(8/10) Dutch symphonic metallers Epica entered partly unknown territory in 2017 when the band released a Japan-only EP with four songs that stretched the band’s frame of reference. The four tracks that have been released on an EP entitled ‘Epica vs. Attack on Titan’ featured metal versions of songs of the ‘Attack on Titan’ Manga... Continue Reading →
CD review SUBTYPE ZERO ‘The Astral Awakening’
(7/10) Some of you might be still familiar with the band name Cringe. Subtype Zero is the successor of Crinch after the band was forced to change the band’s name due to a legal dispute. Raider became Twix and Cringe became Subtype Zero. What both have in common is that the product itself stays the... Continue Reading →
ARCH/MATHEOS re-signs with Metal Blade Records
Metal Blade Records has re-signed ARCH/MATHEOS for a worldwide deal! ARCH/MATHEOS began as a reunion between founding Fates Warning members John Arch (vocals) and Jim Matheos (guitar), who hadn't collaborated since John Arch's solo EP, 'A Twist Of Fate' (2003) - and hadn't fully collaborated for a whole album since Fates Warning's 'Awaken the Guardian'... Continue Reading →
Massive hardcore from THE GREAT LIE
The Great Lie is a hardcore band, hailing from Long Island, NY. The five-piece consists out of Gerry Giacalone, John LaFata, Scott Martin, Kerry Merkle and Mike Scarola. These five guys recorded and released a five track EP that was unveiled earlier this summer. 'All Roads Lead to Where You Stand' features five raging hardcore... Continue Reading →
CD review DORO “Forever Warriors, Forever United”
(8/10) German metal queen Doro Pesch is celebrating two anniversary at the same time. The highly respected metal singer releases her 20th longplayer and it fits perfect since 2018 is also the 35th year Doro’s on stage. With having these two things in mind, work for the new album ’Forever Warrior, Forever United’ was done... Continue Reading →
CD review AXE STEELER ‘On the Run’
(8/10) Axe Steeler has a bit of an exotic bonus. The band is from South America, from Columbia to precise. The foundation of Axe Steeler goes back to 2015 with an EP that was unveiled in 2016. Two years later the first longplayer will hit the shelves and it’s worth to check it out. Axe... Continue Reading →
CD review MOB RULES ‘Beast Reborn’
(8/10) Longtime German metal outfit Mob Rules finished work on their newest longplayer ‘Beast Reborn’ that will be available on August 24th this year. With the new album the band continues a journey that began in 1999 when the guys released the debut ‘Savage Land’, followed by seven more records. Mob Rules belongs to the... Continue Reading →
CD review BAEST ‚Danse Macabre‘
(8/10) Baest is Danish, the word and the band. ‘Baest’ means ‘beast or ‘brute’ in English and having chosen this moniker is a perfect match with the music this Danish quintet has in the offer. The five-piece band is hailing from Aahus and they are a rather new band. The starting point was in 205 when Baestwas formed and since... Continue Reading →
CD review U.D.O. ‘Steelfactory’
(8/10) Udo Dirkschneider is more than a well-known name when it comes to German metal. There are many singers in metal and there are many singers with a raspy voice, but there is one voice that can be immediately identified – the one of Udo Dirkschneider. It was him and his way of singing that... Continue Reading →
LP review PHARAO ‘After the Fire’
(8/10) ‘After the Fire’ is the album that started things for Cruz del Sur. Originally published in 2003 the album carries catalog number ‘Cruz01’ and is a starting point of one of the most important underground labels for traditional and epic metal. The label grew over time and is after 15 years a safe bet... Continue Reading →
Wacken Open Air pre-sale at full speed
Unbelievable but true. According to the WOA team 50,000 tickets for the WOA 2019 have been sold until Monday August 6th, 16:50. So better be quick in getting your tickets. As mentioned in an earlier post, first bands have been confirmed already and there is of course more to come. http://www.wacken.com
Live report JUDAS PRIEST, 013, Tilburg, 06.08.2018
Towards the end of their current European tour, with playing big festivals as like the Wacken open air, British steel masters of Judas Priest had a stop in Tilburg, The Netherlands for playing a show at 013. It was a few minutes after 20:00 when the lights have been turned off and after the ‘Firepower’... Continue Reading →
CD review HATEFUL AGONY ‘Plastic Culture Pestilance’
(7/10) Talking about German thrash metal often means mentioning the generation of pioneers. Bands like Kreator, Destruction and Sodom were and still are the spearhead of this genre. These bands established thrash metal made in Germany and earn a lot of worldwide respect and attention. What stands a bit in the shadows of these legendary... Continue Reading →
CD review THE SPIRIT ‘Sounds from the Vortex’
(8/10) The Spirit is a new powerhouse from Germany. The quartet hails from Saarbrücken, Saarland and consists out of MS (d), AK (g), MT (V/g) and AT (b), with the latter being the newest band member. These four guys recorded with 'Sounds from the Vortex' a smashing debut that was unveiled as autonomously release in... Continue Reading →
WACKEN 2019 – first bands announced
The last riffs of the Wacken 2018 edition haven't even been played yet, while an outlook to 2019 kicks-off some extra excitement. First bands have been already announced and here are they are: Sabaton Parkway Drive Demons & Wizards Powerwolf Airbourne Rose Tattoo Within Temptation Meshuggah Krokus Dark Funeral Avatar The 'Wacken days'... Continue Reading →









