THE DAGGERThe Dagger Century Media (2014)Rating: 7/10 Formed in 2009, Stockholm-based retro metal / rock band The Dagger feature death metal musicians David Blomqvist (guitar; ex-Carnage, ex-Dismember, ex-Entombed), Fred Estby (drums; Necronaut, ex-Carnage, ex-Dismember) and Tobias Cristiansson (bass; Grave, ex-Dismember), alongside newest recruit Jani Kataja (vocals; Mangrove, Sideburn) With duelling guitars, simmering melodies, autumnal drama […]
PREMATURE BIRTHA Ceremony Of Power EP Self-released (2014)Rating: 8/10 While I missed out on hearing the Genocide demo released in 2012 from London’s Premature Birth, I’m rather grateful to have been given the chance to sink my teeth into their debut EP. Premature Birth is a black metal quartet which dabbles in atmospheric black metal. […]
MARTELO NEGROEquinócio Espectral Hellprod (2014)Rating: 7.5/10 Portuguese band Martelo Negro formed in 2006 as Black Hammer, releasing an EP and three singles before changing their moniker in 2009. Under their new name, the quartet released their debut full-length, Sortilégio dos Mortos, in late 2011, and is now followed by this latest album, Equinócio Espectral, which […]
SEVEN HARD YEARS (7HY)No Place In Heaven Lynchburg (2014)Rating: 7/10 Alan Kelly is an extremely talented multi-instrumentalist and former drummer of British rockers Shy, who were responsible for excellent melodic compositions such as 1987’s Excess All Areas. In 7HY (or Alan Kelly’s Seven Hard Years, to give the project its full name), Kelly is joined […]
SECTUNefarious ViciSolum Productions (2014)Rating: 9/10 Nefarious is the third studio album from these Swedish extreme metallers, and I have to admit it’s a grower. Full of dark, dank atmosphere, always clinical, tight and rarely nodding at the old school, it’s one of those sneering, brooding compositions that worms its way into the matter like a […]
LEHMANNLehmanized Massacre (2014)Rating: 7/10 The name of Matteo Lehmann rang a bell when I was offered to review his debut offering, and then I realised that the Italian has worked with ex-Iron Maiden and Wolfsbane frontman Blaze Bayley. Lehmanized is the rather grotesque title of his debut offering and it’s one I’ve come to enjoy […]
SERPENT VENOMOf Things Seen & Unseen The Church Within (2014)Rating: 8/10 When the opening riff to ‘The Penance You Pay’ came lumbering into my ears, I literally had to make sure that I hadn’t left a cotton-bud in there from the night before. London-based Serpent Venom had eluded me until this new opus but with […]
THE MEGSAwakening Pure Steel (2014)Rating: 5.5/10 The Megs is a rather peculiarly named hard rock band from Italy. Awakening is the quartet’s third release, following on from 2011’s Jealousy and 2013’s Start EP. The Megs are fronted by vocalist / bassist Federico Travaglia, who is joined by guitarists David Visin and Mattia Aldibeck, and drummer […]
SPACE EATERPassing Through The Fire To Molech Pure Steel (2014)Rating: 5.5/10 Belgrade, Serbia-based thrashers Space Eater have been attempting to put Serbian mosh metal on the music map since their 2004 inception. Named after a song written by German speedsters Gamma Ray, Space Eater consists of vocalist / guitarist Luka “Tower” Matković, drummer Marko “Tihi” […]
NUNSLAUGHTERAngelic Dread Hells Headbangers (2014)Rating: 8/10 Every now and then I like to take a drip into the humid vacuum of hell, but every time I wish to do so I require a permit to travel. Thankfully, this time my portal into the underworld is through the flaming channels of Nunslaughter, those American purveyors of […]
