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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!

Driver – Countdown (Metal Heaven Records)

Returning after their triumphant 2008 release ‘Sons of Thunder’, Driver is a hard rocking, melodic metal band featuring the “voice of melodic metal” Rob Rock. Formed out of the ashes of the M.A.R.S. Project Driver super group from the 1980’s,… Continue Reading →

Attic – Attic (Metal Punx Rex)

Since discovering this band a couple of weeks ago, Attic (from Germany) are a real heavy metal band, if you like anything from Mercyful Fate to something like what Portrait and In Solitude are doing right now, then you need… Continue Reading →

High On Fire – De Vermis Mysteriis (Century Media)

High On Fire don’t release soft albums, ‘De Vermis Mysteriis’ (translation: ‘The Mysteries of the Worm’) is the bands sixth studio release, and from the opening moments of the album, you are in for a heavy Sabbath/doom inspired metal monster…. Continue Reading →

Interview – Revel In Flesh

Revel in Flesh are a new old school death metal project fromGermany. On guitar, bass and vocals is Haubersson, a musician I have been in contact with for some years now, as we both love our old school death metal… Continue Reading →

Interview – Deathhammer

Deathhammer could have been spawned back in 1985, their fast aggressive version of thrash is a breath of fresh in a sometimes complacent wider appealing thrash genre. What sets these guys apart is their ease of delivery; their music is… Continue Reading →

Trippy Wicked & The Cosmic Children of the Knight – Going Home (Superhot Records)

I have had the pleasure of catching this band live on numerous occasions, and I have followed them from their first humble beginnings, so I am rather excited about this new full length album release by this doomed, stoned, tripped… Continue Reading →

Pastel Jack – Trojan Horse (Self-Released)

I enjoyed this East Yorkshire mobs last release, the EP ‘Ghost in the Machine’, now the band are striding forward with a full length release. Initial impressions are that the band have matured, certainly vocalist Neil Bailey continues to genre… Continue Reading →

Albatross – The Kissing Flies / Vestal Claret – Black Priest (Roadcrew Records)

This is an interesting split release. First off are Albatross who are an Epic Power Metal (i.e traditional metal) group from India, heavily influenced by the horror theatrics and vocal styles of King Diamond, and Sheavy’s Steve Hennessy. On the… Continue Reading →

Huntress – Spell Eater (Napalm Records)

Flying the flag for traditional heavy metal and powerful, real metal female vocals, Huntress come from California. As I make my opening statement declaring real female metal vocals, it’s an interesting fact that singer Jill Janus (aka Penelope Tuesdae) trained… Continue Reading →

The Grotesquery – The Facts and Terrifying Testament Of Mason Hamilton: Tsathoggua Tales (Cyclone Empire)

Kam Lee (Massacre etc) and Rogga Johansson (Paganizer/Ribspreader) are at it again. Their second release as a collective, and The Grotesquery bring back their horror death metal with a tale that picks up where their debut release left off. Again,… Continue Reading →

Revel in Flesh – Deathevokation (FDA Rekotz)

Formed last year and featuring musicians from Immortal Rites, Dawn of Dreams and Apophis, these German’s have a passion for the great genre that is old school death metal. Obviously, modern champions like Entrails and genre defining bands like Nihilist… Continue Reading →

Crimson Cult – Tales of Doom (Pure Legend Records)

If you take a pinch of traditional metal (as the PR material suggests) say Dio and a hefty progressive/traditional combination of mid period Savatage, then you have Crimson Cult. This Austrian band have previously been known by many other names,… Continue Reading →

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