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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.

The Ossuary – Southern Funeral (Supreme Chaos)

Forged in 2014, this impressive Italian Heavy/Doom Metal band unleash their second album through Supreme Chaos and continue to build on their impressive debut. To elaborate on that Heavy/Doom Metal tag, we’re talking Spiritual Beggars/Mushroom River Band/The Quill type territory,… Continue Reading →

Black Magic – Wizard’s Spell (Dark Essence)

Maybe it’s just me (and invariably when I say that, it has often been known to be), but I feel really edgy and apprehensive when a record label re-issues a release calling it “Legendary” and as with this one, “One… Continue Reading →

Eluveitie – Ategnatos (Nuclear Blast)

There’s eerie mood music emerging from the speakers and a familiar dour Scottish bloke is doing a narrative – there’s no doubting it, the new Eluveitie album has begun! It’s been a while – we were tantalized with “Evocation II”,… Continue Reading →

Anthem – Nucleus (Nuclear Blast)

Anthem should be a name more familiar with long-term Heavy Metal fans than they appear to be. I apologize to anyone who is already in the know, but bear with me while I remind everyone else that Anthem were one… Continue Reading →

Cellar Darling – The Spell (Nuclear Blast)

Blah Blah ex-Eluveitie Blah Blah Blah. Right, that’s that out of the way, no need to mention that again – Cellar Darling are 100% their own entity with a style of their own that has no particular resemblance to their… Continue Reading →

Bloodbound – Rise Of The Dragon Empire (AFM)

It’s simple really. Do you like Melodic Power Metal? Do you like that Melodic Power Metal to have bombastic Symphonic arrangements? And big, memorable choruses? Do you…like Dragons…? Do you? Do you really? Then you will love Bloodbound! Previous album… Continue Reading →

Iron Fire – Beyond The Void (Crime Records)

Danish Power Metallers Iron Fire present their ninth album “Beyond The Void”. Anyone who has heard the band (whether a fan or not) at any point in their nearly 20 year career will know that you can dip into any… Continue Reading →

The Riven – S/T (The Sign Records)

As Metal and Hard Rock continues to evolve, with so many genres pushed and explored over so many years, stretching and expanding in that everlasting search for originality, sometimes I get a pleasant surprise when music totally rooted in the… Continue Reading →

Avantasia – Moonglow (Nuclear Blast)

I’ve always thought of Avantasia as Edguy’s more mature, more refined sibling. Even though Edguy is the older of the two, Edguy still likes to go out and party whereas Avantasia is more likely to have friends around for dinner…. Continue Reading →

Evergrey – The Atlantic (AFM)

In 2019, it would be surprising if you, the person taking the time to read this review, had never heard anything by Evergrey. Over more than 25 years this unique Metal band have been releasing quality material that has rarely… Continue Reading →

ÆRA – The Craving Within (De Tenebrarum Principio)

Over the years, black metal has evolved away from its roots and there are now endless sub-black metal genres, many bearing little resemblance to the original forefathers of the notorious genre. However, Scandinavian duo Æra have achieved that difficult balance,… Continue Reading →

Ancient Bards – Origine (The Black Crystal Sword Saga Part 2) (Limb Music)

Part 2? What the hell happened to part 1? I was sure Ancient Bards’ previous album was called “A New Dawn Ending” back in 2014. Further investigation shows that this is actually a continuation of the story from their debut… Continue Reading →

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