Your No. 1 Source For Extreme And Atmospheric Music And Film.

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.

Angra – Cycle Of Pain (Atomic Fire)

30 Years. Thirty whole years have somehow passed since Brazil’s premium Progressive Power Metal band Angra released their excellent debut album “Angel’s Cry”. Three years later the stunning follow-up “Holy Land” set the bar even higher. Then, Andre Matos’ tenure… Continue Reading →

Jord – Tundra (Hammerheart Records)

Jord are a Swedish Atmospheric Black Metal band who started out as a one-man project back in 2020, but after two previous albums have expanded into a 3 piece, been picked up by Hammerheart and are really starting to define… Continue Reading →

Sorcerer – Reign Of The Reaper (Metal Blade)

When Swedish Epic Heavy/Doom Metal band Sorcerer reformed for 2015’s “In The Shadow Of The Inverted Cross” it was to all intents and purposes a new band with a new start, ready to make their own mark on the modern… Continue Reading →

Elegy Of Madness – XI (Scarlet Records)

This is actually Italian Dark Symphonic Metal band Elegy Of Madness’ fifth full-length album since their debut emerged back in 2009, but it’s their first in their new home at Scarlet Records and also their first with new vocal force… Continue Reading →

Iron Savior – Firestar (AFM)

It seems like just last year that there was an Iron Savior album released…and it was, but that was re-recorded versions of some of their older tracks whereas this is a shiny new offering, the first since “Skycrest” in 2020…which… Continue Reading →

Blackbriar – A Dark Euphony (Nuclear Blast)

One quick search for Blackbriar on youtube and a swathe of videos, clips and posts might make you think that this can’t possibly be only their second album. But a prodigious social media presence does not mean a wealth of… Continue Reading →

Never Obey Again – The End Of An Era (Scarlet Records)

Never Obey Again are an Italian Modern Heavy Metal band, jumping in at the deep end with this, their impressive debut album – an accomplished and attention-grabbing start to any band’s career. It’s always nice to be in at the… Continue Reading →

Grymheart – Hellish Hunt (Scarlet Records)

Anyone familiar with Hungarian Power Metal band Wisdom will be very interested to see the re-emergence of their founding guitarist Gábor Kovács (known in Grymheart as Gabriel Blacksmith), leading forth a new band blending the ferocity of Melodic Death Metal,… Continue Reading →

Apostolica – Animae Haeretica (Scarlet)

Is bemasked an actual word? If it is, then I’m having it – so it’s a hearty return for bemasked Italian Metallers Apostolica and their own particular brand of theatrical bombastic Metal oozing drama and epic orchestration from every pore… Continue Reading →

Primal Fear – Code Red (Atomic Fire)

Even though for many people, the defining feature that makes a Primal Fear song so instantly recognisable as Primal Fear would probably be the unmistakeable voice of Ralf Scheepers, such is the command an iconic vocalist can wield. Another identifying… Continue Reading →

Noveria – The Gates Of The Underworld (Scarlet Records)

Four years after their previous album, Italy’s Noveria are back with their latest bout of weighty classic Progressive Metal. Even within the abundant realms of Progressive Metal, there are many facets bands have woven for themselves and taken into different… Continue Reading →

Sinheresy – Event Horizon (Scarlet Records)

Sinheresy are a very interesting Italian Metal band weighing in heftily here with their fourth album with close to the same line-up for all four. They’ve been through a few drummers in the course of their career, but the new… Continue Reading →

« Older posts Newer posts »

© 2024 Ave Noctum — Powered by WordPress

Theme by Anders NorenUp ↑