Recently, two members of the Velvet Thunder writing team had books published in the ‘On Track’ series by Sonicbond Publishing, delving into every album and every track by a selected artist – Graeme Stroud covering Thin Lizzy and Steve Pilkington taking on Iron Maiden. A little while ago we presented an exclusive sample chapter from the THIN LIZZY volume,..
Ghosts Of Sunset – Headed West (Golden Robot Records)
This is the debut EP by American outfit Ghosts Of Sunset and they have set their stall out by unleashing what they describe as a concept EP based on the '80s rock/hair metal scene. It's an ambitious target to pull this by only using six tracks and a total of twenty six minutes to play..

Jeff Pennachio – Setting The Stage (Self Released)
Jeff Pennachio is a New York based guitarist and song writer and he appears to have been in a number of disparate groups ranging from Design The Void, a US progressive metalcore band, through to covers bands as well as releasing music under his own name too. For the three tracks on this short EP,..

Black Pistol Fire – Look Alive (Black Hill Records)
It's not so often that you get albums by duos with just the two musicians represented and not a guest musician in sight but that is what we have here with this pairing of vocalist/guitarist Kevin McKeown and drummer/bass and synth player Eric Owen. Both are originally from Toronto in Canada but are now long time..

Epica – Release video for new single”Rivers”
Dutch symphonic giants EPICA recently announced the release of their new alum Omega, out on February 26th, 2021 via Nuclear Blast. Omega is the band's first studio album in five years. This past Friday, the band released a music video for their mesmerising third single, the ballad Rivers. "Our third single has arrived! 'Rivers' symbolizes..

UNGRAVEN PREMIER NEW TRACK FROM UPCOMING SPLIT RELEASE WITH SLOMATICS
Since forming in 2013 UK label Blackbow Records has continued to release music created and appreciated by those who worship tone and riffs. Now in 2021 they are set to continue this trend with a new split LP of pure heaviness from Belfast based, sludge-juggernauts Slomatics alongside the blistering and crushing sounds of Ungraven. With..

Ritualist industrial metal offering ‘BLöD’ out now by mvsic2mvrder2
MVSIC2MVRDER2 PAVE THE WAY FOR RITUAL INDUSTRIAL METAL WITH NEW OFFERING 'BLöD'NEW SINGLE OUT NOW mvsic2mvrder2 - 'BlakGod' EP out February 22nd 2021 -Hardcore kicks and occult guitar licks- mvsic2mvrder2 live to do something off key. Coming from the Belgian darksynth and metal scene, tired of hearing the same sounds everywhere, m2m2 started combining black metal riffs and..

Therion – Release new single ‘Tuonela’ featuring Marko Hietala + music video. New album “Leviathan” out today!
Today sees the release of Therion's 17th studio album Leviathan! The album has been met with widespread praise and critical acclaim, and the Swedish symphonic metal forerunners are proud to celebrate its release day with yet another magnificent music video for the song Tuonela. You can expect to see demons, swordplay, fire, blood and drama - and basically..

Oh! You Pretty Things: Glam Queens And Street Urchins (1970-76) (Cherry Red)
Prolific label Cherry Red Records are currently outdoing themselves with their output of classic and rare vintage boxed sets – search for the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, Pub-Rock, Back Street Crawler and Fraternity reviews on this website for starters. This latest 3-CD boxed set, complete with 40-page booklet insert, strives to document the..

Warzaw – Werewolves On Wheels (Self Released)
Warzaw is a new heavy rock band from Trondheim in Norway with the wonderfully titled Werewolves On Wheels being the bands self released debut album. A quick look at the cartoon based album cover screams biker rock and that is pretty close to the band's style as this is hard and heavy retro rock influenced..

SECRET SPHERE : ‘Lifeblood’ – new album by Italian metallers also marks return of original vocalist out 12 March 2021 via Frontiers
photo : Cunene Photography www.cuneneart.com Italian power/progressive metallers Secret Sphere are back with a new studio album, Lifeblood, which will be released on 12th March 2021 via Frontiers Music Srl. Aside from the deft musical prowess on show, it is a special record in that it marks the return of original band vocalist Roberto Messina...