ALBUM REVIEW: Traveler – Prequel To Madness


It’s no secret that Canada has a long and storied history of producing quality Heavy Metal. From classic bands such as Anvil, Annihilator, and Exciter to more recent acts like 3 Inches Of Blood, Cauldron and Unleash The Archers, Canadians always seem to hit the traditional Metal mark. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: The Gems – Phoenix


After experiencing “creative differences” as part of Thundermother, Guernica Mancini, Emlee Johansson and Mona Lindgren left and formed The Gems – a three piece Rock band, and it is fair to say that this Swedish trio’s debut Phoenix (Napalm Records) is in similar territory to their previous vehicle: sixteen tracks of no frills Classic Rock built on chunky riffs and shoutalong choruses. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Saxon – Hell, Fire and Damnation


As the old saying goes, change is the only constant, and when you’ve been around as long as NWOBHM legends Saxon, then some form of adjustment – enforced or voluntary – is usually never too far away. For the last eighteen years, the Yorkshire veterans have enjoyed their lengthiest spell ever of an unchanged line-up. This impressive run came to an end earlier this year when guitarist and co-founder Paul Quinn declared a hiatus.

Arriving from suitably prestigious stock, Quinn’s replacement (for this record) is none other than fellow NWOBHMer Brian Tatler, axeman for Midlands metal pioneers Diamond Head. Settling in with unerring ease, Tatler strikes up an instant rapport with co-guitarist Doug Scarratt, the pair going hell bent for leather on their first record together.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Green Lung – This Heathen Land


 

For lovers of classic British metal with a bewitching, devilish twist – you know who you are, walking ancient ways, creatures of habit, oceans of time – I recommend a deep, deep exploration of the nostalgic but still brand-new and thoroughly splendid This Heathen Land (Nuclear Blast Records).Continue reading


Listen to Dimmu Borgir Covering Venom’s “Black Metal” – New Covers Album Incoming


After their last two successful albums Abrahadabra and Eonian, Dimmu Borgir herald their 30-year legacy by releasing, together for the first time, a collection of their cover songs. The album Inspiratio Profanus is being announced with the release of the thunderous first single, ‘Black Metal’ by the extreme metal pioneers Venom. The album Inspiratio Profanus will be released on December 8th via Nuclear Blast Records. Pre-orders are live right now at the link below and you can now hear their cover of “Black Metal!”

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ALBUM REVIEW: Celestial Sanctuary- Insatiable Thirst For Torment


 

In an ever-increasingly rich and exciting underground Death Metal scene in the UK, Celestial Sanctuary have been a prominent standard bearer and the ones most likely to break out to bigger things. 2021’s Soul Diminished was a case of a very strong debut album which also showed strong potential to be realised and was backed up with some feverishly received live outings, with the band maximising their opportunities with the likes of Undeath, so expectations on the follow up were always going to be high. Expectations which have been well and truly smashed with the immensely realised Insatiable Thirst For Torment (Church Road Records).

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ALBUM REVIEW: Girlschool – WTFortyfive


 

Mighty Girlschool returns for their fourteenth-long burner and first music in nearly ten years. The title track refers to longevity. The way they deliver to the max on a record steeped in themes of doing your best, road doggin’ it, and standing true to your friends shows why they have lasted so long. It is a seize your own destiny type of album that connects in a big way and works wonders on the spirit the way the best rock n’ roll should.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Raven – All Hell’s Breaking Loose


 

Almost fifty years have passed since brothers Mark and John Gallagher joined forces to form Newcastle metal pioneers Raven. Signing to the now legendary Neat Records in 1980, the band cemented their names in NWOBHM history with its debut album Rock Until You Drop and a succession of other quality records during the eighties including the likes of Wiped Out, All For One and The Pack is Back.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Wizard Tattoo – Fables of the Damned


 

Wizard Tattoo are ostensibly a solo outfit from Indianapolis led by multi-instrumentalist Bram the Bard who released a four-track self-titled EP last year which has now been followed up with the Fables of the Damned (Self-Released) full-length debut which I currently have in my possession and am about to review.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Trespass – Wolf At The Door


 

When an album opens with nothing but high hat and then adds the guitars, you know you have a banger. Trespass’ Wolf At The Door (From the Vaults) is quintessential NWOBHM. Even in this digital age, Wolf At The Door still has the tonality of analog seventies metal albums. There is a grounding, brownness to the sound. The pacing and mixing give it a throwback, classic feel. The songs come complete with velvety guitar solos over hard-driving drums. ‘Wolf At The Door’ would sound awesome on vinyl as it has the tones and feeling that support analog listening.

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