The first two Iron Maiden albums belong undoubtedly to the milestones of heavy metal. However, my first Iron Maiden album was their third release 'The Number of the Beast' which had a fascination for me because of the sound, artwork and lyrics. AC/DC were cool, Kiss were special with their make-up, but Iron Maiden was... Continue Reading →
With DESTRUCTION into the new year
2021 can just become better than 2020 and the start is promising. On January 1st, 2021 thrash metal veterans Destruction announce a live stream show. The quartet streams live from Z7 in Pratteln and the start is scheduled for 8pm CET. 'THRASH INTO 2021 – The Ultimate Live Stream Attack' will be broadcasted by Mandolin... Continue Reading →
CD review ALTA REIGN ‘Mother’s Day’
Alta Reign is the new project of an old acquaintance. Jeff Plate, drummer for TSO and well known from his time with Savatage, launched with Alta Reign a new band that includes next to Plate also TSO keyboard player Jane Mangini, vocalist & guitarist Tommy Cook, vocalist & guitarist Collin Holloway, as well as bassist... Continue Reading →
Classics: STORMWITCH ‘The Beauty and the Beast’ – re-issue
Every now and then, especially during the Holiday season, Markus' Heavy Music Blog is featuring some classics, some well-known and some not so much. This time we go to Germany, more precisely, Gerstetten on the Schwaebische Alb. We go back to the year 1987 and the band we are talking about is Stormwitch. "The Masters... Continue Reading →
IRON SAVIOR’s Piet Sielck talks about ‘Skycrest’, positivism and future plans
2020 was a challenging year for everybody and it was music, that saved the day more than once. Also Iron Savior had to face challenges and managed the end the year in a good way. Pandemic and illness of bassist Jan were two main things the band had to face. Still Iron Savior kept the... Continue Reading →
EVERGREY announce tour dates for autumn 2021
Tour dates are something very unpredictable these days. Please always check the digital channels of local venues for possible changes along the way.
CD review ELLEFSON ‘No Cover’
Megadeth founding member and bass-ace David Ellefson signed a deal with earMUSIC and the first delivery is available at the record stores. It’s an album with cover versions which was also done in cooperation with Combat Records. ‘No Cover’, so the title of this longplayer, builds on an 19 songs featuring tracklist with covers versions... Continue Reading →
New video and streaming concert from DEATH ANGEL
Bay Area thrash metal veterans Death Angel unleash a new video. It's an animated video for 'Aggressor', taken from the 'Humanicide'-album. Commenting on the video, guitarist Rob Cavestany says: “The idea started as a visualizer for the song but when we saw the footage we were hooked and knew it had to turn into a complete video.... Continue Reading →
CD review ICED EARTH ‘Iced Earth (30th anniversary edition)
It was in summer 1989 when a demo tape arrived at my mailbox with music of a band that was a newcomer from Tampa at the time - Iced Earth. The name of their demo was 'Enter the Realm' and in times without YouTube, Facebook and others, I had no idea of what to expect... Continue Reading →
New SEPULTURA tour dates, support: SACRED REICH & CROWBAR
Tour dates are something very unpredictable these days. Please always check the digital channels of local venues for possible changes along the way.
CD review GALCIER ‘The Passing of Time’
A glacier doesn’t form just like that. It takes a lot of time for a glacier to grow, becoming a mighty landscape in ice. Translated to heavy metal means having a look at Glacier, the heavy metal outfit that started in 1979 in Portland. As a glacier in its icy habitat also Glacier in metal... Continue Reading →
‘Nox Rocks II Lucia Metal Party’ coming Saturday
Saturday this week will see a bigger streaming event. Sweden is one of the contries being know for excellent rock and metal. Bands like Europe and Hammerfall still belong to the rock'n'roll exports from Sweden. To stand united against the negative effects of the Corona pandemic on the music industry, Swedish artists, together with Nox... Continue Reading →
CD review SATAN’S FALL ‘Final Day’
Founded in 2015 and having released a first demo in 2016, these are the primal steps of Finnish metal warriors Satan's Fall. The self-released EP 'Metal of Satan' was an important step for the quintet from Tampere since it acted as a springboard for inking a deal with High Roller Records. The label, known for... Continue Reading →
BURNING WITCHES unleashed’The Circle of Five’
Live releases and EP’s are booming these days and here is another one. Swiss-/Dutch metal guild Burning Witches unleashed with ‘The Circle of Five’ a new song on December 4th, being the tune in the lead-off spot of a four track featuring release. ‘The Circle of Five’ is a typical metal anthem forged by the... Continue Reading →
CD review COMMUNIC ‘Hiding from the World’
Communic belongs to the category of bands that do not flood the market with new releases, but deliver quality with every album that leaves the studio. Three years after 'Where Echoes Gather' the Norwegian metal specialists return to the scene with 'Hiding from the World'.'Tempe of Pride' and the title track have already been released... Continue Reading →









