The start of Swedish Blues Pills was right away a successful one. Founded 2011 in Örebro, Sweden, the quartet delivered their self-titled debut in 2014, an album that went right into the charts with e.g. scoring #4 in the German charts. Blues Pills didn’t release a lot of studio album so far and with ‘Holy... Continue Reading →
CD review MANTICORA ‘To Live To Kill To Live’
'To Live To Kill To Live' is the new Manticora album and the title can easily confuse since the predecessor was named 'To Kill To Live To Kill'. However, the naming of the two albums shows that there is a link that connects them, which is the storyline. Both records are based on a novel,... Continue Reading →
CD review PAIN OF SALVATION ‘Panther’
'PANTHER' is a truly progressive album and the fact that it will lead to discussions shows, that the band evolves and doesn't stand still. Daniel Gildenlöw and band mates are masters when it comes to adding new aspects to their music without losing the roots. 'PANTHER', that is Pain Of Salvation and still different, a stretch not many bands can do.
CD review DOKKEN ‘The Lost Songs: 1978-1981’
A prequel, known from several movie series, is now also coming from a band that belonged to the main acts in melodic Metal in the '80s ... Dokken. 'Breaking the Chains' is the title of the fulminant debut album that paved the way for another three longplayers that had big impact on this genre. After... Continue Reading →
Jim Bacchi provides details about the first HITTMAN album in 27 years
After having played several festival shows over the last years and having with No Remorse Records a label that re-issued the Hittman debut album, a solid return of the US Metal veterans with a potential third album wasn't an unimaginable thing anymore (also read the interview from two years ago). Things got shape and form... Continue Reading →
CD review METALLICA & SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY ‘S&M 2’
'S&M2' is better than the first attempt from 20 years ago and certainly the new version will become another commercial success for the Metal veterans from the Bay Area. Some of the songs are actually done very well, although the entire album feels like band and orchestra playing next to each other more than performing together as a unit. Combining two pieces of a puzzle doesn't necessary create a great total and that's a bit the case with this release too. The idea of making such an album is awesome and leaving the comfort-zone a bit more would have added extra excitement. 'Let's play safe' is the focus more than leaving the known.
CD review MERCURY CIRCLE ‘The Dawn of Vitriol’
Days getting shorter again and although summerly high temperature makes you sweat night and day, remedy is on its way. There is a cooler breeze from the North, that might help to cool down and prepares for the coming autumn season. Provider of this sonic breeze is Mercury Circle from Finland. Mercury Circle is the... Continue Reading →
CD review ASSIGNMENT ‘Reflections’
‘Reflections’ is an album that might be interesting for fans of bands like Dream Theater, Savatage and Symphony X. Melodic Metal with progressive song structures is what this longplayer offers. Even if it feels like the guys being ahead of themselves here and there, the album is a well-done one and has the potential to enlarge the Assignment fan-base.
New ARMORED SAINT album in October
On October 23rd, Armored Saint will release their eighth full-length, 'Punching The Sky', via Metal Blade Records. For a first preview of the album, a video for the new single, 'End of the Attention Span' (directed by Robert Graves). Bassist Joey Vera comments: "We've teamed up with video director Robert Graves for our first single,... Continue Reading →
CD review INCANTATION ‘Sect of Vile Divinities’
A Death Metal band with a foundation date in 1989 can be seriously looked at as being pioneers of a genre. It was a time when Obituary premiered and Morbid Angel unveiled there 'Altars of Madness' debut. Although not becoming that well-known as the Florida Death Metal branch, Incantation started their Metal adventure with a... Continue Reading →
CD review REDEMPTION ‘Alive in Colour’
Redemption is the brainchild of guitarist Nick van Dyk who founded the band in 2000. The self-titled debut was unleashed in 2003, but it was the second longplayer, which led to some extra attention. Very well-crafted progressive Metal is the trademark of Redemption and no less than Fates Warning's Ray Alder was the 'voice' of... Continue Reading →
CD review DÖDA HAVET ‘Tid och rum’
If you read the name Döda Havet and you’re thought is that we’re talking about Extreme Metal, than you need to re-adjust you’re musical mindset before pressing the ‘Play’-button. The Swedes have nothing to do with any kind of musical boarder stretching when it comes to how extreme music can be played. Instead, Döda Havet... Continue Reading →
CD review THE GEORGIA THUNDERBOLTS ‘The Georgia Thunderbolts’ – EP
The Georgia Thunderbolts, that’s five young talents, hailing from Rome, GA. The quintet is rather new and what units them is their passion for Southern- and Vintage Rock. A self-titled EP is the first shot of the five-piece band and what ended up on this first release impresses. In total five very soulful and timeless... Continue Reading →
CD review INTOXICATED ‘Walled’ – EP
...'Stuck in Mode' is another evil thrasher before the first tones of 'Yuck' heralds the ending of this EP. The song, with a screaming guitar solo by Ken Andrews (Obituary), is the final punch of a release that brings back a time when Metal was raw, sweaty and relentless. Intoxicated picks-up these attributes and embedded them in these six songs that are surely worth to be checked out. A real blast from the past.









