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Author Andy Barker

I guess I got into Metal by accident at 7 years old when I was given my brother's old record player with ONE record. His mates had told him that Black Sabbath sounded just like Status Quo...he didn't agree so Black Sabbath's debut was that one record. I never looked back. Got a battered old 4 piece drumkit when I was Ten years old and by 14 I had vowed to make my fortune as a Rock Star.
The next fifteen years included a few years as the drummer in Holosade, plus stints in Company Of Wolves, Dominion, Diamond Dogs and Intense, eventually dispelling that ambition, so I ended up running a specialist Metal CD/Record/T-Shirt shop in York for 7 years. £40 grand a year in rent for a shop in York means I am now solely an online trader...
I still turn up every now and again playing drums, bass or guitar in the odd band, be it live or in the studio, because once you have been a musician...or a drummer...it's difficult to stop that creative urge.
When I write a review I remember what it was like to read a review of something I had been a creative part of. My opinion is just my opinion, and I try to be constructive. I believe that if a musician has taken the time to record his or her ideas then it has merit to someone and deserves respect. Music is all about personal taste, and if someone has taken the time to create it, the least I can do is take the time to listen.

Leash Eye – Busy Nights, Hazy Days (S/R)

Right from the off, there’s no denying that this is an album oozing classic Southern Hard Rock, a style so rooted in American Rock history that only a band from Nashville or Texas or a select number of other dusty… Continue Reading →

Volturian – Red Dragon (Scarlet Records)

I have a hell of a lot of respect and admiration for guitarist and songwriter Frederico Mondelli. In only a few short years he has showcased immense musical expertise in all his varied Metal projects, and done this with immeasurable… Continue Reading →

Symphonity – Marco Polo: The Metal Soundtrack (Limb Music)

Yes, the title has me worried, but any cynicism and derision which some reviewers could be accused of (OK, I’m not exactly excluding myself here either) should be banned for the rest of this review. Symphonity are deadly serious, and… Continue Reading →

Keops – Road To Perdition (Nocut Entertainment)

Although “Road To Perdition” is this Croatian Metal band’s third album, founding guitarist Bruno Mičetić seems to have spent the past five years rebuilding Keops into his own vision to become the snarling, unyielding beast it now is. This is… Continue Reading →

Signs Of Truth – Signs Of A Future (Boersma Records)

2022 welcomes the debut release from five-piece Swedish Metal band Signs Of Truth. Expanding on the tag a little, they are nearer a Melodic Heavy Metal Band, with Hard Rock moments, but delivered with a Swedish tradition that goes back… Continue Reading →

Angel Nation – Antares (Inner Wound)

It’s been 5 years since we heard new material from Symphonic Metal band Angel Nation. Not surprising really given that band founder Elina Sirala has been rather busy in her new role of singer for Leaves’ Eyes. But finally she… Continue Reading →

Trick Or Treat – Creepy Symphonies (Scarlet Records)

It’s almost 20 years now since Italian Power Metal band Trick or Treat came into existence, united in their admiration for a certain iconic Pumpkin-brandishing German Power Metal band. “Creepy Symphonies” is the band’s sixth album, and their second in… Continue Reading →

Wolf – Shadowlands (Century Media)

What time is it Mr. Wolf? Can it really be 20 years since I was majorly impressed by Wolf’s second album “Black Wings”? Released at the time on No Fashion Records, it was an absolute bugger to get hold of… Continue Reading →

Moonlight Haze – Animus (Scarlet Records)

Faced with an Italian Symphonic Metal band on Scarlet Records (and if you are unfamiliar with Moonlight Haze) you might suspect Frozen Crown mastermind Frederico Mondelli was trying to sneak out another project before unleashing the new Volturian album. But… Continue Reading →

Vanir – Sagas (Mighty Music)

Obviously, The Danes know a fair bit about Vikings, so it stands to reason that Denmark’s very own Vanir would know their way around a Viking Metal album. And so they should, this is after all their sixth studio album,… Continue Reading →

Heaven’s Guard – Pathfinder (Boersma Records)

German Symphonic Metal band Heaven’s Guard are relatively new to the scene. This is in fact their debut which was preceded by a couple of demos and a single over the past couple of years before being snapped up by… Continue Reading →

Veonity – Elements Of Power (Scarlet Records)

This is Veonity’s fifth album (their debut emerging back in 2015 – and impressively in the Metal world with the same line-up!) and their second in their new home of Scarlet Records, enabling the band and their polished, expertly executed… Continue Reading →

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