(9/10) Polish prog rockers Riverside is a well-known and well-respected prog metal outfit that launched six longplayers before a stroke of fate hit the band. It was in February 2016 when guitarist and founding member Piotr Grudziński died of a sudden cardiac arrest. From one moment to another things haven’t been anymore like they were... Continue Reading →
CD review CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX ‘Great Escape’
(8/10) Crippled Black Phoenix is a rock outfit, hailing from Bristol, UK. The band has its beginning in 2004 when Justin Greaves started to outline some first musical ideas which have been the base for Crippled Black Phoenix. The start was more with a project thinking but things evolved and six studio albums saw the... Continue Reading →
Classics: RUFFIANS ‘Ruffians’
With this classic, we go back in time even further than with the latest 'Classics' posts. The Delorean brings us back to 1985. In a phase when metal gained momentum and many bands pushed into the market, it was Ruffians from San Francisco that unveiled a brilliant six-track album. Simply entitled 'Ruffians' the debut EP of... Continue Reading →
CD review PILLARS ‘Onwards to Nothingness’
(7/10) The first funny thing that happened after I uploaded this album to my player was that all six tracks had the same title, 'Above'. For one second I though that this might have been a weird but planned way to distract, but of course it's not. Each of the six songs on Pillars new... Continue Reading →
Classics: MORTAL SIN ‘Mayhemic Destruction’
Who can remember Mortal Sin? The quintet from Sydney, Australia isn't top of mind of everybody, but the ones of you that started their metallic journey in the 80's are familiar with this five-piece powerhouse from down under. Mortal Sin started in 1985 and was described as the 'Australian Metallica'. This gave already a clear idea... Continue Reading →
CD review TREAT ‘Tunguska’
(8/10) Swedish hardrocker Treat are a longtime player in the fields of melodic hardrock. The first and successful era ended with a split in 1993 before Treat reunited in 2006. The second era also included some good longplayer, starting with 'Coup de Grace'. I have to admit that the 1987 'Dreamhunter' album is still my... Continue Reading →
Classics: MORDRED ‘Fool’s Game’
Today I want to take you back into 1989, a time when San Francisco-based Mordred premiered with 'Fool's Game'. After having produced three demo tapes the guys could ink a contract with Noise International and released a debut that showed a well-executed fusion of thrash metal and funk. In the second half of the 80's thrash... Continue Reading →
CD review BRAINSTORM “Midnight Ghost’
(8/10) September 2018 is an important month when it comes to heavy metal music, hailing from the greater Heidenheim area. The German city in the south of Germany is the hometown of two metal acts that are well-known in metal. Undertow will release their new album “Reap the Storm’ on September 21st and it’s know... Continue Reading →
METAMORPHER releases ‘Becoming’
Fans of progressive metal music might be interested in an EP that unfolds its beauty today. German five piece band Metamorpher releases their first EP ‘Becoming’ on September 21st. The disc comprises of three tracks that sound great, but need some time to sink in. Metamorpher, that’s Dominik Kwasny, Michael Junker, Carlos Gottberath, Michael Schiefer... Continue Reading →
CD review BETONTOD ‘Vamos!’
(7/10) One year after having released the very successful ‘Revolution’ album, German punk rocker Betontod launched their newest album ‘Vamos!’ a few weeks ago. The story of Betontod is a successful one. The band from Reinberg, Germany started in the early 90’s and after having published some demos it was the ‘Hier kommt Aerger’ album... Continue Reading →
CD review HAMMER KING ‘Poseidon Will Carry Us Home’
(8/10) Even though Kaiserslautern, Germany has no geographical connection to the sea, it’s Hammer King that got inspired by the ocean. The band, consisting out some Ivory Night members, is fronted by former Ross The Boss singer Titan Fox V. In contrary to the assumption of a Manowar copycat and in contrary to the debut, Joey... Continue Reading →
CD review MAYAN ‘Dhyana”
(9/10) Dutch powerhouse MaYan is back with a new longplayer. It’s not that the band released many records over the last years, but it’s the quality of each of the albums that’s stunning. After having debuted in 2011 with ‘Quaterpast’ the band unveiled their next strike with ‘Antagonise’ in 2014. Both records were critically acclaimed... Continue Reading →
CD review STRATOVARIUS ‘ENIGMA: Intermission 2’
(8/10) I guess that most of you are familiar with Stratovarius' 'Intermission' album from 2001. The record was a compilation that mainly featured live recordings, B-sides and bonus tracks of the Finnish powerhouse. 17 years later, Stratovarius reveals a new album and it's called 'Enigma: Intermission 2'. As with part one, also volume 2 comprises... Continue Reading →
CD review CINDERELLA ‘The Mercury Years’ – Box-set
(*/10) American rock band Cinderella is one of the most influential bands when it comes to hardrock and glam metal. In contrary to many other bands in this genre, Cinderella didn’t came for the US West Coast, but was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The start of the Cinderella was in 1982 and it was the... Continue Reading →
CD review BRANT BJORK ‘Mankind Woman’
(7/10) Brant Bjork’s musical history is a long one and it’s legendary Kyuss that was, next to the success of the band itself, a springboard for new adventures in the fields of rock. Bjork was part of quite some projects and bands after he left Kyuss. Bands like Vista Chico and Fu Manchu were bands... Continue Reading →









