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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!

Night Cobra – Dawn of the Serpent (High Roller)

This US band are relatively fresh of the blocks from Texas, their traditional metal approach has been well received of late, and I personally sport a lot of their merchandise. So with this, their debut, it’s quite a thrill to… Continue Reading →

Tension – Decay (Dying Victims Productions)

Germany’s Tension came out with their debut EP some 5 years ago. They are a heavy metal band that sound very classic Swedish metal (Jonah Quizz, Heavy Load, Parasite etc.) mixed with The Scorpions and flourishes of the original NWoBHM… Continue Reading →

Maule – Maule (Gates of Hell)

I have followed this Vancouver based band on an online music platform and have been waiting for the full length album to be unleashed since first hearing the ‘From Hell’ demo. The time is now. Maule are a traditional metal… Continue Reading →

Fortress – Don’t Spare the Wicked (High Roller)

West Coast America seems to be growing in the traditional metal scene, as is the country as a whole. Fortress came to my attention via a debut EP and split single release with Haunt. The band name should not be… Continue Reading →

Morgul Blade – Fell Sorcery Abounds (No Remorse)

I’ve listened to this band previously on a music platform, this is their debut full length album. Morgul Blade are full of sorcery, fantasy, you may know what to expect right? Musically, yes, especially the gallop to ‘A Last Waltz… Continue Reading →

Hitten – Triumph & Tragedy (High Roller)

Spain’s Hitten are back in response to their 2018 release ‘Twist of Fate’, that was a truly great album, so it’s with great excitement we now have ‘Triumph & Tragedy’, their fourth album. The album was recorded in numerous countries,… Continue Reading →

Tower – Shock to the System (Cruz Del Sur)

This is the third release from Tower, from the streets of New York. This is high energy classic metal with loads of attitude coupled with chaos, confusion and stunning vocal tones courtesy of Sarabeth Linden. ‘Blood Moon’ starts as a… Continue Reading →

Blood Sport – Hot Blood & Cold Steel (Gates of Hell)

This is a debut release from Finland (there are other bands of the band name), that’s raw and heralds the early North East England NWoBHM scene in approach and production. Take a pinch of Avenger (perhaps a nod to the… Continue Reading →

Knife – Knife (Dying Victims)

I have admired these German black speed punks for a while, they have two tape releases and their first tape ‘Black Leather Hounds’ laid down the blueprint. From the description, you can guess what they sound like right? Take all… Continue Reading →

Shadowland – The Necromancer’s Castle (No Remorse)

A quick summary – traditional heavy metal from New York City. The PR material suggests a British metal influence, NWoBHM in particular, but I don’t really hear that myself apart from one track called ‘Pretty Faces’. I saw the 7… Continue Reading →

Protector – A Shedding of Skin (High Roller)

When you think of German thrash metal, you often think of the so called Teutonic trio, or big four to go a bit further. In fact Germany had a lot of great thrash bands of equal merit, even in current… Continue Reading →

Tentation – Le Berceau Des Dieux (Gates of Hell)

Oo-la-la, this is a band whom I have followed from the start, to say this is their debut release is a great thing for me to realise. Following an EP, and a great split release with fellow countrymen Iron Slaught,… Continue Reading →

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