Category: Reviews
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Chainbreaker – Lethal Desire
It is a rarity for me to find a modern speed metal group that manages to peak my interest for more than a listen or two. While stuck on a train, I decided to kick back, pay too much for a beer and give Chainbreaker a listen. A few seconds into the album’s opening track…
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Shining – Animal
The dilemma most bands face is whether to progress or not. AC/DC have made a very successful career out of sticking to the same formula; so too have Slayer. Conversely, bands like Rush, Voivod and Mastodon have followed the path of constant change and innovation, and done well as a result. Shining have chosen, on…
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Venom – Storm The Gates
After Black Sabbath and Motorhead, I consider that Venom are the third most influential metal band; few bands have inspired and influenced three genres of metal, black metal, death metal and thrash metal. The first two Venom albums, ‘Welcome To Hell’ and ‘Black Metal’ are essential for any metal fans collection. Now, many years later,…
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Bauhaus – The Bela Session (12” EP)
In order to really appreciate just how radical Bauhaus was in the early stages of their career, one must recognize what they did seemingly as a matter of course – how different it was from everything else, and how boldly the band did it from day one. The group’s first release, the “Bela Lugosi’s Dead”…
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Sigh – Heir To Despair
Hailing from Japan, Sigh bring a unique perspective to metal. On one hand it’s very traditional; Sigh are great musicians and composers, and you can hear the influences of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal very strong, particularly Iron Maiden. On the other hand, Sigh are so out there as to be in a…
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Cancer Bats – The Spark That Moves LP
When a band gets six albums deep into their career, history has illustrated that one of two things happens: either the group releases a career-defining album, or they release the worst shit shingle in their catalogue. For every British Steel, Iron Fist, Machine Head, Divine Intervention or Sound of White Noise, there are also albums…
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G.B.H. – The Rough Justice Years
Once again Cherry Red have excelled in presenting an important and influential band’s work in the best possible light. A huge influence on Cliff Burton-era Metallica, G.B.H are a special band indeed. This box set, which has 76 tracks over 5 discs, covers GBH’s output for the Rough Justice label between 1984 and 1985. Disc…
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Witchers Creed – Awakened from the Tomb
Why yes, it’s another “occult stoner/doom” band with Witch in its name – and this one even includes Creed in its moniker! But hey, if you can get past the band name, let’s just say they can take you higher. ? The song “Witchers Creed” kicks off the album. “Black Sabbath” this is not, but…
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City and Colour – Guide Me Back Home (3LP)
I must confess that, most regularly, live albums don’t thrill me. City and Colour albums do not often thrill me either, for that matter (long story short, while I was a big fan of Alexisonfire back in the day, I found the first two City and Colour albums staggeringly overwrought); I don’t know that I’d…
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Dead Witches – The Final Exorcism
If you ever wanted to hear what Electric Wizard might sound like with female vocals, this is the band for year. Featuring venerable ex-Wizard can-basher Mark Greening, Dead Witches recorded their sophomore effort in the same rural English studio as Dopethrone and Let Us Prey…although I’d say this one sounds more akin to the Wizard…