Author: Steve Earles
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Van-Halst – World Of Make-Believe
I have to say the title of this fine album is somewhat ironic as its lyrics are a million miles removed from fantasy; rather they are socially conscious and reflect the real world. Indeed, much like last year’s welcome Mad Max: Fury Road, Van Halst display a strong, articulate and welcome feminist agenda in their music.…
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Rhine – An Outsider
Rhine is one of metal’s best kept secrets… but not for much longer. Rhine play progressive heavy metal in the best sense of the word. With some progressive metal bands, there is often an over emphasis on the progressive over the heavy or vice-versa, but Rhine have got the balance just right. Drinking from the…
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Tylor Dory Trio – Carried Away
If I were to try and summon up Tylor Dory Trio’s sound in a soundbite, it would be that they are a cross between Opeth and Alice In Chains. But that doesn’t do justice to the depth of their music. As you can gather from the name, we have here the classic power-trio format in…
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False Flag – Nest of Vipers
False Flag‘s Nest of Vipers is an excellent EP that doesn’t outstay it’s welcome. Four tracks of prime groove metal. Reference points are Lamb of God, Exhorder, and of course, Pantera. What gives this its own identity is the level of musical virtuosity of the band members. There is also a genuine band dynamic and sincerity there.…
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Evertrapped – Under The Deep
Hailing from Montreal, and going since 2007, Evertrapped have a lot of experience under their collective belts and it shows. Production-wise, this album is flawless, every instrument being heard with complete clarity. Soundwise, for the benefit of the readers I’d say we’re talking a combination of At The Gates and Unearth, but that doesn’t do justice…
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Alan Davey – Sputnik Stan Vol 1: A Fistful of Junk
Alan Davey is a legend on the British underground music scene. For many years he was bassist/vocalist for British space rock legends Hawkwind. Seeing Alan play live with Hawkwind is still one of the best gigs I’ve ever seen. Indeed, in a great many ways, he is a worthy heir to his predecessor in Hawkwind,…
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Bleed – The Hatred Inside
Bleed are by all accounts a very theatrical band, in the tradition of Gwar or White Zombie, but all this would mean nothing if they didn’t have the tunes. Thankfully they do. Their songs are both heavy and catchy, coming on at times as a cross between Alice Cooper and classic Overkill. In fact, this…
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Cosmic Echoes: a conversation with Pyramids on Mars
Pyramids on Mars have released Echo Cosmic, which is easily the finest instrumental metal album since Joe Satriani’s seminal Surfing With the Alien. It is by turns inspiring, jaw dropping, progressive and uplifting. Pyramids on Mars are what metal could be, but increasingly (and sadly) is not. This is metal to banish the blues and…
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Limb – Terminal
Limb play excellent stripped down stoner-doom, with more than a hint of Corrosion of Conformity and Motorhead. Another plus on the band’s second album, Terminal, is an excellent concise yet organic production from the legendary Russ Russell; he has truly captured the essence of the band. Moreover, Limb’s song-writing is first class (all bands without…