Here is the playlist for our all request show as chosen by you, the listeners! Some crackers were picked!

• Seven Witches – Metal Asylum
• Deicide – Lunatics Of God’s Creation – celebrating 31 years of the band’s self-titled debut album
• WASP – I Wanna Be Somebody – celebrating the birthday of guitarist Chris Holmes who was 63 on 23rd June
• Iced Earth – Watching Over Me – from the album Something Wicked This Way Comes which was released 23 years ago on 22/06/1998
• Hellyeah – Demons In The Dirt – remembering Vinnie Paul who passed away 3 years ago on 22/06/2018
• Gojira – Explosia – from the album L’Enfant Sauvage which was released 9 years ago on 26/06/2012
• Doro – Burning The Witches – for listener Steve Downes who’s birthday was on 26/06
• Skid Row – Get Up – for former vocalist Johnny Solinger who passed away on 26/06/2021
• Anthrax – Medusa (Spreading The Disease – 1985)
• Hammerfall – The Way Of The Warrior (Renegade – 2000)
• Motley Crue – Down At The Whiskey (Saints Of Los Angeles – 2008)
• Heaven And Hell – Bible Black (The Devil You Know – 2009)
• Manoware – Warriors Of The World (Warriors Of The World – 2002)
• Helloween – Future World (Keeper Of The Seven Keys – 1987)
• Eyefear – From Darkness Til Dawn (The Unseen – 2008)
• The Eternal – Down (The Sombre Light Of Isolation – 2004)
• The Poor – More Wine Waiter Please (Who Cares – 1994)
• Metal Church – Fake Healer (Blessing In Disguise – 1989)
• Dimmu Borgir – Mourning Palace (Enthrone Darkness Triumphant – 1997)
• Dragonforce – Through The Firer And The Flames (Inhuman Rampage – 2005)
• Y&T – Forever (Black Tiger – 1982
• Molly Hatchet – The Fall Of The Peacemaker (No Guts..No Glory – 1983)
• Dark Star – Lady Of Mars (Dark Star – 1981)
• Obituary – Slowly We Rot (Slowly We Rot – 1989)
• Possessed – The Exorcist (Seven Churches – 1985)
• Rebaelliun – Annihilation (Annihilation – 2001)
• Orange Goblin – The Filthy And The Few (A Eulogy For The Damned – 2012)
• Metal Church – Watch The Children Pray (The Dark – 1986)
• Metallica – Disposable Heroes (Master Of Puppets – 1986)
• Elixir – Pandora’s Box (The Sun Of Odin – 1986)
• Kiss – Strutter (Alive! – 1975)
• Rainbow – Kill The King (Long Live Rock N Roll – 1978)
• Holycide – The Aftermath (Recipients Of Death) (Fist To Face – 2020)
• Ram – Breaking Through (Forced Entry – 2005)
• Accept – Love Child (Balls To The Wall – 1984)

Aired on metal Devastation Radio on Sunday 27th June 2021

Due to gremlins invading the show the previous week, we decided to air our All Request Show this week instead. 3 hours of tunes chosen by you, the listeners, and boy did you pick some crackers! Enjoy!

Aired on Metal Devastation Radio on Sunday 27th June 2021

Here is the playlist:

• Seven Witches – Metal Asylum
• Spit Like This – Normalityville Horror – as a tribute to Lord Zion whose death was recently announced
• Steve Vai – For The Love Of God – for the guitarist whose birthday was on 6th June. He was 60
• Slayer – War Ensemble – for singer Tom Araya who was also 60, also on 6th June
• Lacuna Coil – Swamped – for singer Christina Scabbia, who turned 48 on 6th June
• Manowar – Battle Hymn – from the album Battle Hymns which was released 39 years ago on 07/06/1982
• Nevermore – The Obsidian Conspiracy – from the album of the same name which was released 11 years ago on 08/06/2010
• Savatage – Commissar (Poets and Madmen – 2001)
• Parkway Drive – Crushed (Ire – 2015)
• Fallen Angels – Forsaken Existence (World In Decay – 2015)
• Hate Eternal – King Of All Kings (King Of All Kings – 2002) also for Erik Rutan whose birthday was on 10/06 – he was 50
• Blitzkid – Evil Hand (Terrifying Tales – 2000)
• 2 Ton Predator – Demon Dealer (Demon Dealer – 2003)
• Warbeast – Stalker (Krush The Enemy – 2010)
• Dreamhunter – Hope (The Hunt Is On – 2006)
• Quartz – Can’t Say No To You (Stand Up And Fight – 1980)
• Alenia – Bow To None (2021 – new one from these guys)
• Lost Society – Terror Hungry (Terror Hungry – 2014)
• Will Haven – Ego’s Game (El Diablo – 1997)
• Chrome Molly – Cut Loose (You Can’t Have It All – 1985)
• The Dead Daisies – Like No Other (Holy Ground – 2021)
• Pantera – Down Below (I Am The Night – 1985)
• Cianide – The Power To Destroy (Death, Doom and Destruction – 1997)
• Cannibal Corpse – The Cryptic Stench (Tomb Of The Mutilated – 1992)
• Sinister – Cross The Styx (Cross The Styx – 1992)
• Vicious Nature – Psychotic (VII)
• Eye Beyond Sight – Self Possession (The Sun And The Flood – 2012)
• Ozzy Osbourne – Lightning Strikes (The Ultimate Sin – 1986)
• Shotgun Rodeo – Saving Myself (World Wide Genocide – 2015)
• ThrashBombz – Evoking The Ghost (Master Of The Dead – 2017)
• Motorhead – Kingdom Of The Worm (Kiss Of Death – 2006)
• Trixter – Rockin’ To The Edge Of The Night (Human Era – 2015)
• Queensryche – Neue Regal (Rage For Order – 1986)
• Airbourne – Back In The Game (Black Dog Barking – 2013)
• Blood And Iron – Underground Rebellion (Voices Of Eternity – 2014)
• Chronicles Of Hate – The Beast Within (The Birth Of Hate – 2020)
• Maryann Cotton – White Pearl (Hallelujah – 2020)
• Vicious Rumors – Sonic Rebellion (Warball – 2006)

Aired on Metal Devastation Radio on Sunday 13th June 2021

No special show this week, just three hours of awesome metal tunes, kicking off with our usual Tribute section and welcoming the return of The Death Metal Dungeon \m/

Aired on Metal Devastation Radio on Sunday 13th June 2021

Here is the playlist for our Euro’s Heavy Metal Special

• Seven Witches – Metal Asylum
• Lizzy Borden – Rod Of Iron – celebrating the 36th anniversary of the album Love You To Pieces which was released on 01/06/1985
• Thin Lizzy – Don’t Believe A Word (Live) – celebrating the 43rd anniversary of the album Live and Dangerous
• Doro – She’s Like Thunder – for the singer who was 57 on 3rd June
• Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive – for the singer who was 71 also on 3rd June
• Ghost – Rats – celebrating the 3rd anniversary of the album Prequelle which was released on 01/06/2018
• Mott The Hoople – Whiskey Women – celebrating the 82nd birthday of singer Ian Hunter
• Aborted – The Davidian Deceit (Necrotic Manifesto – 2014) BELGIUM
• Frozen Crown – I Am The Tyrant (The Fallen King – 2018) ITALY
• Deviant Syndrome – Desolated Symptoms Of Plague (66 Ways To Redemption – 2013) RUSSIA
• Behemoth – The Satanist (The Satanist – 2014) POLAND
• Jinjer – Sit, Stay, Roll Over (King Of Everything – 2016) UKRAINE
• Baron Rojo – Rockers Go To Hell (Volumen Brutal – 1982) SPAIN
• Nightmare – Cosmovision (Cosmovision – 2001) FRANCE
• Heretic Soul – Mental Decay (Born Into This Plague – 2010) TURKEY
• Apolcalyptica – I’m Not Jesus (World’s Collide – 2007) FINLAND
• Amon Amarth – As Loke Falls (Deceiver Of The Gods – 2013) SWEDEN
• Inside My Casket – Us & Them (no album details) CROATIA
• Visions Of Atlantis – At The Back Of Beyond (Trinity – 2007) AUSTRIA
• Edguy – Matrix (Rocket Ride – 2006) GERMANY
• Moonspell – Extinct (Extinct – 2015) PORTUGAL
• Volbeat – Heaven Nor Hell (Beyond Hell / Above Heaven – 2010) DENMARK
• Within Temptation – Stand My Ground (Silent Force – 2005) NETHERLANDS
• Seven – Brain Eater (Freedom Call – 2011) Czech Republic
• Embalming Theatre – Sweet Chainsaw Melodies (Sweet Chainsaw Melodies – 2003) SWITZERLAND
• Bullet For My Valentine – Tears Don’t Fall (The Poison – 2005) WALES
• Aeon Arcanum – Morbid Incarnation (Monuments Year – 2001) NORTH MACEDONIA
• Blind Myself – Go Get A Life (Ancient Scream Therapy – 2006) HUNGARY
• Vindex – The Crossroads (No Middle Ground – 2006) SLOVAKIA
• The Almighty – Over The Edge (Powertrippin’ – 1993) SCOTLAND
• Iron Maiden – These Colours Don’t Run (A Matter Of Life And Death – 2006) ENGLAND
• Alcatrazz – God Blessed Video (Disturbing The Peace – 1985)
• The Offspring – Hit That (Splinter – 2003)
• Pantera – Domination (Cowboy’s From Hell – 1990)
• Samson – Losing My Grip (Before The Storm – 1982)
• Wolf – Venom (Black Wings – 2002)
• Helstar – Eternal Black (This Wicked Nest – 2014)
• Black Sabbath – Sabbath Bloody Sabbath

Aired on Metal Devastation Radio on Sunday 6th June 2021

For this show we decided to do a special as the European Championships in football are about to kick off. One band for each country participating, our usual tribute section and a few better known tracks thrown in for good measure \m/

Aired on Metal Devastation Radio on Sunday 6th June 2021

Since I started on my reviewing journey, I have started to appreciate a few things when it comes to music. One is that you should never base your opinion of an album by the band’s name or the artwork (common sense really but it’s surprising how many bands could get discarded by a listener just because their name suggests an “alternative” genre.) The second is that, despite the music industry as a whole trying to pigeon hole bands into stereotypical genres, there are bands that just do not fall into one particular style.

Zero Theorem are a band that both statements apply to. I didn’t really know what to think when I first plugged my little USB stick into my car to listen to this album. Their name suggested to me either a very progressive band or a death metal one. Opposite ends of the spectrum I agree but Zero Theorem are neither of these.

Blending alternative hard rock with the rhythmic and uncompromising intensity of metal, these are a band that can cover a whole range of genres, having drawn early comparisons to the likes of Disturbed, Five Finger Death Punch and Tool.

Initially set up as a cross country collaboration between cousins, Caesar, who was based in Chicago, and Joe Scarlotti, based in Los Angeles, they began writing songs by sending digital files to each other. Caesar eventually relocated to Los Angeles to further his musical ambitions and the first Zero Theorem demos were recorded in 2017.

Through word of mouth and tireless networking in Los Angeles, the band came together with guitarist Max Georgiev, bassist Eloy Palacios and drummer Jake Hayden, and work began on turning the demos into finished songs, all production work carried out by Kane Churko (Papa Roach, Five Finger Death Punch, In This Moment) at The Hideout Recording Studios in Las Vegas.

The band soon gained notoriety as a love act by performing with Doyle, Hed PE, Art of Dying and Motograter, to name but a few, and since late 2017, the single “Area” has steadily climbed in the Active Rock radio charts, and even jumped into the top 35, as well as being featured on various key hard rock play lists.

So, what of the EP?

“The Zero Theorem sound is groove metal with big melodies and some progressive material mixed in. Heavy metal itself is a lifestyle choice and we strive to embody that with both substance and wit,” says vocalist Caesar. And I couldn’t agree more.

The EP begins with the explosive “Euthanasia”, a strong song to let us know just what we are to expect for the next twenty minutes. Or so we think!

First single “Area” is melodic and haunting, while fourth track “Rorschach” is heavy and abrasive, probably the heaviest on the EP.

Title track “Ataraxis” is slower-paced but just as well executed as any of the faster ones, and it is with this track that their similarity with the band Tool is noticeable. Time changes all over the place, Caesar’s dark and brooding voice, which makes him such a powerful frontman, easily comparable to that of Maynard James Keenan, lead vocalist with Tool.

This is an excellent and impressive debut. Its heavy yet melodic, with stomping riffs, and driving, bombastic grooves. They make not be the next best thing but they are certainly well on the way. If they continue to produce music of this quality and calibre then they could well be one of the top metal acts of the time.

This EP is only twenty minutes long but what a twenty minutes! I listened to this over and over and over and over again and never once got bored with it.

All I can say, is go grab yourself a copy and see for yourself just what this band can do.

Keep up the good work guys and I’ll see you at a gig in London sometime hopefully!!

TRACK LISTING

Euthanize

Area

Becoming

Rorschach

Ataraxis

Low

Originally posted on Ever Metal

When Rick asked me to do him a favour and squeeze a review in for him, there were four words in his message that stood out to me – “former members of Annihilator and Testament.” That was all I needed to say yes as I am a mahoosive fan of both, especially Testament, and I always love coming back to my roots.

Wreck-Defy are a thrash band from Thunder Bay, Ontario in Canada and as previously mentioned features former members of Annihilator, Testament and Demolition Hammer. They were formed in 2016 when Matt Hanchuck got together with his friend Justin Stear, who had agreed to do the vocals on the debut record “Fragments Of Anger”, which was released in 2017. Shawn Dover from Megadeth was brought in to play drums, and his brother Gary, also ex-Megadeth, agreed to mix and master the album.

Fast forward to 2019 and 1^st February saw the release of their latest offering “Remnants Of Pain.” With a new line-up featuring Matt on guitars, Aaron Randall, ex-Annihilator, on vocals, and Greg Christian, formerly of Testament, on bass, they used studio session drummer Dave O’Neal for the album, but have since been able to recruit the amazing Alex Marquez from Demolition Hammer and Solstice for future shows and tours.

The album has been mixed, mastered and edited by Juan Urteaga, who has also produced for Testament, Heathen, Vicious Rumors and Dragonlord, to name a few!

So, what of the new album? Well, this is nothing short of a thrash-fest that will have you banging your head from start to finish!

It has all the hallmarks of a great thrash album, from the rumbling, frantic drums, to the faster than lightning guitars and raw, aggressive vocals. Says Matt; “the new record has a street level sound that is a throwback to the burgeoning thrash movement from the mid 1980’s with a more modern-day production value,” and this is exactly the reason why I love it so much.

I always said I was born too late as a lot of the music I listen to now was around before I was old enough to appreciate it, but I love the fact there are bands out there who want to bring this sound back again. For the young ones like me(!) it gives us the chance to live through something we would otherwise have missed and I, for one, would love to see a full thrash revolution happen now.

The album deals with a lot of social issues, says Matt; “lyrically, it’s about many of the negative aspects in life, such as war, addiction, tyranny etc,” and I would be keen to sit down with a copy of the lyrics as I listened to it. There are a lot of concerns that need dealing with in society these days, and if we can’t get these dealt with through other means, what better way than through music?

The two stand out songs on the album for me were ‘Broken Peace’, a track FULL of fast, frantic riffs and drumming, and ‘Looking Back’ which has a strong Testament feel to it, but there really are no bad tracks on the album. With nine tracks lasting just under three quarters of an hour, these truly is a feast for your ears!

If you love your thrash metal, as I do, then I highly recommend you go and buy this album. You would be missing out on a right little gem!

TRACK LISTING:

Killing the Children

Broken Peace

Riverview

Looking Back

18oz of Chrome

The Divide

Art of Addiction

Angels and Demons

Blackened Cloth

Originally posted on Ever Metal

If there was ever a case of don’t judge a book by its cover (or in this instance by its name) then its Volster. When I was first assigned this to review, I must admit my heart sank a teeny tiny bit. I was certain that they were going to be a black metal band with a name like that, and although I know reviewing means stepping out of your comfort zone occasionally, I wasn’t in the mood for a black metal band.

So, imagine my surprise, and joy, when track number one “King of the Hill” came through the speakers!

No more of a black metal band than I am the Queen of Sheba, Volster are, in fact, a melodic, hard rock band from Sweden, and features ex members of Masquerade and House of Heavy.

The band was started by guitarist Ulf Anderson and bass player Henrik Lundberg, who were both members of the band Masquerade in the late 80’s and early 90’s. They met up in 1996 to record a four song demo, called Volster, but nothing much more happened.

In 2013 (17 years later!!) they decided to pick up where they left off and plans were made to start a band, performing the songs from the demo and also writing new ones. They kept the name Volster.

Says Henrik Lundberg: “brought up with music from the 70’s and 80’s the roots are deep. So, it is no surprise our music is built from these glorious decades even if we also involve some more modern flavours. The main ingredient is the melody, what else makes a great song other than the great vocals and interesting riffs, of course. With member having been active in the music business for decades, now is the time to make all our music dreams come true, playing the music we love. Volster is melodic hard rock as it’s supposed to be.”

And I couldn’t agree more. I always preferred the heavy side to US glam rock with bands such as Skid Row and Motley Crue, but Volster offer a bit more. Throw in a bit of Aerosmith and a touch of Ozzy and you are the way to getting what this band is about.

As previously mentioned, the album kicks off with the infectious “King of the Hill” and it doesn’t let up until it finishes with the heavy “Ends With Me”. The album is full of stomping rhythms and heavy riffs, which mixed with clean and clear vocals, makes for an awesome hard hitting rock album.

Although this is the debut full length album for the band, they are by no means the new kids on the block. A wealth of experience to draw on and a passion to make the music they want to, how they want to, means they are at an advantage to other bands releasing their debut album.

Produced by themselves, the album is also co-produced and mixed by Max Norman (Ozzy Osbourne, Lynch Mob, Armored Saint, Lizzy Borden, Megadeth and Y&T) and mastered by Thomas ‘Plec’ Johansson (Soilwork, Onslaught, Armageddon, Degradead, Dynazty) at The Panic Room Mastering.

“Breathless” is probably my favourite track on the album but there are plenty of others that I also enjoyed. The songs are well written and fantastically executed. These guys are great musicians on top of everything else, with their sound firmly stuck in the classic hard rock era.

This is a must have album for every modern hard rock fan and I certainly will be keeping my eye holes and ear balls open for anything new they do!

TRACK LIST:

King Of The Hill

Heaven Or Hell

Perfect Storm

Breathless

Still In Love

Babylon

Hero

Games Of War

Easier Said Than Done

I Don’t Care

Drifting Away

Ends With Me

Originally posted on Ever Metal

As many of you who have read my previous reviews will know, there are two genres of metal that I am particularly fond of. One is thrash, and the other is power metal, and Visigoth fall into the second of the two.

Now, being a power metal fan, I personally believe there are two distinct types of power metal, the first being the Hammerfall / Blind Guardian / Iron Saviour-esque metal that the Europeans and Scandinavians are so good at producing. The second could only be described as the cheesier type of power metal, you know, the kind that Manowar make…. hail to the king and all that?!

Well, Visigoth fall somewhere in between the two!

Formed in Salt Lake City, Utah in January 2010, they released their debut album “The Revenant King” in 2015 and earned themselves an underground following worldwide with their impassioned and electric live shows, performing at the highly esteemed Keep It True, Frost and Fire and Pounding Metal festivals, sharing the stage with Metal Blade legacy acts and inspirations Cirith Ungol and Omen.

In the words of their own press release, they have dedicated themselves to “worshipping at the ageless altars of heavy metal with a singular focus on writing music inspired by their favourite records,” and because of this, they wear their influences proudly on their sleeves.

Music to me is all about making the listener feel something and if an album can make you envisage a scene or storyline in your head, just like reading a book can, then the music makers have done their job.

This album is a typical “steel and glory” offering, the kind that conjures up images of hammers, axes and swords, of burnt and pillaged towns and of screaming and crying women and children, with heroic themes of conquest and adventure.

The booming baritone of vocalist Jake Rogers is the driving force of the band and, alongside the consistent drums and duelling guitars, with their savoury harmonies and meaty riffs, brings a larger than life energy to the songs.

This is an album of “8 iron-forged anthems of pure metal magick, guaranteed to satiate the hunger of the rock ‘n’ roll hordes.”

It was recorded at the Boar’s Nest with engineer extraordinaire Andy Patterson (Subrosa, Deathblow, Dreadnought) and mixed by Dave Otero of Flatline Audio (Satan’s Host, Nightbringer, Khemmis) The breath-taking cover artwork was designed by underground album art legend Kris Verwimp, whose work has also graced the covers of records by Absu, Bewitched, Desaster, Horna, Moonsorrow, Skullview, Arkona and many more.

This is a good, old-fashioned album full of solid heavy metal, from the slow and triumphant anthems such as Steel and Silver, the faster paced tracks like Warrior Queen. The band sound like they were formed decades ago, despite being a newish band, and although this album brings nothing new to the table, if you want to stick an album on and reminisce about the simpler times of heavy metal, then this is the album for you.

It is a juggernaut of pure American true metal done right. The only thing that really lets this album down is the track “Salt City.” Not because it is a bad song, I actually quite like it, but it doesn’t seem to fit in with things and it distracts you from the unstoppable march that has been the rest of the album.

This doesn’t, however, mean that you shouldn’t give this album a listen, because, if you are a power metal fan of any sort, you definitely should.

A mix of Manowar and Hammerfall with a hint of NWOBHM and traditional heavy metal can’t be all that bad now can it?

TRACK LISTING

01. Steel and Silver

02. Warrior Queen

03. Outlive Them All

04. Hammerforged

05. Traitor’s Gate

06. Salt City

07. Blades in The Night

08. The Conqueror’s Oath

Originally posted on Ever Metal