Author Andy Pountney
Here we have the debut from a new Metal band formed by Rivera/Bomma guitarist virtuoso Rod Rivera and technically minded bassist Mike LePond (Symphony X, Ross The Boss, Them, Midnight Eternal etc. etc.). There’s some serious musical talent within those… Continue Reading →
When I think of Finnish black metal, I immediately envisage the hordes of primitive sounding, raw, aggressive bands that have been spawned over the years. However, this does not tell the whole tale and there is of course a healthy… Continue Reading →
Released on the same day as the phenomenal split with Sylvaine ‘Time Without End’, ‘Mosaic II’ is the fourth full length from Canadian one man project Unreqvited, and is the alter-ego to the previously released ‘Mosaic I’. Whereas ‘Mosaic I’… Continue Reading →
On the one hand, this is an unlikely pairing, but on the other it makes perfect sense and I know this is a bold statement but I don’t recall a split release ever being this coherent or synergistic. ‘Time Without… Continue Reading →
This gig had been in my diary for months and I was really looking forward to another opportunity to experience Der Weg Einer Freiheit in the live arena. When the undercard was announced it further added to my anticipation,… Continue Reading →
When I saw that Trépas was made up of veterans from Québec’s Death Metal scene, specifically Morgue and Outre-Tombe, I fully expected this to be another pulverising death metal bulldozer. How wrong I was, for ‘L’héritage du monde’ is a… Continue Reading →
A band’s name is its shop window, their one opportunity to create that all important first impression and the name may well determine whether someone actually gives them a listen or simply skips past them. As such, it is important… Continue Reading →
The Vikings had landed, and they had brought some uber guests with them in the guise of Arch Enemy and Hypocrisy. On my arrival, security informed me that the gig was sold out and this was obviously evident by the… Continue Reading →
Named after the cataclysmic final battle in Scandinavian mythology, Ragnarok have consistently been delivering a fitting soundtrack for this version of Armageddon for a quarter of century and are marking this with the release of their ninth album ‘Non Debellicata’…. Continue Reading →
Although the spiritual home of black metal lies in Scandinavia, its impact can be felt rumbling around most of our beleaguered planet, and although Australia might not be the first country you think of when considering icy black metal, the… Continue Reading →
Despite starting up in 2007, this is only Totengeflüster’s third studio release (alongside a live recording from 2017’s Beermageddon festival) so they are not exactly prolific but this is definitely a case of quality over quantity. Building on the foundation… Continue Reading →
I have to admit that I have something of a love hate relationship with symphonic metal. When done well it is absolutely stunning, but if not then it can be mediocre at best and over the years I have swung… Continue Reading →