Reviews

In a time when a lot of the more ‘mainstream’ rock and metal outfits seem to be stepping away from the darker side of their genre, it’s always refreshing when a band like the Dead XIII so unashamedly bring it right back to the borderline satanic sector in which it belongs. Lots of black, spades full of make-up, demonic screaming and ...

Now, call me a psychic, but before I had even pressed upon the play button of the EP I am about to discuss, I knew what was about to come. A mixture of angelically sweet clean vocals and fury filled screams, all topped off with lots of pounding percussion and chug-a-chug guitars. How did I know? Well, this is ‘Diary Of ...

Home town boys Upon Those Dying get things going thunderously as they lay down tar-thick riffs aplenty. Being their first time playing to a sold-out crowd of this size, the larger environment seems to suit them down to the ground as they don’t fall into the common pitfalls of your average opener. Their bludgeoning deathcore sunk in fast as waves ...

With all original members, alt-rockers Sevendust are back with their twelfth studio album All I See Is War. The record is set for release on May 11th, via Rise Records. All I See Is War was produced by Michael “Elvis” Baskette who has worked with everyone it seems, from Slash to Alter Bridge to Ratt. This is also the follow to ...

Krautrock was the disparaging term created to describe Germany’s unique musical development from the late sixties on, wherein they incorporated space rock and early progressive elements and advanced the use of synthesisers. Since 1992, Qntal have taken that theme in another direction, merging electronic sounds with medieval melodies, and on 9th March they will be releasing their latest album VIII- Nachtblume through ...

Borealis hail from Canada, The Offering their fourth album. It offers power metal that travels into the bordering hinterlands of symphonic rock and some progressive areas via its instrumental sections. Self-releasing their debut album World Of Silence in 2008, Borealis they would subsequently tour with the likes of Kamelot, Epica and Sonata Arctica in their homeland. When Fall From Grace ...

Sounding like someone’s banging on a dustbin lid while a hoary old voice calls out, I’m expecting something avant garde here but then a regular rhythm section gets going with electrics and acoustics settling in some licks for Outlaws & Moonshine’s statement of intent that is opening track ‘Devil in The Moonshine’. There are sing-along lyrics of the countrified sort ...

Drive were a five-piece progressive, power metal band formed on the north side of Houston, Texas by guitarist Rick Chavez. They released two albums, Characters In Time (1988) and Diablero (1992). The band’s original members were barely out of high school back in the early 80s as they began making a name for themselves. Moving out to California, and inevitably the Sunset Strip , where they signed ...

Tonight’s the launch party for The Bad Flowers debut album Starting Gun. The Asylum 2 is sold out; we’re packed in like sardines and the heat is sweltering. These Wicked Rivers start the evening off, then it’s time for Those Damn Crows who are brutal with a hardcore groove while offering a modern US rock vocal approach that swings between Shinedown ...

Wisconsin-born guitar-slinger Jared James Nichols is a throwback to when rock was wild, young and free. His latest album is a collection of song that hit you wham, bam, in and out, with most tracks coming in under the three minute mark. Do they get you under their spell? Let’s find out. A whirring echoing guitar stretches through your speakers, ...