Your No. 1 Source For Extreme And Atmospheric Music And Film.

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.

Mantra – Laniakea (Finisterian Dead End)

Mantra talk about pushing their tribal and mystical experimentations further than on their debut album “Into the Light” (2013). I agree that there’s a very interesting ambience here. The drum patter of “Marcasite” is bright and breezy, before the track… Continue Reading →

Dreamwalkers Inc – Aphrodisia (Layered Reality Productions)

This four track EP is a taster for Mr Dreamwalker and his band’s forthcoming double album, which will comprise one light and one dark experience. Damnation and Deliverance, maybe? But that’s to come. Mr Dreamwalker is in fact Dutch musician… Continue Reading →

Until the Uprising – Out of Time (Klonosphere)

These Frenchmen have been around since 2008, since then they have released an ep and two albums, including this one. Promoting their music as having different universes and styles, this to them seems to be a good thing. For me… Continue Reading →

ówt krì – Pilgrimage (Erototox Decodings)

I have two confessions to make before I outline my thoughts on this latest work of avant-garde dark ambient soundscapes from ówt krì. The first is that I know its creator Kenneth, who as well as being a seriously imaginative,… Continue Reading →

Oddland – Origin (Sensory Records)

After a quick and very pleasant memory of refresh of Oddland’s “Treachery of Senses”, which I bought after being mesmerised by them at ProgPower Europe in 2013, I was ready for this one. I recalled that these Finns play a… Continue Reading →

Waldgeflüster – Ruinen (Nordvis)

If you’re looking for something lightweight and airy, this is not the place to look. From a black metal base, these forest whisperers from Germany have moved into shady and atmospheric territory here. “Weltenwanderer” (World Wanderer) is typical – dark,… Continue Reading →

ProgPower Europe, 30th September, 1st and 2nd October, JC Sjiwa Club, Baarlo, Netherlands

Sunday 2nd October Smallman came from Bulgaria with the promise of mysterious music. So there we were at 1.30pm on Sunday afternoon, witnessing a very deep, dark and mystical sound with bagpipes and at other times a flute and a… Continue Reading →

ProgPower Europe, 30th September, 1st and 2nd October, JC Sjiwa Club, Baarlo, Netherlands

Once again I’ll try and describe some highlights of this five star festival, which Rene Janssen and his team put on for our annual entertainment and delight. The plan changed this year as Mrs D and I decided that instead… Continue Reading →

Shining, Intronaut, Obsidian Kingdom – Paard van Troje, The Hague, 28/10/16

Erik, Celine and I cycled to the club – it is the Netherlands, after all, and cycling is what people do. There was a sizeable queue outside. We established that most of the crowd were not interested in or had… Continue Reading →

Haar / Ur Draugr split (ATMF)

This is an interesting split album, comprising three tracks from Scotland’s Haar and the Australian black metal band Ur Draugr. This comes on the back of 2015 album releases by both bands. I didn’t know either band before this, but… Continue Reading →

Katla – Embryo (Svart)

If you’ve ever heard Hawkwind’s “Silver Machine”, you’d recognise the start of this one. “Psychedelic” is the word that’s normally applied to this sound. The style then deviates away from straight rock to a different kind of crusty and woozy… Continue Reading →

Iron Mask – Diabolica (AFM)

Iron Mask is now releasing their sixth album and have spent two years preparing it. Originally set up as a power metal side project, their impressive credentials including the fact they have played alongside Hammerfall and Europe, it looks like the… Continue Reading →

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