(9/10) Introducing King Diamond feels like carrying sand to the beach. The frontman of legendary Mercyful Fate started a solo career in 1985 and premiered with ‘Fatal Portrait’ a year later. My entry point to the music of the ‘Danish King’ was in 1987 when he release with “Abigail’ a classic that is timeless. Songs... Continue Reading →
CD review HERMAN FRANK ‘Fight the Fear’
(8/10) Herman Frank is best known for his work with German metal pioneers Accept. He was part of the legendary 'Balls to the Wall' album before he left the band after the album work was done. Frank returned to Accept in 2005 for some festival shows, followed by a reunion and three new longplayers. But... Continue Reading →
CD review EVERGREY ‘The Atlantic’
(8/10) The metal year 2019 starts fulminant. Swedish Evergrey spend some time in the studio during 2018 and recorded with ‘The Atlantic’ their next milestone. The record, being number 11 since 1993, is the final chapter of a trilogy that started in 2014 with the ‘Hymns for the Broken’ album. A second chapter was added... Continue Reading →
Classics: VICTORY ‘Don’t Get Mad – Get Even’
Victory's rise began in 1984 when former Fargo musicians united under the new moniker. One year later the debut hit the shelves and it was the sophomore release 'Don't Get Mad - Get Even' which was like a trey for the Hannover-based band. The album was recorded by a great line-up, including Peter Knorn (b),... Continue Reading →
DORO announced ‘Backstage to Heaven’
Doro has now announced to release the 4-track vinyl EP 'Backstage To Heaven' on March 8th - on the same day the second leg of her worldtour kicks off! The EP will feature two album tracks, as well as two unreleased, new live tracks. "I wish you all a happy new year, it will surely become a rocking... Continue Reading →
NAILED TO OBSCURITY talks about ‘Black Frost’ and the upcoming European tour
Markus’ Heavy Music Blog: Hello guys. First of all thank you for taking some time for MHMB. The new year starts extremely exciting for you and with 'Black Frost' you have your 4th longplayer ready to be released. Can you tell us a little about the new album. What can the fans expect? Volker Dieken:... Continue Reading →
CD review THE THREE TREMORS ‘The Three Tremors’
(8/10) The Three Tremors, that's a wowing collaboration of three of the best singers in traditional metal. It's a cooperation of no less than Cage's frontman Sean 'The Hell Destroyer' Peck, Tim 'Ripper' Ownes and Harry 'The Tyrant' Conklin with Peck being the initiator. Already the fact that these three guys worked together on an... Continue Reading →
CD review DIAMORTE ‘The Red Opera’
(7/10) DiAmorte is the brainchild of Canadian singer and songwriter Drake Mefestta. After having revealed a first EP in 2015 the guy debut sharp before Christmas with 'The Red Opera'. The album is a ten chapter featuring longplayer that units symphonic arrangements, rock and metal. It's a dramatic storyline about time and betrayal that frames... Continue Reading →
CD review METAL INQUISITOR ‘Panopticon”
(8/10) Koblenz-basedMetal Inquisitor might not be the band with a high-frequent release pattern, but every album so far for sure provided quality. It takes between 4-5 years for the band to come with a next longplayer, beginning with the debut ‘The Apparition’ from 2002. Good things come to those who wait, seems to be the... Continue Reading →
Classics: LIEGE LORD ‘Master Control’
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 →
JON SCHAFFER’S PURGATORY available as vinyl
Jon Schaffer's Purgatory is a release that features five songs of Schaffer's first band, called Purgatory. More information can be found HERE. The Ep is also available as vinyl with all 5 songs being put on the A-side while the B-side features a nice etching. Furthermore we're talking about a 180gr. vinyl and a 4-page... Continue Reading →








