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Author Paul Maddison

I grew up in the North East at the tail end of NWOBHM and US Power Metal scene and more noticably during the glam vs. thrash conflict. I then upped sticks to spend a good few years in the West Midlands during the late 90's.

Over the years I have become a fanatical collector of records, T shirts and CD's and in this current internet age, mp3's are not what i consider to be called part a record collection for the "record"!

I decided to start writing reviews as I thought that it would be a good way to give back some positive support for artists and a music phenomenon that has given me great pleasure over the years. I prefer to listen to bands that can really play their instruments and have a talent for melody and good arrangements. I try to be constructive with everything I endeavour within music. When on or off "duty" you will more than likely see me enjoying rather a few pints of the good stuff at the bar in the London area and maybe at some various other watering holes around the country...i don't bite, i just stumble a bit...

Long live metal with all its triumphs and tribulations, metal fans are a community, it's a lifestyle, it is everything to man and beast!

Behold the Monolith – Architects of the Void (S/R)

LA’s BTM are a stoner/doom band, who unfortunately lost their vocalist in a car accident recently, and have regrouped with a new line-up featuring Jordan Nailey on vocals and bassist Jason Casanova whom some of you might know from Sasquatch…. Continue Reading →

Satan – Atom By Atom (Listenable)

NWOBHM was never meant to be this good right? Satan’s last album ‘Life Sentence’ stormed into many minds and received rave reviews. The pattern continues with ‘Atom By Atom’ and there are a few things that surprise, this is a… Continue Reading →

WASP – Golgotha (Napalm)

Love them or hate them, WASP have been at the pinnacle of the music scene for a number of years, this is their latest opus that follows an unusual long break between albums. For the record, frontman and long standing… Continue Reading →

Huntress – Static (Napalm)

For all their positives, Huntress have historically been slated by the press and fans in regards their previous two releases, so why does this continue? Are you not actually evaluating the releases objectively and just trolling and joining the witch… Continue Reading →

Christian Mistress – To Your Death (Relapse)

Following their second album ‘Possession’, US female fronted traditional metal band Christian Mistress return with their latest slab of influences in the form of ‘To Your Death’. Musically, there is a mix of both classic metal and classic hard rock…. Continue Reading →

Ares Kingdom – The Unburiable Dead (Nuclear War Now)

Following a five year break from original studio recordings, save for a release of cover versions a couple of years back (‘Veneration’), Ares Kingdom return, streamlined to a 3-piece, but ever so powerful as they always have been. ‘The Unburiable… Continue Reading →

Speedtrap – Straight Shooter (Svart)

Their last release ‘Powerdose’ was one of the albums of the year on many lists when released in 2013, this hyper active speed and metal act had their eye on the prize for that one. With ‘Straight Shooter’, the energy… Continue Reading →

Dogbane – When Karma Comes Calling (Heaven & Hell Records)

This is a second album by a US band labelled as NWOBHM (?!) and Doom. When I first spun this, I can see where this comes from, it’s more like British traditional metal (to give a more recent reference look… Continue Reading →

Black Trip – Shadowline (SPV)

Black Trip were somewhat an underground find prior to their last full length studio release (‘Goin’ Under’), ‘Shadowline’ quoting the press release takes the band forward with a more personal but firmly rooted dark heavy metal rock. The immediate comparison… Continue Reading →

Dead Lord – Heads Held High (Century Media)

Continuing on from their debut ‘Goodbye Repentance’, Sweden’s Dead Lord further develop their own interpretation of their Thin Lizzy obsessed sound. When the band state that these are “10 songs of solid no-bogus, face melting, twin guitar, smart rock action”… Continue Reading →

Sonick Plague – S/T (Pavement Music)

These songs appeared in 1988, this is a re-recorded album of the ‘What’s The Purpose’ album, formed firmly in the depths of classic thrash metal with a touch of crossover from the vocals on this more up to date version…. Continue Reading →

Praying Mantis – Legacy (Frontiers Music)

Since 2009’s excellent ‘Sanctuary’ album, and subsequent 30th Anniversary EP and time in general, there have been some line-up changes a-foot. Drummer Hans In’t Zandt jins joins the ranks, but perhaps the most significant one is the addition of vocalist… Continue Reading →

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