Thursday 17 November 2011

Deathstars - The Greatest Hits On Earth (CD Review)


01.Death Is Wasted On The Dead
02.METAL
03.Death Dies Hard
04.Blitzkrieg
05.Motherzone
06.Synthetic Generation
07.Tongues
08.Blood Stains Blondes
09.Cyanide
10.New Dead Nation
11.The Mark Of The Gun
12.Chertograd
13.Semi-Automatic
14.Syndrome
15.Play God
16.Opium

Andreas "Whiplasher Bernadotte" Bergh (Vocals)
Jonas "Skinny Disco" Kangur (Bass)
Emil "Nightmare Industries" Nödtveidt (Guitar/Keyboards)
Ole "Bone W. Machine" Öhman (Drums)
Oscar "Vice" Leander (Drums)
Eric "Cat Casino" Bäckman (Guitar)

For those of you who dont know 'Deathstars' are a Swedish band from Stockholm that perform industrial and gothic metal. Formed in 2000, the group are noted for their dark horror-themed lyrics, pessimistic and misanthropic social commentary, distinctive trademark face paint, dark stage uniforms and physical appearances that correspond to gothic fashion. They have released three full-length studio albums; Synthetic Generation (2003), Termination Bliss (2006) and Night Electric Night (2009).

Supporting Korn on their European tour throughout January and February 2008 and fellow Swede Adrian Erlandsson (Nemhain/Paradise Lost/At The Gates) filled in on the drumming duties for the tour.

At the end of this year they were picked by 'Rammstein' to support them on their european tour.

In celebration of the whole thing, the Swedes have arranged a collection of their hottest hits from the past three records now, which will be released just in time for the tour opening.

They have also recorded two new tracks for the release.


So its got 'Cynaide' and 'Blitzkrieg' on it so thats a 10/10 rating already, but it pretty much has all my other favourite death/glam tracks as well.

To the two new songs, the first is 'Death Is Wasted On The Dead' which sounds like a Type O.Negative song title if ever i heard one, musically sounds a bit like HIM jamming with Depeche Mode until that distinctive vocal comes in, nice and catchy but definatley on the melodic side.

The second track 'METAL' is a lot punchier and more typical of their work, heavy drum beats and cool riffs!

RATING 10/10
For Fans Of : Rammstein, Sisters Of Mercy, Marilyn Manson.

Nightwish - Storytime (CD Single Review)


01.Storytime (Radio Edit)
02.Storytime (Album Version)
03.Storytime (Instrumental)


Anette Olzon (Vocals)
Tuomas Holopainen (Keyboards)
Emppu Vuorinen (Guitars)
Marco Hietala (Bass)
Jukka Nevalainen (Drums)


First single from the fourthcoming 'Imaginaerum' album.
The seventh album from the band and the second to feature vocalist Anette, this album is a concept album telling the story of an old composer on his deathbed, reminiscing of his youth. The album was produced alongside the movie of the same name, directed by Stobe Harju.


You can tell its Nightwish from the opening keyboard riff and that guitar sound never really changes, but its the vocal that still sounds odd, she still sounds like the AbbA girls (but then she did start off in an AbbA tribute band).

Its very commercial and not massivly inspiring though the choral and orchestral elements work well, but the album/movie project does sound very intresting.

RATING 6/10
For fans Of : Within Temptation, Epica, Achilla

Rammstein - Mein Land EP (CD Review)


01.Mein Land
02.Vergiss Uns Nicht
03.My Country (The Bosshoss)
04.Mein Land (Mogwai Mix)


Till Lindemann (Vocals)
Richard Z. Kruspe (Guitar)
Paul H. Landers (Guitar)
Oliver "Ollie" Riedel (Bass)
Christoph "Doom" Schneider (Drums)
Christian "Flake" Lorenz (Keyboards/Samples)


'Mein Land' is the first single from the upcoming retrospective 'Made in Germany 1995–2011' due out soon.

Well having been somewhat controversial with their videos in the past (Porn/Cannibalisim/Drugs/Murder etc etc) it seems that the german's have decided to really push their boundaries and opted for Beach Boys imagery and Frankie Avalon beach movies!!!!!
That said we do get leather, fire, lesbians and boobs towards the end!!


Offensive video aside, the new single is still typical of the band, dancable industrial metal that is full of melody, catchy chorus (that despite being in their native tongue you can still sing a long too), punchy guitars, powerfull drum rhythms and signature sampling and keyboards.

'Vergiss Uns Nicht' has an evil nursery rhyme feel to it, with added epic breaks.

'The Bosshoss' is a bloody country and western version sung in english : Fucking mental!!

Finally the 'Mogwai Mix' is a dark techno version with heavily distoted vocals.

RATING 8/10
For fans Of : Nine Inch Nails, Rob Zombie, Deathstars

The Quill - Full Circle (CD Review)



01.Sleeping With Your Enemy
02.Full Circle
03.Black Star
04.Medicine
05.Bring It On
06.River Of My Childhood
07.24/7 Groove
08.White Flag
09.Pace That Kills
10.No Easy Way Out
11.Running
12.More Alive Than You
13.Waiting For The Sun


Magnus Arnar (Vocals)
Christian Carlsson (Guitar)
George ’Jolle’ Atlagic (Drums)
Robert Triches (Bass)

Guest:
Conny Bloom (Sitar)


Formed in Sweden in the early 90's the Quill have released a number of very good albums and gained worldwide fans and even landed some good tour supports to the likes of Monster Magnet.
In 2005 the band almost fell apart when original singer left and George joined Hanoi Rocks, however in 2010 they regrouped with a new singer and have produced by far their best album to date.
The album offers up a selection of styles from classic 70's inspired stoner with 'Sleeping With Your Enemy' and 'Bring It On', a more modern take with 'Full Circle' and some epic acoustic ballads like 'River Of A Moonchild' which has a Whitesnake 'Child Of Babylon' feel.

To pick out a few that really stand out i would have to go for 'Black star' with some awsome Sitar from Conny Bloom (Jolle’s former Hanoi Rocks colleague and Electric Boys' frontman), it has a real psychedelic vibe whilst being a full on rocker.

'Pace That Kills' and 'Waiting For The Sun' are pure 'Audioslave' and has that big post Zeppelin riff that always delivers if done well.....and it IS done well!

There is only one track thats naff and that is 'No easy way Out', it has a country ballad feel and just doesnt cut it with all the other high energy music going on here.

RATING 9/10
For fans Of : Soundgarden, Monster Magnet, Kyuss, Viking Skull

Tuesday 15 November 2011

Paradise Lost - Draconian Times MMXI (CD Review)


01.Enchantment
02.Hallowed Land
03.The Last Time
04.Forever Failure
05.Once Solemn
06.Shadowkings
07.Elusive Cure
08.Yearn For Change
09.Shades Of God
10.Hands Of Reason
11.I See Your Face
12.Jaded
13.Faith Divides Us, Death Unites Us
14.Rise Of Denial

Nick Holmes (Vocals)
Gregor Mackintosh (Guitar)
Aaron Aedy (Guitar)
Steve Edmondson (Bass)
Adrian Erlandsson (Drums)
Milly Evans (Keyboards/Backing Vocals)


Draconian Times was their fifth album released back in june 1995.
Often hailed as a true modern classic (Though i prefer 1991's Gothic) the Halifax based band have been producing gothic/death metal since 1988.
The original album produced two minor hit singles 'The Last Time' and 'Forever Failure', the latter gained controverasy for its inclusion of the voice of Charles Manson.

As has been the recent trend with bands to perform classic albums live in their entirety the band opted for this one.

This is a superb fan package available in numerous formats including a Limited Deluxe Edition comprising of 2 DVDs + CD + extended 32 page booklet including press clippings from the original release, and a vinyl 2 Lp set.

The 2009 album 'Faith Divides Us' (when Adrian joined on drums) provides the last two tracks.





Well it pretty much does what it set out to do, its an electric performance of the album, to be fair it sounds better than the original, live brings a "feeling" to the songs that the studio tends to smooth out.

RATING ; 9/10
For Fans Of : My Dying Bride, Opeth, Anathema

My Dying Bride - The Barghest O’ Whitby (CD Review)


01.The Barghest O' Whitby

Aaron Stainthorpe (Vocals)
Andrew Craighan (Guitar)
Hamish Glencross (Guitar)
Lena Abe (Bass)
Shaun Talyor-Steel (Drums)
Shaun Macgowan (Violin/Keyboards)


My Dying Bride were formed in Bradford in the north of England in June 1990 and along with Paradise Lost and Anathema became 3 of the most important and influencial bands from the north of England cutting a unique mix of Goth/Doom and Metal.

Now this track is 27 minutes long and has as its subject matter the "Barghest".
This is the name given here in Yorkshire to a legendary monstrous black dog with huge teeth and claws, though in other cases the name can refer to a ghost or Household elf, especially in Northumberland and Durham.One is said to frequent a remote gorge named Troller's Gill.
There is also a story of a Barghest entering the city of York occasionally, where, according to legend, it preys on lone travellers in the city's narrow Snickelways. Whitby is also associated with the spectre.
A famous Barghest was said to live near Darlington who was said to take the form of a headless man (who would vanish in flames), a headless lady, a white cat, a dog, rabbit and black dog. Another was said to live in an "uncannie-looking" dale between Darlington and Houghton, near Throstlenest.


The song is seen from the dogs perspective, brilliantly poetic : "It is my sins that you deplore, Count them fair, For i have more.To my mouth i carry you, In crimson teet, the breath i drew", is just one example.

The music is just as well constructed and thoughtout, often when bands go for these long songs they end up being 4 or 5 smaller songs put together with a recurring riff or hook, this however is indeed one complete piece.

The howling winds introduce us to doomy guitar and violin and awesome vocals.
Quite a fast drum rhythm is pounded out on the pedals, while the guitar keeps it simple with powerchords, back to great violin break, towards the end it gets very heavy as well.

RATING : 10/10
For Fans Of : Cathedral, Tryptikon, Paradise Lost, Anathema.

Even More November Gig's







Monday 14 November 2011

VALLENFYRE - A Fragile King (CD Review)

01.All Will Suffer
02.Desecration
03.Ravenous Whore
04.Cathedrals Of Dread
05.As The World Collapses
06.A Thousand Martyrs
07.Seeds
08.Humanity Wept
09.My Black Siberia
10.The Divine Have Fled
11.The Grim Irony

Gregor Mackintosh (Vocals/Lead Guitar) (Paradise Lost)
Hamish Glencross (Rhythm/Lead Guitar) (My Dying Bride)
Mully (Rhythm Guitar)
Scoot (Bass) (Doom)
Adrian Erlandsson (Drums) (At The Gates, Brujeria, Paradise Lost, Nemhain)

There was a huge press release surrounding this project from Gregor Mackintosh, here is
the part explaining the musicians in the band :

"Adrian is already the drummer in Paradise Lost, and not only is he a great drummer and a
good friend, he also has a great pedigree and taste in music. He grew up in similar
musical circumstances to me in Gothenburg, Sweden. He started at a young age in At The
Gates and he was also in Skitsystem (who I think are a fantastic band). The Gothenburg
scene was a thriving scene for extreme music. I wrote to lots of people from Gothenburg
in the tape trading days (including Fredrik Wallenberg who went on to start Skitsystem
with Adrian). It was a small world indeed. Adrian thought it sounded like a lot of fun
and agreed. Hamish is a friend of many years. An all round lovely chap who grew up in my
home town of Halifax. Every time I go back to my home town I give Hamish a call to see if
he wants some ales in The Sportsman (one of the first pubs I ever went in and still the
same good old rock establishment today as it was then), to which he always says yes.
Again he has a good pedigree being the guitarist in My Dying Bride and a very good
knowledge of quality doom metal. I approached the subject of him playing with me on this
project during one of our hardcore drinking sessions in The Sportsman and in his usual
enthusiastic manner, he said he thought it was a bloody good idea. Scoot is the person
I've known the longest I think. Probably about 20 years ago I needed someone to rent a
room in my house and I was already an acquaintance of Scoot’s as we were both previously
part of the Halifax punks, so I asked if he wanted to move in, which he did. He was
playing in the band Doom (which he still does as well as a few others...Extinction of
Mankind, Alehammer) and was, and still is fanatical about underground crust, punk, metal
etc. I remember whilst living together I had to go and do a 7 week tour supporting
Sepultura in Europe [1993]. During that tour Max Cavalera never spoke one word to me.
Upon my return home I received a phone call and amazingly it was Max, but he didn't want
me. He wanted to talk to Scoot because he wanted him to play in his new band Nailbomb.
Typical. Scoot was interested in doing this VALLENFYRE project with me but wanted to hear
it so I had to knock together some demos. He is very specific in what he does and doesn’t
like so I was pleased when he said he loved the stuff. I was originally going to be
purely a guitarist for this project but because I didn't have any friends whose vocals I
thought fit the stuff, and because the lyrics were so personal I decided to handle them
myself and get another guitarist, so finally I asked Mully who is my friend from where I
live now. Every Thursday I go to his house and we have a few beers and listen to lots of
old school stuff as well as checking out newer underground stuff we've heard about.
Having only played in local bands previously, I assured him he would be among friends
playing the kind of music they love. He agreed".

On the recordings and name :

"The enthusiasm for the music from rest of the guys in the band convinced me to send a
demo to another friend called Jens Prueter who is head of A&R at Century Media Europe. I
didn't hear anything for a couple of weeks and then I got an email from Jens apologizing
for the late reply as he was on holiday, and that he was blown away by the demo and would
love to do something with it. This resulted in us recording a limited edition 7" [on
Imperium Productions] and an album between December 2010 and April 2011. Because we knew exactly how we wanted it to sound, we just needed someone we trusted to record it and mix it.
I asked another friend (and live sound engineer for Paradise Lost) James Dunkley to
record it for me and then it was mixed by Russ Russell at Parlour Studios [Napalm Death,
The Exploited, Dimmu Borgir, etc]. We are all really pleased with the result and look
forward to its release.
Oh and the name Vallenfyre came to me whilst reading a book on the old English language.
Vallen means "strong" and fyre means … “fire”. I just liked the sound of them together.
The album is called "A Fragile King" which is a reference to my fathers' battle with
cancer. The lyrics are predominantly about the same thing but also include gripes with
society, religion, politics and relationships as well. It's all pretty grim".

So that covers the history, lets move to the music.....

Both the album and single are nothing short of brain crunching Death/Doom of the highest quality.Growling vocals cut through an onslaught of drums and punchy guitar, extreme speed is often tempered with slow doom passages, constantly building mood and agression.
There are a couple of outstanding tracks to mind, firstly 'The Grim Irony', its slow, doomy, has great lyrics and superb guitarwork.
The second is the hyper speed punk sound of 'Humanity Wept' it is a very powerfull song.This stuff does not need to be talked about it just needs to be heard, this is without any doubt the best death metal album to come out of the UK for many years!.

RATING 10/10

For Fans Of : At The Gates, Paradise Lost, Napalm Death, My Dying Bride.


There is also a limited edition single

01.Desecration
02.Iconoclast

Iconoclast is not on the album, so you need to track this down as well.

Sunday 13 November 2011

BLUT AUS NORD - 777 The Desanctication (CD Review)


01.Epitome VII
02.Epitome VIII
03.Epitome IX
04.Epitome X
05.Epitome XI
06.Epitome XII
07.Epitome XIII

Vindsval (Vocals/Guitar)
W.D. Feld (Drums/Electronics/Keyboards)
GhÖst (Bass)


Vindsval began a solo project, under the name "Vlad", in 1994. He released two demos before changing the project's name to Blut aus Nord, before the release of 'Ultima Thulée' in 1995. The next three albums were recorded with the aid of session musicians.

The project's most critically acclaimed release is 'The Work Which Transforms God', a concept album which, in spite of being mostly instrumental with none of the lyrics made public, is meant to challenge the listener's prejudices and preconceptions about reality and various metaphysical subjects.
A personal faveourite is the EP ' Thematic Emanation Of Archetypal Multiplicity' released in 2005.

On their followup release, 2006's MoRT, Blut aus Nord moved even further away from
traditional black metal. The sound on MoRT is closer to avant-garde metal, comprising a
mixture of dark and surreal noises and sounds that create a disturbing and bleak atmosphere.

Blut aus Nord's 2007 album Odinist: The Destruction of Reason by Illumination (the subtitle being a quote from Aleister Crowley), was leaked to the Internet on September

10, 2007. While the album's superficial sound is similar to that of MoRT, the album demonstrates a return to more traditional black metal songwriting and structure.

The band may be French but the name "Blut aus Nord" translates from German as "Blood from
the North".

777 – The Desanctification is the eleventh full length album and has the release date of 11.11.11.

This album is nothing short of genious, that music of this quality and intelligence is being made at a time when most bands put out the same tired old crap is a testament to Vindsval's continued vision.
Bursts of black metal are blended with fantastic melodys, atmospheric aural landscapes, demonic vocals and superb musicianship.

RATING : 10/10

For Fans Of : Axis Of Perdition, Aborym, Cephelic Carnage, Celtic Frost, Tryptikon.

Saturday 12 November 2011

BUCK SATAN/DEVIL'S BLOOD/METSATOLL/THE ROTTED (CD Mini Reviews)


BUCK SATAN & 666 SHOOTERS - Bikers Welcome! Ladies Drink Free.

Yet another side project from Ministry's main man Al Jourgensen,together with Rick Nielson (Cheap Trick), Tony Campos (Static-X) and Mike Scaccia (Rigor Mortis).

What we have here is 12 tracks of Country & Western influenced rock which may have some great titles like 'Quicker Than Liquor' and 'I Hate Every Bone In Your Body Except Mine', but the music sucks!

Really if this is your kind of music then you wouldnt even know of Jourgensen and if you are a fan then why would you want to listen to this?

RATING : 3/10
For Fans Of : Hayseed Dixie, Bourbon Crow.




DEVIL's BLOOD - Fire Burning EP

Great 6 track ep from the Dutch duo & friends.
Stunning vocals and music with a very sixties occult rock sound.Aside from the two studio tracks 'Fire Burning' and 'Thousandfold Epicentre' there are some outstanding live tracks including the classic 'Christ Or Cocaine'.

RATING : 10/10
For Fans Of : Coven, Witchcraft, Ghost, Jefferson Airplane.












METSATOLL - Ulg

Next is some Estonian folk rock!
I know nothing of the band but have to say im quite impressed with its ecletic mix of flutes, harps and other etnic instruments mixed with the trappings of modern metal.

I guess the most off putting thing is the fact that its not sung in english (Though that never did Rammstein any harm).

This one has everything from full on metal, acoustic chill out to Jigs.

RATING : 8/10
For fans Of : Turisas, Therion, Finntroll, Sabbat, Jethro Tull.








THE ROTTED - Ad Nauseam

The usual mix of crust/punk and death metal was recorded earlier in the year at Parlour Studio with Russ Russell (NAPALM DEATH, DIMMU BORGIR, EVILE).

With artwork drawn by the bassist Reverend M.Trudgill apparently inspired by the lyrics and each part represents a different song.

From the opening punch of bass to the very last gutteral scream this is just 11 tracks of pure nasty in your face metal!

Fave tracks here are 'The Hammer Of Witches' and the doom laden 'Put Me Out Of Your Misery'.

RATING 9/10
For fans Of : Venom, Napalm Death, Entombed.

GWAR UK Tour Goes Ahead in Jan 2012





Despite the tragic news that guitarist Cory Smoot (aka Flattus Maximus) had passed away only a few days ago, GWAR have confirmed, through their management, that the twelve date tour of the UK, planned for the month of January 2012, goes ahead as planned.


A full statement on the guitar position etc., will follow as soon as possible but lead singer Dave Brockie (aka Oderus Urungus) has officially announced the retirement of Flattus Maximus in honour of Cory.

"I heard Cory tell a story about how some 20 years ago he was fourteen years old, at his first GWAR show, grabbing at the rubber feet of our then-current Flattus, and how blown away he was at the fact that now HE was the one getting his feet pulled by the same kid that he used to be. Cory was always in awe of the patterns of life and went through it with a wide-eyed amazement that translated through his playing. I've never known anyone who could pick up literally any instrument and rock it the first time he touched it, and more than that make it look easy. Behind that rubber monster outfit, and sometimes even obscured by it, was one of the most talented and beautiful people I have ever known. I know everyone who's life was touched by Cory truly loved him, as do we, his bandmates and brothers."

Full dates below.

GWAR DATES UK JANUARY 2012

Thursday 12th Jan. Bierkeller. Bristol

Friday 13th Jan. Electric @ Brixton. London.

Saturday 14th Jan. Kasbah. Coventry.

Sunday 15th Jan. The Ritz. Manchester.

Monday 16th Jan. Spring & Airbrake. Belfast.

Tuesday 17th Jan. Button Factory. Dublin.

Wednesday 18th Jan. Central Station. Wrexham.

Thursday 19th Jan. The Duchess. York.

Friday 20th Jan. Sin City. Swansea.

Saturday 21st Jan. Rock City. Nottingham.

Sunday 22nd Jan. Sub89. Reading.

Tuesday 24th Jan. Highlights. Portsmouth.

Friday 4 November 2011

A couple more gigs



Cradle Of Filth - Evermore Darkly (CD Review)

01.Transmission from Hell
02.Thank Your Lucky Scars
03.Forgive Me Father I Have Sinned (Elder Version)
04.Lilith Immaculate (Extended)
05.The Persecution Song (Elder Version)
06.Forgive Me Father (I'm in a Trance)
07.The Spawn of Love and War (Elder Version)
08.Summer Dying Fast ("Midnight in the Labyrinth" breadcrumb trail)


Dani Filth (Vocals)
Paul Allender (Guitar)
James McIlroy (Guitar)
Dave Pybus (Bass)
Martin Marthus Škaroupka (Drums)
Caroline Campbell (keyboards/Backing Vocals)


Evermore Darkly is an EP companion piece to the 2010 album Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa,
it features two new tracks. remixes and a dvd with their graspop festival appearence from june, a documentary and the music video for 'Lilith Immaculate'.


'Transmission from Hell' is a perhaps unintentionally funny spoken word piece from long
time collaborator Doug Bradley, and not a lot to add to that really.

The other new track is 'Thank Your Lucky Scars' a pretty heavy piece but nothing outstanding.

The alternative version of 'Forgive Me father' is actually good, no female vocals, a rawer vocal from Dani and some different keyboard.

'Lilith Immaculate' was always one of my favourite tracks from last years album and this
extended version just adds that slow classical piece into the middle, does it work? not totally sure to be honest.

This version of 'The Persecution Song' just sounds like a fairly well produced demo, okay
for curosity value.

The techno/rave/trance version of 'Forgive Me Father', well damn it, this is actually really good, reminds me of Mortiis.

Must be me but 'The Spawn of Love and War' dont sound much if any different from the original, and as such is perfectly fine.

Finally an orchestral version of 'Summer Dying Fast' originally from the 1994 album 'The
Principle of Evil Made Flesh'.Actually now in its third incarnation as it was reworked previously for the 2001 album 'Bitter Suites To Succubi'.
This track serves as a taster for the forthcoming Midnight in the Labyrinth collection planned for release next year.
Its a classical music interpretation, choral vocals and some neat dr.phibes organ,
intresting is the word here i think.

All in all an average selection but the dvd makes it all worthwhile.

Rating 7/10

For fans Of : Dimmu Borgir, Mortiis, Therion

Swine Of Hades (Album Review)

01.Evo/Algy – Tune To The Music
02.Taake – Die When You Die
03.Sigh – Somniphobia
04.The Meads of Asphodel – There’s a God in my Gruel
05.Thus Defiled – And They Shall Fear The Night



'Tune To The Music' is a cover of Status Quo's 1971 song from their 'Dog Of Two Head'
album.Algy (Saints/Damned/Tank/Atom Gods/Warhead) and Evo (Angelic Upstarts/Warfare/Warhead) opt for sitar and flute to open this strange compilation cd, then with a shout of "Im fucking bored" the duo absolutley destroy the 12 bar melody of Quo with the kind of punk metal noise you would come to expect!

Fucking awesome!




Up next more noise from Taake with guest appearence from 'Mayhem's Necrobutcher and this
time its a cover of G.G.Allin's 'Die When You Die'.


The weird and wonderful 'Sigh' next with an original song called ‘Somniphobia’.Prepare for six minutes of strange synth sounds mixed with guitars and drums.


The Meads Of Asphodel serve up a track recorded during sessions for their ‘Murder Of
Jesus The Jew’ album.‘There’s A God In My Gruel’has a great jazz swing to begin with and a great vocal delivery from Metatron.

They still have those great little Hawkwind synth swirls that go to make them one of the most original black metal bands in the UK.Of course the song decends into extreme territory where the band always deliver!


‘And They Shall Fear The Night’ from Thus Defiled dates back to 2007 and boasts a guest
appearence from Sakis Tolis from 'Rotting Christ'.Coming it at over nine minutes its an epic and brutal conclusion to this release.


Rating 8/10


For Fans Of : Warfare, Taake, Sigh, Meads Of Asphodel, Thus Defiled

Amulet - Cut The Crap (Demo Review)





01.Running Out Of Time
02.Black Magic Attack
03.The Hangman
04.Sign Of The High Priest

Jamie 'Leven' Elton (Vocals)
Marek 'Skillz' Stevens (Rhythm Guitar)
Will 'Dozer' Hutson (Bass)
Dave Sherwood 'On Drums' (Drums)

Guest Lead Guitar
Tone Deth


When it comes to new bands attempting the NWOBHM style they usually just play a watered
down vesrion of thrash metal, so when a group of talented musicians with thrash backgrounds form a band playing that genre create genuine authentic NWOBHM circa 1979 you HAVE to take notice.

Those responsible and clever enough to understand this music are Marek who used to be in
'Invasion' and currently runs the Live Evil Festival.
Jamie former bassist with 'Doctor Death' and Will a talented artist and tattooist who also did the bands artwork.
Drummer Dave has an impressive CV that includes 'Doreterna' and Thrash legends 'Virus'.

So the group of friends decided to form a band based on their love of NWOBHM, Doom and
Heavy Metal some time last year then recorded this ep with Jamie at the helm and mastering from another Jamie (Gomez Arellano) who was responsible for recording 'Ghost's' debut album.

The final element to this release is that its only available on "TAPE"!! and just 100 copies.

Stunning opener 'Running Out Of Time' has that classic early doom feel as if Wytchfynde
were jamming with Quartz, superb bass work, high pitched vocals, powerchords and a nice guitar sound all held together with a solid drum beat.

'Black Magic Attack' has a driving and very powerfull beat reminicent of early 'Diamond Head', there is a very well executed proto-thrash guitar break that is still the right side of 'Raven'.

Somebody really should have shouted "wakey wakey" at the beginning of 'The Hangman', its
got those great little powerchords running through it and another kick ass guitar solo.
The song is very catchy with its "he is the hangman" chorus.

Finally (and all too soon) we come to 'Sign Of The High Priest', this one has 'Diamond Head' written all over it, this one moves at a fast pace, great lyrics and pure NWOBHM at its most professional. The break down is brilliant with a top heavy bass line and crashing drums.

Fuck sake its like Amy has inticed me into the TARDIS and taken me back to the marquee in
1979 and handed me a demo tape!

Nothing but respect for this release, a band with real understanding of the genre, hopefully an album and some gigs to follow.

Rating 10/10

For Fans Of : Diamond Head, Mythra, Angelwitch, Wytchfynde, Quartz.

Tuesday 1 November 2011

Venom - Fallen Angels (Album Review)

01.Hammerhead
02.Nemesis
03.Pedal To The Metal
04.Lap Of The Gods
05.Damnation Of Souls
06.Beggerman
07.Hail Satanas
08.Sin
09.Punks Not Dead
10.Death Be Thy Name
11.Lest We Forget
12.Valley Of The Kings
13.Fallen Angels


Cronos (Bass/Vocals)
La Rage (Guitar)
Danny "Dante" Needham (Drums)


Hugely influential UK outfit now celebrating a full 30 years since the release of their
‘Welcome To Hell’ debut, will have a brand new studio album released on November 28th
via Spinefarm Records/Universal.

Lets face it they accidentelly invented a new genre and approach to heavy metal with that
debut album, though it was slated at the time and the band faced accusations that they
couldnt play, they proved themselves big time! I remember taking my prized white label copy to neal kay to play a track, he did then told me never to bring that disc again!

With their second album 'Black Metal' they gave name and rise to what would become the
most exciting and controversial sub-genre of rock music ever.

Titled ‘Fallen Angels’ and featuring 13 fresh recordings produced by main-man / bassist
Cronos, this is the follow-up to 2008’s ‘Hell’ release, and sees the trio adopting a style highly redolent of classic early Venom and creating a true 3rd album (At war With Satan was a great album, but had a smooth production and an ambitios side one) with modern studio technology employed only to increase the general level of nastiness.

Says Cronos: “When we make an album, it usually takes a few tracks to get into the vibe,
although this album’s vibe was very much present during the ideas stage… everything came
together so naturally. “We all started throwing ideas together on the South American tour, and then again during
the live shows of 2010, and so we knew from the start that we had some amazing new songs
to make a great album.“With any new album, you look for a few songs to put into the live set, although that is
going to be very difficult with this record, as we can nail the entire album live if we
want! “‘Fallen Angels’ is the result of a band that has spent nearly two years touring and
growing as a unit, and as the band grows tighter, so the songs get better and heavier,
and we instinctively know what each other is thinking, and the ideas flow easier. “This album is only the very start for this line-up; there will be many more albums and
live shows to come for Venom. It has taken a long time and a lot of changes to finally
deliver a Venom that can attack Black Metal the way it should be – fast, furious, tight
and terrifying. All Hell Breaks Loose… Hell Fucking Yeah !!!!!!!!!”

All in all a brilliant album, chaotic at times but raw and alive, oh and track 9 is not an Exploited cover as i thought it might be.

Rating 10/10

For fans Of : Warfare, Darkthrone, Exploited, Discharge, GBH, Ravens Creed

Some Other Gig's







FLAME RETURNS





The awesome, but short lived, night club for rockers who love alternative burlesque and fire girls, returns to a new venue this wednesday at the Purple Turtle in camden.




SO my friends Fire up your imagination for London's 'HOTTEST' Rock Night... With the most fieriest and FUN of London's wild and crazy performers.....Were going to rock your world and scorch your soul with our resident performers- Fire hotties Nympherno, Miss Joyce & Roar, Sizzling hot Michal on pole, Lydia Darling and Vixen De Ville taking to the sky and smoldering hot guests.Were going to Rock your socks off with guest DJ's playing Dirty Rock, Rock and Roll, Glam Rock, Sleezy Rock, Grunge Rock and Classic Rock! Old and New tunes to keep you partying all night long.Opening night Wednesday 2nd November and then every Wednesday after that!Request's welcome, air guitar encouraged! Affordable drinks and only £3 BEFORE 11.30 & £4 AFTER!!! Keep Rockin'.
Special guest DJ will be Nemhains LISA WITCH!




Vixen Deville


Laura London
Miss Joyce