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Author Nick Griffiths

Having grown up on a diet of ABBA, The Carpenters, Leo Sayer (Mum), Cream, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and The Beatles (Dad), it was a stormy night under canvas in the wilds of Wales where I first heard the Winston Churchill speech that proceeds ‘Aces High’ from Iron Maiden’s ‘Live After Death’ where life changed for the better. That’s not to say that this was THE pivotal moment of my life (the good lady indoors and two children may get slightly truculent if I were to suggest as much) but it’s certainly up there. Listening, wearing, watching and being into Metal is one of life’s great honours and whilst it may be far from conventional and not a broad representation of the society where we live, I think that’s the point. We are different, we like it loud, noisy, nasty and in your face. Hearing that first chord, feeling that first double kick drum, that initial growl, your first t-shirt (Anthrax Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.)) …moments of pure majesty that endure for a lifetime. Luckily, I get to ramble on here after doing so in Raw, Kerrang, Metal Hammer, NME, Rock Sound, and Terrorizer over the last 25 years. It’s still as much fun reviewing music today, as it was for my first ever published ramblings (Nuclear Assault ‘Live At Hammersmith Odeon’ - never has a 140 word review been so drastically sub edited) to the last one I did 5 minutes ago. Nice Fucking Life!

Bloodtrust – In Blood We Trust (People of Punk Rock Records)

And so, to the dawn of a new, freshly minted year, a year full of optimism for better things, horizons stretch into the endless distance full of new opportunities, experiences, and dreams. As we enter 2021 off the back of… Continue Reading →

Pillory – Scourge of Humanity (Unique Leader Records)

And so in the blink of an eye, 2020 speedily crests the brow of December Hill and gambles it’s way, down into the inky green of the sea, to finally lay itself to rest in its own premediated, watery grave…. Continue Reading →

Scour – Black (Nuclear Blast)

As with the falling of the leaves, days that seem to last for mere moments before being eaten by the watery night god of doom that is Autumn and another inept and spineless wrong step from the incumbent UK government,… Continue Reading →

Hatebreed – Weight Of The False Self (Nuclear Blast)

You have to hand it to Connecticut’s Hatebreed, that this new album, which represents their 8th full length release since their inception back in 1994 are still terrorising audiences around the world. In terms of pure longevity, you have to… Continue Reading →

Mountain Caller – Chronicle 1: Truthseeker (New Heavy Sounds)

There’s something about three-piece bands, whether it’s Venom, Jawbreaker, Sumac or Prong, there is something that resonates around the purity and sparseness of bands comprising just three people, that purveys a cleanliness of mission and sound that is hard to… Continue Reading →

Raging Speedhorn – Hard To Kill (Red Weed Records)

Hands down, (musicality and personalities aside), Corby sludge metal lunatics, Raging Speedhorn, have the finest band name in Christendom and with their ‘Sniff Glue, Worship Satan’ merch design, they also take top honours in the best laugh out loud, piss… Continue Reading →

Six Feet Under – Nightmares of the Decomposed (Metal Blade)

Six Feet Under need no introduction, so here is an introduction that is both pointless, overlong, and lacking in brevity. Formed as side project by then Cannibal Corpse singer Chris Barnes and Obituary guitarist Allen West in 1993, Barnes’ sudden… Continue Reading →

Napalm Death – Throes Of Joy In The Jaws Of Defeatism (Century Media)

As per usual, much of the next nine hundred or so words will unfortunately contain very little of what you would consider critiquing but more of a meandering rummage through the dusty caves of what remains of my memory, reminiscing… Continue Reading →

En Minor – When The Cold Truth Has Worn Its Miserable Welcome Out (Season Of Mist)

The world of metal has its heroes and villains, those that stand out as paradigms of goodness, respect and an adherence to the metal code of honour (Ronnie James Dio, Steve Harris, Chuck Schuldiner, The Koller Brothers, Steve Brodsky et… Continue Reading →

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