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Author Andrew Doherty

I’ve been obsessive about music since the late 60s and early 70s when during my childhood in Grimsby I used to watch Top of the Pops and bought 7” singles after saving up my pocket money. I really switched to metal when I first heard Dimmu Borgir. The ambience intrigued me, and through magazines and concerts I discovered new territory in the late 90s. For preference I now listen to black metal, heavy progressive music, Scandinavian-style melodic metal and any style which has an edge, or is downright unusual or bizarre. I managed the band Devillish Impressions, which was an exciting time as we had an album but no label or distribution method. We got the label and a European tour with Aeternus, and as the promoter’s plane was delayed, I finished up setting up the band’s first concert in Hamburg on 28th November 2006. I wrote for a while for Live 4 Metal but switched to Metal Team UK in 2007. Like any real music lover, I enjoy going to concerts and meeting people with the same interest and commitment.

Burning Darkness – Dödens Makt (Non Serviam)

“Rawness is balanced with atmosphere”, explains Burning Darkness’s frontman. The story goes that this second album from the Swedes mixes in horror, Norse folklore and a more melodic progressive element to the known formula of black and blacker metal. The… Continue Reading →

Demersus ad Nihilum – //180703// (AOP Records)

Well why give something a name when you can call it “//180703//”? It’s a hard one to discuss with your mates, so I guess you’d better ask them if they’ve heard the new EP by that Austrian band Demersus ad… Continue Reading →

Loch Vostok – Opus Ferox – The Great Escape (ViciSolum)

A few years ago a Swedish friend introduced me to the music of his compatriots Loch Vostok. I haven’t looked back since. Loch Vostok is one of my favourite bands. “The Doctrine Decoded” (2012) and “Dystopium” (2011) in particular are… Continue Reading →

Thy Kingdom Will Burn – S/T (Scarlet Records)

It was a pleasure first of all to come across something on Scarlet Records, a long- standing label which brought pleasure to me in the past through such bands as Stormlord, Hatesphere and Disarmonia Mundi. This latest offering is From… Continue Reading →

Interloper – Search Party (Nuclear Blast)

I don’t know this band, but the way they’re being written about I feel that I should. How does a band return for its debut album? This lot from California apparently have. I can’t say I’d heard of the bands… Continue Reading →

Ancient Wisdom – A Celebration in Honor of Death (Avantgarde Music)

Almost 30 years, 5 albums on, our man from Naglfar brings us 7 pieces of death worship. So suitably our celebration in honor of death starts with the bells and a Burzum like fuzz to get us in the mood…. Continue Reading →

The Flight of Sleipnir – Eventide (Eisenwald)

Sleipnir is an eight-legged horse which features in a 13th century Icelandic poem and saga. The Flight of Sleipnir, who haven’t of course been around as long as this and come from the USA, do have a strong back catalogue… Continue Reading →

Sectlinefor – Kissing Strangers During an Outbreak (S/R)

I didn’t pick this out for its title but it did make me laugh. All the nonsense about being allowed to hug people in a country where people don’t hug each other represents a normal level of absurdity. Sectlinefor will… Continue Reading →

Khandra – All Occupied by Sole Death (Season Of Mist)

Bands from Belarus have never failed me. Here’s another of the black metal kind. Judging by their previous release, nothingness and desolation is where they’re at. “Deathly ennui over the nothing” is how they describe it. Just the title “Irrigating… Continue Reading →

Inner Earth – Arcane State (Karus Media)

Credit to the band first of all for doing something I can’t ever recall seeing before: three of this quintet are actually smiling on the sleeve photo. Inner Earth’s music is described as progressive metal, but whatever the type of… Continue Reading →

Dumbsaint – Something You Will Feel Will Find Its Own Form (Bird’s Robe)

Dumbsaint is a band whose music is accompanied by film. Having just this album to listen to I didn’t get the benefit of that. But you can get five videos as a download with this hour-long instrumental post rock work…. Continue Reading →

Mish – Entheogen (Bird’s Robe Records)

I missed the initial release of this album in 2017 so as far as I’m concerned this is a new experience. Mish are from Australia and as a progressive metal band have shared the stage with sleepmakeswaves and We Lost… Continue Reading →

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