Massacre/Sound Pollution Fresh-faced thrash quartet DIABOLUS DUST debuts with Massacre. Formed in 2006, the seminal line up of Jurgen Dachl, vocals, Roland Zehrer, bass, Stefan Fessert, drums, and Anton H. Lini concatenated in 2008. Old school is the aim, and thrash says the info sheet. Well, fire away. They open with the title track, very…
Frontiers/BAM Amanda Somerville has made quite a name for herself, both in metal circles and as a vocal coach. Of US decent, but has relocated to Germany/Holland, to be where the action seems to be. Faithful to her previous career moves she is back with a rock/metal hybrid, involving the duo of Sascha Paeth and…
The night was started with a short set from Dangerous Breed. They put in a good performance in front of the small crowd, but they did seem lacking in imagination – between myself and a couple of friends, for each song they did we identified an Iron Maiden song with the same guitar riffs and…
”The return of the spectacular spinning songbook” is a live album recorded in May at two shows in Los Angeles. Unlike most albums, the setlist wasn’t planned in advance – in fact the setlist was only chosen during the show. Elvis and his band play a few songs before picking an audience member out to…
Tonights show was Rival Sons and Heavens Basement. For a midweek gig I was quite surprised to see the venue was busy right from the start – often fans arrive late, but clearly a lot of people wanted to see both the bands tonight. Heavens Basement opened the night and put on a great show…
The neckbreakers ball started amidst confusion – not everyone was aware the venue had changed from the forum in Kentish Town to the Relentless Garage so some fans (and press) went to the wrong place and were late arriving as a result. The band I was looking forwards to most, Death Angel had unfortunately dropped…
Frontiers/BAM Norwegian rock´s most fashionable beauty ISSA releases her second album. The follow-up to her debut “Sign of Angels” sees her trying song-writing together with the Martin Brothers (VEGA, HOUSE OF LORDS). The debut lacked something I have a hard time defining, will that illusive “it” be here , extracted by ISSA and Daniel Flores?…
MDD/Sound Pollution Germany´s MOURNING CARESS first reared its head in 1998. On board from the start were almost the same line up as today; vocalist Gerrit Mohr, guitarists Florian Erhart and Benedikt Bjarnasson, bass man Daniel Busche and drummer Dominik Schluter. The original guitarists have both left, and the replacements are Florian Albers and Wolfgang…
Soulseller/Sound Pollution DEVIL was formed in 2009, pledging allegiance to the likes of BLACK SABBATH and WITCHFINDER GENERAL. The demo “Magister Mundi Xum” did nothing to harm their chances. The info sheet decribes this album as a joyful trip to hell, not bad for a bluesy, doomy, heavy metal album. Opener “The Welcome” provides a…
Atom Records/Cargo Austria´s CORNERSTONE is in the business of 80´s pop/rock with lots of AOR, big guitars and big refrains. Formed in 1998 by bassist/keyboardist/vocalist Michael Wachelhofer and his brother guitarist/vocalist Steve, the band started out playing covers. The band soon tried their wings, resulting in a near collapse until vocalist Hanna Wachter came along…
Rock´n´Growl Records/Digital ROUGH ANGEL rings no bells to me. These recordings were released in 1993, exclusively to promoters and the record industry. Vocalist Csaba Zvekan has remastered the recordings to be a first digital release of Rock´n´Growl. Back in 1993 the material must have been like a violin player in a punk band, will they…
Debemur Morti/Sound Pollution The strictly preaching REX MUNDI inflict divine fury on mankind. They are purveyors of raw and pure black metal, bringing forward alleged lost wisdom of creation. The band members; Metatron, commander of legions and proclamations of faith, Seraphiel, unearthly presentations, Nahanael. Minister to the lost, and Chamiel, uncoverer of secrets and shadows…