ALBUM REVIEW: Grylle – Egrotants, Souffreteux, Cacochymes, Covidards


In any genre, there’s always at least one act who feel they need to take things further than the rest. The fastest Speed Metal, the slowest Doom Metal, the shortest Grindcore. Add an inexplicable desire for self-imposed rules such as … Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Brothers Of Metal – Fimbulvinter


Formed in 2012, Swedish true metal warriors Brothers of Metal return with all the riffs on third full-length studio release Fimbulvinter (AFM Records). Consisting of eight members, four of whom share two surnames without actually being related, does seem to … Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Devin Townsend – Powernerd


Everyone likes a challenge. Devin Townsend more than most. Each new record is about setting goals and attempting to achieve them. Whether it’s an introspective deep dive or an explosion of absurdist non-conformity, the progressive polymath’s albums always tend to … Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: The Crown – Crown of Thorns


It was only ever a matter of time until Swedish death metal legends The Crown titled an album after their previous name. Known as Crown of Thorns from their inception in 1990 until their brief demise in 2004, the band … Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: The Black Dahlia Murder – Servitude


  Replacing the irreplaceable is an impossible task so when the tragic news about Trevor Strnad broke in May 2022, many were left wondering what was next for The Black Dahlia Murder. When the Detroit death metal act revealed their … Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Nightwish – Yesterwynde


Despite the unwavering presence of founder member, composer, and keyboard player Tuomas Holopainen, the Nightwish of today is very different to the Nightwish which began in 1996. From a three-track demo to multi-million dollar selling albums featuring full orchestras and … Continue reading


FESTIVAL REVIEW: Bloodstock Open Air Part 2 – Live at Catton Hall


  SATURDAY: After I visit the bust of Lemmy in the RAM Gallery, Brazilian death metallers Crypta are in full flow on the main stage, tearing through the likes of “Lift the Blindfold” and “From the Ashes”, casually stripping away … Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Flotsam And Jetsam – I Am The Weapon


Beginning life as Paradox, Dogz, and slightly more embarrassingly, Dredlox, Flotsam and Jetsam has enjoyed/endured somewhat of a staggered career trajectory since 1984. Taking the Metal world by storm with Doomsday For The Deceiver in 1986, the Arizona thrashers delivered … Continue reading


FESTIVAL REVIEW: Bloodstock Open Air Part 1 – Live at Catton Hall


  THURSDAY It”s August and raining, but nobody cares because we’re home again. Yes, for the next few days (and for some early birds, the previous 24hrs), Catton Hall in Derbyshire has become the focal point of the true metal … Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Nile – The Underworld Awaits Us All


In his thirty-one years as frontman of Egypt-obsessed extreme death metal act Nile, founder member Karl Sanders has remained completely true to his original vision. An unrelenting desire to create the most brutal technical death metal riffs known to man. … Continue reading