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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!

Wild Dawn – Pay Your Dues (Brennus Music)

This is a French band that has had some tour supports with Girlschool and by the sounds of the extremely brief press blog, has played at the likes of Hellfest. Of course, this doesn’t necessarily mean they were handpicked for… Continue Reading →

Man Must Die – Peace Was Never An Option (Lifeforce)

I last encountered this Scottish band around their ‘The Human Condition’ release; their last effort did pass me by. What struck me about this band was the power and energy, they opened for Hate Eternal a while back and I… Continue Reading →

Borrowed Time – Borrowed Time (High Roller Records)

Finally! This US band has a debut album out with new tracks and a fresh approach to traditional heavy metal. Their previous EP’s, singles and demos have been of a high standard and this continues to be the case for… Continue Reading →

Gonga – Concrescence (Tonehenge Recordings)

Bristol in the UK is the base for these fuzzed out stoner doom instrumentalists, this is their third release and totally instrumental. Hence, with this in mind, I first spun this disc laid out on the floor with a nice… Continue Reading →

Beast – Dead Or Alive (Gaphals Records)

Beast are a high energy rock n roll band from Sweden, some call this speed punk and some call it all manner of things! ‘Dead or Alive’ is their debut album release that is presented in a real nice digi… Continue Reading →

Jackal – Cry of the Jackal (Pure Underground Records)

This is a re-release of this Dutch bands one and only album from 1989. Unfortunately originally released during traditional metal’s decline in favour of thrash in the late 80’s, this band were doing the rounds with other notable countrymen of… Continue Reading →

Def Con One – Brute Force and Ignorance (Night of the Living Dead Records)

Last year’s ‘Warface’ was my first encounter with this band that features Antton Lant (ex-Venom and ex-MPire of Evil), their debut before that did not appear to be as widely advertised so then fast forward to this EP, which will… Continue Reading →

Dehumanizer – The Incomplete Man (SR)

This is a progressive melodic death metal band from Peru, ‘The Incomplete Man’ is a self-funded effort and the fruits of this bands labour are endless based on the quality of the material on offer. I say quality, as it… Continue Reading →

Enraged – It’s Your Fear That Feeds Their Power (SR)

Formed in 1997, this Dutch melodic death metal band has a healthy back catalogue of demos and mini cd’s, this current release is a rather tasty slab of metal right from the first listen. Death metal can easily be technical… Continue Reading →

Aska – Fire Eater (Pure Steel)

Aska are a US metal legend by all accounts and although I have heard lots about the band over the years, this is actually the first time I have listened to their material. This is the first new album in… Continue Reading →

The Quireboys – Live at the Town & Country Club, London (Wienerworld)

This is a DVD version of the terrestrial TV live recording from 1992 at the Town and Country Club, London (now known as The Forum). Recorded at the height of the bands popularity, this documents a sell-out show. I gazed… Continue Reading →

Pretty Maids, Cage The Gods & Tainted Nation – Underworld London 22/9/13

Let’s put this into perspective, TFL has hardly any tube lines running, it’s a Sunday and I have a stinking cold…but it has been 28 years since Pretty Maids have played the UK (support to Saxon), so this was one… Continue Reading →

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