Schizophrenic Norwegian Metal is how this album is described on the labels little sticker found on the cellophane of the digipak. Yes folks, a cherished copy, such is the pleasure Vulture Industries bestow upon my soul. Continue reading
Author Archives: Mike
CANDLEFEST (Day 3) @ The Underworld, London (26/08/2013)
The Oxfordshire based Candlelight Records hosted it’s now annual feast of delights from its current roster of bands at The Underworld in Camden Town, over 3 days. Sadly I couldn’t attend days 1 & 2 because of other commitments, but I hear from other notable attendees that Anaal Nathrakh laid waste to the subterranean venue on the Friday with Altar Of Plagues bowing out for good apparently on the Saturday with an emotional set. I wish that I could have been there.
However, I made it on Sunday for what was for me one of the best line ups for ANY gig/festival thus far in 2013. Continue reading
ATHELSTAN – “The Ride”
Athelstan is one half of the project called ‘Forefather’ whom together with his brother ‘Wulfstan’ has created some of the best historical based metal ever, bar none. Therefore it was a little bit of a very pleasant surprise to learn that he had a solo album on the cards, and hence forth it came, ‘The Ride’. Continue reading
ACOLYTE – “Alta”
Last summer I made a diversion on a business trip North via the home of Metal, Birmingham of course, to attend a Sirius Promotions gig featuring 2 of my favourite bands from this fair Isle, Wodensthrone and The Gentleman’s Club of A Forest Of Stars.
Acolyte were the first band on that evening Continue reading
ROTTING CHRIST – “KATA TON DAIMONA EAYTOY”
So after 26 years as a band, 11 albums and counting, Rotting Christ have just written and recorded a masterpiece. Not many bands of this maturity will always pull this off, so I have so much respect for the Tolis brothers Sakis and Themis, the men whom are now solely behind the recording of the band’s music. Continue reading
WINTERFYLLETH – “The Threnody Of Triumph”
Friends, Romans and Englishmen, here we have the third album by the mighty Winterfylleth, a band unashamedly close to my heart. OK confession time as for myself, ‘The Mercian Sphere’ resonated deeply within me, and not wanting to sound like a sycophantic prick, was and STILL is a spiritual experience with each listen. Some music can at times have me in tears, and that release did, and for all the right reasons! Continue reading
VARIOUS ARTISTS – “Voices From Valhalla” (A Tribute To Bathory)
There are some interesting compilations which have emerged from the underground in 2012, Enslaved, Emperor and this Bathory tribute from the great people at Godreah Records. Covering both Black and Viking metal eras from Bathory, contemporary artists have produced a fitting tribute to the great Quorthon and his band who inspired so much of what I think is good in today’s underground metal offering. Continue reading
ANGEL WITCH – “As Above, So Below”
OK so Angel Witch will never, in my humble opinion, match the classic self -titled album, ever. It is a masterpiece, just listen to the writing and remember that the whole of the thrash genre spawned by young guys on the west coast of America was as a result of them getting their hands on that very album. Continue reading
DRÅPSNATT – “Skelepht”
Skelepht is the third album from these atmospheric Swedish Black Metal artists Dråpsnatt, and I was drawn to this album when I heard the title track on You Tube! Continue reading
WODENSTHRONE – “Curse”
Well then, Wodensthrone, Black/Pagan metal from England. After the masterpiece that was ‘Loss’ I have to admit that I was slightly worried about the follow up, since the ‘loss’ , no pun intended, of a vocalist and the fact that it has taken some time for the album to emerge. Continue reading