A review of SYN:DROM’s Iconoclasm By Amanda Beadman Iconoclasm is the latest offering from Swedish death metal band SYN:DROM. The release launches itself at the world without a backward step in the opening song, Black Dawn, with a brain drilling drum assault that sets the pace and the standard for the unravelling of the first…

Classic punk-rock music is not always the easiest thing to find nowadays. Often, the sound is mistaken for the likes of boy-band, pseudo punk types who croon about lost loves and past transgressions; and many would claim the true, gritty punk sound has left the music industry. But that is not always the case. English…

A review of Motorfinger’s Black Mirror By Amanda Beadman If we accept a linear interpretation of the way the loudest, heaviest music came to be – first there was rock, then hard rock, then heavy metal – then all the variants of metal splintered off, each vying for a new place in the evolution of…

Hänsel & Gretel/MIG Music ANTHRAX guitar slinger Dan Spitz returns from the world of clocks with a new band and a new album in league with Dave Mustaine of MEGADETH. Apart from guitarist Spitz and co-lyricist/producer Mustaine the band consists of vocalist Don Chaffin, drummer Patrick Johansson (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, WASP), and Chris Vrenna of NINE…

Massacre/Sound Pollution SINISTER has seen a lot of upheaval in the ranks. Since 2011 the band is spearheaded by Adrie Kloosterwaard, who has recruited guitarists Bas Brussaard and Dennis Hartog, bassist Mathijs Brussard and drummer Toep Duin. They also form the project band ABSURD UNIVERSE. The rest of the SINISTER of old are gone. But…

Napalm Records/Sound Pollution Back in 2010 I had the pleasure of listening to THE GRAVIATORS for the first time. Their debut was filled with doom, but also with a wee bit of stoner too much. Impressive nevertheless. But this time around they are on a bigger record company and have a more flashy info sheet….

German metal legends Gamma Ray are releasing a new live album – ”Skeletons & Majesties Live”. The album was recorded at the band’s show at the Z7 venue in Pratteln, Switzerland from April 29th, 2011. ”Skeletons & Majesties Live” is being released on 2CD, Blu-ray and DVD. The DVD and Blu-ray feature additional bonus tracks,…

Stratovarius frontman Timo Kotipelto has joined with Jani Liimatainen (ex Sonata Arctica) to record an acoustic album. The duo has been working together and playing acoustic shows for some time and were regularly told by fans that they should do an album, so they’ve given the fans what they want. There are thirteen cover versions…

A review of Purple Nail’s ‘Blood Tonight’ and ‘Turn to Dust’ By Amanda Beadman Everything in life has its place – and the place for the latest two releases from Swedish goth-lite band Purple Nail is firmly within the newly established sub-genre of Elevator-Emo. If an Evanescence fan wants to catch an elevator from the…