2019 is already an epic doom metal revelation with new albums from both scene veterans Candlemass and new hopefuls Crypt Sermon. The latter, coming from Philadelphia, already made more than good impression with debut Out of the Garden, which came out in 2015. Four years of touring and fine-crafting their art have led us to..
PHIL MANZANERA – Diamond Head (Voiceprint)
In late 1974, Roxy Music guitarist Phil Manzanera began thinking that the time might be right for him to record a solo album. When he eventually elected to do so, in December of that year, he did what would perhaps not have been most people’s first idea: he recorded two at the same time. While..
JETHRO TULL – Stormwatch 40th anniversary: Force 10 edition (Chrysalis)
Darlings, are you ready? Summer is rapidly leaving us as the autumn air begins to roll into city and countryside alike, those first cool wisps innocent harbingers of the eventual biting chill of winter. And with this seasonal transition comes Stormwatch: The 40th Anniversary Force 10 Edition, the twelfth volume in the ongoing Jethro Tull..
PINK FAIRIES – The Polydor Years (Floating World)
To those not around at the time, it’s difficult to explain just what made the Pink Fairies great. Musically they were a multiple car crash involving psychedelia, heavy metal, MC5 proto-punk and hints of prog. With a big sense of humour and a lot of drugs. Did I mention the drugs? They did like the..
Netherbird – Into The Vast Uncharted (Eisenwald)
Fifteen years after their formation, Swedish black/death extremists Netherbird are ready to release their fifth album. Only two original members are left, namely guitar player Pontus Andersson (a.k.a. Bizmark) and frontman Johan Fridell (a.k.a. Nephente), but the present line-up has been forming for the last 10 years. One of the latest additions to the band..
Entombed A.D. – Bowels of Earth (Century Media Records)
It was exactly five years ago when legendary L.G. Petrov decided to launch this incarnation of Entombed, adding “A.D.” at the end to not stir further confusion with the (seemingly) ongoing band with Andersson, Cederlund and Hellid in the line-up (court disputes and everything aside). Bowels of Earth comes after two solid enough albums (2014’s..
ACHIEVERS – The Lost Arc
The Achievers are an electric pub blues band with more than a hint of the gospel about their good-time, upbeat rock’n’roll. Every song on this, their second album, is an original, mostly backed with multi-part harmony vocals. Traditional and quirky at the same time, upbeat and joyful yet lackadaisically laid-back, there’s no doubt this is..
HUIS – Abandoned (Unicorn Digital)
Michel St-Père is on a roll. His main band Mystery released one of the best albums of their career last year (the tremendous Lies And Butterflies). The band he plays guitar with, Huis, released their third and best album Abandoned this past spring. From Quebec, Huis are a highly melodic band in the neo-prog style,..
DISTRICT 97 – Screens (MindScan Records)
One gets the impression that D97 are not one of those bands who will sound corny in ten or fifteen years' time. Chicago-based heavy prog band District 97 have revealed their fourth studio album Screens, serving up another slab of their uniquely powerful music to the hungry fans that waited four years since their previous..
AARON ENGLISH – Songs From Somewhere Else (Eronisongs)
American singer/songwriter Aaron English has been a very busy man, taking his music to all over America, Europe, and Africa – where he founded a charity (International Youth Project). His latest release, Songs From Somewhere Else, reflects this diversity of influences. The songs largely reflect a sense of hope in a troubled world, and pay..