There’s so much incredible talent to be found in the more obscure NWOBHM bands, but there are also bands and albums which have rightfully remained in the shadows, just because they are not good enough. Desolation Angels definitely belong to the first category and their eponymous debut from 1986 remains a cult dark heavy metal..
Tokyo Blade – Time Is The Fire (Dissonance Productions)
Now, these guys need no introduction, do they? A legendary name in the NWOBHM wave, with two fantastic early albums like the self-titled (1983) and the following masterpiece Night Of The Blade (1984). Unfortunately, Tokyo Blade have fallen victim to many line-up changes, strained relationships between band members and a poor choice of moment to..
Satan – Songs In Crimson (Metal Blade Records)
The amazing revival of NWOBHM veterans Satan continues and here they are with their fifth album after reforming in 2011 (and seventh overall). Songs In Crimson comes just two years after Earth Infernal and is another celebration of everything we love about this band. Before we dive deeper in the album, I have to stress..
Blitzkrieg – Blitzkrieg (Mighty Music)
The NWOBHM movement was so honest and so inspired back in the day, that there were literally hundreds of bands that got a great talent but didn’t have the luck to be picked up by a bigger label. Perhaps there was a good reason apart from pure luck and the law of the jungle narrowed..
Saxon – Hell, Fire And Damnation (Silver Lining Music)
Almost exactly two years after their last album, British metal legends Saxon are back with a landmark release. Hell, Fire And Damnation declares its ambition to be a special album in Saxon’s discography with not only title, but also the fantastic, aggressive artwork, which is in total contrast with the pastoral peysage of Carpe Diem...
Speed Limit – Hit The Wall (EP) (NRT-Records)
Every once in a while you find yourself hell-bent on getting your own way on a one-way smash-and-grab trip through a brick wall! This is the main topic of the new Single Hit The Wall of the Austrian heavy metal crusaders Speed Limit , the first appetizer of the new album Cut A Long Story Short. The now released EP Hit..
Twister – Only The Strong Survive EP
Twister previously got rave reviews, your own Velvet Thunder included, for their debut album Cursed and Corrected, released in the Autumn of 2020. The album distilled five years worth of them growing as a band and as fine young chappies in the North East, each track capturing everything that had happened to them personally and..
The Riven – Peace and Conflict (The Sign Records)
I have to say from the outset I'm so, so mightily pleased to have come across these guys - this could well be my album of the year! Since the release of their debut self-titled album from 2019, the group has recruited a second guitarist, enabling more dynamic twin guitar arrangements and colourful melodies to..
Green King – Hidden Beyond Time (The Sign Records)
Spoiler Alert - this is NOT some sort of alcohol-fuelled musicians' collaboration with a British brewery! This particular brew of Green King is in fact a Finnish heavy metal group, and Hidden Beyond Time is their debut album! And exceptionally good it is too - in fact any self-respecting fan of NWOBHM bands (Iron Maiden..
Oath Sc – Hallowed Illusions (Independent)
Sometimes when doing reviews, you stumble across something completely unknown to you but nevertheless makes you think "wow!". Evoking the glory of late 70's pub rock married to early 80s garage bands and so much more, Oath is a reverb-drenched haze of pulsating riffs and serpentine solos. Imagine a cross between Graham Parker and the..