Dutch bass player Joost van der Graaf is known from his time with bands like Dew-Scented. His bass can be also heard on Pestilence’s latest album ‘Exitivm’. In 2020 Van der Graaf started with Choreomanic a solo project and the self-titled album is the debut. Musically Choreomanic has not that much to do with the... Continue Reading →
Review SCHIZOPHRENIA ‘Recollection of the Insane’
Hämmerhead was a thrash metal band, hailing from Antwerp, Belgium. The band released two EPs before morphing into Schizophrenia in 2016. After found a new moniker, the quartet launched a first single in 2019, followed by an EP entitled ‘Voices’. The full-length debut was missing to date and the gap will be closed mid-February. ‘Recollection... Continue Reading →
Review MARIANGELA DEMURTAS ‘Dark Ability’ – EP
Mariangela Demurtas, the name might sound familiar for the one of the other since she is the female voice of Norwegian symphonic metal outfit Tristania. The singer from Sardinia was also guest singer for bands like Moonspell and Dark Tranquility. These days Demurtas releases with 'Dark Ability' a solo effort that features four beautiful songs.... Continue Reading →
SORCERER released ‘Reverence’
Stockholms metal institution Sorcerer used the time to record four cover songs which let off the leash one by one. It all started in September 2021 with the legendary 'Gates of Babylon', originally from Rainbow, followed by 'When Death Calls' (Black Sabbath) and Saxon's 'Crusader'. The final cover is 'Waiting for Darkness' from Ozzy Osbourne... Continue Reading →
Review THE DIRTY DENIMS ‘Raw Denim – Recorded Live’
Rock’n'roll from Eindhoven, The Netherlands means to mention The Dirty Denims. It was in 2006 when the band started and established themselves as a rocking force in their home country. Three albums, that what The Dirty Denims added to their list of achievements of which the 2020 release ‚Ready, Steady, Go!‘ is the latest record... Continue Reading →
FREEDOM – one of the most exciting newcomers in 2021
Sweden’s capitol Stockholm is known for a vivid music scene with many well-sounding names when it comes to rock and metal. It seems that there is an endless flow of creativity that constantly brings new bands to the forefront and one of these band is Freedom. Freedom, that is Magnus Berglund (vocals & guitar), Janne... Continue Reading →
Review DEMONS AWAKE ‘Off the Axis’ – EP
There is always a big buzz when the 'major league'-bands announce and unleash a new album. The real musical freedom though lives in the underground when musicians and bands follow their heart and do what they love to do, celebrating the mighty riff and the solid groove. One of these bands is Demons Awake, hailing... Continue Reading →
Review SHIT THE COW ‘And Dance’ – EP
Shit The Cow caught my attention several years ago and to be honest, it was the moniker that created curiosity as well as it gave me a smile. After having pressed the ‘Start’-button the band name was still fun but what counts more is the music and what I got to hear sounded pretty good.... Continue Reading →
Review EXISTENT ‘Kartenhaus’
Existent is another representative from Hamburg’s vital music scene when it comes to rock and metal. The band, formed in 2013 rather spontaneously, premiered in 2016 with an album called ‘Startschuss’. ‘Startschuss’ was not only the title but also the start for the band that these days comes with a new delivery. 'Kartenhaus' is the... Continue Reading →
Review HANLON‘S RAZOR ‚Paradigm‘
Dutch prog rock enthusiasts Hanlon‘s Razor used the last months for working on an album, being the debut of the project. Hanom‘s Razor, that is the brainchild of Dutch guitarist Louis de Roo and Frank Maarsen. Some the Dutch readers might know the names of the two guys from a band called Terranian that stopped... Continue Reading →
Review LEXI LAYNE ‚Sinner & Saint‘
‚Sinner & Saint‘ is title of the debut EP from singer Lexi Layne. She teamed up with Clint Fowler for working on a five track release that is scheduled for August 6th. As the cover artwork indicates, the music on this release is dark and melancholic. Style-wise it is a mix of rock, metal and... Continue Reading →
CD review BLACKBRIAR ‘The Cause of Shipwreck’
Female-fronted symphonic metal from The Netherlands, that brings a few names on the radar. Within Temptation, Epica and the disbanded Delain are bands that you think of right away. Blackbriar is a band that is passionate about the same genre and it was at the Delain concert in the early 2020 that I heard of... Continue Reading →
CD review DEVILZ BY DEFINITION ‘The Bitter Remains of Human Consumption’
Not only because of, but also due to Alice Cooper's latest album 'Detroit Stories', the city in the North West of the US got into focus again. Not far away from Detroit and just divided by the Detroit River is Windsor, Ontario. Windsor is a Canadian city and is the homebase of Devilz By Definition.... Continue Reading →
CD review DARK ZODIAK ‘Ophiuchus’
Dark Zodiak come from the very south of Germany, close to the Swiss border. There, embedded in a picturesque landscape, you can find Eggingen. The small municipality has not only nature to offer but with Dark Zodiak also a metal forge under steam. The quintet started in 2011 and a first EP, 'Throwing Stones', followed... Continue Reading →
CD review SCORCHED OAK ‘Withering Earth’
Sometimes good things just come to you. The inbox is full with releases and sometimes it takes a coincident to get to the good stuff. This time it was my friend Christian from Hamburg's Plattenkiste, who recommended this release to me. Knowing his good musical taste meant to me, checking out this album, and so... Continue Reading →








