Author Andy Barker
I’m torn. Torn between championing the cause of a massively underrated and under-exposed Metal band, and the pride I feel when chatting about Progressive Metal to like minded people and playing them Silent Call – who invariably they have never… Continue Reading →
Thanks to UK Metallers Xerath’s consistent live work it appears that I am one of the few Ave Noctum scribes to be unfamiliar with the band. So why, therefore does it fall upon me to review their imaginatively titled… Continue Reading →
Opener ‘Eternal Rains Will Come’ is a stunner. It kicks straight in with a keyboard style (courtesy of new member Joakim Svalberg) that Ken Hensley would be proud to call his own, before in classic Opeth style, they turn… Continue Reading →
Shiny Realistic Plastic Sword…CHECK Painted Wooden Shield….CHECK Denim Jacket with patches and the sleeves cut off…CHECK Tight Leather Trousers…CH…Nope…hang on…damn things must have shrunk somehow…hnnnnnggg…CH….E…CK 24 Bottles of Lager…CHECK (…and there goes the top button on the trousers….) Martina… Continue Reading →
So, have you ever thought to yourself “I really wish that Tori Amos would just Metal things up a bit, y’know? Keep all that sombre melancholy but up the Prog Metal factor?” Nope, me neither, but in the hope that… Continue Reading →
I had the pleasure of reviewing Derdian’s last release, 2013’s self released “Limbo” for Ave Noctum, and the biggest surprise that 2014 holds (other than that the band have trusted me to review them again!) is that they still… Continue Reading →
Blending genres is something I like to hear. It can be interesting to realise that two musical styles weren’t as far apart as I might have thought. I never really thought Power Metal and Melodic Death Metal to be… Continue Reading →
Despite the title of this Swedish retro band’s first release, this is not a live album performed in space. It would be cool…but no, it’s not even Live. Though the album’s basic sound IS from a time when having landed… Continue Reading →
Eluveitie’s 2008 release “Slania” is one of my all time favourite albums. I think it’s fantastic, having the right blend of Folk and Metal played by hugely talented musicians, all wrapped up in great arrangements and interesting songs. And… Continue Reading →
Firstly, I should say that I think I’ve been given this to review because I really like The Vision Bleak, have heard some Empyrium in the past and a some Noekk too. I’m not really coming at this like… Continue Reading →
AVAST YE….Oh, bollocks to it, I really can’t be bothered. Every bloody Alestorm review seems to start with some reviewer doing Pirate impressions – well not me, lets leave that to the band! Nope, no nautical silliness from this… Continue Reading →
Vintersorg, the man, the vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, has contributed to more than 25 albums since 1994, encompassing many different styles of Metal. His past and present bands include Otyg, Fission, Waterclime, Havayoth and Cronian, but is probably best known for… Continue Reading →