This is the debut album from US black/speed metal band Bewitcher.
This is some heady old-school stuff. Mixing thrash, speed, heavy, and first-wave black metal influences into its delivery, this album is designed to get you headbanging. Continue reading “Bewitcher – Bewitcher (Review)”
This is the debut album from Temptation’s Wings, a doom/heavy metal band from the US.
Think of a Southern metal flavoured mix between Grand Magus, Candlemass, Down and Orange Goblin. Temptation’s Wings have produced an album worthy to be spoken of in the same sentence as these bands, as Skulthor Ebonblade is very enjoyable indeed. Continue reading “Temptation’s Wings – Skulthor Ebonblade (Review)”
The Obsessed are a doom metal band from the US. This is their fourth album.
Veteran doom metal band The Obsessed return with their first album in over 20 years. I think it’s fair to say there’s a lot of expectation riding on this in certain quarters. Continue reading “The Obsessed – Sacred (Review)”
Barathrum are a Finnish black metal band and this is their ninth album.
This is old-school black metal with plenty of groovy mid-paced sections that drip filth everywhere and generally make a mess all over everything they touch. Continue reading “Barathrum – Fanatiko (Review)”
Striker are a Canadian heavy metal band and this is their fifth album.
The singer has a strong voice that carries just the right amount of weight and levity. A band like this needs a good Continue reading “Striker – Striker (Review)”
This is the fourth album from Finnish heavy/power metallers Battle Beast.
Well, this is unexpected. I assumed, for some reason, that upon pressing play I was going to be listening to the latest Nightwish clone. I was wrong. Battle Beast are a different proposition, one which is extremely special too. Continue reading “Battle Beast – Bringer of Pain (Review)”
Anyone into traditional heavy metal has probably heard of Hammerfall. The Swedish metallers have been knocking out albums since 1997, with no sign of running out of steam in the near future.
Which brings us to their latest album, the appropriately titled Built to Last. Long-serving bassist Fredrik Larsson got in touch to tell us how and why the band definitely live up to this album’s title… Continue reading “Interview with Hammerfall”
Xandria are a symphonic metal band from Germany. This is their seventh album.
This is grand, orchestral, operatic metal with lofty ambitions and high aims. It’s been a while since I’ve caught up with Xandria, and it seems they’re hungrier than ever for big things. Continue reading “Xandria – Theater of Dimensions (Review)”
This is the second album from Distant Sun, a Russian power/thrash metal band.
2015’s Dark Matter was an enjoyable slab of metal, in which Distant Sun, (featuring members of Shadow Host and Starsoup), showed the world what they had to offer. Continue reading “Distant Sun – Into the Nebula (Review)”
Hammerfall are a Swedish heavy/power metal band and this is their tenth album.
Since forming in 1993 and developing into one of the bigger names in heavy/power metal, the title of their tenth album is quite aptly named.
It pleases me that the first song starts right into the action, rather than having any faffing around. It’s a small thing really, but it immediately endears me to the music. Continue reading “Hammerfall – Built to Last (Review)”
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