ALIENEternity AOR Heaven (2014)Rating: 8.5/10 Swedish rockers Alien are just one of those majestic bands who I’ve always had a soft spot for. These guys formed in Gothenburg back in 1986, but the melodic rock they have churned out over the years has never really gone away despite the grunge invasion of the early to […]
MEKONG DELTAIn A Mirror Darkly Steamhammer (2014)Rating: 7.5/10 The strange and wondrous sound of Mekong Delta is one that has fried my brain for many years now. I was a disciple from year one; 1987 in fact, when the self-titled opus fell from the sky and left me scratching my head as to who these […]
WRONGPessimistic Outcomes Xtreem Music (2014)Rating: 7.5/10 Oh, joy to the world. Here comes Wrong, and I’m already shaking in my blood-soaked boots! As the genuinely creeping ‘Thru The Grey Path To Nowhere’ starts its rain-soaked journey via the peculiar, exasperated gasps of an unknown man, I really don’t know what to expect from this miserable […]
A HILL TO DIE UPONHoly Despair Bombworks (2014)Rating: 8.5/10 It may interest some to know that A Hill To Die Upon are a Christian extreme metal band, although that shouldn’t be relevant, especially once one has experienced the second album from this American black / death metal band. Now, these guys formed in 2004 when […]
FISHBONEIntrinsically Intertwined EP Controlled Substance Sound Labs (2014)Rating: 6.5/10 I once recall an argument back in 1990 as to whether Fishbone were “metal”. Yet, when one considers just how diverse “heavy metal” became around that time, it’s always been unfair to attempt to pigeonhole any band. Of course, Fishbone were something away from the norm’ […]
ESKHATONWorship Death Chaos (2014)Rating: 7.5/10 Two of my favourite black / death metal acts over the last year have been Britain’s Grave Miasma and Norway’s Obliteration, both being responsible for some truly dungeon-esque metal. Now Australia’s Eskhaton have unexpectedly entered the fray with their chaotic brand of furious, unholy noise. These guys formed back in […]
MIASMALCursed Redeemer Century Media (2014)Rating: 6/10 I’m really starting to get frightened of bands which are labelled as “Swedish death metal” because if any of the current bands are anything to go by, then I’m worried I’ll be suffocated by the mediocrity being belched out at quite a pace. We come to Gothenburg quartet Miasmal […]
SATAN’S SATYRSDie Screaming Bad Omen (2014)Rating: 8/10 Well, I’ll be damned. I never thought I’d hear a band that sound like a peculiar yet astonishing mix between Dead Kennedys and doom metal! Virginia’s Satan’s Satyrs are indeed a strange bunch – a weird trio that formed in 2009, and which are a perfect fit for […]
GUNPOWDER GRAYGunpowder Gray EP Boris (2014)Rating: 7/10 A side project of Disfigurement’s Nate Godbee (vocals) and Adam Besserer (guitar), Atlanta-based Gunpowder Gray are a sleazy metal band with punky attitude and traditional metal influence, all of which enables the band to somehow ply together a Guns N’ Roses style of scratchy swagger and blues-tinged rock […]
THREE LIONSThree Lions Frontiers (2014)Rating: 8/10 I’m not sure how many of you rockers out there recall a solid British rock band called Dare, but they released a batch of impressive albums right up until 2012 and featured guitarist Vinny Burns, who is one-third of Three Lions. This new hard rock trio also consists of […]
