ALBUM REVIEW: Angus McSix – Angus McSix and the Sword of Power


 

Addressing an obvious elephant in the room without actually mentioning said elephant, or indeed the massive pile of dung it left behind, is a tricky if not impossible task. However, for those who don’t already know, the origins of this solo project from Angus McSix (aka Swiss vocalist Thomas Winkler) began in 2021 with a split from his previous band for… reasons.

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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


Kamelot – Evergrey – Visions of Atlantis: Live at Manchester Club Academy


Here in the UK, a power metal tour of any capacity is a cause for mass celebration due to their relative infrequency. Generally speaking, a power metal act will make a sporadic appearance in London alone, and possibly a major summer festival here and there, meaning that unlucky Richards like yours truly in the north or the Midlands will miss out on the action. However, if you happen to live in Mainland Europe, the possibilities and combinations of acts are endless.Continue reading


In This Moment – Ritual


Six albums and ten years deep sees In This Moment achieve a notable career milestone with Ritual (Roadrunner/Atlantic), celebrated with a prominent change in focus. Toned down is the throwaway innuendo and sexually tinged frippery of previous albums, gone is the overt silliness, and ramped up is the stomping “industrial-tinged” Hard Rock side of the band that has always, in reality, been their calling card.Continue reading