Almost ten years ago to the day, Martyr appeared on my metal radar. The band performed at Schollenpop 2015 in The Hague, the Netherlands, alongside Distillator (who later became Cryptosis) and thrash veterans Death Angel. Martyr's history, however, began much earlier than 2015. Founded in Utrecht, NL in 1982, the band released two albums before... Continue Reading →
Review GAUPA “Fyr” – EP
Gaupa is a very interesting band, and “Fyr” is the title of their latest release. It is an EP that has a running time of 24 minutes, and the physical release also includes a bonus track. The latter is a live version of "Sömnen / Febersvan", which was recorded live at the Monkey Moon Studios... Continue Reading →
Review AS DECEMBER FALLS “Everything Is on Fire But I Am Fine”
"Everything Is on Fire But I Am Fine" is the fourth album from As December Falls. The Nottingham-based band formed in 2014, and to be honest, I hadn’t heard much more than their name a couple of times before. These days, the four-piece have revealed their fourth album, called “Everything is on Fire But I... Continue Reading →
Review SINSAENUM “In Devastation”
“In Devastation” is Sinsaenum’s third album, and the first without Joey Jordison (RIP), who passed away in 2021. The all-star ensemble started in 2016 with an impressive line-up also including Heimoth, Stéphane Buriez, Frédéric Leclercq and Attila Csihar. Their debut album, released in 2016, was called “Echoes of the Tortured” and generated initial interest in... Continue Reading →
Review TOXIC HAZARD “Divisions of Hate”
Founded in 2020, Toxic Hazard is enriching the metal scene in Hamburg. After launching two singles in early 2025, the five-piece released their debut album, “Divisions of Hate” in June of this year. David Von Pirch (g) started the band Toxic Hazard and found four partners in crime: Finn Schwerdhöfer (b), Fabio Grimberg (d), Sebastian... Continue Reading →
Review HALESTORM “Everest”
Halestorm was founded in 1997 by siblings Lzzy and Arejay Hale. Their self-titled debut album, released in 2009, was the band's first milestone and achieved 'gold' status in the US. This album served as a springboard for the band to expand their fanbase. It was the third album, "Into the Wild Life", that became the... Continue Reading →
Review FOX LAKE “New World Heat”
Listening to the latest release from Fox Lake is like taking a trip down memory lane. There are certainly cross-references to the bands that defined groove metal, nu metal and crossover in the 90s. The opener, “For the Love of the Game (featuring Mugshot)", showcases the main ingredients right from the start. This aggressive song... Continue Reading →
Review HONEYMOON SUITE “Wake Me Up When the Sun Goes Down”
Rock veterans Honeymoon Suite, who started in 1982, are representatives of Canadian hard rock. The band enjoyed their greatest success with their debut albums, which included a few singles that entered the charts. With "Wake Me Up When the Sun Goes Down", the band is launching a new longplayer these days, following "Alive", the 2024... Continue Reading →
Review COLD SLITHER “Cold Slither”
Cold Slither is an interesting project because it brings a fictional band to life. Reigning Phoenix Music has teamed up with Hasbro to make the band a reality, bringing them out of the G.I. Joe universe and into the real world. Zartan, Ripper, Torch and Buzzer have suddenly launched a real album full of thunderous... Continue Reading →
Review ROULETTE “Go!”
Following on from 'Now!', the latest Roulette album is called 'Go!'. The Swedish AOR band, with roots dating back to the mid-1980s, returns with a new album and continues its journey through the world of melodic rock. Roulette comprises Thomas Lundgren, Magnus Nelin, Hansi Fellbrink and Mats Nelin. The four-piece band launches ten new songs,... Continue Reading →
Review PHANTOM SPELL “Heather & Hearth”
'Heather & Hearth' is Phantom Spell's second studio album. Although it seems to be a band, it is actually a one-man project. It is the outlet for Kyle McNeill's musical creativity. Following the 2022 debut album, “Immortal’s Requiem”, the stunning sophomore release is now available. Released again through Cruz del Sur, the album marks the... Continue Reading →
Review DEHUMAN REIGN “Dawn of a Malefic Dominion”
Dehuman Reign is a death metal band from Berlin, Germany. Founded in 2011, the five-piece band released a demo in 2012, which caught the attention of F.D.A. Records. The label released their debut album in 2016, followed by a second album. This summer, Dehuman Reign will launch their third effort, “Dawn of a Malefic Dominion”,... Continue Reading →
Review FER DE LANCE “Fires on the Mountainside”
"Fires on the Mountainside" is the second album from American metal band Fer De Lance. The band first gained attention in 2022 with the release of their debut album, “The Hyperborean” . In 2025, the band built on the buzz around their debut album and shipped “Fires on the Mountainside” to record stores. The four-piece... Continue Reading →
Review ASHES OF ARES “New Messiah”
Ashes Of Ares was founded in Newburgh, New York in 2012 by two well-known musicians. Former Iced Earth singer Matt Barlow and Freddie Vidales (also formerly of Iced Earth) started the band, which released a self-titled debut album in 2013. Following “Wall of Souls” and “Emperors and Fools”, the band launched two more records, and... Continue Reading →









