Author Andy Barker
Amaranthe are a band that set the trend rather than follow in their Modern Metal genre and are surely the best known band to employ a female vocalist alongside two male vocalists, one harsh, one clean sung. They are a… Continue Reading →
Borknagar are unique, no-one sounds quite like them. Musically, vocally, songwriting, arrangement – put them all together and there’s only one band it could be – Borknagar. But their personal blend of Progressive Extreme Metal is no overnight sensation. “Fall”… Continue Reading →
Canadian Celtic Metal singer-songwriter Leah McHenry is an inspirational lady. Her impressive 5 album back catalogue (all crowd funded!) would be inspirational enough on its own, but add in the fact that she’s raised and home-schooled five talented children (three… Continue Reading →
I wonder if there’s anyone out there who, upon hearing the most recent album by Italian Dark Symphonic Metal band Sinheresy thought “Hmm, Yes, that’s a pretty good album, but what it would sound like if the keyboard player was… Continue Reading →
A move to Hammerheart Records for Lithuanian Baltic Folk Metal band Romuvos feels like a fresh start for the band. Over their three previous albums they have been honing their own sound based around their ancestors ancient Baltic traditions, customs… Continue Reading →
Danish Metallers Manticora do love a concept album. Two linked together if they can manage it, which of course they did with the “Black Circus” duo fifteen years ago, and then more recently with the “To Kill To Live To… Continue Reading →
Four albums in and Swedish Metal band Metalite are in a confident enough place to release their first concept album. A futuristic Sci-fi adventure, the band are keen to point out that it incorporates all the musical elements the band… Continue Reading →
Just over 20 years since Swedish Power Metal mainstays Axenstar released their impressive debut “Perpetual Twilight” the band has racked up a number of equally attention-grabbing and unapologetically bombastic Metal albums, arriving in 2023 with their eighth offering (if only… Continue Reading →
I really didn’t used to like Scottish Bagpipes. Actually, to say I merely didn’t like them is a bit of an understatement, they were probably my least favourite instrument ever, disliked even more than trombone or saxophone, such was my… Continue Reading →
Personally I think of Eldritch as one of the shining lights of the European Progressive Metal movement that happened in the 1990’s. Displaying their mighty calibre right from the outset in 1995 with debut album “Seeds Of Rage”, already showcasing… Continue Reading →
Draconicon are not a band who stand still. After a very impressive debut back in 2021, this Italian Power Metal band have ditched the fantasy realms, costumes and dragons. However, they do retain their not-so-mysterious pseudonyms and have come thundering… Continue Reading →
Although Danish Viking/Folk Metal band Vansind have been active since 2019, this is actually their debut full-length offering. Whilst the core of the band’s founding line-up remains (current Panzerchrist/Detest drummer Danni Jelsgaard, Mindmare vocalist Joachim Asmussen, bagpipe/whistle player Rikke Klint… Continue Reading →