It really feels like a mad world we are living in these days, one of the reasons why Swiss rockers Shakra entitled their new longplayer simply 'Mad World'. Now, what sounds like a depressive view on the current state of the blue planet is actually the opposite. 'Mad World' features 12 new songs that carries... Continue Reading →
CD review H.E.A.T. ‘II’
Since more than a decade Swedish H.E.A.T. became to a deliverer of excellent Melodic Metal albums, all being a treat for your ears. Two years after ‘Into the Great Unknown” has been revealed it’s the next musical strike that stands in line for being released and it's a next melodic highlight they quintet adds to... Continue Reading →
CD review BLACK SWAN ‘Shake the World’
Black Swan, that's vocalist Robin McAuley (McAuley Schenker Group), guitarist Reb Beach (Winger, Whitesnake), bassist Jeff Pilson (Foreigner, The End Machine, ex-Dokken), and drummer Matt Starr (Ace Frehley, Mr. Big). These well-known guys found together and started a colleboration under the banner of Black Swan. The fruitful work now leads to a first album of... Continue Reading →
CD review DEMONS & WIZARDS ‘III’
If you read some of my earlier reviews you noticed that I sometimes refer to the eye-level cooperation between singer and guitarist, being a decisive factor for an album becoming just good or even great. Demons & Wizards build exactly on this collaboration. Blind Guardian frontman Hansi Kürsch and Iced Earth mainman Jon Schaffer are... Continue Reading →
NIGHTWISH reveal a new song and details about ‘Human. :II: Nature.’
When Finnish sextet Nightwish announce a new studio album people tend to take notice. They know that something special is brewing. The band's new and ninth record 'Human. :II: Nature.' will be released on 10th April 2020 and will be a double album containing 9 tracks on the main CD and one long track, divided into eight chapters on... Continue Reading →
CD review LORDI ‘Killection’
Finnish Rock/Metal monsters Lordi are nearly 3 decades in business, which shows that there must be a bigger fanbase out there, appreciating the heavy monster show. And not to forget in this context the participation at the Eurovision song contest in 2006 that gave Mr. Lordi and his buddies a great platform for reaching a... Continue Reading →
CD review SERIOUS BLACK ‘Suite 226’
It was three years ago when German/US metallers Serious Black released the 'First Light'-album and it became a bit quiet around the band lately. However, the buzz is getting louder again these days with the band having a new album in the pipeline and capturing a support slot on the upcoming Hammerfall tour. Serious Black's... Continue Reading →
POWERWOLF announce ‘Best of the Blessed’
Powerwolf faced a stellar ascend over the last years with one highlight leading to a next one. The 15th anniversary is a good moment to celebrate all the achievement and what would be better to doe it with a retrospective. 'Best of the Blessed' is doing exactly this, celebrating 15 years in Heavy Metal. A... Continue Reading →
Live report EPICA & STARKILL, Webster Hall, New York – 12.01.2020
I’m impressed and I haven’t seen an Epica show that has such a tight connection between fans and band. Awesome ... and a benchmark for all the upcoming Epica shows. After nearly 2 hours the fulminant show comes to an end with satisfied Epica fans leaving the Webster Hall with a big smile on their faces.
CD review MAGIC KINGDOM ‘MetAlmighty’
Belgium guitarist Dushan Petrossi has basically two outlets for his musical creayivity. Iron Mask is one and Magic Kingdom is the other one. The latter releases with 'MetAlmighty' a new album as we speak, a longplayer that features an eleven songs comprising setlist. The guitar wizard is obviously a fan of powerful Metal that's inspired... Continue Reading →
CD review HUMAN FORTRESS ‘Reign of Gold’
Human Fortress and the Scorpions have at least one thing in common, their hometown is Hannover in Germany. Furthermore both are busy in the fields of Metal although the Scorpions play in a totally different league. Human Fortress instead is the passionate worker, a band build on dedication. The six-piece outfit from Germany could score... Continue Reading →
HELLOWEEN announce ‘United Alive World Tour Part II)’
Hamburg’s Metal legend Helloween had huge success with the ‘Pumpkins United World Tour’. It was such an intensive experience that the guys decided to work on a new album - together. After having finished the last tour dates the Pumpkins United line-up started to work on new songs at H.O.M.E. Studios in Hamburg. With Charlie... Continue Reading →
WITHIN TEMPTATION and EVANESCENCE tour dates for 2020
Dutch Symphonic Metal powerhouse Within Temptation will tour through Europe in spring 202 with no less than Evanescence being with them on the road. Here are the dates as a reminder with first shows having already just a limited amount of tickets still left. Apr 04: Brussels Palais 12, BelgiumApr 05: Paris Accor Hotel Arena,... Continue Reading →
Live report DELAIN & ARKONA, Gruenspan, Hamburg – 01.12.2019
If I counted right it's the fifth time I can witness a Delain show and it's the first time for me, seeing them on stage outside The Netherlands. Was it always 'home-game shows' so far I joined the last times, it's this December night that brings me to Gruenspan in Hamburg. The great location in... Continue Reading →
CD review SIGN X ‘Like a Fire’
Sign X is a German Rock band that's fairly new. A first EP, releaed in 2018, brought some first attention and 'Like a Fire' marks the full-length debut of the Hamburg-based quintet. Although Sign X is a new player in the fields of Melodic Rock it's the musicians that are old hands when it comes... Continue Reading →









