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Author Pete Woods

Quickly discovering in formative years that I was never quite going to fit in anywhere, I spent time growing up listening to punk, futurist, goth, industrial, metal and psychedelic sounds ranging from Hawkwind to The Sex Gang Children via Japan through to Crass mangled in with Psychic TV and New Model Army. Catching my first band live by accident; The Poison Girls at a G.L.C. free festival, I never looked back. Musical tastes have developed accordingly and I now spend time writing for both Terrorizer and Dominion magazine as well as co-running www.avenoctum.com and pushing the boundaries of genre definition to mould around my own eclectic tastes. Not having the patience to play any instrument myself, I see my writing, to a certain degree as putting something back into the music I love. If I didn't spend time doing this I would be an alcoholic slumped without hope on the cold streets of London. Instead I can be found pint, camera and notepad in hand covering bands both old and new and will happily accept free cider without

Pantheist – Closer To God (Melancholic Realm Productions)

They last had us ‘Seeking Infinity’ in 2018 and now Pantheist are taking us ‘Closer To God.’ Don’t worry too much though, divine intervention and visits to church are not necessary. Having said that we did venture into the holy… Continue Reading →

Estertor – Tales From The Ancient Grave (War Anthem Records)

It’s time to get “rattled” by Estertor who have given us a game to play with these tales, guess the horror films that the songs take their inspiration from? We have been given a couple of answers and some titles… Continue Reading →

Stormgrey – DNA Of Chaos (Great Dane Records)

This is a well-travelled disc. Stormgrey themselves hail from Lithuania, not exactly a hotbed of extremity looking at Metal Archives. The label are French and they posted it out to us in England. A month later it finally arrives with… Continue Reading →

Negura Bunget – Zău (Prophecy)

To say this album came as a bit of a surprise would not be an understatement but rest assured it is very much a closing statement from the Romanian group who started their journey as Wiccan Rede back in 1994…. Continue Reading →

Gaye Bykers On Acid – London 100 Club 19/11/21

Well, it’s only been about 25 years plus a couple added for Covid cancellations but the truth is I never expected to be able to see and for the 1st time actually review a Gaye Bykers On Acid show, but… Continue Reading →

E-Force – Mindbender (Mighty Music)

Strictly old school thrash for me thanks. None of that “party on and pass the bong dude” stuff with people going mad about pizza and inflatable sharks. Thankfully I am in more than safe hands here as E-Force is the… Continue Reading →

Theatres Des Vampires – In Nomine Sanguinis (Scarlet Records)

I’m not entirely sure what’s been going on in the shadows as far as Roman bloodsuckers Theatres Des Vampires are concerned. The label on their press blurb state this is the last album to be released on Scarlet and attribute… Continue Reading →

Esoteric, Necronautical & Vehement – London Underworld 13/11/21

First night out in Camden since pre-plague and despite the normal seething madness of the place things are strangely different around the market areas. Although not having the time to explore as beer was calling and more important it is… Continue Reading →

Dold Vorde Ens Navn – Mørkere (Prophecy)

Seems like there are rumblings in the Dodheimsgard camp suggesting new material is recorded and on the way soon. As for members of the group it’s not like they have not been busy as it is. For a start we… Continue Reading →

Ars Magna Umbrae – Throne Between Worlds (I, Voidhanger)

Back into the shadows we go with the work of K.M. the mysterious half Polish, half Greek denizen of the underworld. We have charted these seas before covering his debut EP and the following 2 albums. We are informed that… Continue Reading →

Mystras – Empires Vanquished And Dismantled (I, Voidhanger)

History and geography lesson time from Ayloss of Spectral Lore as he follows up debut Mystras release ‘Castles Conquered And Reclaimed,’ which was certainly a fascinating album. It mixed burgeoning medieval black metal with well-known traditional folk songs as it… Continue Reading →

Abysmal Grief – Funeral Grief Of Personality (Sun And Moon Records)

I had this playing prior to reviewing pretty intensively over the Halloween weekend which is apt as these are songs that truly go bump in the night. Cult Italian act Abysmal Grief have been bringing the doom since 1996 and… Continue Reading →

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