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Albums & Classics of the month - Archive
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Albums of the month - Archive
August 2011 - (Stuart)
Anvil - Juggernaut of Justice
Style: Heavy Metal
By now I think everyone is familiar with the story of Canadian rockers Anvil. One time brightest hopes of the Canadian metal scene cast into bleak obscurity for no discernable reason only to be brough....
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June 2011 - (Brian)
Sun Domingo - Songs For End Times
Style: Melodic Progrock
The relatively unknown Sun Domingo have toured with Marillion and Pineapple Thief . Clearly, they're associating with all the right people.Steve Hogarth contributes guest vocals and Bruce (PT) Soo....
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June 2011 - (Stuart)
Power Quest - Blood Alliance
Style: Power Metal
I've always had a soft spot for Power Quest, I remember seeing them live supporting Helloween in 2006 and enjoying their light, airy take on power metal. It took me a while to track down some o....
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May 2011 - (Steen)
Neal Morse - Testimony 2
Style: Progressive Rock
How can a dream so far away become a place in reality?Prog Rock maestro Neal Morse is back with close to two hours of music, spanning two CD's. Disc ....
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May 2011 - (Alanna)
Lake of Tears - Illwill
Style: Thrash doom metal
Lake of Tears always seem to soar right under the radar, no matter how they package themselves. From their earlier, crushing heavy releases, the catchy proggy doom acid trip of "A Crimson Cosmos", the....
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May 2011 - (Stuart)
Hell - Human Remains
Style: Occult NWOBHM
There has been quite a buzz about the release of the first full length Hell album and for good reason. Formed in the heady NWOBHM days, Hell fashioned some exciting and highly original music ha....
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April 2011 - (Alanna)
Whitesnake - Forevermore
Style: Hard Rock
If the previous Whitesnake album, "Bad to be Good" was enough to please the fans, despite having lost it's hooks halfway between the writing and pressing phase, then the latest and greatest "For....
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April 2011 - (Brian)
After Hours - Against The Grain
Style: Melodic Rock
Stop me if you've heard this one.1992 : Band release excellent second album on an obscure label. Lacking the oxygen of publicity, it stiffs. Band folds.The Present Day : Erstwhile band members....
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April 2011 - (Michael)
Mike Tramp - Stand Your Ground
Style: Rock
"Stand your Ground" is a very telling title about Rock N' Roll survivor Mike Tramp. Tramp has always followed his dreams and stayed true to Rock N' Roll.The album follows the Danish only relea....
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March 2011 - (Brian)
Bonfire - Branded
Style: Melodic Rock
'Branded' unfolds in a tantalisingly suspenseful way. Less turns out to be more on this slow-growing but powerful set of songs.The glory days are gone now, as they are for almost every melo....
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March 2011 - (Nina)
Sister Sin - True Sound Of The Underground
Style: Melodic Punk Rock 'n Roll
I was blown away by the Swedish rockers' sophomore album, Switchblade Serenades, and had high hopes for this release, despite the departure of bassplayer and songwriter Benton. It's alwa....
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March 2011 - (Michael)
Gypsy Pistolero - Duende - Last of the Pistoleros
Style: Read review
This is a true story. It takes place in a time where there was no law and order. The location is a dusty place somewhere in Mexico. <I style="mso-bidi-fo....
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February 2011 - (Brian)
The Von Hertzen Brothers - Stars Aligned
Style: Progrock/pop
When these guys write and record their songs, there's definitely a movie playing in their heads.'Stars Aligned' has been described as the soundtrack to a dark fairytale. The Brothers Von He....
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February 2011 - (Brian)
Pavlov's Dog - Echo & Boo And Assorted Small Tails
Style: Progressive Melodic Rock
To give it the full title, 'The Adventures Of Echo & Boo And Assorted Small Tails'.The first album of new material for 30 years. Something of an event, despite the lack of fanfare.In the 3....
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February 2011 - (Stuart)
Agalloch - Marrow Of The Spirit
Style: Post Black Metal
Agalloch are one of those bands that I had heard talk about in excited whispers but had never found the time to sit down and examine their works. So when I got a hold of their newest release <B....
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January 2011 - (Steen)
Virgin Steele - The Black Light Bacchanalia
Style: Barbaric Romantic Heavy Metal
This review is overdue due to a handful of different reasons, of which I will only bore you with one, incidentally the best one: The Black Light Bacchanalia keeps growing! Just when you think you have....
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January 2011 - (Alanna)
Stratovarius - Elysium
Style: Power/progressive
This is the second album from Stratovarius without its previous heart and band founder, Timo Tolkki. There's no denying that the band had grown stagnant the last few years of Tolkki's reign, as interp....
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December 2010 - (Stuart)
Tank - War Machine
Style: Traditional Metal
Tank are one on the many NWOBHM bands that never quite achieved the fame found by the top tier of groups in that genre. They showed great promise with their Motorhead influence debut "Filth Hounds Fro....
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November 2010 - (Steen)
Seventh Wonder - The Great Escape
Style: Progressive Metal
The Great Escape is a progressive metal delight! Seventh Wonder have outdone themselves here. Their last album, Mercy Falls, was filled with excellent music but hampered by unnecessary narrati....
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November 2010 - (Nina)
Katana - Heads Will Roll
Style: Heavy Metal
Sweden keeps spawning new exciting traditional Metal acts, and the newest hope for the revival of true steel is called Katana. Their debut offers lots of exciting, well played old school Metal!<BR....
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November 2010 - (Brian)
Helloween - 7 Sinners
Style: Metal
In one way at least, Helloween are like a million other metal and rock bands - they've accumulated plenty of baggage over the years, and it's frequently dragged the music down. But ....
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October 2010 - (Brian)
Black Country Communion - Black Country Communion
Style: Classic Blues Rock
Black Country Communion - Glenn Hughes, Joe Bonamassa, Derek Sherinian and Jason Bonham each have a lengthy pedigree that encompasses Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and Dream Theater. These ....
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October 2010 - (Steen)
Star One - Victims Of The Modern Age
Style: Space Metal
A day may come when a mediocre album is released form the hands of Arjen Lucassen, but it is not this day. Victims of the Modern Age reunites the original Star One cast in anoher musical Sci-f....
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October 2010 - (Stuart)
Iron Maiden - The Final Frontier
Style: Heavy Metal
A new release from Iron Maiden is a very big deal in the heavy metal world. They are one of the few genuinely globe straddling bands who unite all factions under the banner of gloriou....
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September 2010 - (Alanna)
Kamelot - Poetry for the Poisoned
Style: Progressive power metal
"Poetry For the Poisoned" is a sweeping work of art, that is destined to come under fire for being not "power" enough for the metal majority. Kamelot continues to push the boundaries of ....
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September 2010 - (Alanna)
Pathfinder - Beyond the Space Beyond the Time
Style: Symphonic Power Metal
Pathfinder has arrived from Poland and are playing power metal the classic way. Wicked fast riffing, thunderbound drumming, and a sound that takes epic to the highest levels. This is bombastic metal t....
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September 2010 - (Stuart)
Accept - Blood Of The Nations
Style: Traditional Heavy Metal
When I heard that Wolf Hoffman was reuniting his classic traditional Heavy Metal band Accept without their long time, leather lunged frontman Udo Dirkschneider I was initially very sceptical. ....
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September 2010 - (Alanna)
Heart - Red Velvet Car
Style: Rock
Heart has delivered pretty much what they promised for "Red Velvet Car". It is throwback (waaaay back, to the 70's and "Dreamboat Annie"). It has a raw, in-your-face, "live" sound. It al....
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September 2010 - (Nina)
Enforcer - Diamonds
Style: Old School Heavy Metal.
The Swedes are back To Enforce Heavy Metal on all of us!Being in love with Enforcer's debut Into The Night, I was excited to see, what the band would come up with next. You have ....
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August 2010 - (Alanna)
Kiske Somerville - Kiske Somerville
Style: Symphonic Hard Rock Duets
It is a concept that looks fantastic on paper. Michael Kiske (former Helloween singer, and currently smooth coating Place Vendrome into AOR superstardom) and Amanda Somerville (most recognized from Ka....
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August 2010 - (Brian)
Terra Nova - Come Alive
Style: Melodic Rock
"Right" said Fred, "Frontiers want another 'Living It Up'."So they did their best - Fred Hendrix, Ron Hendrix, Gesuino Derosas and Lars Beuving. The result is 'Come Alive'</....
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July 2010 - (Stuart)
Steel Tormentor - Return Of A King
Style: True Heavy Metal
It's been a long time coming but Irish true metal band Steel Tormentor have finally issued forth the follow up to their 2004 debut Unleashed. There ha....
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July 2010 - (Steen)
Pain of Salvation - Road Salt One
Style: Progressive
Pain of Salvation have returned with an album that is surprising in every way. I was disappointed with Scarsick but Road Salt One has rekindled my love for the band. It is an album that only Pain of S....
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July 2010 - (Brian)
Mark Sweeney - All In
Style: Melodic rock/pop/AOR
I love this new Mark Sweeney release.I thought his debut solo album was an anodyne affair, taking too long to go nowhere. All change. 'All In' bears the stamp of someone who knows exa....
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July 2010 - (Brian)
John M. Keane - Everything Changed
Style: Singer songwriter melodic rock
You a CSI fan? No, me neither. But for the millions who are, the theme tune will be familiar. It was written by Grammy Award winning John M Keane, formerly one half of the Keane Brothers, a duo who en....
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May 2010 - (Steen)
Sabaton - Coat Of Arms
Style: Power Metal
The Swedish historians are back with new accounts of bravery and warfare. It's an album that will kick the collective dust off their colleagues and show just how fresh a power metal album can sound in....
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May 2010 - (Alanna)
Chris Laney - Only Come Out at Night
Style: Hard rock
Like a thunderclap from the glam metal blue, Chris Laney's "Pure" came out of nowhere as one of the unexpected surprise must-have albums of 2009 that not enough people bought, but certainly should hav....
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May 2010 - (Michael)
CrashDïet - Generation Wild
Style: Sleaze
3 albums with 3 different singers! Every CrashDiet album is highly expected but after the disappointing "The Unattractive Revolution" this album is vital to the band's career. New singer....
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May 2010 - (Steen)
Rhapsody (of Fire) - The Frozen Tears of Angels
Style: Symphonic Power Metal
Rhapsody are finally back! Free of Magic Circle Music after a legal case which effectively shut down the band for several years. The details of what has happened will likely be kept under wraps but th....
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April 2010 - (Brian)
Angeline - Confessions
Style: Melodic hard Rock
If you think the new Treat album's got a lot of immense choruses, then listen to 'Confessions'. And let's namecheck a few other bands just to set the mood here. Gun, circa "Gallus", Harem S....
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April 2010 - (Tommy)
Treat - Coup De Grace
Style: Melodic Hard Rock
Talk about a comeback!Treat has made a big contribution in making 2010 a year to remember, Coup De Grace is simply put a phenomenal Melodic Rock album where everything seems to click.A....
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April 2010 - (Stuart)
Burzum - Belus
Style: Black Metal
Well here we have it people, in terms of black metal this is pretty much as big a release as it gets. After sixteen years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, Varg Vikernes escaped into the Bergen ....
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April 2010 - (Steen)
Pretty Maids - Pandemonium
Style: Heavy Rock/Metal
Pandemonium is closing in on "Spooked" and "Carpe Diem" as one of my favorite newer Pretty Maids releases. I always expect a new Pretty Maids release with an optimistic excitedness and I am se....
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April 2010 - (Michael)
Fate - 25 years The Best of Fate
Style: Hard Rock
EMI Denmark has compiled a 19 track disc celebration of Fate titled "25 years The best of Fate". The disc covers all line ups of Fate including 2 brand new songs introducing Fate's third singer Dagfin....
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April 2010 - (Alanna)
The Murder of My Sweet - Divanity
Style: Gothic symphonic metal
Daniel Flores (primarily drummer for Mind's Eye) has been at the center of quite a few interesting, and very different projects. Foremost in the mind is last year's underrated Crash the System disc "T....
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March 2010 - (Brian)
Stage Dolls - Always
Style: Melodic Rock
Sounding much like a band out of time but never out of fashion, the Stage Dolls come back yet again with a clutch of finely wrought melodic rock songs.That they are carefully crafted and exquisite....
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March 2010 - (Stuart)
Blaze Bayley - Promise And Terror
Style: Heavy Metal
I have a lot of time for a guy like Blaze Bayley, someone who speaks from the heart, who writes the music he loves and performs it with a passion unsullied (or indeed, perhaps reinforced) by all of th....
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February 2010 - (Steen)
Overkill - Ironbound
Style: Thrash Metal
Overkill is back with their best album in a long while, at least that's the general consensus from the reviews I've glanced through. I wouldn't know since I kind of lost track with them since I discov....
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February 2010 - (Alanna)
Dare - Arc of the Dawn
Style: AOR
Dare's "Arc of the Dawn" is midnight music. Grey day, raindrops pattering on your windowpane music. Softly sweeping like a gentle breeze. It's a horseback ride through the romance of Eur....
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February 2010 - (Brian)
Gun - Popkiller
Style: Melodic rock and pop
A marriage made in Govan, Toby (Little Angels) Jepson and a reformed (but only slightly reshaped) Gun (minus Mark Rankin of course), with the Gizzi brothers, Giulliano and Dante, remaining at the core....
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February 2010 - (Nina)
Sacred Steel - Carnage Victory
Style: Heavy Metal.
I have been following the sword-wielding, poser-slaying True Metal warriors since their debut, and I admit, I thought Sacred Steel's best albums were behind them. So it is with pleasure, I can announc....
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February 2010 - (Tommy)
Giant - Promise Land
Style: Melodic Rock
After almost ten years Giant is back with a new studio album.Original members Mike Brignardello (bass) and David L. Huff (drums) have teamed up with vocalist Terry Brock (Strangeways) and guitaris....
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February 2010 - (Steen)
Fairyland - Score To A New Beginning
Style: Symphonic Power Metal
After the release of Fairyland's second album, Fall of an Empire, Fairyland's main composer Philippe Giordana was left without any band members as they all parted ways. To some degree this also happen....
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December 2009 - (Alanna)
Blackmore´s Night - Winter Carols
Style: Renaissance folk rock
Blackmore's Night has been releasing discs of original and old material in a medieval "lite folksy rock" renassaince fair flair. Finally the team of C....
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December 2009 - (Stuart)
Hibria - The Skull Collectors
Style: Power Metal
Hibria's 2004 debut album Defying the Rules hit me with such force that I still haven't fully recovered. It was 52 minutes of pure, unadulterated Power Metal from Brazil which had to be heard to be be....
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December 2009 - (Steen)
Redemption - Snowfall On Judgment Day
Style: Progressive Metal
Redemption is back with their fourth album, the third in a row voiced by Fates Warning's Ray Alder. Let me tell you right away: There are some real gems on this one. On the first listen more than half....
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November 2009 - (Tommy)
W.E.T. - W.E.T.
Style: Melodic Hard Rock
Prepare yourself for a true sensation.Now sensation might be a strong word but I sincerely think it's necessary to include when having to measure up this unforgettable release. <S....
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November 2009 - (Stuart)
Immortal - All Shall Fall
Style: Black Metal
"The Kings At Hold... On Their Thrones Immortal And Invincible... The Might Lives On" These are the words inscribed in the booklet of Immortals last....
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November 2009 - (Michael)
Vains of Jenna - The Art of Telling Lies
Style: Sleazy Rock N' Roll
You gotta love Vains of Jenna! Early on these Swedish youngsters moved to L.A. and basically lived the life of every 80's Rock star partying at the Rainbow, playing gigs at The Roxy, The Whisky etc.&n....
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November 2009 - (Alanna)
W.E.T. - W.E.T.
Style: AOR
Ready to get W.E.T.? How about just out and out drenched? W.E.T.'s "debut" album of sheer melodic rock bliss is made up of three main players who crea....
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November 2009 - (Alanna)
Sonata Arctica - The Days of Grays
Style: Power/Prog Metal
Sonata Arctica was once penned as a bubbly happy rival to country mates and fellow power pomp rockers, Stratovarius. Six albums later and the label is....
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October 2009 - (Steen)
Guilt Machine - On This Perfect Day
Style: Progressive Rock
Guilt Machine is the latest creation of the musical genius (I kid you not) Arjen Lucassen. On This Perfect Day continues his streak of making consistent, enjoyable and challenging albums. Guilt Machin....
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October 2009 - (Brian)
Epitaph - Dancing With Ghosts
Style: Melodic hard rock
It's not quite as immediate as 2007's outstanding comeback release 'Remember the Daze'. You'll need to work at this one to get something back. Then again, easy triumphs are never the most rewar....
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October 2009 - (Nina)
Enforcer - Into The Night
Style: Heavy Metal
Enforcer offers a thrilling rollercoaster ride back to the 80's on their enjoyable debut! Enforcer consists of a bunch of young Swedish guys, w....
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October 2009 - (Michael)
Dirty Penny - Young and Reckless
Style: 80's Hard Rock
If there is an album that surprised me positively with its longevity was Dirty Penny's debut. Back then I recognized the bands potential but accused the song writing of being a bit too primitive. Howe....
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October 2009 - (Alanna)
Winger - Karma
Style: Hard Rock
The band Winger has had several decades worth of ups and downs. From the quick commercial success of their bouncy AOR debut and the polished up follow....
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September 2009 - (Steen)
Cirrha Niva - For Moments Never Done
Style: Progressive Metal
Eight years after the weird and wonderful "Liaison de la Morte", the Dutch progressive metal band is back with something quite different. They have changed their sound considerably and they have a new....
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September 2009 - (Stuart)
Syth - The Reckoning
Style: Heavy/Power Metal
There has been a desperate shortage of good Scottish Metal bands for too long now. Think about it, in the past few years how may albums by Scottish Metal artists have you bought? You may have an Alest....
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September 2009 - (Alanna)
Danger Danger - Revolve
Style: AOR/Hard Rock
The songs are strong, the entertainment value is completely evident yet the band has not lost track of the fact that it is not quite 1989 anymore and even give the feeling that they d....
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August 2009 - (Alanna)
Crash the System - The Crowning
Style: AOR
The very symphonic and immensely tight Crash the System album comes as a pleasant Scandanavian treat. Daniel Flores from Mind's Eye and Sören Kronqvist (songwriter for Michael Bormann....
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August 2009 - (Brian)
Hybrid Ice - Minds Eye
Style: Pomp melodic rock
In a Lazarus type scenario, this legendary band are back with a cracking new batch of songs.We all know that "legendary" status is often bestowed on bands and albums unjustifiably. The passage of ....
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August 2009 - (Tommy)
Cain's Offering - Gather The Faithful
Style: Symphonic Power Metal
Not very often have intensity and creativity been stirred up with such a refreshing result.After being a member of Sonata Arctica for more than 10 years, guitarist Jani Liimatainen decided tha....
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August 2009 - (Stuart)
TYR - By The Light of The Northern Star
Style: Progressive Folk/Pagan Metal
It's not often that you come across a metal band from the tiny European nation of the Faeroe Islands. In fact www.metal-archives.com lists a grand total of....
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August 2009 - (Michael)
Cheap Trick - The Latest
Style: Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick is unique in many ways. Cheap Trick is one of the few bands still going strong in its original line-up and continues to offer the fans treats. Their latest effort Rockford (20....
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July 2009 - (Brian)
Crash Kings - Crash Kings
Style: Crash Kings
The Crash Kings debut album should be trumpeted as a triumph of rhythmic simplicity and melodic accessibility.The rhythm is the thing. Instrumentally, vocally. There's only three of them in this b....
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July 2009 - (Michael)
Hardcore Superstar - Beg For It
Style: Hardcore Superstar
Hardcore Superstar has established themselves as European superstars after the self-titled album from 2005. "Beg for it" is the first album to feature former Crazy Lixx guitarist Vic Zino. Hardcore Su....
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June 2009 - (Brian)
Fair Warning - Aura
Style: Melodic rock
To be honest, I thought the band was treading water with the last couple of albums, and in fact with 2007's 'Brothers Keeper' thought they were drowning not waving. Now that they are a c....
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June 2009 - (Tommy)
Dream Theater - Black Clouds And Silver Linings
Style: Progressive Metal
I had a good feeling about this album since I first saw the awesome artwork, it somehow signalised a philosophical mystique and kept drawing my attention, a bit like the Awake cover and album still do....
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June 2009 - (Alanna)
Chris Laney - Pure
Style: Hard rock
Chris Laney's solo outing "Pure" is shockingly 80s and compromises nothing. The songs are bold statements in themselves, drawing from a wealth of hand picked inspiration....
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June 2009 - (Alanna)
Magnum - Into the Valley of the Moonking
Style: Melodic hard rock
"Into the Valley of the Moonking", Magnum's new opus, remembers what their previous post reunion efforts failed to recall. The resurrection of lu....
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May 2009 - (Steen)
Cage - Science of Annihilation
Style: Power Metal
American Power Metal Kings... So the Science of Annihilation cover states and I am not one to argue, in fact I am more than inclined to agree after having experienced this, their latest full frontal a....
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May 2009 - (Brian)
Whiteflame - Tour Bus Diaries
Style: Classic / contemporary rock
N&S Records may soon see this band stolen away by a major.Like Koritni and Airbourne in Oz, Finnish band Whiteflame are one of a crop of European melodic rock bands who're currently cresting a....
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May 2009 - (Alanna)
Jorn - Spirit Black
Style: Heavy metal
"Spirit Black" is Jorn Lande's world compressed into nine tracks of powerfully focused energy and majestic might. He filters the best of both his favorite worlds - those of Whitesnake an....
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May 2009 - (Brian)
Stevie Salas - Be What It Is
Style: Funk rock
'Be What It Is' is Stevie Salas's latest release, coming some five or so years after his 'Soulblasters Of The Univer....
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May 2009 - (Alanna)
Sunstorm - House of Dreams
Style: AOR
There is no finer outlet to showcase Joe Lynn Turner's emotional versatility and nuanced depths than the Sunstorm releases. These focus his talents into the realm of AOR, that melodic....
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April 2009 - (Alanna)
Stratovarius - Polaris
Style: Power/progressive
"Polaris" marks its greatest achievement as simply being a good Stratovarius album. Nothing more, nothing less, but somehow, atleast for this dis....
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April 2009 - (Michael)
Thunder - The EP Sessions 2007-2008
Style: Thunder
"The EP Sessions 2007-2008" marks the farewell to one of England's most prominent bands since 1989 when Thunder's debut album "Backstreet Symphony" conquered many fans. In the year 2007 t....
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April 2009 - (Nina)
Wizard - Thor
Style: True Heavy Metal
I remember listening to a lot of new bands in the late 90's, when Power Metal enjoyed a newfound popularity, and great bands seemed to be popping up out of nowhere all the time. Today, a lot of these ....
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April 2009 - (Steen)
Wolf - Ravenous
Style: Heavy Metal
Discovery of the year!Until now Wolf had always been a band I heard of but never really heard. Ravenous is an excellent collection of songs rooted deeply in Heavy Metal of the no-keyboa....
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April 2009 - (Tommy)
Bad Habit - Above And Beyond
Style: AOR
I feel stronger than the sun comes from the title track of Swedish AOR rockers Bad Habit latest album and that exact line pretty much sums up what this disc is all about. Above and Beyond truly....
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April 2009 - (Brian)
Nothing More - The Few Not Fleeting
Style: Progressive contemporary rock
Like many bands you hear for the first time, turns out they've been around for quite a while.And so it is with Nothing More. This is the band's fifth studio release if you include last year's 'Wai....
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March 2009 - (Alanna)
Place Vendome - Streets of Fire
Style: Melodic rock
This may very well be "the" album you are looking for, if quality, talent and a knack for sticky melodies is your bread and butter while the love of all things rock boils yearningly i....
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March 2009 - (Stuart)
Napalm Death - Time Waits For No Slave
Style: Death Metal/Grindcore
Before I start this review I feel a confession is in order, I have never in my life listened to a Napalm Death album. Sure, I'm aware of their history as one of the most important and influential Brit....
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March 2009 - (Steen)
Ray Wilson - Propaganda Man
Style: Rock
"Propaganda Man" combines the sombre atmosphere from the latest Stiltskin album, She, with the acoustic leanings of his two solo albums, "Change" and "The next best thing", to great effect. It doesn't....
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March 2009 - (Brian)
Eye - 2 Hearts
Style: AOR
Another young, extremely promising AOR band from Sweden.And the label, Blue Topaz clearly think they're onto something, rush releasing these tracks ahead of a full album. <B style="m....
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February 2009 - (Michael)
Heaven's Basement - Heaven's Basement
Style: Hard Rock
Despite this being the debut EP from Heaven's Basement the band certainly managed to create a buzz. The band has been featured in Classic Rock Magazine and also two tunes from the EP have aired on the....
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January 2009 - (Steen)
Hello Madness - Light and Life After Dusk
Style: Rock
Alejandro Milán, probably best known from his time as keyboardist in Stream of Passion has created a fascinating album with his new band Hello Madness. He is the sole songwriter, singer and also plays....
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January 2009 - (Alanna)
Poley/Rivera - Only Human
Style: AOR/Melodic Rock
A Ted Poley (Danger Danger, Melodica) and Vic Rivera (Adriangale) combination is going to naturally sound like some criss crossing of Danger Danger and Melodica, unsurprisingly featuring a hefty dose ....
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January 2009 - (Alanna)
China Blue - Twilight of Destiny
Style: AOR
It may have taken a couple of decades to get here but now that is has arrived the wait seems as if it was worthwhile. China Blue's conception began in the late 80s as little more substance than a drea....
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January 2009 - (Stuart)
Taake - Taake
Style: Black Metal
When a band who hail from the Black Metal capital of the world Norway name themselves after their mother tongue's word for "fog" then you won't win any awards for guessing which style of music they pl....
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January 2009 - (Tommy)
Eden's Curse - The Second Coming
Style: Melodic Hard Rock
Last year Eden's Curse took the Melodic Rock/Metal community by storm with their self-titled debut. A cracking album with massive hooks and big choruses so catchy it was impossible not to sing them ou....
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January 2009 - (Michael)
Spike - So Called Friends
Style: Rock
Quireboys lead singer Spike is back with a brand new solo album in the same vein as his previous effort "It's a treat to be Alive", which was completed in 2002 but released in 2007. "So Called Friends....
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December 2008 - (Alanna)
Northern Kings - Rethroned
Style: Epic symphonic metal
Northern Kings. The name implies so much. Mastery, rulership, the essence of being above all others. With "Rethroned", these 'kings' of metal have easily claimed such haughty....
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December 2008 - (Michael)
Guns N' Roses - Chinese Democracy
Style: Whatever goes on in the mind of Axl
This record won't change the world!This record won't be a future classic like "Appetite for Destruction" and "Use your Illusion I & II". The mystique is gone since the most hyped....
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December 2008 - (Stuart)
Amon Amarth - Twilight Of The Thunder God
Style: Melodic Death/Viking Metal
Amon Amarth are one of those rare breed of bands that you know you can always depend on. While other bands change style to suit the times Amon stick to what they do best. And what they do best is rele....
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November 2008 - (Alanna)
Axel Rudi Pell - Tales of the Crown
Style: German hard rock
Axel Rudi Pell has been pumping out the same kind of musical product for the past dozen or so years. He really refined the style over time, beginning in a more straight forward hard rock direction ("W....
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November 2008 - (Alanna)
Yngwie Malmsteen - Perpetual Flame
Style: Neo-Classical Heavy Metal
Being extremely split over this new Yngwie album, its difficult to know just how to approach it. "Perpetual Flame" is a proper title, as it illustrates Yngwie's fire and pass....
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October 2008 - (Stuart)
Toxic Holocaust - An Overdose Of Death
Style: Thrash Metal
If you're a little disappointed with the new Metallica album, which despite having some excellent moments isn't free of that long-winded groove curse that has plagued them since the mid 90's, and are ....
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October 2008 - (Brian)
TNT - Atlantis
Style: TNT's very own
We all claim to embrace change, but when it comes to AOR, what we want is more of the same. Only better.Opinion over 'Atlantis' is already polarising. With maybe one guy in favour and every....
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October 2008 - (Steen)
Neal Morse - Lifeline
Style: Progressive Rock
Neal Morse is back with his latest solo album, a non-conceptual piece titled Lifeline. The music is progressive rock of high technical caliber with Neal's passionate voice as the emotional center. <BR....
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October 2008 - (Michael)
The Erotics - Rubbish
Style: Gutter Rock
The Erotics has been an underground name for years. Despite not getting the big break yet The Erotics has not been tempted to make more commercial music but continue to make their self proclaimed "Gut....
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September 2008 - (Alanna)
Bob Catley - Immortal
Style: Melodic hard rock
If there ever was an album that deserved the term "majestic", it would certainly be this one. Taking us back to the bardic medieval atmosphere of Magnum's "On A Storyteller's Night" and lavishly explo....
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September 2008 - (Stuart)
Nachtmystium - Assasins - Black Meddle Part 1
Style: Experimental Black Metal
Nachtmystium are a band who since their inception at the turn of the century have been constantly evolving. Their early works were lessons in the rawest of US Black Metal but in the past few years the....
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September 2008 - (Steen)
Falconer - Among Beggars and Thieves
Style: Power Metal with folk elements
Since the beginning of this century Falconer have carved their own niche in the power metal realm. Now, six albums down the road, including a two album detour with a different singer, the band sounds ....
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September 2008 - (Alanna)
Iced Earth - The Crucible of Man, Something Wicked Pt. 2
Style: Heavy metal
Iced Earth led their ride into glory and metal immortality with the amazing power/thrash masterpiece, "Something Wicked This Way Comes". The disc put them on the map and instantly mad....
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August 2008 - (Alanna)
From the Inside - Visions
Style: Melodic rock
There have been few albums that have been quite as confounding as this one. From the Inside's second disc, "Visions" is a disc full of blustery tunes heavily dunked in....
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August 2008 - (Steen)
Enuff Z'nuff - Dissonance (Limited Edition)
Style: Hard Rock
Dissonance is the exact opposite of what this album brings. Enuff Z'nuff is back with an album that is real aural bliss. This is the limited edition of the album which was only available at the US fes....
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July 2008 - (Tommy)
Opeth - Watershed
Style: Progressive Metal
The ninth Opeth opus adds a new kind of creativity to the bands legacy and shows a band that once again has reinvented "the dark tale". Make no mistakes this still roams in the shadow side ....
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July 2008 - (Steen)
Pyramaze - Immortal
Style: Power Metal
When I first read the news that Matthew Barlow had returned to Metal music and joined Pyramaze I was ecstatic. This combination could only result in something sp....
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July 2008 - (Michael)
Mötley Crüe - Saints of Los Angeles
Style: Groovy Mötley Crüe
After more than a decades absence the most notorious and dangerous Rock band is back. "Saints of Los Angeles" marks the return of Mötley Crüe with their only ninth studio album ....
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July 2008 - (Alanna)
Marcello-Vestry - Marcello-Vestry
Style: Melodic rock/AOR
Stumbling upon Marcello-Vestry is akin to wandering a vast, featureless desert. Occasionally you trip over a pretty bit of desert brush here and there, but the way is mostly covered i....
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June 2008 - (Tommy)
Dominici - 03 A Trilogy - Part 3
Style: Progressive Metal
Charlie Dominici is best known for his debut effort as the singer on Dream Theater's debut album When Dream And Day Unite back in 1989.Sixt....
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June 2008 - (Tommy)
Khymera - The Greatest Wonder
Style: Melodic Rock
Sometimes you just feel it right from the start, you haven't quite taken it all in but you just know you eventually are gonna love it. The third album from Melodic Rock ....
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June 2008 - (Alanna)
Jorn - Lonely Are the Brave
Style: European Hard Rock
Lande's latest, "Lonely Are the Brave" plays pretty much like the previous Jorn albums. Just in the first handful of songs, you can clearly hear his influences shining t....
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May 2008 - (Steen)
Jon Oliva´s Pain - Global Warning
Style: Heavy Metal
A new album from singer and songwriter Jon Oliva is always an anticipated event for an old Savatage fan like myself. This third solo album feels like a continuation of <A href="http://www.revelationz.....
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May 2008 - (Alanna)
Whitesnake - Good to Be Bad
Style: Hard rock
Ten years and nothing recorded by Whitesnake. All of this is to change with 2008's studio recording, "Good to be Bad", an album that celebrates the naughty nice music of....
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May 2008 - (Michael)
Saints of the Underground - Love the Sin, Hate the Sinner
Style: Hard Rock (Modern)
A true super band! Saints of the Underground consists of Robbie Crane (Vince Neil, Ratt), drummer Bobby Blotzer (Ratt) plus Kerri Kelli who played with most 80s bands and....
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April 2008 - (Tommy)
Everon - North
Style: Progressive Rock/Metal
Six years is quite a long time, but it seems like Oliver Philipps spend some of that time gathering inspiration. With North the band releases its seventh studio album, the style is Pr....
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April 2008 - (Alanna)
House of Lords - Come to My Kingdom
Style: Melodic rock
House of Lords, keyboardist Greg Giuffria's pet after he abandoned the band named after his own name - had three gigantic rock albums in the early 90s - then split apart. The original....
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March 2008 - (Alanna)
Benedictum - Seasons of Tragedy
Style: heavy metal
Benedictum plays it hard and furious on their second album, "Seasons of Tragedy". They could be described as an old-school metal outfit that has been touched by the demo....
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March 2008 - (Michael)
UFO - Phenomenon/Force it/No Heavy Petting
Style: UFO
EMI has reissued UFO's first three Chrysalis albums. This is a great way to reacquaint with UFO or maybe discover this solid Rock band for the first time. <S....
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February 2008 - (Tommy)
Loverboy - Just Getting Started
Style: Melodic Hard Rock
This is my first encounter with Loverboy, but it surely won't be the last, let's just get one thing straight, this album rocks big time. A bit scared away by the band's name, I still deci....
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February 2008 - (Steen)
Ray Wilson & Stiltskin - She
Style: Rock
"She" was released in 2007 and was one of my favorites of last year. Since the current releases are rather low on Album of the month aspirants, I decided it was time to pull this one out again. It sou....
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February 2008 - (Michael)
Big Cock - Motherload
Style: Hard Rock
Big Cock! the band with the silly name fronted by bad motherfucker vocalist Robert Mason and guitarist David Henzerling. Both had their 15 minutes of fame; Mason fronted Lynch Mob on their second albu....
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February 2008 - (Alanna)
Leverage - Blind Fire
Style: melodic power prog metal
Finland has been a hot spot for producing quality metal bands lately and Leverage is no exception to this new rule blown from the cold Scandinavian north. Their first album, entitled "Tides" was quite....
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January 2008 - (Michael)
Donnie Vie - Extra Strength
Style: His own
How do you surpass the perfect record? The answer is quite simple; You cannot! Enuff Z'Nuff "Strength" is my all time favorite record and now singer Donnie Vie has re-recorded the entire album acousti....
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January 2008 - (Steen)
Ayreon - 01011001
Style: Progressive Rock
A new Ayreon album is always an exciting acquaintance. Hailing from Holland, Anthony Arjen Lucassen, the Ayreon mastermind, is known for assembling an impressive assortment of singers and instrumental....
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December 2007 - (Alanna)
Northern Kings - Reborn
Style: Symphonic Heavy Metal
Northern King's "Reborn" is an album that most will overlook. It's a disc full of cover tracks, a niche of the metal release community that is usually more miss than hit. So ....
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December 2007 - (Michael)
Crazy Lixx - Loud Minority
Style: Hard Rock
The history of Crazy Lixx dates back to 2002. RevelationZ Magazine has followed the band since their first single Do or Die.
The Do or Di....
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November 2007 - (Steen)
Dogpound - III
Style: Hard rock
The Swedes are back with their third album. For those who like their previous two records, rest assured that you will dog, sorry dig, this as well. III is another step up their evolutionary ladder. Th....
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November 2007 - (Michael)
Sixx: A.M. - The Heroin Diaries soundtrack
Style: Contemporary Rock
The soundtrack to Nikki Sixx´s biography "The Heroin Diaries" is brought to you by Sixx: A.M. - a band featuring Nikki Sixx on bass, guitarist DJ Ashba and James Michael on vocals/guitar.
The book....
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November 2007 - (Michael)
Hell N´ Diesel - Passion for Power
Style: Trucker/Biker/Sleaze/Heavy Rock (N´Roll)
Sweden keeps fostering great Sleaze/Glam/Hard Rock bands. Yours truly follows the scene very closely and somehow the name Hell N´Diesel suddenly popped up from nowhere on Smilodon Records´ release sch....
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October 2007 - (Tommy)
Sieges Even - Paramount
Style: Progressive Metal
Best album of 2005 for me was Sieges Even's The Art Of Navigating By The Stars, excelling in creativity and magical wonders. Huge were my expectations when Paramount arrived, with this band you just k....
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October 2007 - (Michael)
Hanoi Rocks - Street Poetry
Style: Hanoi Rocks
The legendary band is back!
Ever since Hanoi Rocks returned to the scene with the amazing "12 shots on the Rocks" the band has sounded inspired and basically on fire.
"Street Poetry" is more con....
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October 2007 - (Steen)
Amaran´s Plight - Voice In The Light
Style: Progressive metal
Line-up
D.C. Cooper - Vocals (Silent Force, ex-Royal Hunt)
Gary Wehrkamp - Guitars, Keyboards, Vocals (Shadow Gallery)
Nick D'Virgillo - Drums (Spock's Beard)
Kurt Barabas - Bass (Under the sun)
....
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September 2007 - (Alanna)
Los Angeles - Los Angeles
Style: AOR
The voice behind Los Angeles may be frighteningly familiar to those who keep a keen eye trained on the world of power metal as well as the smoother grooves of AOR. Michele Luppi has been the pipes for....
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August 2007 - (Tommy)
Vision Divine - The 25th Hour
Style: Symphonic Power Metal
The new Vision Divine album is an inspiring and high quality release coming from a Power Metal genre not having the best of times. Said in another way it seems like almost every one of the classic ban....
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August 2007 - (Alanna)
Gotthard - Domino Effect
Style: Hard Rock
Gotthard have been around for a small portion of forever...well atleast as long as the early 90s. Finally they have managed to secure a US release with "Domino Effect" and l....
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July 2007 - (Tommy)
Bon Jovi - Lost Highway
Style: Melodic Rock
Lost Highway is Bon Jovi's most straightforward and easygoing record since the debut, once again having a feel and atmosphere of its own, making it stand out completely.
I'll be honest and admit that....
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July 2007 - (Steen)
Candlemass - King of the Grey Islands
Style: Doom
The Candlemass re-reunion with vocalist Messiah Marcolin didn't last for more than one album, some live shows and half an album recording. Robert Lowe of Solitude Aeturnus sings on "King of the Grey I....
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July 2007 - (Tommy)
Symphony X - Paradise Lost
Style: Progressive Power Metal
Intense!
That would be my one word review for Symphony X's seventh studio album. This is the bands least Progressive and most Power Metalish effort to date.
With that in mind it could seem a bit o....
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July 2007 - (Tommy)
Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos
Style: Progressive Metal
Dream Theater is back!
The above statement could seem obvious but it somehow makes reasonable sense here, Systematic Chaos has a kick ass attitude and nerve that is unmistakably...this album has a ....
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July 2007 - (Alanna)
Kamelot - Ghost Opera
Style: Progressive Power Metal
It must be daunting to try and top or at least sustain the quality of your band after a watershed release such as "The Black Halo". There are very few bands out there that have released an album that....
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July 2007 - (Michael)
Scorpions - Humanity - Hour 1
Style: Hard Rock
"Humanity - Hour 1" is a concept record based on the classic "Terminator" theme of a civil war between humans and robots. The only hope of survival is to reclaim the humanity of mankind.
Desmond C....
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June 2007 - (Alanna)
Allen Lande - The Revenge
Style: Metal/hard rock
There are good albums and then there are great albums. Then there's this tiny little echelon of cds that fall into true masterpiece territory. Vocalists Russel Allen and Jorn Lande's collaboration w....
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June 2007 - (Steen)
Cage - Hell Destroyer
Style: Heavy Metal
Line-up:
Sean Peck (Vocals)
Dave Garcia (Lead Guitars)
Anthony Wayne McGinnis (Lead Guitars)
Mike Giordano (Bass Guitars)
Mike Nielsen (Drums)
Hell Yeah!
It is a gratifying feeling to disc....
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June 2007 - (Michael)
Gypsy Pistoleros - Wild, Beautiful, Damned
Style: Flamenco flavored Hard Rock
"Wild, Beautiful, Damned" is the debut album from 4 English Amigos, who goes by the name Gypsy Pistoleros. While frontman Lee Pistolero was living in Spain he came up with the concept for the band.
....
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May 2007 - (Tommy)
Pink Cream 69 - In10sity
Style: Heavy Rock
Pink Cream 69's new album brings along unbound energy and a creative flair that is as transparent as the colours on the front cover. We are talking Melodic Heavy Rock with lots of charisma.
<stron....
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May 2007 - (Michael)
MPG - Road to Salvation
Style: Hard Rock
Compared to MPG´s debut this follow up is more complete and consistent. Regardless of high expectations "Road to Salvation" is the best album one could have wished for and the diversity doesn't only m....
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May 2007 - (Steen)
Redemption - The Origins of Ruin
Style: Progressive Metal
Line up:
Ray Alder - Vocals
Nicolas van Dyk - Guitar, Keys
Bernie Versailles - Guitar
Sean Andrews - Bass
Chris Quirarte - Drums
Redemption is a band that so far equals the most consistent and....
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May 2007 - (Alanna)
Stan Bush - In This Life
Style: AOR
Many have heard Stan Bush, yet do not know it, as the singer for "The Touch" from the "Transformers: The Movie" theatrical animated film. So if the name seems dazedly familiar somehow, that is likely....
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April 2007 - (Alanna)
Magnum - Princess Alice and the Broken Arrow
Style: Melodic rock
Here's a band that needs little introduction. Magnum has been around since the 70s, changing their styles with every album, but keeping the signature core that makes an album, well, a Magnum album, in....
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April 2007 - (Tommy)
Threshold - Dead Reckoning
Style: Progressive Metal
I have been looking forward to this release ever since I received their latest work, Subsurface, which was amazing. Dead Reckoning continues in that direction while still being completely inspiring an....
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April 2007 - (Steen)
Manowar - Gods of War
Style: Powerful Wagner Metal
Introduction
What was foreshadowed on the Sons of Odin EP has now become a full reality. Manowar have created their most ambitious and innovative work yet. This ....
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March 2007 - (Michael)
Damage Control - Damage Control
Style: Rock
Damage Control is a new British supergroup formed by guitarist Robin George and UFO bassist Pete Way. They later recruited former AC/DC drummer Chris Slade and Quireboys singer Spike to complete the l....
Read full review |  |
March 2007 - (Alanna)
Pride of Lions - The Roaring of Dreams
Style: AOR
The sophomore disc from Pride of Lions has alot to live up to. The first disc was an excellence slice of AOR Survivor style and the followup, "The Destiny Stone" upped the ante by presenting the music....
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March 2007 - (Steen)
Neal Morse - Sola Scriptura
Style: Progressive Hard Rock
Line-up:
Neal Morse - Vocals, Keyboard/Piano, Guitar
Randy George - Bass
Paul Gilbert - Guitar
Mike Portnoy - Drums
Neal Morse is a man of passion.
Passion really is a keyw....
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February 2007 - (Tommy)
Tomorrow´s Eve - Mirror Of Creation 2 - Genesis II
Style: Progressive Metal
Tomorrow's Eve's third album is a huge piece of comprehensive and challenging Progressive Metal, sparkling with innovativeness and great musical craftsmanship.
The more I started listening to it, the....
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February 2007 - (Alanna)
Code - The Enemy Within
Style: AOR/hard rock
For AOR with a twist, look no further than Code. "The Enemy Within" is a dreamy swirl of bands. You can hear the influences of Ten and Giant in the overall grandiose presentation, progressive....
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February 2007 - (Steen)
Meat Loaf - Bat Out Of Hell III - The Monster Is Loose
Style: Symphonic Rock
Meat Loaf is running free again. Good news for all those longing for the passionate, overblown and rather sentimental approach that has been delivered on the past two Bats out of hell.
This time o....
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January 2007 - (Michael)
Paul Stanley - Live to Win
Style: Modern Hard Rock
Finally someone in the Kiss camp is being productive. The last Kiss album "Psycho Circus" was released back in 1998 and ever since Kiss has toured with the same old songs.
In 2004 Gene $immons rele....
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January 2007 - (Steen)
My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade
Style: Rock
My Chemical Romance is a recent discovery of mine. The black parade is their third album and it has made quite an impression. Musically this is punk-flavored rock that comes at you like a freight trai....
Read full review |  |
January 2007 - (Alanna)
Jorn - The Gathering
Style: Melodic Heavy Metal
A Greatest Hits package or an excuse to rerecord and fluff up a collection of songs that perhaps didn't quite get the exposure warranted the first time around? "The Gathering" is a little bit....
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December 2006 - (Steen)
To/Die/For - Wounds Wide Open
Style: Gothic heavy rock
You may run from sorrow, but sorrow will find you...So begins the the latest output from Finland's To/Die/For. "Wounds Wide Open" is an album filled with feelings of regret, loss and. sorrow.&....
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December 2006 - (Michael)
Whitesnake - Live...In the Shadow of the Blues
Style: Whitesnake
Whitesnake is back with another compilation. After the recent live DVD and the "Silver Anniversary Collection" you tend to think; yet another live/compilation from Whitesnake!
"Live..In the Shadow....
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December 2006 - (Tommy)
Manticora - The Black Circus Part 1 - Letters
Style: Power Metal
A lot of solid music is hitting the streets these days but it's not often a new album really stands out.
To alter that scenario Manticora has made up something quite remarkable and magnetic while kee....
Read full review |  |
November 2006 - (Steen)
Vicious Rumors - Warball
Style: Heavy Metal
Vicious Rumors are back and they are Screaming for vengeance.
Anyone who likes Heavy Metal, especially Painkiller-era Judas Priest, should give this album a chance. I'm certain most will embrace it....
Read full review |  |
November 2006 - (Michael)
Thunder - Robert Johnson´s Tombstone
Style: Hard Rock
In 1990 Thunder released their debut album "Backstreet Symphony". 16 years later the band still makes high quality records - the latest effort titled "Robert Johnson's Tombstone"
After releasing "....
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November 2006 - (Tajs)
Mercenary - The Hours That Remain
Style: Metal
Danish Mercenary have aimed high with their latest release, The Hours that Remain. With a near-perfect production, competent musicians and some great songs, they are a force to be reckoned with.
M....
Read full review |  |
November 2006 - (Alanna)
Zeno - Runaway to the Gods
Style: Neo Classical Euro Hard Rock
Jaded Heart crossed with "Eclipse" Yngwie Malmsteen... this was the comparison I just could not shake from the head while dabbling in Zeno Roth's latest guitar extravaganza, "Runaway to the Gods"<....
Read full review |  |
October 2006 - (Tommy)
Seventh Wonder - Waiting In The Wings
Style: Progressive Metal
Once in a while something different and pleasantly surprising makes your perspective towards the world change.at least just a bit, sometimes this also happen within the musical sphere and Seventh Wond....
Read full review |  |
October 2006 - (Alanna)
Circle II Circle - The Burden of Truth
Style: Heavy Metal
With Circle II Circle and Jon Oliva's Pain...who needs Savatage anymore? Many Sava fans will likely be echoing this sentiment after getting a double dose of Sava-inspired goodness in the form of JOP's....
Read full review |  |
October 2006 - (Michael)
UFO - The Monkey Puzzle
Style: UFO
UFO follows the tradition by releasing an album every second year. "Sharks" (2002), "You are Here" (2004) and now "The Monkey Puzzle" released September 25th 2006.
In 2005 UFO also released a live ....
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September 2006 - (Steen)
Wastefall - Self Exile
Style: Progressive Metal
Unpredictable. That is one word that clings to Wastefall. Fans of technical progressive metal should take notice of this one. Wastefall come from Greece and they display some serious talent on this, t....
Read full review |  |
September 2006 - (Michael)
Motörhead - Kiss of Death
Style: (fresh) Motörhead
Motörhead is like the Duracell bunny when it comes to work ethics. Motörhead once again made a brand new album and shows no sign of retirement or slowing down.
"Kiss of Death" is packed with typica....
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September 2006 - (Alanna)
Blind Guardian - A Twist in the Myth
Style: Power Metal
Four years have passed and many wonder and ponder what path Blind Guardian will wander down next... "Night at the Opera" was at times, an overly complex affair. It brimmed with epic passages in pomp a....
Read full review |  |
August 2006 - (Tommy)
Virgin Steele - Visions Of Eden
Style: Symphonic Heavy Metal
Even though this album is somehow as could be expected and all the way Virgin Steele, it's still refreshing, ingenious and different in a fascinating way.
All tracks apart from a single one are beyon....
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August 2006 - (Michael)
Vains of Jenna - Lit Up/Let Down
Style: Rock N´ Roll
Don't give a Damn opens the awaited debut album from Rock's new hope Vains of Jenna. The song title is very meaning relating to these young Rock N' Roll rebels from Falkenberg Sweden.....
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August 2006 - (Tajs)
Strapping Young Lad - The New Black
Style: Thrash/black/prog metal
Strapping Young Lad (SYL) don't compare to much else in this world. It's metal for sure, but difficult to confine to any subgenre. Elements from black, death, thrash ....
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August 2006 - (Alanna)
Luca Turilli's Dreamquest - Lost Horizons
Style: Symphonic Power Metal
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to determine that this is Luca Turilli's personal work of art. An album that he invested alot of time and effort into that likely detracted from the inspiration spar....
Read full review |  |
July 2006 - (Alanna)
Street Talk - V
Style: AOR
Fredrik Burgh, the leader of Street Talk had considered letting the band go after nearly a decade to pursue other musical outlets. Thankfully something made him reconsider as the greatest hits type co....
Read full review |  |
July 2006 - (Steen)
CrashDïet - Rest in Sleaze
Style: Hard Rock / Sleaze
A chance listen to "Queen Obscene/69 Shots" on the way home from this years Sweden Rock Festival was enough for me to make a mental note to get this album as soon as I got home. It arrived a week late....
Read full review |  |
July 2006 - (Tajs)
Scar Symmetry - Pitch Black Progress
Style: Power/death/black metal
Ok, so I receive this new promo from a band I've never heard of before, it looks cool, cool artwork, cool name and title. They are signed with Nuclear Blast and the accompanying material looks profess....
Read full review |  |
June 2006 - (Alanna)
House of Lords - World Upside Down
Style: Melodic Rock
House of Lords attempted a return a couple of years ago with the overly prehyped "The Power and the Myth". It largely had the same lineup as classic HOL, yet the sound was anything but. Gregg Giuffria....
Read full review |  |
June 2006 - (Steen)
Primal Fear - Seven Seals
Style: Heavy Metal
Primal Fear strike hard with their latest release. I recently discovered this one, which should have made it to my top 10 albums of 2005.
Heavy and powerful are keywords when it comes down to summ....
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June 2006 - (Michael)
Mötley Crüe - Carnival of Sins
Style: Mötley Crüe
"Carnival of Sins" is a live recording taken from last year's infamous Mötley Crüe re-union Tour that just seemed to continue forever. Now the band rests and hopefully they will put out a new studio a....
Read full review |  |
May 2006 - (Michael)
Zan Clan - We are Zan Clan, who the F**k are you??!
Style: Hard Rock
Better late than never!
"We Are Zan Clan, Who The F**k Are You" was released in 2005 - first on the Swedish label GMR, later on Perris Records and finally the French label Bad Reputation, who are ....
Read full review |  |
May 2006 - (Tommy)
Evergrey - Monday Morning Apocalypse
Style: Power Metal
As if it was the easiest thing in the world. Yes, Evergrey has done it again, their new collaboration has resulted in another ingenious and magnificent album.
Even though their approach this time a....
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April 2006 - (Alanna)
Anderson Laine Readman - Three
Style: Euro Hard Rock
This album gallops by like a racehorse, never looking back. But wow, is it ever one hell of a ride. Royal Hunt's leader, keyboardist Andre Anderson flexes his writing skills by penning ten tracks - ab....
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April 2006 - (Michael)
Pure Inc. - A New Days Dawn
Style: Heavy Pounding Rock
Pure Inc. managed to deliver the best debut album I heard in many years. "A New Days Dawn" is the always difficult album number two and again the Swiss rockers go straight to the core with hard pumpin....
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April 2006 - (Tajs)
Krisiun - AssassiNation
Style: Death Metal
This trio from Brazil started back in 1990, heavily influenced by Slayer and Morbid Angel. Through hard work and extensive touring, they have created a following for ....
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March 2006 - (Michael)
Nasty Idols - The Swedish Sleaze Collection
Style: Sleaze
The 13 years of silence is broken. Nasty Idols is back with the first release on the Scandinavian market since the year 1993. "The Swedish Sleaze collection" is a best of CD with main emphasis on song....
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March 2006 - (Alanna)
Jorn - The Duke
Style: Hard rock
Jorn Lande is something of a vocalist wonder in the metal world. No one is quite up to his caliber (in my opinion) and manage to be so prolific at the same time. It was apparent he was going to be a s....
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March 2006 - (Tommy)
Edguy - Rocket Ride
Style: Power Metal
Edguy has become one of the big guns on today's Metal scene. A unique blend of fascinating song writing skills, a dose of rather insane but refreshing humour, a genre-wise melting pot strategy and mos....
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March 2006 - (Tajs)
Devin Townsend - Synchestra
Style: Progressive
For those of you not familiar with the work of Devin Townsend, he is one of those one-of-a-kind musicians out there who have actually managed to create a sound and style for himself that doesn't sound....
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February 2006 - (Alanna)
Tony O'Hora - Escape Into the Sun
Style: Melodic Hard Rock
Tony O'Hora was the vocalist that gave Praying Mantis their second lease on life. Or perhaps it was their third. Anyhow, it was a new birth for the band and with his fine pipes, they were able to capt....
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February 2006 - (Steen)
Ill Niño - One Nation Underground
Style: Latin Metal
Listening to this album for the first time, something struck me as different. Ill Niño have married Nu-metal, thrash and salsa! The band pulls this off in a remarkable way, making it sound natural, an....
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February 2006 - (Hashman)
The Tea Party - Seven Circles
Style: Technical Hard Rock
First off, I know it might be a little late, but this album just can't seem to leave my player. There are not many bands that can fuse riff-based material with complex textures and strange ambient atm....
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January 2006 - (Tommy)
Vision Divine - The Perfect Machine
Style: Power Metal
Vision Divine is a very productive band and again this year we are offered another fine slice of intelligent Power Metal. This is a band that somehow tries to redefine the more traditional Power Metal....
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January 2006 - (Michael)
Hardcore Superstar - Hardcore Superstar
Style: Sleazy Hard Rock
How come I never checked this Swedish band out till now? BIG MISTAKE! Hardcore Superstar totally nail my style in music, namely attitude filled Sleazy Hard Rock.
Somehow this band has lots of integ....
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January 2006 - (Hashman)
Khymera - A New Promise
Style: AOR/Melodic Hard Rock
OK, fine, so the point has been proven that melodies don't have to be filled with syrupy pop to tug at the heart of catchiness. I mean, you gotta' have thunder sometimes, or in most cases all the time....
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December 2005 - (Tommy)
Riverside - Second Life Syndrome
Style: Progressive Metal
When I heard they debut, Out Of Myself, I was amazed of the melancholic depth these guys were able to sink into, with Second Life Syndrome the dark waters continue to flow with a steady, almost hypnot....
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December 2005 - (Steen)
Dogpound - A Night In The Gutter
Style: Hard Rock
The Swedish doggers, sorry, rockers are back with their second album, where they prove that their great debut was not just a one time fling. The members of the band are still the same and the music is....
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December 2005 - (Michael)
The Mob - The Mob
Style: Hard Rock
The Mob has just earned its place among the best Hard Rock records of 2005. Reb Beach (Winger, Dokken, Whitesnake) is the main man behind this super group, who committed a super album.
Reb Beach ha....
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December 2005 - (Hashman)
Roine Stolt - Wall Street Voodoo
Style: Progressive Rock/English Blues
In many cases it's really hard to begin to describe this record. Of course, it's not what you might expect from the Flower King's axeman/vocalist. You do have the progressive rock elements in place; b....
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December 2005 - (Alanna)
Radioactive - Taken
Style: Melodic Rock/AOR/Westcoast
This is a CD that forces you to kick back and marvel at the enormous amount of people that had to come together to create a single work of music. Radioactive has always been a showcase of snappy melod....
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November 2005 - (Nina)
Hammerfall - Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken
Style: Melodic Heavy Metal
If the cold and dark winter is getting it's hold on you, and everything seems just a little more gray, I have found the perfect cure: It is called something as cheesy as Chapter V: Unbent, Unb....
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November 2005 - (Steen)
Stream of Passion - Embrace The Storm
Style: Atmospheric Metal
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's... Arjen Lucassen! Ok, so maybe the guy isn't Superman, but he sure has put out a lot of high quality releases in the recent years. He now continues this steady f....
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November 2005 - (Tommy)
Nocturnal Rites - Grand Illusion
Style: Power Metal
I always look forward to a new Nocturnal Rites release with a special anticipation. Sensing the band's potential early on I always hope they will release the Power Metal milestone I crave so much.
Is....
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November 2005 - (Michael)
CrashDïet - Rest in Sleaze
Style: Sleaze & Glam
Straight out of the Swedish gutter CrashDïet takes the listener by surprise with their Sleazy Hard Rock. CrashDïet is inspired by the 80's Glam/Sleaze scene and influenced by pioneer bands like Ratt a....
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November 2005 - (Hashman)
Neal Morse - ?
Style: Progressive Rock
The guy is pure musical genius, utilizing a musical talent that is phenomenal. Neal Morse over the years has literally bridged the gap between pop songs and technical progressive rock, adding elements....
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October 2005 - (Tommy)
Bon Jovi - Have A Nice Day
Style: Hard Rock
I'm addicted to this band; I simply have to listen to Bon Jovi on a regular basis. It has something to do with the positive effect it has on my mental state of mind and of course the fact that it's on....
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October 2005 - (Hashman)
Pendragon - Believe
Style: Melodic Progressive Rock
After being around for twenty years British Progressive Rock group Pendragon has unleashed a new offering of powerful technical melodies and pop synthesis that gives prog-rock a good name, without the....
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October 2005 - (Steen)
Sieges Even - The Art Of Navigating By The Stars
Style: Progressive Rock
After an 8 year hiatus Sieges Even are back with a new album. I remember being pretty devastated when I spoke to drummer Alex Holzwarth after a Rhapsody concert in Denmark in 1999 where he told me tha....
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October 2005 - (Michael)
Shakra - Fall
Style: Heavy Rock
"Fall" is Shakra's fifth studio album. The Swiss rockers have progressed with each album and "Fall" follows up the fantastic "Rising", which was the first album to introduce their new singer Mark Fox.....
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October 2005 - (Nina)
Black Abyss - Angels Wear Black
Style: Heavy Metal with Power Metal choruses
The name Black Abyss didn't ring a bell, and when I heard the term "German Power Metal band" used to describe them, my first thought was, oh no, not another hopeless Helloween....
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October 2005 - (Alanna)
Allen Lande - The Battle
Style: Melodic Hard Rock
When you take two of the greatest vocalists to come out of the 90s and have them join forces, it could only result in something special. An album that is extraordinary. A disc that would blow your min....
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September 2005 - (Morten)
Opeth - Ghost Reveries
Style: Progressive Metal
I was a bit uneasy when my friendly postman finally dumped Ghost Reveries on the floor of my hallway. This album is the album that's supposed to save 2005 with regards to long awaited heavy duty progr....
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September 2005 - (Michael)
L.A. Guns - Tales from the Strip
Style: Heavy Rock
L.A. Guns is one the most classic bands based in the Hollywood scene. "Tales from the Strip" is not a concept album, but it deals with L.A. Guns' long time affiliation with L.A.'s legendary rock scene....
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September 2005 - (Steen)
To/Die/For - IV
Style: Gothic Heavy Rock
After some internal turmoil the Finns are back with their fourth album. As with their last album Jaded you will find song upon song of highly catchy and heavy rock music with slight gothic undertones.....
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September 2005 - (Tommy)
Symphorce - Godspeed
Style: Power Metal
Symphorce is not like other Metal acts; their style is so unmistakeably different that you would just know it's them right from the start.
Their dark, hard edged and experimental approach has been a ....
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September 2005 - (Hashman)
Nightvision - Nightvision
Style: Melodic sub-progressive metal
In the saturated world of power metal, progressive metal, and melodic metal, there is something that usually comes along and provides a more introspective and dynamic edge with driving riffs and catch....
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September 2005 - (Alanna)
Hartmann - Out In The Cold
Style: AOR
My opinion was that no one in the world did ABBA covers quite like At Vance. Even if their "original" material borrowed from every other power metal band in and outside of Germany, the ABBA covers wer....
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September 2005 - (Nina)
Stratovarius - Stratovarius
Style: Melodic Metal
The last year has been difficult for Stratovarius. Main man Timo Tolkki went through a lot of stuff, including a severe depression and alcohol problems, which he choose to share with ....
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August 2005 - (Alanna)
Blanc Faces - Blanc Faces
Style: American AOR
I sit down to write this review and lo and behold, despite the hours I spent, in atleast a baker's dozen run through of listening to this album, I can only conjure to mind, four or five songs at best.....
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August 2005 - (Tommy)
Redemption - The Fullness Of Time
Style: Progressive Metal
The eagerly awaited sophomore album by Redemption has finally arrived and what blast it turned out to be. This is one of those albums I just can't wait to listen to one more time, each spin offering s....
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August 2005 - (Michael)
Forty Deuce - Nothing to Lose
Style: Modern Hard Rock
So far Forty Deuce has been a blank page - hopefully their debut album is going to change that fact!
Forty Deuce was formed in 2003 and led by Richie Kotzen who plays both guitar and sings. The oth....
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August 2005 - (Hashman)
James Byrd´s Atlantis Rising - Crimes of Virtuosity
Style: Melodic/Progressive Metal
He may be one of the few modern day metal guitarists who had developed a style that has become recognizable as his own, and it is a shame that his playing (up until now) has really seemed to be buried....
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July 2005 - (Tommy)
Nevermore - This Godless Endeavor
Style: Thrash Metal
Sometimes you can just sense by the first listen that an album will grow into something really really cool. After intense and lengthily evaluation of Nevermore's sixth studio album I can conclude that....
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July 2005 - (Michael)
Alice Cooper - Dirty Diamonds
Style: 70´s Cooper
Alice Cooper started off playing rebellious Rock music, which later developed into the Alice Cooper show with emphasis on the theatrical shock aspect. In the 80's Alice Cooper made some stunning Hard ....
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July 2005 - (Alanna)
Harem Scarem - Over:Load
Style: Modern Melodic Rock
A lot of people are not going to agree with this, but the more time spent with "Over:Load", the more Pretty Maids comes to mind, especially the Scream/Spooked discs. It has that same kind of feel, a m....
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July 2005 - (Hashman)
Frameshift - An Absence of Empathy
Style: Progressive Metal
The Musicianship of Henning Pauly us way up there, along with composers such as Arjen Anthony Lucassen and Nikolo Kotzev, and he proved so with his first Frameshift project (as well as his solo materi....
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June 2005 - (Tommy)
Pagan´s Mind - Enigmatic: Calling
Style: Progressive Power Metal
Their debut was good, the follow up excellent and now they return with a third collection of hard-hitting Progressive Power Metal.
The philosophical and astrological features have survived and we ar....
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June 2005 - (Steen)
Shadow Gallery - Room V
Style: Progressive Metal
Room V is a concept album which continues the story from the album Tyranny, released in 1997. Tyranny is high on my list of favorite concept albums ever. It is one of those albums that succeeds in mak....
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June 2005 - (Michael)
TriggerDaddy - Stereosonic Meltdown
Style: Melodic Rock
RevelationZ Magazine proudly presents TriggerDaddy!
TriggerDaddy has recorded their debut album at Gilby Clarke's Redrum Recordings without a label deal. The CD has been available via their <a href....
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June 2005 - (Nina)
Sabaton - Primo Victoria
Style: Bombastic, epic Power Metal
Sabaton is a relatively new band from Sweden, and Primo Victoria offers plenty of fascinating melodies, blistering guitar work, and an epic and dramatic atmosphere.
Primo Victoria starts out stron....
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June 2005 - (Hashman)
At Vance - Chained
Style: Melodic Power Metal
Anyone has to admit that the songs are always the key to creating intriguing musical endeavors. Whether you are referring to a more straightforward approach or elaborate works, there has to be a hook ....
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June 2005 - (Alanna)
Edge of Forever - Let the Demon Rock N Roll
Style: Hard Rock
For the first several tracks on Edge of Forever's second outing, "Let the Demon Rock N Roll", you might just think you have found heavy metal heaven. This would, in theory, be a magical place where me....
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May 2005 - (Tommy)
Bruce Dickinson - Tyranny Of Souls
Style: Heavy Metal
Bruce Dickinson is a person I share a lot of respect and admiration for. A multitalented genius that has meant a big difference to the Metal world through the mighty Iron Maiden and his solo band.
On....
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May 2005 - (Steen)
Candlemass - Candlemass
Style: Doom
I remember a time long ago when I had just discovered Heavy Metal music. Every good album I discovered seemed to bring on a special feeling or vibe. Nowadays that doesn't happen very often and to quot....
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May 2005 - (Michael)
Hanoi Rocks - Another Hostile Takeover
Style: Hanoi Rocks
In 2002 legendary Hanoi Rocks fluttered the dovecotes announcing their comeback followed by the brilliant album "12 shots on the Rocks". The album was consistent, moving Hanoi Rocks in a more straight....
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May 2005 - (Alanna)
Pride of Lions - The Destiny Stone
Style: AOR/Melodic Rock
So you thought it would be nice to have Survivor for the 2000's right? Well these guys have just answered your prayers and granted your wishes. Headed by one of the former driving forces of Survivor....
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May 2005 - (Hashman)
Circle II Circle - The Middle of Nowhere
Style: Melodic Power Metal
For Zak Stevens, getting out of Savatage's massive shadow and finding a new identity with his own band Circle II Circle is quite a feat, but its nothing less than what we might have expected from the....
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April 2005 - (Alanna)
Starbreaker - Starbreaker
Style: Hard Rock/Heavy Metal
Starbreaker seems like a brand new outfit, and it is, but while the name might be new, don't let that fool you, the musicians within are very familiar in a warm and comforting way. Tony Harnell is by....
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April 2005 - (Steen)
Communic - Conspiracy In Mind
Style: Heavy/Power/Thrash hybrid
Here is a band that is set for a great future. The 3-piece Norwegian band Communic has unleashed their debut album and it is very impressive. Conspiracy in Mind is filled with heaviness, energy and po....
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April 2005 - (Tommy)
Beyond Twilight - Section X
Style: Progressive Metal
The compositional process for this album saw mastermind Finn Zierler venturing into new territory, by composing in 3 different stages: in total solitude looked in an attic, submerged under water i....
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April 2005 - (Michael)
Hanoi Rocks - 4CD Boxset
Style: Hanoi Rocks
This amazing boxset salutes the short-lived career of the original Hanoi Rocks. The boxset goes all the way back to the late 80's till the classic Hanoi Rocks' last concert right after Razzle's death.....
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April 2005 - (Nina)
Freedom Call - The Circle Of Life
Style: European Power Metal
Since their glorious debut Stairway To Fairyland, I have been totally hooked on Freedom Call, so needless to say that yours truly have awaited this album with huge ex....
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April 2005 - (Hashman)
Judas Priest - Angel of Retribution
Style: Heavy Metal
For all their glory, outlasting the careers of so many bands and with a legacy that endures to this day, Judas Priest delivers one of their most solid albums in their career. Even if you look past th....
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March 2005 - (Alanna)
Joe Lynn Turner - The Usual Suspects
Style: Hard Rock
I've been waiting for Joe Lynn Turner to do an album like this for...well... ages now. He teased us with the spectacular slab of AOR goodness back in the mid 80s in the form of "Rescue You", which wa....
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March 2005 - (Steen)
Kamelot - The Black Halo
Style: Heavy Metal
Since their first album, Eternity, Kamelot have evolved greatly. From a more or less basic approach with a strong reliance on the guitar work to a full-blown symphonic experience with everything it im....
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March 2005 - (Tommy)
Masterplan - Aeronatics
Style: Heavy Metal
Two years after their stunning debut the Masters have Plan number two ready and once again they have thought out something fresh and intriguing. Let me just start out by saying that this doesn't reach....
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March 2005 - (Michael)
Thunder - The Magnificent Seventh
Style: Hard Rock
In 1990 Thunder released their debut album, the critically acclaimed "Backstreet Symphony" and also had the opening slot at Donnington's "Monsters of Rock Festival". The band quickly became popular in....
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March 2005 - (Nina)
Nightrage - Sweet Vengeance
Style: Melodeath
The debut album of supergroup Nightrage is a catchy, aggressive and extremely well crafted outburst of melodic Death Metal, taking the listener on a journey into extremity, outlined with harmonic elem....
Read full review |  |
March 2005 - (Hashman)
Derek Sherinian - Mythology
Style: Progressive Rock/Metal
With his most diverse work to date, Mr. Planet X returns again with his latest album, Mythology, which again, bridges the gap between both keyboard and guitar aficionados.
....
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February 2005 - (Matthew)
Labyrinth - Freeman
Style: Melodic Power Metal
Before we get into the music, I have to ask: did anybody really expect an album cover like that from LABYRINTH of all bands? A handcuffed, naked mannequin's ass? I suppose they're attempting to make s....
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February 2005 - (Alanna)
Shy - Sunset and Vine
Style: AOR/Melodic Rock
Shy is back with their second fresh full length effort since the latest reformation, which saw the return of original vocalist Tony Mills after a multi year and much missed absence. They came prepare....
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February 2005 - (Steen)
Lanfear - aNother gOlden rAge
Style: Complex Power Metal
The fourth Lanfear album is here and it continues down the impressive path of their previous outing, The Art Effect. Fast paced, powerful and complex Heavy Metal is served with a lot of intensity on t....
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February 2005 - (Hashman)
Glenn Hughes - Soul Mover
Style: Melodic Hard Rock
This guy goes from metal, to funk, to soul, to straight ahead hard rock, so what is this guy? He's it, the well-known "voice of rock" who returns with a more funk and groove-laden approach to his hard....
Read full review |  |
February 2005 - (Michael)
MPG - Martie Peters Group
Style: Hard Rock
Fellow countryman Martie Peters is back with his first solo album. After 10 years of fronting the excellent Hard Rock band Push, Martie Peters takes it a step further now pursuing a solo career. Howev....
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January 2005 - (Jonah)
Mnemic - The Audio Injected Soul
Style: Fusion Future Metal
Hailing from my home away from home Denmark, Mnemic are more than just your average Fear Factory worshipping Industrial Metal band. Last year's debut "Mechanical Spin Phenomena" made a huge impression....
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January 2005 - (Steen)
Bob Catley - Middle Earth
Style: Symphonic Rock
With the recent release of the extended DVD version of "Lord of the Rings - Return of the king", what better way to celebrate it than to dig deep into this captivating journey through Tolkien's world.....
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January 2005 - (Michael)
Pure Inc. - Pure Inc.
Style: Heavy Pounding Rock
Based in Switzerland Pure Inc. is a melting pot with members from Germany, Switzerland and members of Italian origin.
I consider myself an old hand in Hard Rock and it's quite rare that I get blow....
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January 2005 - (Hashman)
Enchant - Live at Last
Style: Progressive Rock/Melodic Hard Rock
"I believe we have recorded around seventy five songs in our career, do you guys want to hear a third of everything we have recorded tonight," says vocalists/rhythm guitarist Ted Leonard to enthusiast....
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January 2005 - (Tommy)
Green Day - American Idiot
Style: Punk Rock
Is this yet another easily accessible melodic Punk Rock album from Green Day? Yes indeed, but I think they manage to be so much more.
I have always liked their ultra catchy and easy ....
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January 2005 - (Matthew)
Angra - Temple of Shadows
Style: Melodic Power Metal
When I opened my mail last week and discovered I had received a copy of the new Angra album I was seriously overjoyed. Angra is one of my all time favorite bands, and with the exception of their F....
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December 2004 - (Tommy)
DGM - Misplaced
Style: Progressive Power Metal
I had only read a few things about the band DGM when Steen one day handed me a promo of Misplaced saying that this may be just something for me. he was right.
This is the Italians fifth album and I d....
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December 2004 - (Alanna)
James Christian - Meet the Man
Style: Melodic Rock
James Christian is currently experiencing a bit of a comeback, his voice featured on two major discs this year. The House of Lords return was not one of glory but rather bitter disappointment, with p....
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December 2004 - (Hashman)
Blackfield - Blackfield
Style: Dark/Atmospheric Progressive
2004 is drawing to a close and no new Porcupine Tree record has surfaced (with the exception of reissues) since In Absentia. However, Steven Wilson along with Israel's eccent....
Read full review |  |
December 2004 - (Steen)
Chris Caffery - Faces
Style: Heavy Metal
Joining the legendary Savatage on their Dio/Megadeth tour in 1987 at the age of 20, Chris Caffery was first relegated to a spot behind the stage curtain playing rythm guitar to spice up the sound. Muc....
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December 2004 - (Jonah)
Disarmonia Mundi - Fragments of a D-Generation
Style: Ultra Melodic Thrash/Death
I don't even know where to start with this review. This record has buried its way into my heart, and into my top three albums of all time (along with Children of Bodom's "Hatebreeder" and Soilwork's ....
Read full review |  |
December 2004 - (Michael)
Tak Matsumoto Group - TMG 1
Style: Heavy Rock
So who the hell is TMG, Tak Matsumoto Group? If you are Japanese and read this I apologize for the ignorant question. Tak Matsumoto has built a huge following in Japan as songwriter, guitarist and pro....
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November 2004 - (Tajs)
After Forever - Invisible Circles
Style: Symphonic Goth Metal
The Dutch band After Forever's first 2 cds were good, not enough to really grab me, but the band certainly had something. A bit heavier and more goth than the other metal bands with female singers lik....
Read full review |  |
November 2004 - (Tommy)
Pain of Salvation - BE
Style: Progressive Metal
I have found myself the perfect company for those late nights when I'm in the mood for just laying awake and having a philosophical thought or two, BE has a sedative but also very inspiring effect on ....
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November 2004 - (Hashman)
Vox Tempus - In the Eye of Time
Style: Progressive Metal
When it comes to supergroups, expectations can always run high, whether we have this ability to mend out our idea of the way a particular group is going to sound and that it is going to be somewhat of....
Read full review |  |
November 2004 - (Steen)
Jon Oliva´s Pain - ´Tage Mahal
Style: Heavy Metal
Jon Oliva has released his first solo album and it is a killer! It is one of those albums that doesn't grab you right away but slowly creeps up on you and suddenly smacks you right in the face with it....
Read full review |  |
November 2004 - (Alanna)
Pulse - Worlds Apart
Style: Melodic Rock
A flurry of controversy has surrounded this band since the first self-titled debut that followed along the lines of the singer, Simon Abbots, abandoning the band, a new vocalist coming on board, then ....
Read full review |  |
November 2004 - (Nina)
Steel Attack - Enslaved
Style: Power Metal
Steel Attack have come a long way since their early days as a standard Power Metal band, featuring a singer who didn't really sing but more "spoke" the lyrics.and I don't mean on purpose, that was his....
Read full review |  |
November 2004 - (Michael)
Europe - Start from the dark
Style: Modern Hard Rock
Last studio album from Europe was "Prisoners in Paradise", which was released in 1991. After a 13-year recording hiatus Europe is back.
As always when we deal with re-union of 80's bands in classi....
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October 2004 - (Tommy)
Saxon - Lionheart
Style: Heavy Metal
I don't know what it is with these NWOBHM bands, they simple won't call it a day and not only do I highly respect that, I also find it praiseworthy that bands like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Saxon ....
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October 2004 - (Hashman)
Jeff Scott Soto - Lost in the Translation
Style: Melodic Hard Rock/AOR
On a press release tear sheet, the man here in question is referred to as the "frontman that every band wants to have," fuckin'-A right he is! Having long established himself as a solo artist beyond h....
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October 2004 - (Steen)
Rhapsody (of Fire) - Symphony Of Enchanted Lands II - The Dark Secret
Style: Symphonic Metal
After listening intensely to Rhapsody's new album for the past month it is slowly establishing itself as their best and most accomplished so far. Yes, Rhapsody are back, and this time they have taken ....
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October 2004 - (Tommy)
Abydos - The Little Boy´s Heavy Mental Shadow Opera About The Inhabitants Of His Diary
Style: Progressive Metal
Once in a while you get an album that somehow sounds very different from everything you have heard before. This release goes into that category. In this case this also means that it's very progressive....
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October 2004 - (Michael)
Glenn Hughes - Soulfully Live in the City of Angels
Style: Classic Rock
Glenn Hughes started his career in Trapeze and then went to join Deep Purple playing on the "Burn" album, which is one of the best Deep Purple releases of all time and also its successor "Stormbringer....
Read full review |  |
October 2004 - (David)
Neal Morse - One
Style: Progressive Rock
Here I sit at my desk, a CDR in my hand with a plain white surface and scrawled onto it with the black ink of a sharpie it reads: "One" Neal Morse--Final Master Copy.
I went up to Neal's house recent....
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September 2004 - (Michael)
Richie Kotzen - Get Up
Style: Melodic Hard Rock
Richie Kotzen's career spans from joining Poison at the age of twenty and recording "Native Tongue" to playing fusion with Vertu and joining Mr. Big on their last album "Actual Size". In between Richi....
Read full review |  |
September 2004 - (Tommy)
Jag Panzer - Casting The Stones
Style: Power Metal
Don't be fooled by a couple of listening rounds, my impression after a few spins and number twenty was two very different worlds, Casting The Stones takes time.
One main reason for this is that Jag P....
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September 2004 - (Nina)
Withering Surface - Force The Pace
Style: Melodic Death Metal
Here it is: The fourth full-length album from Danish melodic Death Metallers Withering Surface, and what a great addition to their back catalogue!
The band has been around for about ten years, and af....
Read full review |  |
September 2004 - (Hashman)
Voodoo Hill - Wild Seed of Mother Earth
Style: Melodic Metal
Dario Mollo, who returns with his latest Voodoo Hill record, once again plays his axe to the utmost of heavy and melodic proportions. With his six string attack reminiscent of say, Jon Petrucci meets ....
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September 2004 - (Alanna)
Magnum - Brand New Morning
Style: Hard Rock
There are lots of groups and artists that often let me down, but one man that has been consistent is Bob Catley. He never disappoints, through many decades, bands and four terrific solo efforts. Whi....
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August 2004 - (Steen)
Threshold - Subsurface
Style: Progressive Metal
Threshold have returned (or should I say surfaced?) with another excellent progressive metal album. That should be enough for any fans to buy this at once. Those who don't know Threshold probably need....
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August 2004 - (Tommy)
Everon - Bridge
Style: Progressive Heavy Rock
This is a newly discovered band for me, so I only got this one album at the time but that should not last for long. Everon plays a unique form of Progressive Heavy Rock, successfully mixing deep and h....
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August 2004 - (Michael)
Dokken - Hell to Pay
Style: Heavy Rock
The main conclusion about this album must be - Dokken is still rocking.
Even though George Lynch, who was a huge part of Dokken's sound, isn't with the band anymore as well as charismatic bass play....
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August 2004 - (Alanna)
Hodson - This Strange World
Style: Hard Rock
Who really keeps up with most keyboard players anyway? Despite the fact that this instrument is often extremely important to a band's overall sound, most fans finds ourselves tracking the careers of ....
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August 2004 - (Hashman)
Metal Church - The Weight of the World
Style: Heavy Metal
There is a lot to be said about a band that has been around for years, throughout many lineup changes and record label switchovers that stays true to the music. Metal Church has profoundly been one of....
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July 2004 - (Alanna)
Ten - Return to Evermore
Style: Melodic Hard Rock
Ten is one of those bands that for some - is just like magic. With each new album release there's high expectations, and it's almost become like an event. These days not too many bands continue to e....
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July 2004 - (Steen)
Ayreon - The Human Equation
Style: Progressive Metal
If you're looking for an album that has everything, then Ayreon's The Human Equation may be as close as you get. I sat there with my mouth gaping open in stunned silence for a few seconds after my fir....
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July 2004 - (Hashman)
Black Label Society - Hangover Music: Vol. VI
Style: Heavy Metal
Moving way beyond his days as just an Ozzy sideman, establishing himself as one of the last true guitar heroes, or should I say, he is going to bring real playing back to light, rather than all of the....
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July 2004 - (Michael)
The Quireboys - Well Oiled
Style: Rock ´n´ Roll
After releasing the last original album in 1993, Quireboys was on hiatus till "This is Rock N Roll" was released in spring 2001. "Well Oiled" only marks the fourth studio album from Quireboys and the ....
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June 2004 - (Matthew)
Nightwish - Once
Style: Symphonic Metal
The new album from Finnish Symphonic Metal band Nightwish has recently found its way into my CD player, and I couldn't be happier! Honestly, who would've thought that seven years ago, when their debut....
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June 2004 - (Steen)
Pyramaze - Melancholy beast
Style: Heavy/Power Metal
And so Pyramaze blast onto the scene with their impressive debut... Easily the best Heavy-Power Metal debut I have heard in a long time. This one equals the latest Edguy as well as several other well ....
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June 2004 - (Michael)
L.A. Guns - Rips the Covers off
Style: Covers/L.A. Guns
Throughout their career L.A. Guns has never been afraid to include cover versions on their records. As the title refers, "Rips the Covers off" is a full album of cover versions.
Founding member Tr....
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June 2004 - (Tommy)
Frameshift - Unweaving The Rainbow
Style: Progressive Heavy Rock
Frameshift is a very interesting and ingenious musical project lead by Henning Pauly (Chain), who among others is accompanied by James LaBrie from Dream Theater on vocals (plus helping with the writin....
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June 2004 - (Hashman)
Threshold - Critical Energy
Style: Progressive Metal
One of progressive metals aptly technical bands has come forth with the latest live album to expose the ultimately discrete musicianship that has made Threshold a household name over the past few year....
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June 2004 - (David)
Kataklysm - Serenity In Fire
Style: Extreme Metal
Serenity In Fire picks right up from where it's predecessor "Shadows And Dust" left. The biggest and best difference is the songs and production. As usual Guitarist and Producer J-F Dagenais tweaked t....
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May 2004 - (Michael)
Donnie Vie - This & That
Style: Vintage Enuff Z´Nuff
Don. E. Vie equals Donnie Vie, singer and songwriter from Enuff Z'Nuff, has released his second solo album. "This and That" is a fan release consisting of 4 brand new Don. E. Vie solo songs and 13 pre....
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May 2004 - (Tommy)
Platitude - Nine
Style: Progressive Heavy Metal
The seven man strong Platitude released a rather good debut last year with Secrets Of Life; Nine nevertheless shows a remarkable progress for the better.
Their style is very hard to define precisely....
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May 2004 - (Hashman)
Tim Donahue - Madmen & Sinners
Style: Progressive/Melodic Metal
Well it's probably easy for many to approach this record with either apprehension or high expectations, because first off, one of the key players is well known (singer would be more appropriate to des....
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May 2004 - (Steen)
Evergrey - The Inner Circle
Style: Dark Heavy Metal
Evergrey are back with another album worthy of their name. Like In search of truth, The Inner Circle is a concept album. This time dealing with religion. As a promo copy equals no lyrics and I am stil....
Read full review |  |
April 2004 - (Nina)
Falconer - The Sceptre Of Deception
Style: Folk/Power Metal
As a big fan of Falconer's first selftitled album, which was my album of the year 2001, the departure of original singer Mathias Blad was a huge disappointment to me. Somehow, it was ....
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April 2004 - (Tommy)
Edguy - Hellfire Club
Style: Power Metal
The much anticipated new Edguy album Hellfire Club has finally made its way to the record stores. Are there reasons for hurrying down there you might ask, there surely is would be my short but suffici....
Read full review |  |
April 2004 - (Alanna)
Crossfade - White On Blue
Style: Westcoast/AOR
Wow what an album! I've tried to hold back on this one for awhile and let the euphoria die down a little before throwing it against the wall and seeing what songs would "stick" in the long run and wh....
Read full review |  |
April 2004 - (Michael)
TNT - My Religion
Style: Hard Rock
TNT is among the veterans of the Hard rock scene. In 1984 the Norway based band teamed up with American singer Tony Harnell.
After a turbulent career TNT reformed in original line-up and the teas....
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April 2004 - (Hashman)
Flowing Tears - Razorbliss
Style: Melodic Goth Metal
It's not hard to be easily blown away by this record; I mean listen to the resonant deep dark angelic voice of new vocalist Helen Vogt and the discrete melodies with the thick heavy backdrop played by....
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March 2004 - (Steen)
Aina (The Metal Opera) - Days of rising doom
Style: Fantasy Power Metal
'Aina - Days of rising doom' is a fantasy metal opera of the best kind. Epic, melodic and powerful are a few keywords to describe the album. Along with a long list of singers the music brings life to ....
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March 2004 - (Tommy)
Poverty's No Crime - The Chemical Chaos
Style: Progressive Metal
After intense evaluation I have come to the conclusion that the new album by Poverty's No Crime is in fact as unique and special as I thought it was the first time I heard it, if anything then even mo....
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March 2004 - (Michael)
Tesla - Into the now
Style: Hard Rock
Tesla spent more than two years writing and recording their comeback studio album "Into the Now", which is Tesla's first studio album since "Bust a Nut" released in 1994. Tesla still features all orig....
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March 2004 - (Hashman)
Blackmore´s Night - Ghost of a Rose
Style: Progressive Baroque Folk/Rock
After now what seems to be his permanent departure from Deep Purple in the mid-nineties and the ever so inevitable end to more and more Rainbow lineups, Ritchie Blackmore, along with "common law" wife....
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February 2004 - (David)
In Flames - Soundtrack To Your Escape
Style: Melodic Death Metal
New! What a great word. I like brand new stuff. Especially stuff that not many people have yet. Like the NEW In Flames album.
Not released yet, NEW!
Privileged! Another great word and one that d....
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February 2004 - (Tommy)
Axel Rudi Pell - Kings And Queens
Style: Heavy Metal
Time flies. This is the tenth studio album from German guitar maestro Axel Rudi Pell and if you are into the previous stuff you will also dig this jubilee disc, I guarantee it :)
One thing I really l....
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February 2004 - (Steen)
Orphaned Land - Mabool: The story of the Three Sons of Seven
Style: Progressive Middle Eastern Metal
Wow, what a great adventure!
Orphaned Land play the most original and intriguing music I have heard in a long time. They succeed in mixing the best from many musical genres into something very uni....
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February 2004 - (Tommy)
Iced Earth - The Glorious Burden
Style: Power Metal
For quite sometime now I have eagerly been waiting for the new Iced Earth to hit the streets, some personnel replacements did drag things longer than planed. But now its here and it really is a huge e....
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February 2004 - (Michael)
Must - Androgynous Jesus
Style: Read review
This review starts with a short personal story of how I discovered this outstanding, but yet weird band. So bear with me or just skip the next two paragraphs.
I first gained interest in Must, wh....
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February 2004 - (Hashman)
Balance of Power - Heathen Machine
Style: Melodic/Power Metal
For one, it's about time these guys get the recognition; having spent the past few years in the melodic power metal underground, they have come a ways since cuts like "Daybreaker" blew the minds of me....
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February 2004 - (Nina)
Persuader - Evolution Purgatory
Style: Brutal Power Metal
Persuader is a young, but not completely new band (formed in 1997). They were initially signed to Loud'N'Proud records, which released one album with the band, The Hunter, which is pr....
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January 2004 - (David)
The Forsaken - Traces Of The Past
Style: Swedish Death Metal
3 albums into their career find The Forsaken still unrelenting and talented as ever. With "Traces Of The Past" the Swedes carry on the brutal force of Tech/Death they have been recognized for creating....
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January 2004 - (Tajs)
Wuthering Heights - Far From the Madding Crowd
Style: Progressive Folk Metal
Danish prog metallers Wuthering Heights may be unknown to a lot of people. I mean I had heard the name mentioned a few times but not more than that before I was asked to do a review o....
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January 2004 - (Steen)
Heavenly - Dust to dust
Style: Power Metal
If you know and like Heavenly then all you need to know is that this is their heaviest and best release so far and you should be running for the record store. All others should know that Heavenly play....
Read full review |  |
January 2004 - (Tommy)
Nightwish - Century Child
Style: Symphonic Power Metal
When first captured by this all-embracing symphonic world, it's hard to leave.
This is the fourth album from Finnish Nightwish and it immediately became my favourite one. In this review I will try to....
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January 2004 - (Michael)
Influences and Connections - Volume one: Mr. Big
Style: Hard Rock
Mr. Big was a so-called super group formed when Billy Sheehan left David Lee Roth in 1988. He teamed up with Paul Gilbert formerly of Racer X, Pat Torpey and solo artist Eric Martin. All the musicians....
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January 2004 - (Hashman)
Stratovarius - Elements Part 2
Style: Power Metal
So anybody can criticize these guys. Love them or hate them, you cannot deny the influence that these guys have on the Metal community, going beyond their days as a quartet, incorporating many other "....
Read full review |  |
December 2003 - (Nina)
Destruction - Metal Discharge
Style: Thrash Metal
After seeing this amazing band deliver an outburst of aggressive Thrash Metal live some years ago, I got into the first album since the infamous reunion of Destruction, called All Hell Breaks ....
Read full review |  |
December 2003 - (Steen)
Sun Caged - Sun Caged
Style: Progressive Metal
Mark my words, Sun Caged are going to be huge. The best debut of 2003? To me it is very close, competing for the first place alongside Masterplan & Redemption at the moment... Sun Caged play their own....
Read full review |  |
December 2003 - (Tommy)
Dream Theater - Train Of Thought
Style: Progressive Metal
It's always nice with music that challenges the listener in an ingenious and exciting way, like this new piece of progressive adventures from the wonder-band Dream Theater. Being a huge, no mega huge,....
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December 2003 - (Michael)
Firehouse - Prime Time
Style: Hard Rock
I think I speak for a lot of us, when I admit that after Firehouse's first 3 albums and the splendid "Good Acoustics" I kind of gave up on them. If you feel the same way "Prime Time" is definitely the....
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December 2003 - (Hashman)
Dream Theater - Train of Thought
Style: Progressive Metal
Literally their eleventh album (out of all both studio and live albums, disregarding this years official bootlegs) from the band that has set the standard for Prog Metal, standing tall with influence,....
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November 2003 - (Michael)
Enuff Z'nuff - Favorites
Style: Unique blend of Hard Beatles Rock
The last couple of years have been turbulent for Enuff Z'Nuff. "Favorites" puts a temporary stop for the fertilized co-operation among Donnie Vie and Chip Z'nuff.
11 albums justify the first Enuf....
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November 2003 - (Hashman)
Rush - Rush in Rio
Style: Hard Rock
What, yet another triple live album, why yes it is; compiling their performances from the series of sold out shows in Brazil, proving once again that this is the tightest power trio around. One thing ....
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November 2003 - (Rafael)
Versover - House of Bones
Style: Heavy Metal
The young fellows of Versover strike back with their second studio album called House of Bones. After a very successful debut in the underground metal scene, with the album Lo....
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November 2003 - (Tommy)
Labyrinth - Labyrinth
Style: Symphonic Power Metal
Wow this is ingenious, extremely well performed and heavy as fuck. This was more or less my first impression of Labyrinth's self titled fourth album.
Even though I love Power Metal I must admit tha....
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October 2003 - (Steen)
King Diamond - The Puppet Master
Style: Horror Metal
It is with great pleasure I announce that The King is back! ...again... After two weeks of non-stop listening to this promo, The Puppet Master has taken its place alongside of my favorite King Diamond....
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October 2003 - (Tommy)
Iron Maiden - Dance Of Death
Style: Heavy Metal
Could the expectations have been any higher? Hardly, would be my answer.
With Brave New World the mighty Iron Maiden made one of their strongest albums ever and now follows Dance Of Death, Maidens m....
Read full review |  |
October 2003 - (Anders)
Dimmu Borgir - Death Cult Armageddon
Style: Creative Black Metal
Ah finally it came - I'm talking about the latest album Death Cult Armageddon from the Norwegian black metallers Dimmu Borgir. Their last studio album Puritanical Euphoric Mis....
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October 2003 - (Michael)
The Quireboys - 100 % Live 2002
Style: Rock ´N´ Roll
Singer Spike opens the album with "Good evening Wembley - We're the Quireboys and this is Rock 'N' Roll". Actually my review could have ended now, because the line "This is Rock 'N' Roll" encompasses ....
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October 2003 - (Hashman)
Eidolon - Apostles of Defiance
Style: Thrash/Power Metal
Coming off the heals of yet another phenomenal record "Coma Nation," Eidolon have proved themselves worthy of yet their own place in the Metal world with their latest release "Apostles of Defiance." M....
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October 2003 - (Steen)
Rage - Soundchaser
Style: Heavy/Power Metal
The three-piece band Rage is back! With Soundchaser the band continues the style from the excellent Unity and perfects it here. This is some of the best Heavy Metal I have heard in a very long time. I....
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September 2003 - (David)
Arch Enemy - Anthems of rebellion
Style: Perfect Metal
Arch Enemy are back with an extreme metal album that easily tops their previous brutal exercise: "Wages Of Sin".
Angela Gossow choosing this time to morph her famous growl into something like a t....
Read full review |  |
September 2003 - (Tommy)
Lost Horizon - A Flame To The Ground Beneath
Style: Symphonic Power Metal
In very few cases do a band's concept, image and musical guideline melt into one magic whole as with Lost Horizon. After their fairly good debut they are back with a real blast of a Power Metal album.....
Read full review |  |
September 2003 - (Hashman)
Led Zeppelin - How the West Was Won
Style: Classic Metal
Well here it is, one of the ultimate documentations of one of Metal's most influential bands, in the ultimate live setting. "How the West was Won," is compiled like a complete live Zeppelin concert, m....
Read full review |  |
September 2003 - (Steen)
Dead Soul Tribe - A murder of crows
Style: Progressive metal
A murder of crows takes the listener on a dark journey through the strange mind of Devon Graves. It is the second album from Dead Soul Tribe and both continues and evolves the style from the debut. Co....
Read full review |  |
August 2003 - (Michael)
Thunder - Shooting at the Sun
Style: Hard Rock
After being spilt up for 2 years England's Thunder is back - and what a comeback album I might add.
Especially the 2 first Thunder albums were truly amazing and "Shooting at the Sun" ranks among t....
Read full review |  |
August 2003 - (Michael)
Black Label Society - The blessed Hellride
Style: Heavy Metal
Zakk Wylde's Black Label Society has established themselves as a newer Heavy Metal band, but still drawing inspiration from 70's bands and also southern rock.
It's pretty black and white with Zakk....
Read full review |  |
August 2003 - (Steen)
John Arch - A twist of fate
Style: Progressive Metal
After a 16 year absence from the music scene, the original Fates Warning singer, John Arch has returned. And that is in a way that makes me feel like he was never really gone. His voice has developed ....
Read full review |  |
August 2003 - (Tommy)
Evergrey - Recreation Day
Style: Power Metal
This is Evergrey's fourth release and like the other ones there is a shadow-like gloomy darkness covering the overall impression of the record.I would say that Evergrey plays a style of music that....
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August 2003 - (Hashman)
King´s X - Black Like Sunday
Style: Heavy Metal, Power Trio Style
Yes, it's about time! Back to basics here! After several releases departing from their patent sound King's X emerges again. As any King's X fan will tell you their last few albums were strange detours....
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July 2003 - (Michael)
Bret Michaels - Songs of Life
Style: Hard Rock
"Songs of Life" is the latest solo album from Poison singer Bret Michaels. Everyone who has his previous solo albums knows that Bret has experimented with diverse styles. Bret has been writing music f....
Read full review |  |
July 2003 - (Steen)
Lanfear - The Art Effect
Style: Complex Power Metal
The Art Effect is the third album by Germany's Lanfear. Never having heard anything by them before, I was pretty much blown away by this effort. Complex Power Metal of high quality, with many progress....
Read full review |  |
June 2003 - (Tommy)
Metallica - St. Anger
Style: Heavy Metal
The name Metallica is not, as you otherwise could start to believe after the first 5 releases, the same as extremely high standard of music. Load and Reload had its better moments (especially the high....
Read full review |  |
June 2003 - (Michael)
Talisman - Cats and Dogs
Style: Heavy Rock
After a detour under the synonymous "Humanimal", Talisman is back with full force. "Cats & Dogs" is their first album on Frontiers Records and the band sounds sparkling with ideas and musical capabili....
Read full review |  |
May 2003 - (Hashman)
Opeth - Damnation
Style: Although the band itself is Heavy Metal, this album in particular is Progressive Rock
Whoa, here we have an album that is a complete contrast to their normal metal sound. Opeth have seeped into a more mellower, progressive sound where the focus is on the mood of the album rather than ....
Read full review |  |
May 2003 - (Steen)
Redemption - Redemption
Style: Progressive Metal
The first time I put on this album, and listened to the opening two minutes of Desperation Part I, I knew this was going to be good. Then I looked at the promo material and noticed the members of Rede....
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May 2003 - (Tommy)
Helloween - Rabbit Don´t Come Easy
Style: Power Metal
Helloween are back in a new line-up, and as many times before, they have achieved making something very interesting and surprising.
New on guitar is Sascha Gerstner (former Freedom Call). While Mar....
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May 2003 - (Michael)
Nuclear Valdez - In a Minute all Could Change
Style: Their own
It started out as a romance with "I Am I". Out of the blue "In a minute all could change" was released and slowly I found myself falling in love. I knew had to purchase "Dream Another Dream" also, and....
Read full review |  |
April 2003 - (Steen)
Star One - Live on Earth
Style: Ayreon and Star One
I was lucky enough to witness Star One live in concert, when they played in Hamburg last year. I still remember that night vividly. Everything came together to form a fantastic concert, I wish everybo....
Read full review |  |
April 2003 - (Yoni)
Children of Bodom - Hatebreeder
Style: Death metal
Music is an image conjurer. It can evoke emotions and thoughts through the use of simple lyrics, complex melodies or a series of chordal progressions designed to create a certain mood or tone. This is....
Read full review |  |
April 2003 - (Steen)
Lost Horizon - A flame to the ground beneath
Style: Metal
They have done it again. Lost Horizon have delivered a magnificent feast of powerful, agressive and melodic music, overflowing with emotion and positive spirits. After listening to A f....
Read full review |  |
April 2003 - (Michael)
Mike Tramp - More to life than this
Style: Rock
It's only been 13 months since Mike Tramp released his last album, the critical acclaimed "Recovering the Wasted Years". The album was a strong effort with some really strong and personal lyrics, whil....
Read full review |  |
March 2003 - (Steen)
Archetype - Dawning
Style: Progressive Metal
Archetype is a relatively new band hailing from America, and they are one of those cool discoveries that doesn't come along too often. Chris Matyus (Guitars), Greg Wagner</str....
Read full review |  |
March 2003 - (Tommy)
Pain of Salvation - Remedy Lane
Style: Progressive Metal
Pain Of Salvation is one of the most exiting and groundbreaking bands I have ever heard.
Their style is extremely unique, and Remedy Lane has been spinning in my CD player for some time now, but stil....
Read full review |  |
February 2003 - (Michael)
$ign of 4 - Dancing with St. Peter
Style: Blues Hard Rock
Ever since my interview with Phil Mogg in August 2002 I have been looking forward to this album. Even though the reason for the interview was the latest UFO album Phil was very excited to mention this....
Read full review |  |
January 2003 - (Michael)
Michael Monroe - Whatcha Want
Style: Sleazy Kick Ass Rock
Michael Monroe is back with a new fantastic album to complement his legendary back catalogue with Hanoi Rocks. "Whatcha Want" contains 9 cover versions and 4 originals. However, Michael Monroe has suc....
Read full review |  |
January 2003 - (Steen)
Edenbridge - Aphelion
Style: Melodic Heavy Metal with female vocals
This is the third album from Austria's Edenbridge. I got their debut Sunrise in Eden when it came out and thought it was quite excellent, but along the way I lost some of my initial i....
Read full review |  |
January 2003 - (Tommy)
Masterplan - Masterplan
Style: Heavy Metal
This is the debut album from Masterplan. The members consist of Roland Grapow (guitar) and Uli Kusch (drums) both ex Helloween, bassist Jan. S. Eckert ex Iron Savior, singer Jorn Lande (ARK) and keybo....
Read full review |  |
December 2002 - (Michael)
Freak Kitchen - Move
Style: Diverse - Hard Rock/Metal/Rock
I have been playing this record non-stop since I received it.
Freak Kitchen has got a new rhythm section backing singer and guitarist Mattias Eklundh. The new guys Christer and Björn provide a s....
Read full review |  |
December 2002 - (Tommy)
Dream Theater - Metropolis Pt.2: Scenes From A Memory
Style: Progressive Metal
What this album creates of musical genius, strong feelings and pure magic cannot easily be said in words, but I will try anyway.
The album is a concept about a person who becomes hypnotised and goe....
Read full review |  |
December 2002 - (Tommy)
Kamelot - Epica
Style: Heavy Metal
I had very high expectations of this record. I think that every Kamelot album is good in it's own way, especially their latest, Karma, which I found truly great.
Epica seems to me to be their most ....
Read full review |  |
December 2002 - (Steen)
Damian Wilson - Disciple
Style: Hard to describe with one word... See the review
I bought this album after the Star One show in Hamburg earlier this year. Listening to Damian Wilson singing live got me interested in his solo work. I had no idea what the music would sound like and ....
Read full review |  |
December 2002 - (Tommy)
Symphony X - The Odyssey
Style: Progressive Power Metal
The Odyssey is the sixth and highly awaited release from this brilliant Progressive Power Metal band. From the first time I heard it, I new that this one was going to be truly special.
The album o....
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December 2002 - (Michael)
Roxx Gang - Bodacious Ta Tas
Style: Sleazy Glam
"Bodacious ta tas" is best of Roxx Gang. This compilation is spanning through the whole career of Roxx Gang - from their major label debut "Things You've Never Done Before" to their latest studio cd "....
Read full review |  |
September 2002 - (Steen)
Threshold - Critical mass
Style: Progressive Metal
This is the sixth studio album from Threshold and it has quickly become my favourite. I still need to listen to their older albums though, as the only other album I have gotten really into is Hypothet....
Read full review |  |
September 2002 - (Michael)
Hardline - II
Style: Hard Rock
Hardline's debut album from 1992 is a classic masterpiece. "Double Eclipse" featured the Gioeli brothers from the band Brunette teaming up with guitar hero Neal Schon to record one of the best Hard R....
Read full review |  |
August 2004 - (Tommy)
Virgin Steele - Guardians Of The Flame
Style: Symphonic Heavy Metal
I am thrilled with finally getting the first two Virgin Steele releases on CD, Guardians Of The Flame being Virgin Steele's sophomore album originally released back in 1983 and now available in a nice....
Read full review |  |
September 2002 - (Anders)
In Flames - Reroute To Remain
Style: Melodic Death Metal
The Swedish Gothenburg band In Flames needs no introduction. They have set the standard for the melo-death scene for a lot of years by now, and with the brand new Reroute To Remain they have reached a....
Read full review |  |
February 2004 - (Tommy)
Steel Prophet - Unseen
Style: Heavy Metal
A release by Steel Prophet has come to equal a very high quality album. Unseen is yet another fantastic record that somehow sounds advanced without loosing touch with the classic Steel Prophet style. ....
Read full review |  |
August 2002 - (Steen)
Avantasia - The Metal Opera (Part II)
Style: Symphonic Heavy Metal
I was really looking forward to this release. I loved "Avantasia Part I" with its awesome melodic songs, great atmosphere and quite exciting story. It would be interesting to hear if Tobias Sammet cou....
Read full review |  |
August 2002 - (Michael)
Enuff Z'nuff - Welcome to Blue Island
Style: Their own genius Hard Rock/Pop
"Welcome to Blue Island" is the eleventh album from Chicago Rockers Enuff Z'nuff.
Z Overture opens the disc. The song has been the opener at most Enuff Z'nuff shows for the past y....
Read full review |  |
April 2003 - (Tommy)
Paragon - Law Of The Blade
Style: Power Metal
Paragon's fourth album is their most balanced and strongest performance. This time we are dealing with a concept about being abducted into a world that has strong resemblance to ancient Rome. Classic ....
Read full review |  |
June 2002 - (Steen)
Manowar - Warriors of the world
Style: Manowar Metal
I can happily report that Manowar are back and they're in fine form. The new album is an awesome piece of work. After listening to it too many times to count it has pretty much reached the same status....
Read full review |  |
Retro reviews - Archive
July 2011 - (Michael)
Black Sabbath - Born Again (deluxe version)
Style: Heavy Rock
I clearly remember when I first watched the video for Trashed - the first single from the at the time "new" Black Sabbath album. I was a big Purple fan and ....
Read full review |  |
June 2011 - (Steen)
Robby Valentine - The Magic Infinity (Japanese Edition)
Style: Melodic Rock
As much as I relish in heavy metal with all its glory of powerful guitars, fast drumming and high pitched vocals, I am also in love with certain flavors of melodic rock where a passionate voice, piano....
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May 2011 - (Stuart)
Queen - A Night At The Opera
Style: Operatic Rock
Since I'm normally the go-to guy for the heavier end of the metal spectrum on RevelationZ, I thought I would branch out and review something a little different. And quite frankly you wont....
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April 2011 - (Stuart)
Darkthrone - Transilvanian Hunger
Style: Black Metal
"So pure, so cold, Transilvanian Hunger" Darkthrone are one of the most respected black metal bands in existence. Along with bands like Mayhem, Burzum and Immortal they helped sp....
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April 2011 - (Alanna)
Annihilator - Set the World On Fire
Style: Melodic thrash
Annihilator is known for their speed/thrash metal and their revolving door policy regarding vocalists and band members in general. Centered around guitar god Jeff Waters, who has influenced a large ar....
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March 2011 - (Alanna)
Danger Danger - Return of the Great Gildersleeves
Style: Melodic Rock
There's always an album or two from a major band that seems to slip under the radar, despite critical acclaim and explosive buzz. Some ten years, after its initial rocking of the melodic rock world, <....
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October 2010 - (Steen)
Saviour Machine - Legend - Part II
Style: Progressive Saviour Machine
Chaos reigns free on this second part of Saviour Machine's Legend project, also known as "The unofficial soundtrack for the end of the world". There is little chance of the geniality of this a....
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September 2010 - (Alanna)
Wyvern - The Red Flame of Pain
Style: NWOBHM
In 1989 an album was born, as many albums were. An album so "special" that no one remembered it. The band was one of many named Wyvern. The cassette in question was from an independant label, and was ....
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September 2010 - (Alanna)
Sanvoisen - Exotic Ways
Style: Progressive Metal
A fine example of progressive metal from the middle of the 1990s would be this 1994 disc by Sanvoisen. A double guitar attack band from Germany with a Greek singer, they only released a duo of discs b....
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August 2010 - (Michael)
Saraya - Saraya
Style: Female fronted Hard Rock
In 1989 the world saw the debut release from Saraya. The band was named after female vocalist Sandi Saraya, who assembled a strong band with guitarist Tony Bruno, keyboard player Gregg Munier, bassist....
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June 2010 - (Michael)
Nazareth - Close Enough for Rock N' Roll/Play N' the Game
Style: Rock
"Close enough for Rock N' Roll" is album number seven from Nazareth released in March 1976. The album is a bit mellower compared to the predecessors, but it's a varied album with splendid....
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April 2010 - (Alanna)
Reingold - Universe
Style: Neo-classical metal
Variety is the spice of life and bassist and ivory tickler Jonas Reingold's brainchild thrives on it. Many moods and emotions are given their due time as they swirl through a nice assortment of tunes ....
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March 2010 - (Alanna)
Tour De Force - World On Fire
Style: Melodic rock
The story of Tour De Force is a depressed, confused one and a tale that is mystifying. Demos rumored to be the stuff of Scandi-AOR legend and a resulting album that was anything but. Then they slipped....
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March 2010 - (Stuart)
Misfits - Famous Monsters
Style: Horror Punk/Metal
The Misfits are one of those punk bands that even the most militant of metal fans will admit to liking. Whether it was the ghoulish image, the lyrics based primarily on horror films or maybe just the ....
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February 2010 - (Steen)
Overkill - Horrorscope
Style: Thrash Metal
Overkill's Horrorscope was one of my first introductions to thrash metal back in 1991. The others were Exodus' Impact is Imminent, Slayer's Decade of Aggression and Forbidden's Twisted into Form. It w....
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February 2010 - (Sandra)
Anathema - Judgement
Style: Gloomy Progressive Rock
"Looking for the sun that eclipsed behind black feathered wings. Tomorrow never comes, there was only ever one day but now it's too late". These lines ab....
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February 2010 - (Michael)
Nazareth - Razamanaz
Style: Hard Rock
In the later years the word "Classic" has been watered down. However, Nazareth's "Razamanaz" has certainly earned the label "Classic" in the word's purest sense. Originally released in 19....
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December 2009 - (Steen)
Angra - Holy Land
Style: Progressive Metal
Angra's Holy land was their second album and it's still my favorite. After the impressive debut the band developed big time and here they have expanded their sound, the songwriting is more focused and....
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December 2009 - (Sandra)
Yes - Close To The Edge
Style: Progressive symphonic rock
You are not going to find any sense in this album; lyrically it's very complicated, philosophical and a senseless progressive mess. Now you're probably wondering what's the purpose then? I can tell yo....
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October 2009 - (Steen)
Stratovarius - Dreamspace
Style: Heavy Metal
Since Timo Tolkki recently announced the 'Project Strato: Return To Dreamspace' album, to be released later in 2009, I felt it was time to dig out this little piece of metal history from my archives. ....
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October 2009 - (Alanna)
Banshee - Race Against Time
Style: Hard rock
Banshee had their fingers in many pieces of heavy metal pie. There are eleven songs on this cd, and strangely enough, the sound is like a thick mixture of Y&T, Motley Crue and Eur....
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September 2009 - (Michael)
Alleycat Scratch - Deadboys in trash City (Ltd. edition artwork)
Style: Glam Metal
One of the finest Sleaze/Glam classics 'Deadboys In Trash City' is finally available on CD! In partnering with Demon Doll Records, drummer Robbi Black brings back the out of print "Deadboys in....
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August 2009 - (Brian)
Vinci - Vinci
Style: Melodic Rock
The now defunct Long Island Records released this debut album in 1995. The brainchild of Tom Blendinger - songs, guitars, production - it created a few ripples among diehard eighties' Luddites, but wa....
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July 2009 - (Brian)
Gun - Swagger
Style: MHR/Funk
The first five steamrollering tracks will have you begging for mercy.Such is the power of this opening salvo from Glasgow band Gun, and their third album 'S....
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May 2009 - (Alanna)
Elegy - Labyrinth of Dreams (Reissue)
Style: Progressive metal
Having sold more than a quarter of a million albums in their career, it often seems that the Netherlands prog band Elegy's first album, "Labyrinth of Dreams" is perhaps ....
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April 2009 - (Michael)
Deep Purple - Stormbringer
Style: Rock/Funk/Soul/Deep Purple
Recorded and released in 1974 "Stormbringer" features the Deep Purple Mark III line-up consisting of David Coverdale (vocals), Glenn Hughes (vocals and bass), Ritchie Blackmore (guitar), Ian Paice (dr....
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March 2009 - (Brian)
Signal - Loud & Clear
Style: Melodic Rock
A spontaneous 'Hey!', from the incomparable Mark (before he was Marcy) Free over the first few explosive bars of opener, 'Arms Of A Stranger' suggests that ....
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March 2009 - (Alanna)
Yngwie Malmsteen - Eclipse
Style: Neoclassical metal
"Eclipse" was different than anything that came before in the world of Malmsteen, and remains a strange entity when you look at everything that c....
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February 2009 - (Steen)
Shadow Gallery - Tyranny
Style: Progressive Metal
Few albums have the strength to endure regular listens for more than ten years. Even fewer have a concept where music, story and performance unite into something completely convincing. Most concept fa....
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February 2009 - (Michael)
UFO - No Place to Run / The Wild The Willing and The Innocent
Style: UFO
"No Place to Run" was an extremely important album for UFO. The "Strangers in the Night" album was about to break the band in the US, but alcohol drugs etc. feared to kill the British band on top of t....
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February 2009 - (Stuart)
Riot - Thundersteel
Style: Power/Heavy Metal
Riot were formed by guitarist Mark Reale way back in 1975. Since then the New York City based band have released a not inconsiderable 13 albums. Many of them highly regarded by fans and critics alike.....
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February 2009 - (Brian)
Moritz - City Streets
Style: Melodic rock
Thanks to a rising tide of public demand, Moritz's eighties' recordings have now been reissued (and digitally remastered) on CD. This Brit rock band's music clearly mainlined into the moo....
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January 2009 - (Steen)
Rhapsody (of Fire) - Legendary Tales
Style: Symphonic Power Metal
Back in 1997 Rhapsody married the symphonic nature of classical music with heavy metal in a way that felt fresh and new. It resulted in a magnificent debut album that blew yours truly away. Legendary ....
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January 2009 - (Brian)
Autograph - Sign In Please
Style: Melodic Rock
Nominating a genuinely classic melodic rock album is unquestionably a subjective process. But even the most objective of fans would have to agree that Autograph's <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: norma....
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November 2008 - (Alanna)
Virgin Steele - Life Among the Ruins
Style: Hard rock
Most people know Virgin Steele as this impossibly grandiose power metal outfit that sometimes dabbles in hints of epic progressive. From the early 80s of the powerfully proud "Noble Savage" to th....
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November 2008 - (Brian)
T Ride - T Ride
Style: Their own
Oh man, oh man, oh man.Without fully realising it, I've been waiting for this melodic rock moment for 17 years.Why? My original CD of T Ride's one and only recording got stolen by some discern....
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October 2008 - (Alanna)
Iced Earth - Horror Show
Style: Power metal
If you weren't around for the build up anticipation that shadowed "Horror Show", then you wouldn't truly understand the kind of disappointment fans of Iced Earth initially fe....
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October 2008 - (Steen)
Kamelot - Dominion
Style: Heavy Metal
Dominion is the second Kamelot album and the last with their original singer Mark Vanderbilt and co-founding drummer Richard Warner. The Kamelot of yore was a rawer and less polished musical entity th....
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October 2008 - (Michael)
Legs Diamond - Town Bad Girl
Style: Hard Rock
"Town Bad Girl" was a triumphant return for Legs Diamond. The band released their first album back in 1977 and "Town Bad Girl" has one foot in Legs Diamonds' 70's legacy and another in 80's Hard Rock.....
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September 2008 - (Stuart)
Meat Loaf - Bad Attitude
Style: 80's Rock
Since a very early age Meat Loaf has been one of my favourite singers. I went through a Meat renascence a few years back and decided I was going to track down all of his albums that I didn't already o....
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September 2008 - (Steen)
D:A:D - Riskin' It All
Style: Rock
This was my first D:A:D album and in fact the first time I really started taking notice of Rock music back in the day. 1991 to be more exact. This album along with Metallica's black one was my introdu....
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August 2008 - (Michael)
Shark Island - Law of the Order
Style: Hard Rock
Remember Shark Island? I remember them from back in the day, where there was no Internet - various Rock magazines did mention this band that constantly played the strip and became the biggest L.A. ban....
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July 2008 - (Tommy)
Savatage - Dead Winter Dead
Style: Symphonic Heavy Metal
I still remember the huge impact this album had on me when I first held it in my hands many years ago while the chorus of This Is The Time (1990) filled the room. What a magnif....
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July 2008 - (Michael)
UFO - Obsession
Style: UFO
In 1978 "Obsession" was released only 8 months behind the exceptional "Lights out". "Lights Out" broke the band in the US by reaching the top 30. No doubt that there was pressur....
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July 2008 - (Alanna)
Y&T - Down For the Count
Style: Melodic
The controversial "Down for the Count" is the Y&T album that begin their transition from 70s guitar helmed arena rock to a more mainstream (for the time) direction....
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June 2008 - (Alanna)
Jorn - Starfire
Style: Hard Rock
Jorn Lande's "Starfire" was the beginning of the now- legendary metal vocalist's solo career. Then he was known but not as well known as he would become, but the excitem....
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May 2008 - (Alanna)
Whitesnake - Snakebite
Style: Classic rock
For all of those that believe Whitesnake began life with the Americanized "Slide It In" or *gasp* even worse - with "1987", let's knock off the dust of the first true Whitesnake album....
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April 2008 - (Michael)
Hurricane - Take what you Want/Over the Edge/Slave to the thrill
Style: Hard Rock
Hurricane literally was the baby brother of Quiet Riot. Hurricane guitarist Robert Sarzo and bassist Tony Cavazo are brothers to Quiet Riot guitarist ....
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April 2008 - (Alanna)
Conception - Flow
Style: Progressive Metal
Rolling waves of sound, a high-tech progressive atmosphere, soul drifting vocals that weave in an out of your subconscious... this was the height of c....
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April 2008 - (Steen)
Saviour Machine - Legend - Part I
Style: Saviour Machine - Progressive Metal
Dubbed as "The unofficial soundtrack to the end of the world" the Legend project gives new meaning to the term concept album. This ultimate study of end-times Biblical prophecy was originally planned ....
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April 2008 - (Stuart)
Poison - Look What The Cat Dragged In
Style: Glam Metal
Life was once very simple. Even up to a couple of years ago I quite happily existed in a world where Heavy Metal was the Law and was brought to me by true men in tight leathers, ridin....
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March 2008 - (Michael)
Triumph - Just a Game / Allied Forces
Style: Rock
There are many reasons for reviewing two classic Triumph albums. First of all the original line-up of Rik Emmett, Mike Levine and Gil Moore has reformed after a two-decade absence. Se....
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March 2008 - (Alanna)
Rough Silk - Roots of Hate
Style: Hard rock
This is a disc I've personally had a long history with and it comes as an oddity that up until now I have never written about it, despite the fact it has swerved in and out of my life....
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February 2008 - (Alanna)
Icon - Night Of Crime
Style: Melodic rock
"Night of the Crime" was the one - and only time for Icon in the spotlight, in my eyes. They were a midwest band that received some min....
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February 2008 - (Steen)
Eternity X - Mind Games
Style: Progressive Metal
It's a mind game... The second full length album from Eternity X is a varied and challenging affair. The American band had delivered a highly ambitious project in the form of their debut ....
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February 2008 - (Michael)
Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers - L.A.M.F. and Born too Loose (The best of Johnny Thunders)
Style: Punk
In 1975 the original New York Dolls broke up and guitarist Johnny Thunders went to form The Heartbreakers along with New York Dolls drummer Jerry Nolan. "L.A.M.F." equal Like a Mother Fu....
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January 2008 - (Alanna)
TNT - Transistor
Style: Hard Rock
After the release of the dismal "Firefly" album, alot of hardcore TNT fans were more than just a little disappointed and sceptical about the band's next release. "Firefly" was another one of those alb....
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December 2007 - (Steen)
Fates Warning - Awaken The Guardian
Style: Fates Warning
Some albums never grow old.
Awaken the Guardian is the evolutionary peak of Fates Warning's John Arch era, an album that is unique on every level and cannot be compared to anything else I have eve....
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November 2007 - (Steen)
King Diamond - Conspiracy
Style: Horror Metal
There really shouldn't be any need to point this out, but Conspiracy is up there with my favorite King Diamond albums. The heinous front cover aside, Conspiracy is a classic that has a handful of the ....
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October 2007 - (Steen)
Stan Bush - Dial 818 888-8638
Style: Melodic Rock
Dial 818 888-8638 was one of those chance purchases at the Wacken Open Air Metal Market that has turned out to be a lucky strike. Mostly known for either his songs for the Transformers cartoon movie b....
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October 2007 - (Steen)
Sieges Even - A Sense of Change
Style: Progressive Rock/Metal
Exploration and discovery. Two themes which are essential for your enjoyment of this album. Even after 13 years and several hundred listens I have still not reached a journey's end when it comes to "A....
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September 2007 - (Steen)
Gamma Ray - Land of the Free
Style: Power Metal
Line up
Kai Hansen - Vocals/Guitars
Dirk Schlächter - Guitars/Keys
Jan Rubach - Bass
Thomas Nack - Drums
Searching for the ultimate power metal album? Gamma Ray's Land of the free is a necessar....
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August 2007 - (Tommy)
Metallica - Metallica
Style: Heavy Metal
Some albums contain brilliant songs, some sound phenomenal, others manage to create a completely unique vibe...Metallica's self titled album did all of this and so much more and I don't think it will ....
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August 2007 - (Steen)
Fates Warning - Parallels
Style: Friendly progressive metal
Line-up:
Ray Alder: Vocals
Jim Matheos: Guitar
Frank Aresti: Guitar
Joe Dibiase: Bass
Mark Zonder: Drums
With the recruitment of their new singer Ray Alder Fates Warning started moving towards....
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July 2007 - (Steen)
Nelson - Because They Can
Style: Melodic rock
"Because They Can" is the Nelson brothers' second album and my favorite. It is a melodic rock gem that successfully overflows with melody and passion. These songs wear their heart on their sleeves and....
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July 2007 - (Alanna)
FM - Indiscreet
Style: AOR
The 1980s were most definitely the heyday for all things AOR. Stadium rockers Foriegner gone soft, a retooled Heart and the ever popular Journey ruled the early 80s and waiting in their wings were ple....
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June 2007 - (Steen)
The Last Things - Circles and Butterflies
Style: Progressive Metal
Line-up:
Richard Elliot IV - Vocals, Guitar, Violin, Bagpipes, Flute, Percussion and keyboards
Lou Buffo - Drums and percussion
Darren McFarland - Bass and fretless bass
Now this is something ....
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June 2007 - (Michael)
Graham Bonnet - Line Up
Style: Classic Rock
Graham Bonnet's discography is quite impressive. In 1979 he got his breakthrough when he did vocals on Rainbow's album "Down to Earth". The album produced two smash hits Since You´ve Been Gone....
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May 2007 - (Steen)
Ten - The Name of The Rose
Style: Hard Rock
Imagine a wide open vista of land. You're standing beneath a tree, its green leaves rustling, as a gust of wind blows your hair to the side. Looking ahead you gaze upon a desert, sand dunes rising an....
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April 2007 - (Alanna)
Magnum - Vigilante
Style: Melodic AOR
Born in the early 70s as a cover band, released a handful of grandiose fantasy themed discs with a very 70-ish rock flavor, then re-inventing themselves in the 80s as an AOR styled band with outside i....
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April 2007 - (Steen)
Manowar - Fighting The World
Style: Heavy Metal
That I often refer to Fighting the World as my least favorite Manowar album and then rate it as I have done is a testament to the general quality of their albums. This is Manowar's fifth studio album ....
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March 2007 - (Steen)
Ten - X
Style: Hard Rock
Ten's debut is a superior hard rock album. After a couple of solo albums lead singer and main songwriter Gary Hughes formed Ten along with the sublime guitarist Vinny Burns. Drummer Greg Morgan joined....
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February 2007 - (Steen)
Queensrÿche - The Warning
Style: Progressive Metal
Warning: This album is addictive!
Queensrÿche's debut album has always been a favorite of mine and it has a place among their very best, coming in close behind Rage for O....
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January 2007 - (Tommy)
Bon Jovi - Keep The Faith
Style: Hard Rock
Bon Jovi has released some fantastic albums through the years so when it comes down to picking a favourite one, Keep The Faith has a bunch of ultimate songs that just pushes it on top of the game.
....
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January 2007 - (Steen)
Enuff Z'nuff - Tweaked
Style: Hard Rock
After the 1985 album, which was more or less a collection of old but amazing demos, Tweaked provided the next step in the evolution of Enuff Z'nuff. This time the troublesome times the band was going ....
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November 2006 - (Steen)
White Lion - Big Game
Style: Hard Rock
In preparation for the upcoming White Lion concert at Pumpehuset I am continuing my trip down White Lion Lane.
After the multi platinum success of Pride and a long world tour the pressure was on an....
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November 2006 - (Michael)
Alleycat Scratch - Deadboys in trash City
Style: Glam Metal
Alleycat Scratch formed back in 1988, when Glam metal was huge. The band was based in San Francisco, but after playing the bay area a few years the obvious career move was to head south to the Sunset ....
Read full review |  |
October 2006 - (Steen)
White Lion - Mane Attraction
Style: Hard Rock
White Lion's last studio album opens with a certain dark atmosphere that is shared by several songs on the album. Going through difficult times and moving on are themes that run through many songs and....
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September 2006 - (Steen)
Ricochet - Among The Elements
Style: Progressive Rock / Metal
This album is a small gem that should be snatched up at once if you're lucky enough to find it somewhere. Highly melodic, overflowing with emotion and a technical prowess that is highly impressive are....
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September 2006 - (Michael)
Spread Eagle - Spread Eagle
Style: Hard Rock
Spread Eagle´s self titled album is reissued contemporary with the bands reunion and recent US tour.
I was one of the unlucky who never got this gem originally and therefore this reissue is welcome....
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August 2006 - (Michael)
Nasty Idols - Vicious
Style: Sleaze
"Cruel Intention" is considered Nasty Idols' finest work. The follow-up "Vicious" didn't receive as much attention when it was released in October 1993 since the times were changing.
Just a couple ....
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July 2006 - (Tommy)
Blind Guardian - Somewhere Far Beyond
Style: Power Metal
After three albums forged in a fire of raw and intense sparks, Somewhere Far Beyond marked the beginning of a more epic and diverse path.
Intensity has always been a key word when trying to define Bl....
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July 2006 - (Steen)
Elegy - Lost
Style: Progressive Metal
With Lost Elegy created a stand-out record that is instantly recognizable and inhabited by a very special atmosphere. It settled itself in the back of my brain back in 1995 and has never really left. ....
Read full review |  |
May 2006 - (Michael)
Love/Hate - Wasted in America
Style: Hard Rock
"Wasted in America" was Love/Hate's second album and the follow up to the critical acclaimed debut "Black out in the Red Room". "Wasted in America" was released in 1992 and didn't earn Love/Hate the b....
Read full review |  |
May 2006 - (Steen)
Nevermore - Nevermore
Style: Metal
After a 4 year hiatus following Sanctuary's "Into the Mirror Black" and the band's demise, Warrel Dane and Co. were back! With a vengeance... The Nevermore debut has be....
Read full review |  |
April 2006 - (Michael)
Molly Hatchet - Take No Prisoners
Style: Southern Rock
Molly Hatchets self-titled debut album reached multi-platinum status and established Molly Hatchet as a hard working touring band. The second album "Flirtin' With Disaster" was released in 1979 and Mo....
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March 2006 - (Steen)
Enuff Z'nuff - 1985
Style: Hard Rock
After their third release, Animals with human intelligence, Enuff Z'nuff found themselves in various degrees of trouble. Read the <a href="http://www.enuffznuff.com/his....
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February 2006 - (Nina)
Accept - Restless & Wild
Style: Heavy Metal
Restless & Wild was Accept's fourth album, follow-up to the magnificent Breaker, which more or less defined their style. These two albums are very closely related, being released with....
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February 2006 - (Michael)
Thin Lizzy - Black Rose
Style: (Hard) Rock
It is hard to pick the album that reveals Thin Lizzy´s best work because each album has something unique to add to the band's impressive catalogue. "Black Rose" is Thin Lizzy´s tenth album and definit....
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February 2006 - (Tommy)
Grave Digger - Heart Of Darkness
Style: Power Metal
Grave Digger is one of Germany's best and most charismatic Power Metal bands; I have always loved their bombastic, historic and extremely hard-hitting approach.
This album somehow divides Grave Digg....
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January 2006 - (Tommy)
D:A:D - Helpyourselfish
Style: Heavy Rock
"Now, my word no one relies on
Never said a foolish thing.
Then again... never said a wise one
It is never what you think - it's knowing when to quit
If....
Read full review |  |
January 2006 - (Michael)
Night Ranger - Midnight Madness
Style: Hard Rock/AOR
Personally I wasn't too fond of this record when it came out, because I wasn't into AOR. However, one had to recognize there was something unique about Night Ranger, which justifies this record to be ....
Read full review |  |
December 2005 - (Tommy)
Meat Loaf - Bat Out Of Hell II - Back Into Hell
Style: Symphonic Rock
Some albums in music history stand out as something really special. The first Bat Out Of Hell album was a minor revolution in 1977, thanks to its pompous and excessive arrangements. Lesser, but still ....
Read full review |  |
December 2005 - (Steen)
Meat Loaf - Bat Out Of Hell
Style: Symphonic Rock
My first encounter with Meat Loaf was back in 1993 when I'd Do Anything For Love was at it's peak. Everybody I knew hated that song but I thought there was something intriguing about ....
Read full review |  |
November 2005 - (Tommy)
Iced Earth - Night Of The Stormrider
Style: Power Metal
There are a number of bands that have created a sound and style so unique that they eventually will be looked back on with a certain innovative consideration. To me Iced Earth is already what I would ....
Read full review |  |
November 2005 - (Michael)
Tora Tora - Wild America
Style: Bluesy Hard Rock
In the late 80's Tora Tora signed with A&M Records and released their debut album "Surprise Attack" in 1989. The album made a minor stir at the Billboard chart peaking at number 47. "Wild America" was....
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October 2005 - (Tommy)
AC/DC - High Voltage
Style: Hard Rock
It could very well be that it's a long way to the top of Rock N' Roll, but here thirty years after the release of their debut album, AC/DC is at the very peak of Rock music and have been there for wha....
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October 2005 - (Alanna)
Whitesnake - Whitesnake
Style: Hard Rock
Whitesnake's self titled album is likely one that is taking up space on your shelf but hasn't been dusted off for awhile. I would know, because my copy had largely suffered the same fate until recentl....
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September 2005 - (Morten)
Ozzy Osbourne - Diary of a Madman vs. No More Tears
Style: Heavy Metal
It wasn't too many years ago, that when you said the two words Ozzy Osbourne, you knew that you were talking about the integrity of heavy metal, but a few years ago that all changed and Ozzy went from....
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September 2005 - (Tommy)
King Diamond - "Them"
Style: Heavy Metal
King Diamond's back catalogue is a treasure chest of precious stones, all shining with their characteristic gloomy light. "Them" has a very compelling effect on me and I think some of the band's best ....
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August 2005 - (Tommy)
Manowar - Sign Of The Hammer
Style: Heavy Metal
When it comes to Manowar, Sign Of The Hammer has always meant something special to me. It has this fascinating balance between epic features and raw, stripped down Heavy Metal.
All Men Pla....
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August 2005 - (Steen)
Savatage - Sirens - Silver Anniversay Edition
Style: Heavy Metal
Back in 1983 an American band called Avatar made their first three-track EP, City Beneath the Surface. Soon after they were forced to change their name and guitarist Criss Oliva's girlfriend came up w....
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July 2005 - (Tommy)
Megadeth - Countdown To Extinction
Style: Heavy Metal
One of the coolest things about Megadeth is the feeling you get of the band always having something important to say, about world politics, social relations and humankind in general, making good sense....
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July 2005 - (Nina)
Piledriver - Metal Inquisition
Style: 80´s Heavy Metal
Piledriver's Metal Inquisition from 1985 provides a perfect balance of humorous lyrics, powerful riffing, old school attitude and just overall kick ass Metal!
The Canadian act onl....
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July 2005 - (Alanna)
MSG - McAuley Schenker Group - MSG
Style: AOR/Melodic Rock
Michael Schenker's late 80s-to-dawn of the 90s hook up with the unmistakable light raspy pipes of ex-Grand Prix vocalist, Robin McAuley has often been brushed off as a sad commercial move to claim a p....
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June 2005 - (Tommy)
Helloween - Keeper Of The Seven Keys - Part II
Style: Power Metal
Helloween in so many ways define what Power Metal is all about; speed, melody, energy and heavy song structures. Keeper II is one of the biggest classics of the genre and became something to measure u....
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June 2005 - (Steen)
Vicious Rumors - Soldiers of the Night
Style: Heavy Metal
Vicious Rumors' debut album from 1985 shows a band with huge potential. The album is filled with energized and melodic Heavy Metal from start to finish. While the band would go on to release even bett....
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June 2005 - (Michael)
Love/Hate - Black out in the Red Room
Style: Full blast Hard Rock
First released in 1990 on CBS "Black out in the Red Room" earned Love/Hate some great reviews and they established a loyal fan base that still follows Jizzy Pearl's solo career.
"Blackout in the Re....
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June 2005 - (Alanna)
Warrant - Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich
Style: Hair Metal/Hard Rock
It may be a leap of faith for the newer metal fans to believe that an album like this was once upon a time considered to be the hip "in thang". The music at this point had often become a stylized fash....
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May 2005 - (Tommy)
Slayer - South Of Heaven
Style: Trash Metal
Where Reign In Blood is half an hour of pure madness and Seasons In The Abyss is aggressive in a more gloomy way, South Of Heaven falls somewhere in between the two, both chronologically and approach ....
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May 2005 - (Tajs)
Cynic - Focus
Style: Progressive metal
Cynic started out as a death metal band in 1987 and over the next several years sent out five demos until they finally in 1993 released their first full length album, Focus</s....
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May 2005 - (Alanna)
Def Leppard - Hysteria
Style: Hard Rock
Since its debut nearly 20 years ago now, this album has been put through every critique possible for a disc. Wildly popular by any industry standards, it sold a ton of copies (something to the tune o....
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April 2005 - (Alanna)
Danzig - III: How the Gods Kill
Style: Doomy/Gothic Heavy Metal
There is this weird quirk that people have that if you like some particular thing they believe you will get into anything having to do with it. This is the circumstances that lead me to owning "Danzi....
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April 2005 - (Michael)
Fate - Scratch ´N Sniff
Style: Heavy Rock
When this album came out in 1990 it blew me away. I had Fate's prior recordings, but this record is very different from Fate's earlier stuff.
"Scratch 'N Sniff" followed up the disappointing "Crui....
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April 2005 - (Steen)
Forbidden - Twisted into form
Style: Thrash Metal with a twist
This is one of my all-time favorite Thrash Metal albums. It was the first Forbidden album I heard and it just blew me away many years ago. Today it is still a great example of technicality, tightness,....
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April 2005 - (Tommy)
Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet
Style: Hard Rock
Even though I only recently began to explore the more detailed world of Bon Jovi, it's crystal clear that this album has classic written all over it. I have noticed a very positive effect about this a....
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April 2005 - (Hashman)
Adrian Smith and Project (ASaP) - Silver and Gold
Style: Melodic Hard Rock/AOR
This is one of those records, where either you love or, you just don't know what to think of it, but you can't deny there was something about Silver and Gold that just grabbe....
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March 2005 - (Steen)
Manowar - Hail to England
Style: Heavy Metal
After the immensely epic second album, Into Glory Ride, Hail to England takes a more direct approach. The songs are shorter and the album comes in at only 33 minutes. The length of an album doesn't al....
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March 2005 - (Tommy)
Guns N' Roses - Appetite For Destruction
Style: Heavy Rock
When talking about albums that really shook the ground and shocked its time, Guns N' Roses' debut is among the most important releases and when listening to it so many ears after It's So Easy to under....
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March 2005 - (Michael)
Kingdom Come - Kingdom Come
Style: Heavy Rock
Ok - Don't bash this album without having heard it or at least make an effort to hear it again before any harsh comments. This is Kingdom Come's debut album, which unfortunately suffered from Polydor ....
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May 2009 - (Steen)
Annihilator - Set The World On Fire - Re-release
Style: Heavy Metal
Back in 1993, Set the world on fire was my first aquaintance with Annihilator and it captured me at once. This is Heavy Metal of the best kind. It marries heaviness, melody, humor and cool solos into ....
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February 2005 - (Tommy)
Saxon - Denim And Leather
Style: Heavy Metal
Looking at the simple cover of Denim And Leather brings back some great memories (besides it being an outstanding release), partly because the eagle represents one of the coolest Metal bands ever but ....
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February 2005 - (Michael)
Vain - No Respect
Style: Sleazy trashy GLAM
WOW - This probably is the most anticipated re-release I personally could wish for. Finally it's possible to get this gem that I (and many others) have been looking for since its release in 1989 on th....
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January 2005 - (Steen)
Psychotic Waltz - Into the Everflow
Style: One of a kind progressive metal
Here is a review I put of for a long time because I didn't feel I could do the album justice at all. Words still won't be able to capture the essence of what this album has, it has to be experienced i....
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January 2005 - (Michael)
Hanoi Rocks - Two Steps from the Move
Style: Original sleaze glam
"Two Steps from the Move" is Hanoi Rocks' swan song and the last real album from the classic Finnish band. The album is the most sophisticated release from Hanoi Rocks.
The reason was the band bro....
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December 2004 - (Tommy)
Black Sabbath - Master Of Reality
Style: Heavy Metal
Listening to Master Of Reality brings forth an image of a dark and mystic veil that slowly but firmly covers your mind with mystic ease, leaving your senses blurred, it kind of just takes you in.
To ....
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December 2004 - (Hashman)
Damn The Machine - Damn The Machine
Style: Sub-Progressive Melodic Metal
When somebody defines a "lost classic," they might give a big list of albums that unfortunately never really enjoyed the desserts of commercial success or platinum success, and all kidding aside, the ....
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November 2004 - (Alanna)
Rainbow - Bent Out of Shape
Style: Melodic Hard Rock
There is very little AOR/hard rock from today that can stand against a true and tested classic, Rainbow's "Bent Out of Shape". That's right. Early 80s Rainbow. The band gets plenty of acclaim for t....
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November 2004 - (Tommy)
Accept - Objection Overruled
Style: Heavy Metal
If it was the bands intention to create an album that would do justice to a loud statement going something like "We're back and we're gonna kick your ass" they surely succeeded, fact is that Accept's ....
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November 2004 - (Steen)
Nuclear Valdez - I am I
Style: Melodic Rock
This is one album that has blown me away. I got it as a birthday present almost a year ago and soon discovered it to be very special. I am I is the debut of Nuclear Valdez and man, what a debut! Being....
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November 2004 - (Michael)
Mother Love Bone - Apple
Style: Groovy Diverse 70´s Rock
Seattle based Mother Love Bone was among the forerunners of the Grunge wave. The band included guitarist Stone Gossard and bassist Jeff Ament, who after the tragic death of singer Andrew Wood formed P....
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October 2004 - (Tommy)
Stratovarius - Visions
Style: Power Metal
In so many ways this albums represents what I would call a perfect Power Metal album, many of these songs became classics in no time and they haven't lost any of their shine.
Timo Tolkki, Jari Kainul....
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October 2004 - (Michael)
Michael Monroe - Not Fakin´ It
Style: Bad ass Glam Rock
After the sudden and tragic fall of Hanoi Rocks, Michael Monroe began to pick up the pieces and embarked on a solo career. Apart from 1987's "Nights are so Long", which only was released in Japan and ....
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September 2004 - (Tommy)
Anthrax - Among The Living
Style: Heavy Metal
Anthrax is a band you can call a lot of things; one of them is not being static in their musical approach. Among The Living is one of their strongest and most integrated releases, combining trashing, ....
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September 2004 - (Hashman)
Dream Theater - Awake
Style: Progressive Metal
It's really hard to believe that this album came out literally ten years ago. Right in the midst of the whole grunge/alternative rock experimentation schlock that was flooding airwaves at the time, ca....
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September 2004 - (Alanna)
Harem Scarem - Mood Swings
Style: Melodic Rock
Harem Scarem seem to reinvent themselves every other album, going from the keyboard filled Def Leppard meets Honeymoon Suite debut and sliding all the way into the depths of nu-breed "modern" rock and....
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August 2004 - (Steen)
King Diamond - The Eye
Style: Heavy Metal
The Eye is one of my favorite King Diamond albums and since it was released back in 1990 King has only recently surpassed it with The Puppet Master (and only by a very slight margin). The Eye is one o....
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August 2004 - (Tommy)
Dream Theater - Images And Words
Style: Progressive Metal
Where do one start to review this spellbinding disc? It doesn't really matter would be a short answer, everything is totally brilliant and Images And Words to a large extent altered the way Metal and ....
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August 2004 - (Alanna)
Europe - Wings of Tomorrow
Style: Metal/Hard Rock
It has been about seventeen years now since the first electric breeze of "Stormwind" blew through my cassette player and became responsible for igniting a passion that has lasted just....
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July 2004 - (Tommy)
Rage - Black In Mind
Style: Power Metal
This album is an amazing achievement. 14 songs (all good) that in their own unique way make up a very varied and challenging release, at least for a more traditional Power Metal act. In my world this ....
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July 2004 - (Hashman)
Zakk Wylde - Book of Shadows
Style: Acoustic Hard Rock/Metal
I remember working a record store during the summer of '96 and getting a promo copy of this record to play in the store, I thought, "I'm ready to rock," and to my surprise, instead of the cranking rus....
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July 2004 - (Michael)
Fate - A Matter of Attitude
Style: Hard Rock/AOR
Finally a Danish contribution to the Hard Rock style with a grain of AOR. After releasing a self-titled album Fate released "A Matter of Attitude" in 1986 to high publicity in Denmark. Hank Sherman of....
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June 2004 - (Steen)
Enuff Z'nuff - Animals with human intelligence
Style: Hard Rock
About two hours after I had decided to review "Animals with human intelligence" as this month's classic I got a message from a friend saying that guitarist Derek Frigo had died. It was a freaky and ch....
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June 2004 - (Michael)
Enuff Z'nuff - Enuff Z´Nuff
Style: Enuff Z´Nuff
Enuff Z'Nuff was formed in Chicago suburb, Blue Island, by bass player Chip Z'Nuff and singer Donnie Vie. When listening to the self-titled debut album it's obvious that main songwriters Chip and Donn....
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June 2004 - (Tommy)
Judas Priest - Sad Wings Of Destiny
Style: Heavy Metal
Laying comfortably in my hand is the re-mastered version (re-released by CMC in 1996) of this dinosaur record, being Priest's second album, one that I still "hold" as a classic today.
No doubt that t....
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June 2004 - (Hashman)
Black Sabbath - The Black Box - The Complete Original Black Sabbath 1970-1978
Style: Heavy Metal
Well here it is, the absolute ultimate collection of material for the "Original" Ozzy-era Black Sabbath, a no holds barred complete anthology with deluxe packaging and superior remastering all package....
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May 2004 - (Tommy)
Savatage - Edge Of Thorns
Style: Heavy Metal
Savatage has in many ways pushed the boundaries of how Heavy Metal can sound like.
Edge Of Thorns is one of those albums where the degree of variation and sanity is extremely high, and yet there run....
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May 2004 - (Steen)
Sanctuary - Into the mirror black
Style: Power Thrash
My first encounter with Sanctuary was a music video on MTV's Headbangers Ball in the early nineties where I was fascinated by their incredibly long hair... The image burned itself into my mind and I m....
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April 2004 - (Steen)
Saviour Machine - II
Style: Saviour Machine - Progressive Metal
Once upon a time when I started my long journey into the world of Heavy Metal I often found bands that gave me a really special feeling inside when I listened to their music for the first time. It was....
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April 2004 - (Tommy)
Metallica - ...And Justice For All
Style: Heavy Metal
What presents itself from the first creeping guitar lines in Blackened to the final drum attack has faded in Dyers Eve is a forceful lesson in how to combine hardness....
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April 2004 - (Hashman)
Black Sabbath - Seventh Star
Style: Heavy Metal
"Thunderrrrrrr Shattered the Dawn!" is what Glen Hughes sings out opening this record with one rigorous punch of aggression with "In for the Kill," where the title itself hints the mo....
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March 2004 - (Steen)
Vicious Rumors - Welcome to the ball
Style: Heavy Metal
Going through my cd collection to find this month's classic I came upon this long lost gem and it brought back a lot of great memories. The very overlooked Vicious Rumors first reared their head back ....
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March 2004 - (Tommy)
Running Wild - The Rivalry
Style: Power Metal
This was not only my first Running Wild album; I still hold this to be the bands greatest achievement and also one of the best Power Metal albums of all time.
Nearly 69 minutes of music featuring ast....
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March 2004 - (Hashman)
Trouble - Run to the Light
Style: Classic Thrash/Proto-Power Metal
You wouldn't expect the low moaning synth of Taurus Pedals and an eerie Hammond organ to open such a powerful record, but it was a stance that Trouble had made to complete a record that was beyond wha....
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February 2004 - (Steen)
Savatage - Hall of the mountain king
Style: Heavy Metal
Those who thought that Savatage had gone soft with Fight for the rock only needed to listen to the first few seconds of 24 hrs. ago before that illusion is shattered. After Producer a....
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February 2004 - (Hashman)
Queensrÿche - Empire
Style: Queensrÿche
One of the last troubadours of Metal in the American mainstream would prove to create one of the 1990's most intriguing records. Released right before the big Seattle grunge explosion (Ironically, Qu....
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January 2004 - (Steen)
Judas Priest - Painkiller
Style: Heavy Metal
What can I say that hasn't already been said about Judas Priest? Not a lot I guess, but as Painkiller is my all time favorite Judas Priest album and as close as you come to a pure metallic masterpiece....
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January 2004 - (Tommy)
Symphony X - The Damnation Game
Style: Progressive Power Metal
After their great debut the band had to show if they could top it, and I believe they did. With the extremely talented Russell Allen on board the band had landed a very important piece in the puzzle, ....
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January 2004 - (Hashman)
Megadeth - Peace Sells...But Who´s Buying? - DVD Audio Edition
Style: Thrash Metal
It's about time the audiophile industry took notice of Heavy Metal, what DTS has brought forth is a more punchier, kick in the ass version of one of the most brutally aggressive thrash metal albums o....
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December 2003 - (Tommy)
AC/DC - Back In Black
Style: Hard Rock
One of the most important bands with one of their finest moments. I remember how huge an impact AC/DC had on me when I was a child, it was as if these guys cast the magic spell of heavy sounding music....
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December 2003 - (Hashman)
Lizzy Borden - Visual Lies (Remastered/Expanded)
Style: Heavy Metal
Originally released towards the end of the 80's underground metal scene in the United States, Lizzy Borden brought forth yet another album of raw, melodic, and spontaneous metal, and made its mark in ....
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November 2003 - (Michael)
The Almighty - Soul Destruction
Style: Sleaze
"Soul Destruction" was the second studio album from The Almighty. Originated in Scotland the band took the world by storm with their dirty biker/Sleaze Rock. The bands visual image was raw personified....
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November 2003 - (Hashman)
Yngwie Malmsteen - Facing the Animal
Style: Malmsteen Mayhem
All hail to Mercury Records for releasing what was one of the most stand out Metal records in the nineties, which oddly enough came from a major label, especially at a time when most commercial record....
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October 2003 - (Tommy)
Black Sabbath - Heaven And Hell
Style: Heavy Metal
If I was asked to name some albums that for me was as close to classical or traditional Heavy Metal as possible, Heaven And Hell would surely be one of them. Not only is it in my opinion the best Sabb....
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October 2003 - (Hashman)
Rush - Counterparts
Style: Hard Rock
It was the long awaited return for many fans to a more guitar based sound, shying away from the more pop keyboard oriented sound that we all know and love. Riding on the heels of two stripped down rec....
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October 2003 - (Steen)
Savatage - Gutter Ballet
Style: SavaMetal
Discovered by chance between some Ozzy LP's I had borrowed from a friend back in 1991, Gutter Ballet from Savatage made a great impact. I had never heard anything quite like it and was at once captiva....
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September 2003 - (Rafael)
Viper - Theatre of Fate
Style: Heavy Metal
Back in the mid eighties, Brazil was not a nice place for a head banger to live, I can tell you. The marks of our recent past of a very violent and repressive dictatorship regime weren't gone just ye....
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September 2003 - (Tommy)
Gamma Ray - Somewhere Out In Space
Style: Power Metal
Gamma Ray stands for quality music, and on this release I think they achieved something really special, it's simply packed with great melodies, bombastic passages and well-played Power Metal.
This al....
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September 2003 - (Hashman)
Accept - Balls to the Wall - Remastered
Style: Heavy Metal
Yet another installment in Sony Music's "Metal Masters" series, it's good to see them reissuing an album that really does not fit the profile of your typical major label cash cow roster. Accept was on....
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September 2003 - (Steen)
Manowar - Battle Hymns
Style: Heavy Metal
Powerful!
That would be one way to describe this album.
Magnificent, Essential, Classic, Majestic would be others.
But enough of the superlatives. Here's another, more lengthy description...
....
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August 2003 - (Steen)
Queensrÿche - Rage for order
Style: Progressive Rock/Metal
Ahh good old Queensrÿche... Rage for order was released back in 1986 and of all their albums this one is my favorite along with Operation Mindcrime. Which one I prefer all depends on my mood. This is ....
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August 2003 - (Tommy)
Iron Maiden - Somewhere In Time
Style: Heavy Metal
Iron Maiden, what a great band! One of the titans in Heavy Metal and with good reason, this glorious band has been committed to bring good music to the fans for over 20 years now, establishing a band ....
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August 2003 - (Hashman)
King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King (30th Anniversary Edition)
Style: Progressive Rock
For many of the Metal music world is concerned, there are only a handful of albums that came out of the 1960's that really had an impact on Metal and helped shape it. Of course you have Led Zeppelin a....
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July 2003 - (Steen)
Armored Saint - Symbol of Salvation
Style: Heavy Metal
Symbol of salvation was released back in 1991, and it has become a timeless classic in my musical universe.
As I remember, it was around my 15'th listen when I realised, that I would never grow tir....
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June 2003 - (Hashman)
Queensrÿche - Operation: Mindcrime - Remastered and Expanded
Style: Heavy Metal/Progressive Metal
Any music critic will tell you that just about any band has their "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band," "Dark Side of the Moon," or "Led Zeppelin IV" per se, speaking of an influential album that a ....
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June 2003 - (Yoni)
Symphony X - The Divine Wings of Tragedy
Style: Progressive metal
One of the most popular acts in the progressive metal world is the band Symphony X. Comprised of five, this is an outfit that reshaped my view of contemporary music in the 90's and 00's through their ....
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June 2003 - (Steen)
Crimson Glory - Crimson Glory
Style: Progressive Power Metal
Crimson Glory released two classic albums back in the eighties. This is their debut, simply titled Crimson Glory. A monster debut that shows a band with absolutely huge potential. Crimson Glory play t....
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June 2004 - (Tommy)
Judas Priest - Jugulator
Style: Heavy Metal
Judas Priest without doubt counts as one of the best and most charismatic Heavy Metal bands in history, and has always been one of my favourite bands. Their career can be labelled as astonishing and e....
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May 2003 - (Tommy)
Megadeth - Rust In Peace
Style: Heavy Metal
Looking back at the Megadeth discography, this one has always been my favourite. The high amount of technical abilities and ultra fast rhythm section is a very special feature on this release.
The....
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May 2003 - (Steen)
Enuff Z'nuff - Strength
Style: Enuff Z´nuff (Hard Rock)
If I had to describe Enuff Z'nuff with one sentence then I would say: Enuff Z'nuff play the best Melodic Hard Rock out there, and they are the only band, I feel I can justly compare to The Beatles.
....
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April 2003 - (Tommy)
Bruce Dickinson - Accident Of Birth
Style: Heavy Metal
Accident Of Birth is one of those rare and really special highlights in the history of classic Heavy Metal. Bruce's solo career has been highly successful with many great albums, this one being his be....
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April 2003 - (Tommy)
Dio - Holy Diver
Style: Heavy Metal
This is Dio's first solo effort and it is still today his best. These songs are simply classics.
Stand Up And Shout opens with a fast "right in your face" guitar riff, and quickly ....
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March 2003 - (Tommy)
Saxon - Unleash The Beast
Style: Heavy Metal
As a devoted Saxon fan, I find many of their records of very high quality. This one is my favourite, and also the first one I bought. In comparison with their other works this is surely one of their m....
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February 2003 - (Steen)
Psychotic Waltz - A social grace
Style: One of a kind Progressive Metal
The music on this album was ingenius when it was released back in 1990 and in my mind that status has not changed to the day. Psychotic Waltz play superior progressive metal with a rawness that is at ....
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February 2003 - (Tommy)
Pretty Maids - Spooked
Style: Heavy Metal
It is pretty "Maids" amazing, when I think about all the great melodic songs this band has produced over time. All their records have some genius songs that just stick in my head forever. Well, on to ....
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January 2003 - (Steen)
Fates Warning - The Spectre within (Re-release)
Style: Progressive Metal
It was a cold and rainy Tuesday afternoon when I found this re-release in a local cd store. I had a ton of work to do that day when I got home... Still, I couldn't resist taking a quick listen to <str....
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January 2003 - (Tommy)
Eternity X - The Edge
Style: Progressive Metal
This is surely one of the most amazing, special and dramatic albums ever. I listen to it over and over and still find it completely groundbreaking in both concept and musical style.Easily said....
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January 2003 - (Michael)
Alice Cooper - Welcome to my nightmare
Style: Scary shock Rock
"Welcome to My Nightmare" was the first solo album from Alice Cooper. Alice Cooper stopped his collaboration with the Alice Cooper band including Michael Bruce and Glen Buxton - despite hit singles li....
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December 2002 - (Michael)
Van Halen - Fair Warning
Style: Van Halen
In my book Van Halen I and II will always be the ultimate David Lee Roth albums. "Women and Children First" was a great album with David Lee Roth as the center of the party. On Van Halen's fourth albu....
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December 2002 - (Steen)
Manowar - Into glory ride
Style: Epic Heavy Metal
It's very hard for me to say that one Manowar album is my favourite because they all have a special meaning to me, each in it's own way. But when I'm in the mood for epic music Into glory ride....
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May 2004 - (Tommy)
Iron Maiden - The X Factor
Style: Heavy Metal
This is one of the most interesting and most controversial records ever made. The mighty Iron Maiden in what you could call a different costume. The X Factor is clearly their most dark and personal re....
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January 2005 - (Tommy)
Doctor Butcher - Doctor Butcher
Style: Heavy Metal
Savatage frontman Jon Oliva and "in and out" member Christopher Caffery created the content on this debut album a short time after the tragic death of the greatest guitarist of all time Criss Oliva, a....
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September 2002 - (Tommy)
Virgin Steele - Age Of Consent
Style: Symphonic Heavy Metal
Age Of Consent is with no doubt one of the most atmospheric and thrilling releases in my collection. Anyone who knows me also knows that Virgin Steele is my all time favourite band and that every rele....
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September 2002 - (Steen)
Savatage - Streets - A Rock Opera
Style: Symphonic Heavenly Metal
Let me say right from the start that this is my favorite album of all time, so there will be no holds barred in this review. I'm a man on a mission, and that is to explain to you exactly why I think t....
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August 2002 - (Anders)
Withering Surface - Scarlet Silhouettes
Style: Melodic Death Metal
This album is one of the first melodic death metal albums I ever bought. It is also still one of my absolute favorites in my collection. To be honest I don't know anyone who is just as fascinated by t....
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August 2002 - (Tommy)
Accept - Russian Roulette
Style: Heavy Metal
Well, what can I say about one of the first Heavy Metal albums I ever heard way back in the early nineties, the magic certainly hasn't faded one bit.
Accept has developed into one of my absolute favo....
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August 2002 - (Michael)
L.A. Guns - L.A. Guns
Style: Sleaze Rock
L.A. Guns was formed after guitar player Tracii Guns left what was to become Guns N´Roses. He recruited guitarist Mick Cripps and bass player Kelly Nickels from Faster Pussycat plus Singer Phil Lewis ....
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August 2002 - (Tommy)
Metallica - Master Of Puppets
Style: Heavy Metal
Some kind of monster?
Oh yes, but not just any kind, this is of the fiercest and most aggressive species, a kind that keeps haunting you when bitten once, like a werewolf, the feeling just never le....
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August 2004 - (Tommy)
Virgin Steele - Invictus
Style: Symphonic Heavy Metal
When it comes to this album, it is no underestimation to say that it has it all; this is my favourite album with my favourite band.
The Invictus concept is quite profound and features different cha....
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July 2002 - (Tommy)
Dream Theater - Awake
Style: Progressive Metal
This is one of those albums that fits a certain state of mind nicely, for me this is when I'm feeling a bit melancholic and in need to drift off and get away form this stressing world for a while.
Th....
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July 2002 - (Steen)
Mike Tramp - Capricorn
Style: Melodic Rock
This is the first solo album by Mike Tramp, the singer and founder of White Lion and Freak of Nature. On this album he sings and plays guitar on all songs. All solos are played by Kenny Korade, who al....
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May 2002 - (Michael)
Deep Purple - Burn
Style: Classic Hard Rock
"Burn" is the first album introducing the Mark 3 line up with David Coverdale on vocals and Glenn Hughes on bass. The newcomers are doing an excellent job replacing Ian Gillan and Roger Glover. Even ....
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May 2002 - (Steen)
Sieges Even - Sophisticated
Style: Progressive metal
If I had to use one word to describe this album, it would be "Melancholic". This album has that feeling written all over it.This is Sieges Even's fourth album and my favourite. It take....
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Daily Spotlight
Cage - Science of Annihilation
American Power Metal Kings... So the Science of Annihilation cover states and I am not one to argue, in fact I am more than i....
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Retro Reviews
(Michael)
Hurricane - Take what you Want/Over the Edge/Slave to the thrill
Hurricane literally was the baby brother of Quiet Riot. Hurricane guitarist Robert Sarzo and bassist Tony Cavazo are brothers to Quiet Riot guitarist ....
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(Tommy)
Iron Maiden - Somewhere In Time
Iron Maiden, what a great band! One of the titans in Heavy Metal and with good reason, this glorious band has been committed to bring good music to the fans for over 20 years now, establishing a band ....
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