German metal force Brainstorm recently announced the next album called “Plague of Rats” which will be released on February 28th, 2025 vie Reigning Phoenix Music. With “Garuda”" the lead single from the album has been launched already and here is where you can listen to the song: https://youtu.be/giLwrNqQpTQ?si=lu85gJkOOSWJH6rp "The wait is over, and we couldn't be... Continue Reading →
MOB RULES work on their 10th studio album
German power metal band Mob Rules entered the studio for recording their next longplayer. The yet untitled album will be the tenth release from the power metal group. “All the songs have been written and large parts of them have already been recorded,” reveals the frontman and goes into even more detail: ”You can look forward to an... Continue Reading →
Review SACRAMENTUM “The Coming of Chaos” (re-issue)
Sacramentum belong to the first wave of Swedish melodic death metal bands. Formed in 1990 as Tumulus, the band changed its name to Sacramentum in 1992. With roots in Falköping, the band is the brainchild of Nisse Karlén, who was joined by Anders Brolycke, and after drummer Nicklas Rudolfsson completed the band, the time was... Continue Reading →
THE HU revealed “Incarnation Tour”-dates
The HU revealed the shows for their 2025 European tour. The "Incarnation Tour" will start on June 6th, 2025 in Maastricht, NL and ends on July 16th, 2025 in Istanbul, TR. The tour will include several shows of the band supporting Heilung which is rather exciting combination of sounds and spirits but will also festival... Continue Reading →
BEYOND THE BLACK unveil tour dates for 2026
After having played at this years Elbriot festival, German-based melodic metal outfit Beyond The Black will embark on a tour through Europe/UK in 2026 which includes a stop at Inselpark Arena, Hamburg on February 3rd, 2026. The tour start well be on January 15th, 2026 in Manchester, UK while the final show of this roundtrip... Continue Reading →
ELBRIOT 2025 – new bands announced
Papa Roach was the first band that was announced for Hamburg's Elbriot festival 2025. With Kreator, Kissin' Dynamite and Future Palace a second wave of bands have been unveiled a few weeks ago and today Kerry King and Smash Into Pieces have been aded to line-up of the legendary festival at Grossmarkt, Hamburg. Elbriot 2025... Continue Reading →
Review ATHENA XIX “Everflow Part 1: Frames Of Humanity”
Athena XIX might be a band name that some of you still remember. The progressive metal outfit was formed in Pisa, Italy in 1991 and released three full length albums before disbanding in 2002 after the band's 'Twilight of Days' longplayer. More than two decades later, Athena XIX return with "Everflow Part 1: Frame of... Continue Reading →
Review NECKBREAKKER “Within The Viscera”
Wohoo. This album doesn't allow you to slowly slide into the songs and sounds, because it's a brutal blast that starts "Within the Viscera". But let's start from the very beginning. Neckbreakker is the band releasing their debut album "Within the Viscera". The guys started in 2020 as Nakkeknaekker, which is the Danish equivalent of... Continue Reading →
Review TAK MATSUMOTO GROUP “TMG II”
The Tak Matsumoto Group released a debut album called "TMG I" in 2004. The project was a collaboration between Japanese guitar wizard Tak Matsumoto, Eric Martin and Jack Blades. The result of this teamwork was a stunning melodic rock release, but things ended rather quickly after the release of the debut and a few live... Continue Reading →
SAVATAGE announced some shows in Europe in 2025
The news of Savatage playing some live shows in 2025 spreads quickly. After having announced some festival shows in South America the legendary metal outfit also revealed some dates for shows in Europe: Saturday, June 14, 2025 – Oberhausen, Germany – Turbinenhalle Monday, June 16, 2025 – London, UK – Shepherds Bush EmpireWednesday, June 18, 2025... Continue Reading →
Live report ALCEST, SVALBARD & DOODSESKADER, Gruenspan, Hamburg – December 3rd, 2024
A package of three bands started a European tour in Zagreb, Croatia on October 21, 2024, and it is 1.5 months later when Alcest and support bands stop at Gruenspan, Hamburg. It is a typical Hamburg evening - dark and wet - when a long queue of fans line up in front of the venue... Continue Reading →
Review HELLOWEEN “Live at Budokan”
German metal heavyweights Helloween played a show in Japan in September 2023 as part of their "United Forces 2022-2023" tour. The show at the legendary Budokan in Tokyo was recorded and will be the basis for the new live album of the metal kings. The album, "Live at Budokan", will be released in different formats,... Continue Reading →
Review TARJA “Rocking Heels – Live at Hellfest”
Finnish singer Tarja played a show at Hellfest 2016, a concert that was recorded and now is released as a live album. Tarja played 10 songs and with the exception of "Shameless" all songs are on the new record. As expected, the chosen songs reflect the harder and heavier aspect of a singer who can... Continue Reading →
Review THE GATES OF SLUMBER “The Gates of Slumber”
The Gates of Slumber might be a band that not everyone has on their metal radar. Formed in 1998, the trio has released some really good albums, starting in 2004 with their debut, "…the Awakening". "The Wedge" marked the end of the first era of this doom behemoth from Indianapolis, Indiana, and the band disbanded... Continue Reading →
Review DEWOLFF “Muscle Shoals”
DeWolff is a band that is slowly starting to gain attention outside of The Netherlands. In their home country, however, the trio is quite popular and had their breakthrough with the "Orchards/Lupine" album. From then on, the van de Poel brothers and Robin Piso were regular guests in the top 10 of the Dutch album... Continue Reading →

