Author Andy Barker
It always makes an album just a little more intriguing when outlets, reviewers and even record companies fail to agree on the actual musical style of a band. And these descriptions can vary quite a lot. Case in point is… Continue Reading →
Highlighting the first of many positives right away, I’m glad to see that the title of Orden Ogan’s previous album “Final Days” wasn’t a prediction about their own future, because the band have returned bright eyed and spiky tailed in… Continue Reading →
There’s no denying the Heavy Metal credentials of Crystal Viper. Founded and fronted by the considerable talents of Marta Gabriel, this no nonsense Metal band have been releasing in-yer-face, unapologetic Metal albums since their debut back in 2004. “The Silver… Continue Reading →
Eight years after their well-received debut, Greek Progressive Metal band Sunburst have at last got around to recording the follow-up, “Manifesto”. All the members of the band have been busy with other projects, but admirably the line-up has remained stable… Continue Reading →
Y’see, now I just feel stupid. There I was, blathering on and on back in 2020 about how Nightmare’s new vocalist was a new beginning for the band, that she was such a great find and with her in the… Continue Reading →
Firmly claiming the term ‘stalwarts’ (and maybe even nudging towards ‘veterans’) of Symphonic Power Metal, Rhapsody Of Fire are a name familiar to so many. As they should be, almost thirty years since that ground-breaking fantastical debut “Legendary Tales” helped… Continue Reading →
Italian Symphonic/Gothic Metal band Rossometile may be an unfamiliar name to many (I know it was to me), but “Gehenna” is actually their seventh album in twenty years, the majority of which have been self-released. This album is the third… Continue Reading →
Following on from 2022’s very impressive debut “Daughters Of The Night”, 2024 brings the equally enthralling follow-up “Of Sorcery and Darkness”. This stylish Symphonic Gothic Power Metal band from Italy have many enchanting strings to their bow and once more… Continue Reading →
Finnish Extreme Folk Metal band Verikalpa’s current studio output is bordering on prolific, dishing out quality albums every other year since 2018. With a stable line-up in place now for the last three, this talented six-piece are steadily focusing and… Continue Reading →
“Ladies and Gentlemen, The portals of darkness are open, and the Dead haunt over the Earth. Here comes The Vision Bleak”. This year marks an almost unfathomable 20 years since those words were part of an intro that launched “The… Continue Reading →
Furor Gallico have been steadily finding their own identity and refining their sound over their four album career so far. This very accomplished and impressive Italian Folk Metal band have their own approach to this style, granting them their own… Continue Reading →
After 2 impressive albums (plus a re-recording of their debut) and over ten years in existence, vocalist Nicoletta Rosellini (also recently known for her work in triple-vocal band The Erinyes) along with former bandmates Paolo Campitelli (guitars) and Dario Gozzi… Continue Reading →