T&NSlave To The Empire Rat Pak (2012)Rating: 8/10 Featuring three former Dokken members, T&N (which stands for Tooth And Nail, although we’re not allowed to mention that!) consists of axe-master George Lynch, bassist Jeff Pilson and drummer Mick Brown, who are accompanied by a handful of special guest vocalists who have breathed new life, if […]

HEARTS & HANDSHearts & Hands EP Artery (2012)Rating: 5/10 Hearts & Hands is the side project of Chelsea Grin vocalist Alex Koehler. Self-described as “metal pop”, the Salt Lake City band is rounded out by Garret Garfield, of hardcore band Becoming Everest, and Alex Lyman. This self-titled offering is an EP full of songs that […]

KAMELOTSilverthorn Steamhammer (2012)Rating: 8/10 Kamelot have been on top of the symphonic power metal game for a number of years now. Every time a new Kamelot album was released, the power metal world simply knew they were in for epic, grandiose metal, expertly executed and superbly produced. These guys are consummate musicians, and classically trained […]

CRADLE OF FILTHThe Manticore And Other Horrors Peaceville (2012)Rating: 8/10 At this point in their career, Cradle Of Filth have a very divided fanbase. Never a band to sit idle (regardless of whether or not you like their output), they return from the confusing re-inventions of 2012’s Midnight In The Labyrinth with an album that […]

ORDEN OGANTo The End AFM (2012)Rating: 7.5/10 German power metallers Orden Ogan return with their fourth full-length album, and second for AFM Records. The band have built up a cult following over the years with their own brand of power metal tinged with folk and pagan qualities. They are also recognisable as the organisers of […]

SKÁLMÖLDBörn Loka Napalm (2012)Rating: 7/10 Iceland’s Skálmöld is back with their second full length Viking metal release, Börn Loka. The band’s name translates to “age of swords”, and the album title means “children of Loki”. What you’ve read so far should prepare you for what to expect from this addition to the Skálmöld catalogue. If […]

ILL NIÑOEpidemia AFM (2012)Rating: 6.5/10 Part of the second wave of nu-metal bands, Ill Niño hit the big time with their debut album, Revolution Revolución (2001), and its follow-up, Confession (2003). After having sold over three million albums, the New Jersey band took a stab at a heavier sound, moving slightly away from their tribally […]

THE SWORDApocryphon Napalm (2012)Rating: 9/10 The world of metal is full of bands who innovate, and bands that perfect an existing formula. Austin, Texas-based The Sword is one of the latter. Doom metal is nothing new, but in the hands of vocalist / guitarist John “J. D.” Cronise and his band mates it is moulded […]

DORORaise Your Fist Nuclear Blast (2012)Rating: 6/10 After 30 years in the business, there are few that would dispute the claim that Doro is the queen of metal. The thing about Doro is that, after 17 releases, she’s as rock solid now as she was when we first heard her former band, Warlock. She travels […]

MOB RULESCannibal Nation AFM (2012)Rating: 7/10 Power metal masters Mob Rules don’t seem to give a damn about the rule book. In days gone by, power metal was a distinct entity, and the metal masses were often divided by subgenres. Power metal fans scoffed at nerdy progressive metal fans, and they both thought that drunk […]