ALBUM REVIEW: Delain – Apocalypse and Chill


The fifth full-length release from Delain finds the Dutch symphonic metal act looking towards the future with a combined sense of fear and optimism. Appearing to presage dark, dystopian times, the riffs and beats on the latest album Apocalypse & Chill (Napalm Records) are countered (for the most part) by the uplifting vocal melodies of singer Charlotte Wessels as they suggest a more hopeful future.Continue reading


GHOST CULT’S ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Steve Tovey: Top 20 of 2019


2019 seems an odd year for me to be writing a post about my albums of year, and to have so many albums I want to name-check or mention. See, early in the year I stepped down from my role within Ghost Cult – nothing the Cult did wrong, just a question of life and balance. Stepping back from direct exposure to every rock, metal or alternative release should have meant I had fewer albums to care about, but, actually, it’s afforded me more time with each of the albums that I have connected with.Continue reading


Ghost Cult’s Album of the Year 2019 – Part 1 (75-41)


Carcass with Surgical Steel (Nuclear Blast) in 2013, Behemoth and The Satanist (Metal Blade) in 2014, Ghost in 2015 and 2018 with Meliora and Prequelle (both Loma Vista), Magma (Roadrunner) by Gojira in 2016, and 2017’s Emperor of Sand (Mastodon Reprise) is our legacy. Those incredible, scene-enhancing, ear-destroying releases are the standard-bearers by which Ghost Cult‘s albums of the year are to be judged. These are the albums of our times; and following another sensation year of great alternative, rock, and metal, the pantheon cries out for more, for another slab of wax, another Album of the Year to join them… the very best of 2019.

With a fully democratic poll of the views and votes of the length and breadth of Team Ghost Cult (including our photographers, reviewers, newshounds, podcast and YouTube contributors) taken, with no editorial steer or amendment, we present to you Part 1 (75-41) of the Official Ghost Cult Albums of the Year for 2019, for your vulgar delectation…Continue reading


REVIEW: Gloryhammer – Beast In Black: Live at The Mill, Birmingham


Greeted with a queue that stretches the length of the entire street and beyond, the nearest many get to seeing Italian Dwarven Metal act Wind Rose is listening to them from outside. ‘The Breed of Durin’, ‘To Erebor’, and of course ‘Diggy Diggy Hole’ sound like they’re going down well, but it’s disappointing that a large percentage of the crowd has to miss most of their set.Continue reading


Hammerfall Books USA Headline Tour for 2020 with Beast In Black and Edge of Paradise


Hammerfall is currently traversing North America along with Sabaton on their massive sold-out tour, touring in support of their globally dominating latest album Dominion. Now, they have announced a 2020 North American Headline tour, also in support of Dominion. The tour starts September 14, 2020 in West Palm Beach, FL and runs through October 19, 2020 in Silver Spring, MD. Support will come from Beast in Black and Edge of Paradise. A complete list of dates can be found below. Tickets go on sale tomorrow, October 26. VIP tickets will be available at the link below. Continue reading


Judas Priest Announces Wacken 2020 Headline Slot, 50th Anniversary Tour Kickoff


Judas Priest will celebrate their 50th anniversary next year and will kick off a celebratory world tour next spring/summer, which will include Wacken 2020. The venerable music festival will see the Priest headline along with Amon Amarth, Sodom (Agent Orange set), Mercyful Fate reunion tour, Hypocrisy, Death Angel, At The Gates (Slaughter of the Soul 25th anniversary set) Venom, Sick of It All, Beast in Black, Nervosa and many more to come! Judas Priest co-founder Ian Hill recently joined Ghost Cult for an interview and discussed the potential world tour, which you can hear below. Continue reading


REVIEWS ROUNDUP: Week 44 – Cyrha, Adimiron, Beast In Black, Vandenberg’s MoonKings and more…


The Ghost Cult album roundup is back in town, for your vulgar delectation…Continue reading