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Author Andy Pountney

I was brought up in the West Midlands during the back end of the thrash scene, and then relocated to Yorkshire, becoming immersed in the bludgeoning death metal scene. As death metal waned, I found my true musical calling in the form of black metal, and it is here that my musical passion remains to this day. Having said that, I’m open minded and will give a fair listen to any style of alternative music, especially live, enjoying all forms of extreme music and can regularly be found lurking with a camera in one hand and pint in the other at metal gigs……

Inferno Festival – Rockefeller and John Dee, Oslo, Norway 16/4/22

There’s nothing better than waking up in the middle of a festival, still buzzing from the night before and looking forward to what is still to come, and that was exactly how I felt on the third day of Inferno…. Continue Reading →

Inferno Festival – Rockefeller and John Dee, Oslo Norway 15/4/22

After a late breakfast, a stroll around Oslo and a cheeky pint, I headed to the intimate Rock In venue to catch Norwegian black metal outfit Ulvehyrde. They appeared on the small stage stage doused in blue light, wearing robes… Continue Reading →

Inferno Festival – Rockefeller and John Dee, Oslo Norway 14/4/22

Could it really be three years since the last Inferno Festival? The last instalment had been in 2019 and of course COVID had intervened for 2020 and 2021, but at last it was time for the Inferno faithful to descend… Continue Reading →

Inferno Festival 2022 – Indie Recordings Label Night at Salt, Oslo, Norway 13/4/22

It has become traditional for Norway’s annual Inferno Festival to begin with a warm up night, and this year was no exception, with Indie Recordings once more laying on an aperitif for those making the pilgrimage to Oslo. The venue… Continue Reading →

Amaltheia – Amaltheia (Godz Ov War)

I usually do some research about a band before reviewing them unless the are well known to me. However for Amaltheia I decided to go in “blind”, so I had no idea what to expect, other than a friend had… Continue Reading →

Oceansnow – Vivienne (Avantgarde Music)

Once again, North America has spawned a mighty fine atmospheric black metal outfit, this time a two piece going by the name Oceansnow. Although the members don’t wish to be identified, they wear their influences on their sleeves. The press… Continue Reading →

Wardruna & Jo Quail- Manchester Albert Hall 18/3/22

Over recent years, Wardruna have grown from a very niche act into an international name regularly selling out large venues with their interpretation of Norse folk (a label which does not really do their music justice). Their music crosses many… Continue Reading →

Sylvaine – Nova (Season Of Mist)

Sylvaine has quietly crept upon the underground music community building her reputation on solid musicianship and jaw dropping live performances. ‘Nova’ is the Norwegian vocalist and multi instrumentalist’s 4th album and it is a real gem. Built around Kathrine’s impressive vocal… Continue Reading →

Amorphis – Halo (Atomic Fire)

Is it too early to start discussing “Album of the Year”? I’ll stick my neck out and say that even though it’s only just February, I’m confident ‘Halo’ will feature in many of these lists, and may well sit at the… Continue Reading →

Thanatomania – Kalamität (Sol Records)

Since its inception, the black metal genre has evolved to cover a huge variety of styles, most having little resemblance with the genres origins and many would argue that these newly evolved genres should not even carry the label Black… Continue Reading →

Svalbard, CLT DRP, Heriot, Sobriquet – Sheffield Corporation 24/11/21

Sometimes gigs are all about the headliner, with the support acts being something to be endured rather than anything else, but that was not the case here. Each band on the bill was completely different and the select midweek crowd… Continue Reading →

Der Weg einer Freiheit – Noktvrn (Season of Mist)

Since 2009, Germany’s Der Weg Einer Freiheit have been delivering their own brand of black metal and have deservedly built up a legendary status in the extreme metal underground. As such, the release of their fifth studio album was much… Continue Reading →

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