One could have the idea that Swedish Thundermother are always on tour and one of the worst things you can do to the girls is to stop live concerts. Now, Covid-19 did exactly that and Thundermother had to move the tourbus to the garage for a pause. Not being on tour does not mean for... Continue Reading →
CD review MORSE/PORTNOY/GEORGE ‘Cover to Cover Anthology (Vol. 1-3)’
'Cover to Cover' is a fun project and it's noticeable that Prog and Metal are not really the focus while selecting songs. Instead, the guys follow their passion for very-well crafted Rock music on this album and by that pay homage to their musical heroes. All three albums are certainly worth discovering and listening to. Timeless music.
CD review LONELY ROBOT ‘Feeling Are Good’
'Feeling Are Good' is an album that is best enjoyed on a grey and rainy Sunday on the sofa with headphones on. This album proves musical sustainability instead of being easy-consumable musical fast food.
CD review GAEREA ‘Limbo’
After Portuguese Gaerea premiered in 2018 with 'Unsetting Whipsers' the band received a lot of positive feedback, which has been the springboard for the quintet to further evolve. What certainly helped guys from Oporto was inking a deal with Season Of Mist. With the support of the new label the guys started to work on... Continue Reading →
CD review THE NEPTUNE POWER FEDERATION ‘Can You Dig – Europe 2020’ – EP
Even if we miss The Neptune Power Federation playing live on stage at the moment, this EP provides a little replacement. It at least helps to bridge the waiting time until we can witness again the highly energetic live peformance. Cool stuff from Down Under.
CD review WILDERUN ‘Veil of Imagination’
If you don't have 'Veil of Imagination' on your prog metal radar yet, you should see a bright shining new dot on your radar display by now. What these five guys from Boston deliver is definitely impressive. Bombastic Pogg Metal with high density, varied and excitingly performed, that is what makes this album stand out. For sure a highlight 2020 and certainly interesting for fans of bands like Opeth and Devon Townsend.
CD review MAGGOT HEART ‘Mercy Machine’
With all the different influences Olsson succeeds in presenting a homogeneous Rock album by creating her own distinctive style. 'Mercy Machine' contains music that comes right from the heart and has a strong emotional component. You get the impression that every note on this album reflects the feeling of the very moment and that's what gives this album its dark charm and authenticity.
CD review HIGH SPIRITS ‘Hard to Stop’
The professor of Rock and Metal invites you to a new lecture on 31 July on the subject of traditional Metal in a modern look. But seriously, with 'Hard to Stop' Chris Black delivers with High Spirits already his fourth longplayer and the first thing that catches the eye is the very modern artwork. Like... Continue Reading →
CD review MESSIAH ‘Fatal Grotesque Symbols – Darken Universe’ – EP
It was quiet about Messiah for a long time. In the beginning of the first heyday of Swiss Extreme Metal, with bands like Celtic Frost and Cornoner, Messiah started to record a first demo, followed by a debut album in 1986. Unfortunately, the first era of Messiah lasted not longer than 10 years. In the... Continue Reading →
CD review KANSAS ‘The Absence of Presence’
Kansas and 'The Absence of Presence', that is sophisticated rock, rooted in the '70s merged with a modern sound and a lively dynamic, ensured by a modern production. This album is definitely a recommendation for anyone who calls himself a rock fan.
CD review SAINTS OF DEATH ‘Ascend to the Throne’
Saints Of Death are from Vancouver, Canada and are musically focused on a mixture of Thrash and Death Metal. In combination with an electric groove, especially fans of bands like Arch Enemy and Pantera should keep on reading. Not that Saints Of Death could already compete with these bands, but they work on similar musical... Continue Reading →
CD review MASSIVE WAGONS ‘House of Noise’
After having listened to the album several times I can recommend to push the door to the 'House of Noise' wide open. The organic and warm rock'n'roll spirit that welcomes you right away ist just something you shouldn't miss. And once you're in the 'House of Noise' you want to stay.
CD review MARYANN COTTON ‘Hallelujah’
The label info sheet talks about songs for convertible car cruises and they are right on the money. 'Hallelujah' is a musical accompaniment to a cabriolet ride into the Las Vegas sunset, music that doesn't leave any cliche untouched. Not more but also not less.
CD review ENSIFERUM ‘Thalassic’
If you visit Markus' Heavy Music Blog more frequently, you know that Folk/Viking Metal is not my particular area of expertise. But there are exceptions and among them are certainly Ensiferum from Finland. Since 1995 the quintet has been one of the protagonists of a style that combines Death Metal, Folk Metal and Viking Metal... Continue Reading →
CD review U.D.O. ‘We Are One’
It's not the first time that German metal pioneer Udo Dirkscheider cooperates with the official Concert Band of the German Armed Forces, but it is the first time that things end up on an album that includes new songs. 'We Are One' is the title of a collaboration that shows its fruitful result in 15... Continue Reading →









