, and found out a few interesting things… Continue reading “Interview with Spirit Adrift 2019”

Bewitcher – Under the Witching Cross (Review)

Bewitcher - Under the Witching CrossThis is the second album from US black/speed metal band Bewitcher.

2016’s Bewitcher made an impression, and Under the Witching Cross looks set to cement that impression, with pounding beats and driving anthems. Continue reading “Bewitcher – Under the Witching Cross (Review)”

Spirit Adrift – Divided by Darkness (Review)

Spirit Adrift - Divided by DarknessThis is the third album from the US heavy metal band Spirit Adrift.

Spirit Adrift’s journey so far has been an enjoyable and interesting one, from the doom metal lengthy epics of Chained to Oblivion, via the streamlined doom/heavy metal hybrid that was Curse of Conception, to now this latest Continue reading “Spirit Adrift – Divided by Darkness (Review)”