HAREM SCAREMMood Swings II Frontiers (2013)Rating: 7.5/10 Canadian hard rockers Harem Scarem have been responsible for some of rock’s most underrated albums over the years. However, the main problem is that despite their beautiful melodies in tracks such as ‘No Justice’, the scene has passed them by, with the combo remaining popular in Japan and […]

ASKAFire Eater Pure Steel (2013)Rating: 8/10 There are a few bands with the moniker Aska, but this Texan combo are probably the oldest and best of the lot. Formed back in 1990, Aska are a straight up powerful metal band of the highest order. Fire Eater is their sixth opus but only their third this […]

DREGENDregen Spinefarm (2013)Rating: 9/10 For those not in the know, Swedish guitarist Dregen was one of the founders of Backyard Babies and The Hellacopters, and for this debut solo record has also taken up vocal and songwriting duties for what I can only describe as one of 2013’s hottest releases. Nothing beats an album that […]

Onslaught (l-r): Michael Hourihan, Jeff Williams, Sy Keeler, Nige Rockett and Andy Rosser-Davies The guitarist suggested that the song ‘Dead Man Walking’ boasts a Judas Priest vibe, meanwhile. “I think that was the second song that we had actually written for the album, and that was another feel that we hadn’t used,” he notes. “It […]

ONSLAUGHT – Chaos Is King Anthony Morgan September 2013 Onslaught (l-r): Jeff Williams, Sy Keeler, Michael Hourihan, Nige Rockett and Andy Rosser-Davies Sounds Of Violence – the fifth studio full-length to be issued by British thrash metal outfit Onslaught – arrived in January 2011 through AFM Records. Prior to its release, rhythm guitarist Nige Rockett […]

DREAM THEATERDream Theater Roadrunner (2013)Rating: 8/10 Dream Theater has been a staple in the world of heavy metal since their 1992 breakthrough release Images And Words. While not the band’s debut, this album brought critical praise, hit songs and was certified gold. What followed is a string of brilliant albums that meld metal and progressive […]

SARKE – Jaunt Of The Obsessed Anthony Morgan September 2013 Sarke (l-r): Thomas ‘Sarke’ Bergli, Steinar Gundersen, Nocturno Culto and Asgeir Mickelson Norway’s Thomas ‘Sarke’ Bergli – whose credits stretch to Khold, Tulus, and stints within Old Man’s Child and Sensa Anima – harboured desires to spearhead a solo outfit for a number of years. […]

ONSLAUGHTVI AFM (2013)Rating: 7/10 British thrash metal – now there’s an unknown commodity! Back in the 1980s UK thrash, despite being a burgeoning scene, was such an overlooked powerhouse, to the extent that it seemed to reside forever more in the shadows of the US and European sound. Onslaught began life as a punk-influenced band […]

DEMONICAL Release Fourth Studio Album ‘Darkness Unbound’ September 20th, 2013 Avesta, Sweden-based death metal group Demonical issued fourth full-length album Darkness Unbound on September 20th, 2013 through Cyclone Empire Records. The self-produced outing was cut at Necromorbus Studios in Stockholm, Sweden, with mixing and mastering duties handled by Sverker Widgren at Wing Studios. Darkness Unbound’s […]

BODYFARMThe Coming Scourge Cyclone Empire (2013)Rating: 7/10 Bodyfarm are a Dutch death metal band who’ve been ripping flesh since 2009, and hot on the heels of their 2012 debut Malevolence comes 2013’s The Coming Scourge. The quartet is fronted by chief growler Thomas Wouters, who also plays guitar. Wouters is joined by fellow finger-shredder Bram […]