Here is the playlist for our show aired on 24/01/2021. This week we returned to some ear-splitting, face-melting metal tunes.

• Seven Witches – Metal Asylum
• Kiss – Exciter – for Paul Stanley who turned 69 on 20/01/2021
• Judas Priest – No Surrender – for Ian Hill who also turned 69 on 20/01/2021
• Megadeth – Go To Hell – for our friend Linz who turned 50 on 21/01/2021
• Onslaught – Pain (Killing Peace – 2007)
• Annihilator – King Of The Kill (King Of The Kill – 1994)
• Millennium – All Out War (A New World – 2019)
• Tesla – Love Song (The Great Radio Controversy – 1989)
• Killswitch Engage – My Last Serenade (Alive Or Just Breathing – 2002)
• Death – Symbolic (Symbolic – 1995)
• Iron Maiden – Prowler (Iron Maiden – 1980)
• Tankard – Shit-faced (The Morning After / Alien – 1988)
• Witchfynde – Leaving Nadir (Give ‘Em Hell – 1980)
• Impellitteri – Wicked Maiden (Wicked Maiden – 2009)
• Opeth – Hope Leaves (Damnation – 2003)
• Coroner – Masked Jackal (Punishment For Decadence – 1988)
• Sodom – Agent Orange (Agent Orange – 1989)
• Becoming – Injustice
• Havok – Hang ‘Em High (Conformicide – 2017)
• Death Angel – The Moth (The Evil Divide – 2016)
• Van Halen – Everybody Wants Some (Women And Children First – 1980)
• Cannibal Corpse – Festering In The Crypt (The Wretched Spawn – 2004)
• Boston – More Than A Feeling (Boston – 1976)
• Overkill – Rotten To The Core (Feel The Fire – 1985)
• Xentrix – No Compromise (Shattered Existence – 1989)
• Celtic Frost – Circle Of The Tyrants (To mega Therion – 1985)
• At The Gates – Blinded By Fear (Slaughter Of The Soul – 1995)
• Possessed – The Exorcist (Seven Churches – 1985)
• Parkway Drive – Crushed (Ire – 2015)
• Carnifex – Slow Death (Slow Death – 2016)
• Black Sabbath – Symptom Of The Universe (Sabotage – 1975)
• Carpathian Forest – Doomed To Walk The Earth As Slaves Of The Living Dead (Morbid Fascination Of Death – 2001)
• The Cro-Mags – We Gotta Know (The Age Of Quarrel – 1986)
• Pro-pain – Shine (Contents Under Pressure – 1996)
• Deep Purple – Speed King (Deep Purple In Rock – 1970)
• Nervosa – Perpetual Chaos (Perpetual Chaos – 2021)
• Angelus Apatrida – Indoctrinate (Self-titled Album due for release on 05/02/2021)
• Vicious Rumors – Something Burning (Something Burning – 1996)

Aired on Metal Devastation Radio on Sunday 24th January 2021

After the softer show the previous week, this week we came back with some ear-splitting, face-melting metal tunes. We hope you enjoy it \m/

Aired on Metal Devastation Radio on Sunday 24th January 2021

Here is the playlist for our trip back to 1971 to celebrate some of the albums that are turning 50 in 2021

• Seven Witches – Metal Asylum
• Metallica – Whiplash – in memory of Marsha Zazula who passed away on 10/01/2021
• Michael Schenker Group – Cry For The Nations – for Michael Schenker who turned 66 on 10/01/2021
• Queensryche – I Don’t Believe In Love – for Geoff Tate who also turned 66 on 10/01/2021
• New York Dolls – Jet Boy – in memory of Sylvain Sylvain who passed away on 15/01/2021
• Led Zeppelin – Black Dog (Led Zeppelin IV) November
• Humble Pie – Stone Cold Fever (Rock On) March
• Focus – Hocus Pocus (Moving Waves) October
• ZZ Top – Going Down To Mexico (ZZ Top’s First Album) January
• MC5 – Baby Won’t Ya (High Time) July
• Janis Joplin – Move Over (Pearl) January
• Rolling Stones – Brown Sugar (Sticky Fingers) April
• Alice Cooper – I’m Eighteen (Love It To Death) March
• The Sweet – New York Connection (Funny How Sweet Co-Co Can Be) November
• Deep Purple – Freedom (Fireball) July
• David Bowie – Changes (Hunky Dory) December
• Nazareth – Witchdoctor Woman (Nazareth) November
• Black Sabbath – Sweet Leaf (Master Of Reality) July
• Mott The Hoople – Whiskey Women (Wild Life) March
• Uriah Heep – Love Machine (Look At Yourself) September
• Jethro Tull – Locomotive Breath (Aqualung) March
• Thin Lizzy – Things Ain’t Working Out Down At The Farm (Thin Lizzy) April
• REO Speedwagon – Sophisticated Lady (REO Speedwagon) October
• Status QUO – Mean Girl (Dog Of Two Head) November
• Atomic Rooster – Break The Ice (In Hearing Of Atomic Rooster) August
• Mountain – The Great Train Robbery (Nantucket Sleighride) January
• Pink Floyd – One Of These Days (Meddle) October
• T-Rex – Jeepster (Electric Warrior) September
• Yes – A Venture (The Yes Album) February
• Jimi Hendrix – Angel (A Cry Of Love) March
• Rory Gallagher – I Don’t Know Where I’m Going (Deuce) November
• Steppenwolf – Shackles And Chains (For Ladies Only) November
• Budgie – Homicidal Suicidal (Budgie) June
• America – A Horse With No Name (America) December
• Badfinger – Day After Day (Straight Up) December
• The Who – Won’t Get Fooled Again (Who’s Next) August

Aired on Metal Devastation Radio on Sunday 17th January 2021

This week we decided to celebrate some of the albums that are turning 50 (yes! 50!) in 2021. Enjoy our trip back in time to 1971 \m/

Aired on Metal Devastation Radio on Sunday 17th January 2021

It’s not very often that something other than thrash, death or heavy metal lands in my inbox, but new album “Peace Out” by American rock band Nelson was one of these rare occurrences.

Bursting onto the scene in 1990 with their single “(I Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection” from their debut album “After The Rain”, twins Gunnar and Matthew Nelson have released ten albums over their 25 year career, with “Peace Out” being the fourth released by Frontiers records in five years.

I, personally, had never heard of Nelson and, having no preconceptions of what they should or shouldn’t sound like, I listened to the album with an open mind.  I wasn’t disappointed.

Totally different to what I usually listened to, it had me tapping my foot in the car almost by the end of the second song and by the time I reached my place of work, I really didn’t want to turn it off.

Opening with the song “Hello Everybody”, a chorus that will stay with you for the rest of the day, it is upbeat, melodic rock from start to finish. The twin guitars and harmonising vocals will make you want to dance around the living room and the catchy choruses will have you singing along almost instantly.

The stand out song for me was “Invincible”, closely followed by “Rock Star” and “You and Me”, and for those who like a good, meaty ballad this album offers two, “On The Bright Side” and the closing song “Leave a Light on For Me”, both offering the listener a change of pace just where it’s needed, before launching them back into the next solid offering of up tempo hair rock.

At times, the album can feel a bit “samey” but another sing-a-long-a-chorus soon comes along to eradicate that sentiment.

This is a feel good, toe tapping album that will go down a storm with AOR lovers, old and new. It won’t appeal to die hard metal fans but I quite liked it…

….and I’m a thrash girl through and through.

First published on Metal Gods TV and then Ever Metal

Every once in a while, an album pops into your inbox that just grabs you from the onset and has a lasting impression on you, so much so that you just have to give it ten out of ten when you review it. I can’t remember the last time I gave a ten for a review but this album by Manimal certainly deserves it.

Formed in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2001, the four piece have previously released two albums, The Darkest Room in 2009 and Trapped in the Shadows in 2015, both showing how the band have stayed loyal to heavy/traditional influences and are prime examples of modern and trend-setting power metal.

Fast forward to 2018 and their latest album, Purgatorio, sees the band takes their outstanding qualities almost to the point of perfection. The album is nine tracks long, and the band have pulled out all the stops, creating different tempos and atmospheres throughout and writing choruses that have “true anthem potential!”

Says frontman Samuel Nyman: “our goal has always been to write songs we love and believe in. The challenge is to make a song with strong hooks without being too predictable. It’s just a bonus when we realise that people around the world seem to have the same good taste in music as we do!”

The album has been produced by Manimal themselves, says Nyman: “Just like the previous two albums we produced this one ourselves; mainly because we like to have full control of the production. We are control freaks to the bone, and the thought of putting our creations into hands of an external producer simply scares us!”

Each band member, however, still had their own little piece of the album to concentrate on. Singer Nyman is the epicentre of this amazing album. Inspired by singers such as Rob Halford, Geoff Tate and Michael Kiske, his voice oozes self-confidence and passion, the kind that makes you go “wow” as soon as he opens his mouth.

The fabulous song writing is courtesy of guitarist, Henrik Stenroos, a true riff icon, whose hooks and licks provide the foundation for many of Manimal’s songs and drummer André Holmqvist, whose tight and powerful drum style is comparable to that of legends such as Tommy Lee and Mike Portnoy, co-wrote the lyrics.

Finally, bassist Kenny Boufadene was in charge of mixing the album and also produces the band’s videos.

Despite undertaking much of the album, themselves, they also enlisted the help of some well-known support. Firstly, the drums were recorded by Jakob Hermann (Anthrax, Europe, Machinehead and Evergrey) at Top Floor Studios. Secondly, the album was mastered by Tony Lindgren at Jens Bogren’s famous Fascination Street Studios, and lastly, the album cover work was designed by Claudio Bergamin (Judas Priest).

This album has soooooo much to offer. The title track and “Edge of Darkness” are a typical variety of haunting melodies and classy grooves, with a hidden sadness, that has become one of the band’s trademarks. But, after a little research, there are a few tracks that are a little different for Manimal, such as “Denial” with its Rammstein-esque riff, and “Spreading The Dread” with its remarkable rhythm.

This is an album that, to quote the press release notes, “sounds monolithic despite the fact that the individual songs ooze a wide range of different details and special features.” There is exceptional compositional talent that they have now mastered for the third time.

If I had to explain Manimal’s sound to someone who had not heard of them, I would describe them as this….they are the best bits of a variety of metal genres all rolled into one, Judas Priest meets Primal Fear meets Angel Dust meets every other goddamn band there ever was!

I was in love with this album from the very first note of the very first song. Even now, as I write this review and the album has been played almost to death (although not quite) in my car for my journeys to and from work, I am listening to it again! There really is not a bad song on the album, and although the whole “all killer, no filler” quote is a bit of a cliché, its one that is actually true of this album, and I actually think its gets better the further into the album you get (which is really saying something as it starts on such a high anyway!)

The last three tracks “Denial” (my absolute favourite! Its one of those tracks you can play on a loop time and time again and still not tire of it!), “Edge of Darkness” and “The Fear Within” are my stand out tracks, although the title track, “Traitor” and “Behind Enemy Lines” are just as good. And the remaining two tracks, “Manimalized” and “Spreading the Dread” are not far behind. The first track on the album “Black Plague” is an intro and sets the scene for some awesome metal to come.

I could talk all day about how much I loved this album, but I think the best thing you can do, is go out and get yourself a copy and see for yourself! I would bet anything that you won’t be disappointed!

I just hope these guys are planning on doing some gigs over here in England (hint hint guys!) because I will be right down the front for it!!

The album was only released on the 7^th of September 2018 (today’s date is the 12^th September!) and I am already looking forward to the next album of awesomeness these guys produce!

You have definitely got yourselves a new fan here!!!

TRACK LIST

1. Black Plague

2. Purgatorio

3. Manimalized

4. Spreading The Dread

5. Traitor

6. Behind Enemy Lines

7. Denial

8. Edge Of Darkness

9. The Fear Within

First published on Ever Metal

I,Assassin are a 4-piece heavy rock outfit from Shrewsbury in Shropshire, forming in 2016 from the ashes of two ill-fated bands. The band is the “coming together of four distinctly different individuals unified under a single vision,” and that is to create and perform outstanding and infectious original rock music. They perform whenever and wherever they can until either, and in their words, “the wheels fall off or they achieve world domination!”

With an old-school classic rocker on guitar, a hair metalist on bass, a pop-punk drummer and a metalcore singer, and influences so broad and diverse, it’s impossible to pinpoint their sound (which, to me, is always a good thing!) but they guarantee it “will be loud, it will be fast, and it will leave you with a grin from ear to ear.”

After perfecting their undefinable sound, they made their live debut in March 2017, to instant praise and acclaim, and a strong debut year followed. They performed as finalists in both the Metallum and Soundwaves competitions, and played numerous blistering headlining shows across the West Midlands, building themselves a name as one of the best live unsigned bands in the country.

This EP is a sonic juggernaut, full of big riffs, soaring choruses and a fist pumping drive, and their diversity is definitely one of their strengths. From the groove and presence of opening track ‘Survival’, to the fast and frantic ‘The Horde’, to the classic rock ballad of ‘Another Feeling’ and, finally, to the dynamic closer ‘Anthem’ this EP has a little bit of everything. ‘The Horde’ has been played on BBC Radio, and they have also been interviewed on BBC Radio in Shropshire.

I really did like this EP. At four tracks long and lasting just over nineteen minutes, it packs a lot into such a short space of time. The guitars are heavy yet melodic and the singers voice is actually quite unique. There is a bit of a drone to it that gives the lyrics personality and, mixed with the growls that sneak in every now and then, it makes for some powerful stuff.

As previously mentioned, each track on this EP is different from the last and this is where the band’s diversity shines through. They can write and perform a power ballad magnificently, yet at the same time produce a balls in your face metal track.

I hope the appeal of this band starts to spread further afield than the West Midlands as I would love to see them perform in London or the surrounding area sometime soon.

Keep up the good work boys! Next stop, an album??

TRACKLISTING

1 Survival

2 The Horde

3 Another Feeling

4 Anthem

First published on Ever Metal

There are certain bands, that when they pop up on the “review to do” list, I always try to get my name against first. Evergrey are one of these such bands! Having been a fan since I purchased a copy of their 2008 album “Torn” on a whim, and also having reviewed their 2016 album “The Storm Within” I thought it was only right that I reviewed their latest offering “The Atlantic.”

Evergrey are a Swedish progressive metal band from Gothenburg, formed in 1995, and led by frontman and songwriter, Tom S Englund, they have always been synonymous with “technically and compositionally outstanding standards, combined with lyrics and messages which go way beyond rock ‘n’ roll prose.”

Progressive metal is not one of my preferred genres, but there are a few bands that stand out in the field, and, for me, Evergrey have always been one of the best.  With this new album, the band have manifested their reputation as one of the most unusual and innovative progressive metal acts….worldwide!

This album also sees them complete their “Hymns For The Broken” trilogy, which began life with the launch of Part 1 back in 2014, and is all about the adventure of ‘life’.

“As on Hymns For The Broken and it’s 2016 successor The Storm Within, the new album is about events and experiences in our lives,” explains Englund, “it’s about relationships, beauty and darkness, about fortune and grief, about love, hate, despair, joy and everything connected with it. Life is like a journey across the ocean, on the way to distant shores.”

So, it was rather apt then, to call the album “The Atlantic”, the second largest ocean on the planet, and with it, they take their listeners on a tempestuous voyage across the rough seas, something that only prog metal can really do!

The expressive cover art work was designed  by Greek artist Giannis Nakos, who is renowned for his work for Oceans of Slumber and Hades Rising, among others. The album was mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen and was produced by Tom, himself, along with drummer Jonas Ekdahl.

The lyrics of Everygrey songs have always been of the darker side, as has the band’s imagery, and this album is no different, with the words being delivered with deep feeling and emotion from the talented voice of Tom. I have always been a fan of Tom’s voice and he did not disappoint on this album. He just seems to get better and better.

There are ten tracks on the album and, although together they make for a superb album, each one can stand alone with “amazing power, depth and exciting detail.” There are no bad songs on this album and I don’t think Mr Englund could write an awful track even if he tried.

The first track on the album is ‘A Silent Arc’ and is probably one of the fiercest and toughest tracks Evergrey have ever recorded. Says their publicity notes, it’s “brutal in certain kind of Evergrey way!” But, this is not the only function of this track. While it also sets the whole lyrical and musical content of the album, it is also the first single release. Quite a cute move to place it number one in the track list!

There will also be videos to accompany the atmospherically heavy ‘Weightless’, my favourite track on the album, and the anthemic and melancholic ‘All I Have’, two highlights from the thoroughly diverse and haunting album. Also, check out track number two ‘A Secret Atlantis’. Those opening riffs are just magnificent.

The band’s Facebook page cites their influences as Kiss, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Korn and The Deftones, and to be honest I can’t hear any of those bands in Evergrey’s music. For me, these guys produce music that is totally unique to them. They have the riffs and the guitars, the drums and the vocals that bands of all genres of metal possess, but the way it is all put together just sets them miles apart from the rest. This is music you could break up and make up to. It’s music that makes you feel emotions that you might not necessarily want to feel. It’s music that gets your right in the stomach and tears at your heartstrings! And there are not many bands out there who can do that!

If you have not heard Evergrey’s music before….where the hell have you been for the past twenty years?? And, more importantly, GO and BUY this album! In fact go and buy them all. They are definitely a band you need to hear.

I hope these guys continue to make lots more of their fantastic music and next time they are in London (question for you there Tom??!) I will definitely be at the front!!

TRACK LIST

01. A Silent Arc

02. Weightless

03. All I Have

04. A Secret Atlantis

05. The Tidal

06. End Of Silence

07. Currents

08. Departure

09. The Beacon

10. This Ocean

First published on Ever Metal

One of the things you cannot do as a reviewer (or at least you shouldn’t do!) is stay inside your comfort zone when it comes to music. Reviewing the same genre time and time again will make you be unappreciative of the music and your reviews will all start to sound the same. (well, that’s my opinion of it anyway!)

So, being the thrash/power/traditional heavy metal fan that I am, I decided to take a huge leap out of my comfort zone and review a death metal album. But, before I tell you what I think of the album, I will give you a little history of the band.

Drawn And Quartered were originally formed over two and a half DECADES ago, in 1993, under the name of Plague Bearer. Since changing their name, this Seattle based band have earned themselves huge admiration from critiques and listeners alike because of their unconventional and dark structures song-writing.

Now, six highly acclaimed full-length releases and numerous demos and EP’s shows why their existence in the underground is invulnerable and indestructible, and they have mastered the influences of bands such as Immolation, Incantation, Morbid Angle and Autopsy in their own way.

Even their own publicity notes say they “push the boundaries of traditional death metal by infusing technically complex riffs, while retaining the dreadful and raw environs with dexterity.”

“Hail Infernal Darkness” was the band’s third full length album, originally released on CD by Moribund Records, in 2006, having been mixed and mastered by Jesse O’Donnell at The Autopsy Rooms.  Now, for the very first time this timeless masterpiece has been released 12″ vinyl format by Krucyator Productions.

So, as I said at the start of this review, I am completely out of my zone with this album as I am not a fan of death metal in anyway BUT having given this a few listen throughs, there are some positive points to the whole genre.

While the guitars are fast, and the drums are pounding, the music is anything but a noise. The guitarists are obviously very talented musicians as there is some great guitarwork hidden under all the speed and growling vocals and riffs galore punch you in the stomach so hard they reverberate around your very being from some time after the track has finished. The drummer, who also possesses a LOT of talent, must lose a gallon of sweat during a live performance as the drumming is so fast it’s any wonder he keeps up.

Death metal vocals have always been a bug-bear of mine, always preferring clean vocals no matter what the speed or ferocity of the music, and this album is no different. Some may argue it’s the vocals that make death metal what it is, but I don’t think anything in the world could make me change my mind.

Musically, I loved this album. Its fast, its intricate and its raw. This album is brutal for brutality’s sake, yet it is also very atmospheric. Darkness, death and extreme violence are images conjured up while listening to this and, although that could just be my overactive writer’s imagination kicking into play, with title tracks such as “Blind, Torture, Kill”, “Throne Of Desolation” and “Nightghoul of the Graveyards” I think this is precisely the reaction they were looking for.

Despite my limited death metal knowledge but relying on my intense research as I reviewed this, I think this will appeal to a lot of death metal fans. But don’t take my word for it, go and grab yourself a copy and see for yourself!

TRACK LIST

1. Procession of Pain

2. Genocide Advocacy

3. Hail Infernal Darkness

4. Blood of a Million Martyrs

5. Throne of Desolation

6. Suffer a Traitor’s Fate

7. Escape to Cremation

8. Bind, Torture, Kill

9. Nightghoul of the Graveyards

SOCIAL MEDIA

https://www.facebook.com/drawnandquartered

https://drawnandquartered1.bandcamp.com

http://krucyatorproductions.com

First published on Ever Metal

For fans of Linkin Park, Falling in Reverse, Bring Me The Horizon

Hurricane On Saturn is a new project launched at the end of 2019 by experienced Italian musicians coming from various genres called Dakm, Maydx, Antares, Rastaban and Menkib. 

The proposal out of any classification is based on a unique use of electronics combined with rock, rap, post-hardcore and crossover influences. The band immediately enters the Alpha Omega Management rooster for live promotion but unfortunately the global situation of covid-19 has blocked the plans to perform live in 2020, allowing at the same time to shift the focus on the publication of the first album “KILLING FIELD” mixed by Evan Rodaniche (Cage9, Powerman 5000) out on 13th November 2020 on all digital stores together with the official video from the title track on the band’s YouTube channel. At the moment Hurricane On Saturn is working on new singles to be released in the next few months.

Watch This Music Video!

Follow the band at these links:
https://www.hurricaneonsaturn.com

https://www.facebook.com/hurricaneonsaturn

https://www.youtube.com/hurricaneonsaturn

https://www.instagram.com/hurricaneonsaturnofficial

https://www.twitter.com/hurricanesaturn

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0avNS76kgqKRDQZWMTpQey

https://hurricaneonsaturn.bandcamp.com/

Reproduced with permission from Metal Devastation PR