VENOM Release 14th Studio Album ‘From The Very Depths’ January 26th, 2015 Newcastle, England-based metal group Venom issued 14th full-length studio album From The Very Depths on January 26th, 2015, through Spinefarm Records. The label scheduled North American release for the 27th. To mark Record Store Day, on April 18th, 2015 a two-LP gatefold red […]

SCANNERThe Judgement Massacre (2015)Rating: 9/10 Much of my teenage years – which took place in the 1980s – were spent listening to German heavy metal. I was a sucker for the Teutonic devastation conjured up via the likes of thrash metal gods Kreator, Sodom and Destruction. However, festering below this genre of intensity was an […]

CARE OF NIGHTConnected AOR Heaven (2015)Rating: 8.5/10 Emerging from the ashes of Swedish heavy metal band Seven Tears in 2009, Care Of Night was formed by guitarist Jonathan Carlemar, bassist Fredrik Lager and keyboardist Kristofer von Wachenfeldt. Lager was replaced by Jonas Rosengren in May 2013, and with the addition of vocalist Carl-Johan “Calle” Schönberg […]

UHRIRISTIHaudankylmä Mortis Humanae Productions (2015)Rating: 8.5/10 With a moniker that translates as “sacrificial cross”, Finland’s Uhriristi come marching out of the tundra frost-bitten and ready to chill the bones with their violent brand of icy black metal. Formed in 2011, the band consists of Rutto (vocals), Samael (guitar / backing vocals), Räyhähenki (bass), Synti (drums) […]

IMPERAEmpire Of Sin Escape Music (2015)Rating: 9/10 I have to admit to having been left just a touch unfulfilled by Impera’s 2013 opus Pieces Of Eden, but this new chunk of melodic metal has literally blown my socks off and reduced my feet to gory stumps. As far as supergroups and the coming together of […]

HEYWIREHeyWire Massacre (2015)Rating: 4.5/10 Formed in 2005, Danish band HeyWire has been through six lead vocalists over its career, but finally settled on the talents of a chap named Anders Mandrup (who also plays bass) who joins founding members Jay Jayson (guitar) and Taz Plummer (drums), alongside Jørgen Hansen (keyboards). HeyWire’s self-titled debut offering consist […]

SCANNER Release Sixth Studio Album ‘The Judgement’ January 23rd, 2015 Gelsenkirchen, Germany-based power / speed metal group Scanner issued sixth studio full-length album The Judgement on January 23rd, 2015 through Massacre Records. The outing was recorded, mixed and produced by guitarist Axel A.J. Julius at s1s Studio in Gelsenkirchen. Mastering duties were handled by Svante […]

STORMWITCHSeason Of The Witch Massacre (2015)Rating: 7/10 A creaking door and atmospheric piece of narration signals the beginning of the new full-length opus from German metal legends Stormwitch. This is the same bunch of oaken headbangers who terrified me with their fiery 1984 Walpurgis Night debut. In fact, Stormwitch were such a volatile force in […]

AMMUNITIONShanghaied AOR Heaven (2015)Rating: 8.5/10 Ammunition is the brainchild of former Wig Wam vocalist Åge Sten Nilsen (aka Glam), and pretty much begins where the Norwegian rock act finished in 2014 after some 13 years in the business. Together with his long-term writing partner Erik Mårtensson from Sweden’s Eclipse and W.E.T., Nilsen has drafted in […]

FURYONLost Salvation Dream / Cargo (2015)Rating: 5.5/10 Furyon is a band that many metal fans – especially in the UK – should be familiar with. This solid Brighton-based quintet formed in 2006 and released its debut EP 32 Hours the very same year, but it would take another four years until the band’s 2010 debut […]