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Author Martin Harris

Rock and metal have been in my existence for about 30 years and saw me go through a rapid weaning period that covered AC/DC, Maiden, Saxon, Whitesnake, Motorhead, etc from about 1982 to 1984 before shifting to thrash in the summer of 1984. At that point my only mission was to find the fastest, most violent music on the planet resulting checking out every genre in extreme music from death metal and grindcore to crust punk and hardcore all of which I still adore today and buy albums from and go see live. During the 80s I grew up in the infamous Bradford thrash scene, a time I still dearly miss such was the inventiveness and great camaraderie it held. I’m a bit of phase metaller, going from one style to another, through sheer investigation of finding something new, but always sticking with them all. I’m a total sucker for double bass and blast beats and always will be no matter what genre it comes from. I absolutely detest people that have joined the metal scene because it is trendy or their mates like it, likewise I detest people who are shallow and think this music is a fad of growing up. Most of us are extremely well educated and articulate individuals who prefer freedom of self expression than indoctrination by mass media organisations hell bent on artistic sterilisation. Much of my cash is spent on following metal and I wouldn’t change a thing about it because it is the best music scene in the world.

Ecferus – Shamaniacal Essence (Hellthrasher Productions)

Of all the extreme metal genres, black metal is, for me anyway, the only one that carries off the one-man band idea. This US act, under the creative eye of Alp, is exceptionally good and with a slew of EPs… Continue Reading →

Crypt Rot – Embryonic Devils (Southern Lord)

This new project by a few of the guys who were or still are in hardcore grinders Homewrecker, a band I saw on tour last year supporting the now sadly defunct Weekend Nachos I was curious about where the guys… Continue Reading →

Shores Of Null – Black Drapes For Tomorrow (Candlelight Records)

I bought this band’s debut at the Inferno Festival in 2016 along with a shirt as they were one of the best bands of the festival and I admit to being a bit nervy about this sophomore album as the… Continue Reading →

Necrowretch – Satanic Slavery (Season Of Mist)

This French bands first two albums have been on my playlist regularly over the last few years as we now get a third album that sees the band strengthen their song writing into eight songs of blistering power and consummate… Continue Reading →

Hybrid Sheep – Hail To The Beast (Tenacity Music)

This curiously named band from France has been around for nearly a decade releasing a decent debut in 2014 that had a modern death metal style coupled to metalcore very slightly due to the riffing style and vocals. The band’s… Continue Reading →

Akercocke, Fen, The Infernal Sea, Sathamel Leeds, Belgrave Music Hall 7/4/17

With not being able to attend the Ritual Festival after this pre fest warm up show due to a gig clash with Taake in Manchester, this was the next best thing as the hyper busy venue sports a traditional long… Continue Reading →

Azarath – In Extremis (Agonia Records)

Polish extreme metallers Azarath have been around for nearly 20 years and during that time the band has released five full lengths but it is six years since “Blasphemers’ Maledictions” which had a clinical yet assailing set of songs that… Continue Reading →

Morast – Ancestral Void (Totenmusik / Ván Records)

I have previously mentioned in my review of the Venenum album that Germany has fast become a major force within the death metal scene as another act vies for prominence. The band’s debut demo in 2015 was a crawling insidious… Continue Reading →

Sibiir – S/T (Fysisk Format)

This relatively new outfit from Norway released a venomous EP in 2015 by the title of “Swallow & Trap Them” melding black metal vitriol with post hardcore nihilism as the band releases a debut full length that appeared during the… Continue Reading →

Acrimonious – Eleven Dragons (WTC Productions)

My poor attention span groaned inwardly when I saw the duration of this third album by Greek black metallers Acrimonious, an act unfamiliar to me but not any longer as this opus is one of staggering brilliance. Confidence pours from… Continue Reading →

Battle Beast, Majesty, Gyze – Manchester Ruby Lounge 23/3/17

I always feel a slight buzz of excitement at the prospect of going to a new venue as the Ruby Lounge in the heart of Manchester became my 181st different venue I’ve been to since I first started attending gigs… Continue Reading →

Venenum – Trance Of Death (Sepulchral Voice)

If you pay attention to the death metal scene like I do almost religiously it has to be said you’ll quickly realise that Germany is producing some of the best death metal bands around surpassing their forebears with staggering, challenging… Continue Reading →

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