Posted in Cd Reviews

Massacre/Sound Pollution

CATAMENIA was founded back in 1995 by long-serving guitarist Riku Hopeakoski (and Mika Tönning, who left in 2003). Most of the band was replaced around 2010, apart from quite faithful bass player Miko Hepo-oja who has been in the band twice. Ten albums including this, which is a rerecorded best of, so we better say nine and a best of. The band has a loyal following, so I hope they stay loyal after this.

The epic Finnish style that is almost omnipresent is probably a wise choice. Dealing in highly melodic black metal the band has a fine sense of arrangements and their national folk music. The mix of heavy metal and black metal is delicate to me, but maybe not to others...

Posted in Gig/Festival Reviews

Feel the hungarian soul of rock- Hegyalja Festival, Hungary

Festival guy goes to Hungary in the end of july, checking the middle-European festival feeling, with real rockmusic, and to taste the best white-wines ever. The city of Tokaj-Hegyalja, -one of the most famous hungarian wine-territories crossed by a river- gives home for the four days party almost from 13 years, since summer of 1999.
In the festival the lead is around the harder styles, as rock and metal bugs, but following the growing interest of trends, and the world-famous hungarian Sziget Festival, they also invite alternative, and well-known legendic non-rock artists from years...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Angel Air/Border

1979 saw the release of SAXON´s self-titled debut, and the success that followed with classics like ”Wheels of Steel”, “Strong Arm of the Law”, “Denim and Leather” etc. was unmitigated. In 1986 bass player and major song contributor Steve “Dobby” Dawson was fired and the formula was starting to crack. 1995 saw Graham Oliver being ousted, and the direction of the band change. The former members were involved in a bit of this and that, solo albums, UZI and then, in 1996, the release of the SON OF A BITCH, the name of one of the bands that initially became SAXON, album “Victim You”, featuring THUNDERHEAD singer Ted Bullet. The band metamorphosed into Oliver Dawson SAXON, and ex. SLASH vocalist John “Wardi” Ward was appointed new frontman...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Limb Music/Sound Pollution

Austrian band DRAGONY started out as THE DRAGONSLAYER PROJECT in 2007. The nucleus of guitarists Daniel Stockinger and Andreas Poppernitsch plus vocalist Siegfrid Samer was soon augmented by more musicians. Opening for bands like AXXIS, FIREWIND and SONATA ARCTICA saw them add on drummer Frederic Brunner, keyboard player Georg Lorentz and bass man Herbert Glos. In early 2011 they changed names into DRAGONY, which was probably a wise move. The album was finished late last year, including guests like Ralf Scheepers of PRIMAL FEAR, Tom Tieber of ECLIPTICA and Katie Joanne of SIREN´S CRY. Mika Jussila did the mastering at Finnvox Studios and the band seems aimed at future glory, the info citing similarities to SABATON, EDGUY, KAMELOT…or?

The pompous opener “Of Le...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Angel Air/Border

Angel Air has a way of finding old bands and musicians to cherish their legacy and new output. Nick Simper was part of DEEP PURPLE Mk 1, but was let go along with Rod Evans after the first three albums. That very period is the focus of this album. Invited by Austrian band NASTY HABITS, the pair is accidentally working on a debut album nowadays, Nick brings to life songs that today´s DEEP PURPLE don´t play live. Apart from “Hush” I believe. It all started when drummer Peter Brkusic and friends visited England to see a gig with THE GOOD OLD BOYS, featuring Nick and two ex WARHORSE personnel etc. One fast decision later Peter booked the band for a gig in his home town, which led to the gig captured here...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Canadian band Kobra and the Lotus are releasing their new self title album in August. To whet your appetites they’ve released a new song from the album – Forever one. It’s a cracking track. It’s got some great guitar work, pounding drums, good heavy bass and of course the awesome vocals of Kobra Paige. It’s not one of the heaviest songs on the album, but it’s still a great song with plenty of power and a great tune. If you also check out the video for ”Welcome to my funeral” then you’ll get another peek at what to expect from the album.

The band will be appearing at Bloodstock both on the main stage and also on the Jaegermeister acoustic stage, and also have a few other dates around the UK including an album launch show in London – see the dates below.

AUGUST 2012
6th – Kasbah, Cov...

Posted in Cd Reviews

While Trollfest may sound like the name of a music festival, they are in fact a Norwegian ”Baltic metal” band that mix Balkan folk music with black or extreme metal, to produce a quite unique and crazy sound. The band formed in 2004 and released their debut album ”Willkommen Folk tell Drekka Fest!!” in 2005. Brumlebassen is their fifth album.

OK for people who haven’t listened to Trollfest before, how would I describe them? I’d start with a folk metal band then feed them massive amounts of caffeine to get them playing much faster than normal. Add in a dose of insanity so they start writing the lyrics in a fictional language and you’re heading in the right direction. Add in a large amount of alcohol to get the party spirit going and thats it – you’ve got Trollfest.

The lyrics are often...

Posted in Cd Reviews

It’s almost four years since Doro’s last album (Fear no evil), and it won’t be long till she releases her new album later this year. To whet the appetite of fans she is releasing an EP on the 3rd August, which coincides with her performing at the legendary Wacken festival.

“This is the first record for my new label Nuclear Blast”, Doro explains. “Thus it’s a very special album, because the cooperation means very much to me. So I hope that in the end the fans will love the EP and the album as much as I do”. Doro promises her loyal fans even more: “Everyone who likes the EP will sure be delighted by the album with it’s 13 to 14 songs as well. I’ve put all my passion, blood, sweat and tears into my first record for Blast.“

The EP contains the track – ”Raise your fist” in ...

Posted in Cd Reviews

One thing that Finnish metallers Children of Bodom are known for is their habit of including cover versions as bonus tracks on their albums, and as separate releases (the ”Skeletons in the closet” album was a full album of cover versions . These are usually songs that you wouldnt think of as being anything like the band’s usual music, and are often absolutely brilliant – one of my favourites is their cover of ”Ghostriders in the sky”, but they have also covered songs by bands including Creedence Clearwater Revival, Pat Benatar, The Ramones, Britney Spears, Anthrax, Kenny Rogers and many more...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Young Cambridge band The Treatment are doing very well at the moment. They released their debut album on Powerage records before signing with Spinefarm and re-releasing the album to a good reception. They’ve been busy touring the UK and have supported Alice Cooper on tour in Europe. They are currently in the USA as the support band for the KISS/Motley Crue tour – now that’s a good lineup and a great opportunity for the band to make a lot of new fans in the USA. Their debut album, ”This might hurt” has been followed by a limited edition EP (Then & Again) released for Record Store Day which contained several cover versions.

This single contains two tracks – ”Nothing to lose but our minds – 2012 version” and ”Evil Woman”...