One evening after Devin Townsend brought a stripped-down solo performance to Hamburg’s Markthalle, I’m back at the same venue. This time, though, the setup couldn’t be more different. The chairs from the previous night have disappeared, the room is ready for a standing crowd, and an interesting package is about to hit the stage. Metal... Continue Reading →
Review DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT “Innern” (Instrumental)
Exactly one year ago, Der Weg Einer Freiheit released Innern, their most mature and intense album to date. Now, 365 days later, Innern is back in the record stores - but this time, there’s a twist. This is the instrumental version of the album. What may seem a little puzzling at first becomes fascinating once you experience the... Continue Reading →
Review DEVIL MASTER “Bloody Dreams”
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s Devil Master have been active since 2015 and already have two albums under their belt. With Bloody Dreams, the four-piece now returns with its third full-length, and the band remains firmly committed to its musical blueprint. What comes blasting out of the speakers is a devilish blend of punk and black metal, dark and... Continue Reading →
Review BEHEMOTH “I, Scvlptor”
Behemoth are one of the major names in black metal, and with I, Scvlptor, Nergal and the band present a new release. This isn’t exactly a brand-new album, but there is still plenty here to enjoy. I, Scvlptor features eight tracks in total, consisting of seven studio recordings and one live performance. The title track opens the... Continue Reading →
Review DARK FUNERAL “A Beast to Praise”
Time flies. It’s already been four years since Swedish black metal heroes Dark Funeral released their album We Are the Apocalypse. Since then, the band has spent plenty of time on the road, playing countless live shows. Now, one of those performances is making its way into record stores as the live album A Beast to Praise.... Continue Reading →
Review MORTEM “Mørkelid”
Mortem is one of the pioneering bands of the Norwegian black metal scene. Formed in Oslo in 1987, the band released its Slow Death demo in 1989. Driven by Marius Vold and Steinar "Sverd" Johnsen, the demo was produced by none other than Euronymous and Dead of Mayhem. Shortly after its release, however, Mortem was laid to... Continue Reading →
INLITNMENT – the legacy of CELTIC FROST lives on
Both Erol Unala and Franco Sesa were part of the Celtic Frost lineup that released the milestone album "Monotheist" in 2006. Oath of Cranes is another band that included the two musicians, and now they have started a new project, Inlitnment. In addition to the two core members, the lineup includes former Deathcult guitarist Oli... Continue Reading →
Review MORK “Monolitt“
Mork is the brainchild of Thomas Eriksen, who founded the band in 2004. „Isebakken“ was the debut album, and now the latest studio effort, „Monolitt“, hits the shelves. The band's eighth album features nine songs, and the opener, "Under vekten av verden," shows that Mork maintains an aggressive black metal sound. Sinister riffs and Eriksen's... Continue Reading →
Review DIMMU BORGIR “Grand Serpent Rising”
Looking back over the last few years, or rather decades, Dimmu Borgir have not released an enormous amount of music, and it seems as though the band has found its groove with an eight-year release pattern. Fans had to wait a long time for the latest album, “Eonian”, and now the band has taken the... Continue Reading →
Review DARKTHRONE “Pre-Historic Metal”
Darkthrone is undoubtedly a force in black metal, with roots in the Norwegian underground scene. Founded four decades ago, the band has gone through different stages, all of which have one thing in common: Darkthrone has never focused on trends or commercial success. Fenriz and Nocturno Culto have always done whatever they wanted, and their... Continue Reading →
Live report HYPOCRISY, ABBATH, VOMITORY & VREID, Gruenspan, Hamburg – April 21, 2026
A Scandinavian metal package will stop at Hamburg's Gruenspan tonight, bringing some raw death and black metal to town. Swedish metal veterans Hypocrisy are touring with none other than the Norwegian black metal force Abbath as a special guest. Accompanying these two bands are Vreid and Vomitory, who have both just released new albums. Black... Continue Reading →
Live report KANONENFIEBER & MENTAL CRUELTY, Inselpark Arena, Hamburg – March 24th, 2026
Nothing illustrates the rapidly growing popularity of Kanonenfieber better than a look at the venues the band has played in Hamburg. Back in November 2023, they took the stage at the Logo as a support act for Batushka. Not even three years later, Kanonenfieber are headlining a sold-out show at Inselpark Arena. Such a leap... Continue Reading →
Review HELLRIPPER “Coronach”
Scottish metal warrior James McBain founded Hellripper in 2015, initially releasing an EP with the intention of contributing to the local scene in Aberdeen. Things quickly took a different turn. More than a decade later, Hellripper has evolved far beyond its regional roots, earning international acclaim and a devoted following. Now, over ten years after... Continue Reading →
Review GAEREA “Loss”
What remains black for Gaerea are the black outfits and masks. These are also the distinctive features of a band that has evolved musically over time. The Porto-based band started ten years ago and released their debut album, “Unsettling Whispers,” in 2018. This year, the band celebrates their tenth anniversary with an album called "Loss,"... Continue Reading →
Review VREID “The Skies Turn Black”
Since the release of “Kraft” in 2004, Vreid has established themselves as a major player in the world of blackened metal from Norway. The band from Sognal has released albums regularly, and now it is “The Skies Turn Black” that will hit the shelves. Five years after releasing “Wild North West,” the Norwegians are presenting... Continue Reading →









