If you're a regular reader of Markus' Heavy Music Blog you probably read sometimes about a band called Liege Lord being a reference when it comes to power metal. This quintet started in 1982 (as Deceiver) and belongs to the pioneers of US Metal. The powerhouse, hailing from Stamford, CT, premiered in 1985 with an... Continue Reading →
Classics: QUEENSRŸCHE ‘Queensrÿche’
In my review for the new Flotsam And Jetsam album, I referred to Swiss radio station DRS 3 and their metal show that took place in the eighties. Next to Flotsam And Jetsam's debut the guys also played, next to a lot of good stuff, two Queensryche song from the first EP the Seattle-based band... Continue Reading →
Classics: STORMWITCH ‘Stronger Than Heaven’ – re-issue
I guess the artwork would qualify for being one of the 10 most embarrassing covers in metal in the '80s. However, the witches brew that's produced by the 'three witches' seems to have metallic firepower that can be transferred to musicians. According to the album title the brew makes you 'Stronger Than Heaven' and you... Continue Reading →
Classics: AGENT STEEL ‘Mad Locust Rising’
In the second half of the '80s, Agent Steel was one of the candidates for becoming a really big metal act. The debut 'Sceptics Apocalypse' was critically acclaimed and also the sophomore album 'Unstoppable Force' was very welcomed in the '80s metal scene. Furthermore, the band was part of the legendary Metal Hammer Road Show,... Continue Reading →
CD review FLOTSAM AND JETSAM ‘The End of Chaos’
(8/10) In 1986 Internet wasn’t existing and the main source of information when it comes to metal were fanzines and partly radio.Especially the latter dealt with metal as being a side note in music and therefor it was even more appreciated that Swiss radio station DRS3 dedicated 2 hours to metal on a weekly base.... Continue Reading →
CD review MAGNUM ‘Live at Symphony Hall’
(8/10) Although legendary UK rockers Magnum have released already quite some live albums and compilations, the moment of a next live album is always a treat. It was the final show of Magnum’s ‘Road to Eternity’-tour that was recorded and acts as a base for this live record. Magnum played in total 42 shows on... Continue Reading →
CD review RAVEN ‘Screaming Murder Death From Above: Live In Aalborg’
(8/10) Not to know is sometimes not a bad thing at all. So how is this related to Raven’s new live album? The metal pioneers have been on tour in Europe towards the end of 2017. After having gone through a tough time with the band’s longtime drummer Joe Hasselvander suffering from a heart attack... Continue Reading →
CD review FLEDDY MELCULY ‘ Live @ Graspop Metal Meeting ’18
(8/10) I’m not sure how many of you heard of Fleddy Melculy earlier. The band is well-known in the Benelux and the moniker is already a hint that things aren’t be taken that seriously, at least when it comes to the lyrics. Fleddy Melculy started a few years ago and is the brainchild of De... Continue Reading →
CD review BURNING WITCHES ‘Burning Witches + Burning Alive’ – re-issue
(8/10) Swiss-based Burning Witches debuted in 2017 via BW Records. The self-titled album was a wow moment. Eleven songs showed that there is the next generation of metal bands in Switzerland, following the legendary Krokus. Destruction's Schmier as well as VO Pulver, known from e.g. Gurd, were already involved in the production of the powerful premier,... Continue Reading →
CD review THE NEAL MORSE BAND ‘The Great Adventure’
(9/10) The announcement of a next The Neal Morse Band album is always an exciting moment. The combination of musical savvy and a sense for great melodies led to great records in the past and the new longplayer ‘The Great Adventure’ doesn’t take a different route. The 22 songs comprising album is an exquisite release... Continue Reading →
CD review LOVEBITES ‘Clockwork Immortality’
(6/10) Oh boy, this album is a real curveball and I'm not sure how many of you are familiar with Lovebites. In case you haven't heard of the band before the band name might make you think about a hard rock outfit. The moniker would fit perfect but it's actually misleading. Lovebites are into melodic... Continue Reading →
CD review VENOM ‘Storm the Gates’
(8/10) Venom is without any doubt a pioneer in metal. Not only that albums like ‘Welcome to Hell’ and ‘At War With Satan’ added a new level of extremeness to metal, but the band also set with ‘Black Metal’ a base for a totally new genre. All this happened in the first half of the... Continue Reading →
CD review JON SCHAFFER’S PURGATORY ‘Purgatory’
(9/10) Jon Schaffers Purgatory is releasing a new EP which isn’t that new either. Purgatory, the US metal band, was the founded in 1985 and was the predecessor of Iced Earth. Jon Schaffer was part of Purgatory, as well as singer Gene Adam and bassist Bill Owen. The guys published three demos and it's this... Continue Reading →
CD review LAST UNION ‘Twelve’
(8/10) Sharp before Christmas a new impressive metal album from Italy hits the shelves. The name of the band is Last Union, a powerhouse being the brainchild of singer Elisa Scarpeccio and guitarist Cristiano Tiberi. With a lot of ambition and passion, the duo started into the endeavor of a new band and what was... Continue Reading →
CD review GOTTHARD ‘Defrosted 2’
(8/10) Although Europe isn't fully covered by winterly frost, de-icing is available. It might help less outdoors, but what Gotthard adds to their musical offer is an album that's for sure heart-warming. It was in 1997 when the Swiss-based rocker presented their soulful side with an album entitled 'D-Frosted'. After having released three hard rocking records... Continue Reading →









