This is the fourth album from US metal band Hell Fire.
Hell Fire play a nostalgic mix of heavy and thrash metal, taking influence from the NWOBHM and the 80s Bay Area respectively. Reckoning is a 45-minute true metal ride. Continue reading “Hell Fire – Reckoning (Review)”
Ryghär are an epic heavy metal band from the US and this is their debut album.
Here we have Ryghär, an epic heavy metal band that have come marching out of the underground with confidence and strength. Armed and armoured, this brotherhood quests for the cause of True Metal, and on Thurmecia Eternal they have conjured into being 39 minutes of molten metallic material. Continue reading “Ryghär – Thurmecia Eternal (Review)”
This is the fourth album from Swiss heavy metallers Burning Witches.
I always enjoy hearing some new material from this band. Can they follow up 2018’s Hexenhammer and 2020’s Dance with the Devil with another slab of prime heavy metal goodness?
The answer is Continue reading “Burning Witches – The Witch of the North (Review)”
This is the debut album from US heavy metal band Throne of Iron.
“Highly recommended for fans of Dungeons & Dragons, Eternal Champion, Visigoth and Manilla Road!”, states the promo blurb, and it’s hard to disagree. Adventure One provides 42 minutes of classic metal escapism and fun, and I like what Throne of Iron are peddling. Continue reading “Throne of Iron – Adventure One (Review)”
This is the fifth album from Swedish heavy metallers Ram.
I loved 2015’s Svbversvm. It was just such a good record. Well-written, well-recorded, and delivered with a classic flair for songwriting, it’s one of my favourite heavy metal releases of recent years. Continue reading “Ram – Rod (Review)”
Osmium Guillotine are from the UK and this is their début album. They play Heavy Metal.
This is 80’s style Heavy Metal with a sexy guitar sound and plenty of attitude. The production is largely apt for this kind of band, although in a feat of differentiation Osmium Guillotine have a guitar tone that’s both thicker and heavier than most bands playing this genre and it works very well for them.
The music is played with passion and obvious zeal and everyone seems to know their job well. Nice solos too.
This is Old-School Heavy Metal that manages to encapsulate quite a few different feelings from early Metal and distil them into this release. Classic Metal is a given, but Doom Metal, Proto-Thrash and NWOBHM all get a look in. There’s even a touch of Punk to things now and again.
The vocals are great, and there’s not a hint of Power Metal to be seen. I love Power Metal as much as anyone, but it’s nice to hear a band like Osmium Guillotine who are just pure Heavy Metal without the more extravagant ostentation inherent in Power Metal. The singer here has a great set of lungs and possesses the charisma to do the tunes justice.
These are a strong set of songs with plenty of hooks and choruses to keep you coming back for more. Memorable melodies and good riffs flow freely and everything feels just as it should.
Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Anthrax…if these bands float your boat then Osmium Guillotine are a logical band to check out. Along with the recent stellar release from Johnny Touch this proves once again what any real music fan already knew – True Metal isn’t dead.
Great stuff.
Wonderbox Metal 