Author: Anders Ekdahl

STORTREGN “Emptiness Fills The Void” (Non Serviam Records) I have no idea where this Swiss band picked their name from but in Swedish störtregn is not something you want to be caught in. It is something that happens after the thunder and lightning. You get pretty wet being caught in it. This is the band’s fourth album but the first I get to hear. Musically this is an amalgamation of styles. You get both death metal as well as black metal mixed with more traditional heavy metal. Being on their fourth album this lot are pretty good at what they … Continue reading

TENGIL “Shoulhavebeens” (Prophecy Records) I know that I shouldn’t be surprised by all the diversity there is in Swedish music but sometimes I cannot help myself. Like hearing this album by TENGIL. I wonder how you as a collective can come up with something as eclectic as this. This is music that transcends borders. How do you even label it? It is hard enough to appeal to all blackgazers out there yet somber enough to appeal to those looking for the more esoteric. And in all its beauty lies a lurking chaos ready to burst out. It is not that … Continue reading

THUNDERWAR “Wolfpack” () This is a Polish lot that I am not familiar with (My fave sentence to write). Cool to get to know them as this is some really cool metal. They seem to mix a lot of different styles to make it their own sound. I thought that this was gonna be much more old school after having read the press release but this is very contemporary. I don’t really have any bands to compare them to as there are too many styles to pick from, but the overall impression is that this rocks four ways to the … Continue reading

TRAITOR’S GATE “Fallen” (No Remorse) At first I was gonna say that this reminds me a lot of Savatage until I realized that this band actually has its roots in the NWOBHM. Having released an EP in 1985 and another one in 2017 this is the debut album from this band from Pontypool, Wales. You are forgiven for not being familiar with this band. I know I am not. But I still stand by what I said about Savatage. This is heavy metal that borders power metal and Savatage aren’t that bad a reference point. A really nice heavy metal … Continue reading

UADA “Cult Of A Dying Sun” (Eisenwald Records) UADA is a band that I would love to see live. I think that that would be a really massive experience. A total blast fest. Because this second album, the follow up to 2016’s “Devoid Of Light” is a total mayhemic beast of an album. Listening to this is like a major work out, or like going ten rounds against The Maulder. In a way this reminds me of an Amon Amarth. Melodic black metal is very much an oxymoron but in this case it fits the music. This is melodic black … Continue reading

VALYRIA “Into The Dying of Time” () This Canadian band has a style that I am not too sure how to describe. I have been sitting here trying to figure it out. The best I can think of is progressive power death metal. This is a strange beast to put any tags on. But no matter what I decide to call this I do enjoy the metal that they play. There is a lifeful force to it that makes me stomp my feet and bang my head. And almost sing along. This is another album I am glad came along … Continue reading

VERILUN “Through Fire… In The Sun” (Sliptrick Records) You might already have read the interview I did with this Hungarian band. Here comes the review of their second album, the follow up to 2013’s “Home For The Dead” album. This is musically some sort of epic death/black metal. Not symphonic, but epic. There is a difference between the two of them. You can be epic without being symphonic. And that is exactly what VERILUN are. I would say that this is more death than it is black metal. sure, there are elements of black in the music but mostly this … Continue reading

WILD WITCH “The Offering” (Arthorium Records) Ever since I got aware of this album I have been waiting for it to arrive. I have their “Burning Chains” EP from 2013 in my collection and I have since the day I bought it been waiting for this album to finally materialize itself. And here it is. What a bloody treat it is too. This is pure heavy metal heaven. If you like classic heavy metal in he NWOBHM school this is the stuff. It doesn’t get much better than this. If your daily diet of metal consists of Angel Witch’s debut … Continue reading

VOIGHT KAMPFF “Substance Rêve” (Sliptrick Records) I have no idea what the band name means but the first time I saw it, it reminded me of Angelina Jolie’s father Jon Voight. Not a French technical thrash metal band. But that is the truth right now. And nothing I can do anything about. Whenever I read the term technical thrash metal I come to think of Watchtower. This is nowhere close to the level of intricacy that Watchtower indulged in. I am not even sure if I think this is that technical. Sure, there are some twists here and there but … Continue reading