I think that most people don't think of an acoustic album when reading 'Black Metal'. Black metal, that stands for Venom and their cult album and/or for a genre with all its gloom and musical purgatory. At least as far as darkness is concerned, the new Witchcraft album makes a good contribution to the grayer... Continue Reading →
CD review HAVOK ‘V’
'V' is a milestone album for the Colorado-based thrashers and it's on of the best thrash metal releases in years. What a pity that live shows are cancelled at the moment since I would love to see the band performing these songs live onstage. Two thumbs up.
CD review THE ALLIGATOR WINE ‘Demons of the Mind’
The Alligator Wine is an outfit I can recommend to fans of well-crafted and melodic Rock music that comes with nuances and twists that not necessary follow the standard recipe. And it's exactly this divergence, being the extra spice that makes a difference.
CD review 1000MODS ‘Youth of Dissent’
You must have some qualities connected to your music if a guy like Matt Bayles (Masterdon, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam) takes care of the production of one of your albums. Greek 1000mods have this musical excellence and they reveal with 'Youth of Dissent' a new proof of work after a 4 years waiting period. 1000mods started... Continue Reading →
CD review VADER ‘Solitude in Madness’
'Solitude in Madness' showcases a band that's as wild and fierce as they have been over the last 37 years. Vader didn't lose any of their intensity and power. No foot on the brake and no intention for compromising on aggressiveness, that's Vader. Together with an extremely well done production the longplayer is a real challenge for amplifiers and speakers. Now it's up to each of you if you accept the challenge.
CD review CLOVEN HOOF ‘Age of Steel’
Three years after 'Who Mourns for the Morning Star?' it is 'Age of Steel' that provides again hard-hitting Heavy Metal, music with an oldschool spirit and a modern production. Two thumbs up.
CD review TRIVIUM ‘What the Dead Men Say’
While other bands and labels partly postpone their new releases, Trivium and Roadrunner Records take another road. Matt Heavy and band mates release their new album as planned. In times of cancelled concerts and festivals it is a well-done step to keep fans optimistic, at least with new music, because what would the world be... Continue Reading →
CD review THE WIZAR’D ‘Subterranean Exile’
Cruz Del Sur usually has a good sense for well-crafted Epic Metal. The Wizar'd fits surely to the label portfolio but can't entirely live up to other bands the label signed. The Wizar'd hails from Australia and 'Subterranean Exile' is already their fourth album. It took seven long years to create the successor for 'Ancient... Continue Reading →
CD review AXEL RUDI PELL 'Sign of the Times'
Consistency is a virtue in fast changing and dynamic times. One of these anchor points, at least when it comes to Rock music, is Axel Rudi Pell. The German guitarist found his success formula many years ago and sticks to it since more than 30 years. Also the newest longplayer 'Sign of the Times' isn't... Continue Reading →
CD review ASENBLUT ‘Die Wilde Jagd’
The German death metal vikings have once again made their ships ready to embark on another musical raid with the new album. Fans of the band and/or well done melodic death metal will like this album.
CD review DANZIG ‘Danzig Sings Elvis’
If the world waited for this release might be discussable, that Danzig did a good job though with 'Danzig Sings Elvis' is not. Sometimes softer, sometimes harder the singer grooves through the 14 songs tracklist, showing that this album is a matter of heart more, than a standard Danzig release.
CD review KATATONIA ‘City Burials’
Stockholm-enrooted Katatonia went through some morphing over the last three decades. Was the start based on a passion for Death Metal, the Swedes moved more and more towards becoming the masters of melancholy, a vibe that's embedded in progressive Rock- and Metal songs. After having toured extensively in 2018, the band decided to enter a... Continue Reading →
CD review CIRITH UNGOL ‘Forever Black’
Cirith Ungol's return ends after glorious 40 minutes with the last tones of 'Forever Black', the title track. I was lucky that I could witness the Cirith Ungol's live show at Rock Hard festival in 2018 and at the time I couldn't imagine, holding a new record in hands. But sometimes dreams turn into reality. Fans of the band and Epic Metal in general will love this album and I can highly recommend it. The underground pioneers and inventors of Epic Metal are back, hopefully for many more years.
CD review ORANSSI PAZUZU ‘Mestarin kynsi’
This album is a challenge for fans of traditional Heavy Metal. It stresses the framework. For some, Oranssi Pazuzu created a masterpiece and for others it's a total 'no way'-album. I like the approach of the band to break the chains of standard musical formulas but I also have to admit that I needed to take in the album step by step.
CD review THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER ‘Verminous’
With 'Verminous' The Black Dahlia Murder introduces already their ninth longplayer in nearly 20 years. Three years after 'Nightbringers' brought its deadly groove to the plate it is the new longplayer that shows Detroit's musical powerhouse again strong and wild. Ten new songs have been selected for a good musical flow of the album, offering... Continue Reading →









