If a band can stay in the business for more than four decades, that usually takes more than just a few good songs. It takes a loyal audience, plenty of determination, and the ability to keep moving forward. Stryper are a case in point. Formed in 1983, the Christian rockers are still on the road... Continue Reading →
Review SCORPION MILK “Flesh Mask For Skulls” – EP
Scorpion Milk have wrapped up work on a new EP, and Flesh Masks For Skulls is now making its way into the wild. Arriving roughly a year after the debut album Slime Of The Times, the new release serves up six tracks and another look into the darker corners of Mat McNerney’s musical world. Scorpion Milk is the... Continue Reading →
Review VELVETEEN QUEEN “The Greater Good”
Velveteen Queen are still a relatively young band, but the five Swedes are already making a pretty convincing case for themselves. Their second album, The Greater Good, has just arrived, and there is plenty to enjoy once the first notes hit the speakers. The Gothenburg-based quintet delivers hard rock with a strong connection to the ’80s,... Continue Reading →
NEVERMORE will return to Europe in 2027
There are songs that never really leave you. And for Nevermore fans, the chance to hear them live again has been a long time coming. Throughout 2026, that wait finally came to an end. From packed festival grounds to their recent shows alongside Judas Priest, Nevermore’s return to European stages has been met with an... Continue Reading →
Review SKÁLD “Ørlǫg”
Skáld take their listeners into a world of Nordic mysticism and mythology. Founded in 2018 by Christophe Voisin-Boisvinet, the band actually comes from France, even though their name, subject matter, and musical approach might lead you to guess Scandinavia or Iceland before you ever see the map. Skáld have released four albums so far, and... Continue Reading →
Review AMON AMARTH “The Allfather Awakens”
The Vikings have set sail once again. For Amon Amarth, it is time to cast off and set course for new adventures. The Allfather Awakens marks album number thirteen for the Swedish metal institution, and while the band stays firmly within familiar territory, there is more going on beneath the surface than first meets the eye. Four... Continue Reading →
Live report FEAR FACTORY, CRYSTAL LAKE, HATE & THE NOCTURNAL AFFAIR, Markthalle, Hamburg – September 16th, 2026
One evening after Devin Townsend brought a stripped-down solo performance to Hamburg’s Markthalle, I’m back at the same venue. This time, though, the setup couldn’t be more different. The chairs from the previous night have disappeared, the room is ready for a standing crowd, and an interesting package is about to hit the stage. Metal... Continue Reading →
Review REVEL IN FLESH “Flesh For The Kult Of Death”
Revel In Flesh have been keeping the German metal underground alive and kicking since 2012, when the band released its debut, Deathevokation. Several albums followed in fairly quick succession, before things went unusually quiet after 2019’s The Hour of the Avenger. Seven years later, the Swabian death metal crew is finally back, armed with Flesh For the Kult... Continue Reading →
Review DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT “Innern” (Instrumental)
Exactly one year ago, Der Weg Einer Freiheit released Innern, their most mature and intense album to date. Now, 365 days later, Innern is back in the record stores - but this time, there’s a twist. This is the instrumental version of the album. What may seem a little puzzling at first becomes fascinating once you experience the... Continue Reading →
U.D.O. – new song, new video, album details and tour date
2027 marks a unique triple anniversary for Udo Dirkschneider and U.D.O.: Udo turns 75, U.D.O. celebrate 40 years as a band, and Voodoo Ranger marks the release of the German heavy metal institution’s 20th studio album. This very special record release will be celebrated on January 8, 2027 via powerhouse label Reigning Phoenix Music. Today, U.D.O. open... Continue Reading →
Review KISSIN’ DYNAMITE “Kissin’ Dynamite”
Back in 2007, a young band from Swabia decided that simply listening to rock and metal wasn’t quite enough. Five guys got together, plugged in, and Kissin’ Dynamite was born. At the time, nobody could have predicted just how far that decision would take them. What was already clear, though, was that these youngsters had... Continue Reading →
Live report DEVIN TOWNSEND, Markthalle, Hamburg – September 15th, 2026
Devin Townsend is in town. The first of his three German shows takes place tonight at Hamburg’s Markthalle, and two words in the tour announcement immediately stand out: solo and seated. Tonight’s performance is part of the Metamorphosis tour, and anyone expecting the full Devin Townsend experience—with a band, massive production, and all the bells and whistles—will quickly realize that... Continue Reading →
Review HAKEN ” In a Fever Dream” – EP
Haken have established themselves as one of the leading names in progressive rock from the UK. The London-based band broke through with The Mountain and has continued to deliver ambitious records ever since. Following the highly regarded Virus and Fauna, Haken now return with In a Fever Dream, a new five-track EP. Well, “new” comes with a small asterisk: the digital... Continue Reading →
Review THE ETERNAL “Obscured Horizons”
The Eternal, the Finnish-Australian collaboration, return with a new album, Obscured Horizons. Just a few months after releasing their new EP Celestial, the band is already back with a full-length record, once again putting themselves on the radar of fans who like their metal on the melancholic side. The Eternal is the brainchild of Mark Kelson, but... Continue Reading →
Review HANSEN “Born With a Hammer”
Over the past few months and years, Kai Hansen has hardly been sitting around twiddling his thumbs. Much of his time has been taken up by Helloween, who released a solid new album in 2025 and have been on their ongoing 40 Years Anniversary Tour ever since. Still, Hansen somehow managed to carve out enough... Continue Reading →









