L.A. GUNSHollywood Forever Cleopatra (2012)Rating: 8.5/10 The 80s were never kind to L.A. Guns, if you ask me. Despite a few minor hits, such as the ballad ‘The Ballad Of Jayne’ and the more boisterous ‘Rip And Tear’ (both from 1989’s Cocked & Loaded), these guys, despite obvious talent, never hit the big time. Even […]

KREATOR – United In Hate Anthony Morgan June 2012 Kreator (l-r): Sami Yli-Sirniö, Jürgen Reil, Mille Petrozza and Christian Geisler Essen, Germany-based thrash metal outfit Kreator’s relationship with Hanover, Germany-based label SPV Records lasted for three studio full-length affairs in the shape of September 2001’s Violent Revolution, January 2005’s Enemy Of God, and January 2009’s […]

GRAND MAGUS – Iron Hands Anthony Morgan June 2012 Grand Magus (l-r): Fox Skinner, Janne ‘JB’ Christoffersson and Ludwig ‘Ludde’ Witt Drummer Sebastian ‘Seb’ Sippola departed from Swedish heavy rockers Grand Magus due to family obligations and work commitments, the man having lent his chops to June 2008’s Iron Will and June 2010’s Hammer Of […]

MNEMICMnemesis Nuclear Blast (2012)Rating: 6/10 If you are talking about bands that have had a rough few years, Mnemic’s name will certainly pop up in short order. Mnemesis is the Danish band’s fifth album and on it they unveil a new second guitarist, bassist and drummer all at once, leaving only one original member; all […]

FEAR FACTORYThe Industrialist AFM (2012)Rating: 6.5/10 There was a point in the mid-90s where Pantera, Sepultura and Machine Head were the most important bands in heavy music. Cyber-metallers Fear Factory can be added to that list, partly due the success of their sophomore effort, 1995’s Demanufacture. Abandoning the death metal roots of debut Soul Of […]

KREATORPhantom Antichrist Nuclear Blast (2012)Rating: 9/10 It’s never an easy task reviewing the new album from one of your favourite bands – give it a gushing review and you could be accused of favouritism, but be too harsh and you can sound too critical, just for the sake of not wanting to seem biased. So […]

MELVINS LITEFreak Puke Ipecac Recordings (2012)Rating: 6/10 Melvins Lite is the new offering from the legendary Melvins and despite the twist on the name, it’s really not a ton different than a normal Melvins audio assault. At least not in spirit. For this project the band consists of mainstays Dale Crover and Buzz Osbourne joined […]

THE AGONISTPrisoners Century Media (2012)Rating: 7.5/10 The Agonist return with their third album, Prisoners. Following a ton of touring in support of their sophomore album Lullabies For The Dormant Mind (2009) with a diverse group of artists from Sonata Arctica to Kittie to Overkill, the Canadian band are poised to meet the masses head on […]

DELAINWe Are The Others Roadrunner (2012)Rating: 6.5/10 Former Within Temptation keyboardist Martijn Westerholt’s Delain returns with their third release, We Are The Others. Originally conceived as a project with revolving membership, the Dutch band has solidified over the years and their sound has developed into exactly what you might expect from a former member of […]

PHILM – A Harmonic Slay Anthony Morgan June 2012 Philm (l-r): Dave Lombardo, Gerry Nestler and ‘Pancho’ Tomaselli Alternative metal outfit Philm’s roots lie in 1996 roughly, veteran Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo meeting Gerry Nestler (Civil Defiance / Kkleq Muzzil) through Juan Antonio Perez (Kkleq Muzzil). The pair hit it off, the trio forming Philm’s […]