Reviews

THE UNITY – The Unity (SPV)

The material on offer covers a variety of bases, without either spreading itself thin or – perhaps more importantly – losing its collective identity. - Read More

NIGHT DEMON – Darkness Remains (SPV)

Not a band to mess about, the Americans despatch the album’s ten songs in thirty-eight power-crazed, power-driven minutes. - Read More

DEAD OF NIGHT – In Search Of Ancient Magic (Independent)

I’m a bit behind here as the album’s been out since February and has already copped a number of glowing reviews. And this is another one. - Read More

DAMN THE MACHINE – THE STORY OF NOISE RECORDS by David E. Gehlke (Iron Pages)

The bizarre story of Karl-Ulrich Walterbach and Noise Records, engagingly told by first-time author David E. Gehlke. - Read More

WARRIOR – Invasion Imminent (independent release)

‘Metal Is Forever’, Primal Fear once decreed, and bands like Warrior are the living proof. - Read More

MERCURY RAIN – St Matthieu: Remastered & Reborn (Bristol Archive Records)

Few bands of their stature would think of kicking an album off with an intro sung entirely in French, or of roping in a male voice choir, but ‘St Matthieu’ showcases a band at the height of its powers. - Read More

SPARTA – No Retreat No Surrender (Suspect)

Less an album and more a call to arms, ‘No Retreat No Surrender’ is defiant, loud and proud. - Read More

WHITE WILLOW – Future Hopes (The Laser’s Edge)

In the world of progressive music where pretty much nothing is ever what it seems, White Willow remain seemingly indefinable – for starters, it’s not heavy enough for progressive metal, nor does it sit comfortably on the shelf marked progressive rock. - Read More

DAMNATIONS DAY – A World Awakens (Sensory/The Lasers Edge)

Purely as a point of reference, if you draw a Venn diagram with Evergrey, Fates Warning and Megadeth in as subsets the intersection – the part where everything overlaps – will sound something like Damnations Day. - Read More

DEVIOUS – Open (Bristol Archive Records download)

Devious were one of the Bristol bands which – the way I remember it, at least – helped the headbangin’ parts of the city hold out against fads and fashions and fly the flag for traditional hard rock. - Read More