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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.

Leprous – The Congregation (Inside Out)

I first became acquainted with Leprous’s quirky brand of prog metal in 2010 at ProgPower Europe. Everyone there was struck by the originality and freedom of their music. “The Congregation” is the Norwegian band’s fourth album. “The Congregation” is extraordinary…. Continue Reading →

Dormant Inferno/Dionysus – Beyond Forgotten Shores (Transcending Obscurity)

Normally split albums serve as a sampler for a couple of unknown bands. These two bands may be unknown but this double cd is a substantial package. Dormant Inferno are from India while Dionysus hail from Pakistan. I can’t add… Continue Reading →

Foetal Juice/Human Landfill Split (Grindscene Records)

Fresh from the black pudding fields of Ramsbottom come Foetal Juice. Actually “fresh” wouldn’t really describe Sam, the vocalist of FJ (the new OJ?) when I first met him, as he was drenched in sweat after the band’s performance at… Continue Reading →

Sammal – Myrskyvaroitus (Svart)

For their third album Sammal have declared a “second coming”, declaring that they want to be themselves and shake off any comparisons with Black Sabbath or Uriah Heep. My personal recollection of listening to Sammal was of a retro progressive… Continue Reading →

Wiegedood – De Doden Hebben het Goed (Consouling Sounds)

Some years ago a lively Belgian band Iconoclasm played at the Infernal Damnation Fest in London. Their brand of black metal was so intense and noxious that their sound managed to drown out the fire alarm. Someone alerted us to… Continue Reading →

Galley Beggar – Silence and Tears (Rise Above)

Do you ever hark back to the sounds of Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span? Or have you never heard of these groups? I can’t say that I was especially into 1970s folk rock, being more enthused by the likes of… Continue Reading →

Cién – Ecce Homo (Godz ov War)

Who could resist “seven tracks of classic black metal replenished by cold wave melancholy and depressive-catatonic doom metal”? On top of that Cién are from Poland. The description of these seven hefty tracks doesn’t do them justice. There are of… Continue Reading →

Abiotic – Casuistry (Metal Blade)

Florida’s Abiotic present their second album “Casuistry”. Whatever “Casuistry” is, it seems to involve large portions of technical riffage in a decidedly death metal framework. It’s impossible not to come back to the word technical. Progressive patterns are interwoven into… Continue Reading →

Demonic Slaughter – Haunted (Pagan Records)

“Haunted”, Demonic Slaughter’s fifth album release, captures the aura of old school black metal. It’s about the decay of mankind. It’s cold and frosty. Essentially, that’s the sum of it. Demonic Slaughter are Polish but that’s incidental as the style… Continue Reading →

Kontinuum – Kyrr (Candlelight)

It was no hardship to listen to Kontinuum’s 2012 album “Earth Blood Magic” again in preparation for this one. Rightly the Icelandic band’s contribution to “hypnotic and spiritual music noise” received universal claim. “Kyrr” is another album of intrigue, and… Continue Reading →

Khors – Night Falls onto the Front of Ours (Candelight)

Khors seem to have been carving a good reputation for a long time, treading a path of heathen black metal, so I was surprised to find out that their first album was not released until 2005. “Night Falls onto the… Continue Reading →

Infernal War – Axiom (Agonia)

Black metal from Poland conjures up a vivid image of uncompromising throaty harshness. I happened to mention to someone the other day that I was reviewing this band’s album, and unwittingly earned a badge of respect for being willing to… Continue Reading →

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