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Author Johnny Zed

Having entered this world in the late '60's just when all the forces of heaviness were gathering, I’ve always loved heavy stuff even though I had a musically conservative upbringing in Australia. The first album I bought at age 11 - "Destroyer" by KISS pretty much gave me the taste. Jimi Hendrix and Black Sabbath are my true obsessions but I soon greedily devoured everything from Deep Purple and AC/DC to Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Slayer. I've always marvelled at the resilience of heavy metal over the decades. Arriving in London six years ago, I found myself entrenched in the underground after seeing Orange Goblin at the first High Voltage Festival and being blown away. Here I've happily remained, keenly following bands like Witchsorrow, Sea Bastard and Alunah to name a few and those countless others who I'm being always being introduced to. I’ve been astounded by the talent that surrounds us and the brilliant people that make this music. I’ve done some reviewing with Metalmouth.net and am now pretty damn excited to contribute to this fine site. It's a great feeling to support so many young bands in the underground where the real passion for music lies. Usually found at a gig with a pint in hand and band merch spilling out everywhere, I’ll see you around!

Caustic Casanova – Glass Enclosed Nerve Center (Magnetic Eye Records)

Caustic Casanova are a bit of a many headed beast. Definitely not a band to slot themselves into any particular genre, theirs is a mash up of sludge, doom, psyche rock with a smattering of prog. Hailing from Washington DC,… Continue Reading →

Arkheth – Clarity Came With A Cool Summer’s Breeze (I Voidhanger)

They say you can’t judge a book by its cover, or indeed, an album. Many of us have, especially in the world of heavy music. One look at the new album artwork on Aussie band, Arkheth’s “Clarity Came With A… Continue Reading →

Venom Inc. – There’s Only Black (Nuclear Blast)

The legacy of Venom is undisputed. Period. Past members have black metal flowing in their blood. When Jeff “Mantas” Dunn and Tony “Demolition Man” Dolan combined forces for the 1989-1992 iteration of the band the fires of Hell still burned… Continue Reading →

Spirit Adrift – 20 Centuries Gone (Century Media)

The covers album…they’re strange things. For me they spark an interest, not just for the way a band covers a song but the actual song selection. Obvious classic tracks or a deeper cut? Stay true to the original or put… Continue Reading →

Evil In – Age Of Immortal Darkness (S/R)

Evil In came to life in 2019 and is the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist Charlie Murphy. He dropped the debut EP “An Ethereal Force Beyond” last year and has now teamed up with Steffen Banas who takes up drum and bass… Continue Reading →

Remains – Grind ‘til Death (Spikerot)

Aussie band, Remains came to life in 2019 but their members were all individually established on the local underground metal circuit in bands like Fuck I’m Dead, The Kill and Shallow Grave. “Grind Til Death” is the band’s first full… Continue Reading →

Saor – Origins (Season of Mist)

Saor is a Gaelic word meaning free or unconstrained. Saor is also a one man band flying the flag for Scottish inspired blackened folk metal. The concept for heritage and folk influenced heavy music has been quite noticeable among Nordic… Continue Reading →

Elusive God – Trapped In A Future Unknown (Rafchild Records)

Croatian doomsters, Elusive God drop their first long player since forming in 2018. “Trapped In A Future Unknown” follows a series of single releases and 2020’s “The Darkest Flame” EP and shows a young band ready to make some serious,… Continue Reading →

The Gates – …Of Pandemonium (Northern Silence Productions)

“Magik Metal” isn’t a genre or term I’m familiar with but apparently this is what The Gates specialises in. Comprised of Galigula on vocals and King Baal who does all the instrumentation, they deliver occult infused tunes that are heavy… Continue Reading →

Dead Head – Slave Driver (Hammerheart Records)

Hitting the world in 1989, Netherlands wrecking crew Dead Head have consistently delivered aggressive, classic thrash metal. Starting life in an era that dropped the big names, they’ve continued to fly the flag for extreme music and with “Slave Driver”,… Continue Reading →

MWWB – The Harvest (New Heavy Sounds)

Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard, now known as MWWB, have beaten odds to come back with album number four, “The Harvest”. Recorded during the pandemic, the release has been delayed after guitarist, Paul Michael “Dave” Davies suffered a life threatening stroke…. Continue Reading →

Children Of The Sun – Roots (The Sign Records)

Swedish retro rockers, Children Of The Sun follow up their 2019 debut LP “Flowers” with another slice of late ‘60’s love culture worship in the shape of “Roots”. Taking inspiration from greats like Janis Joplin and fusing it up with… Continue Reading →

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