The fifth time around for swedish metallers Astral Doors, and it’s all very recognisable. They play a delicious mix of classic heavy metal in the vein of Dio and Black Sabbath, but with a modern metal touch to it, and what can I say – I simply love the vocals of Nils Patrik Johansson, and I always will. They give such a depth and dimension to the whole thing. To be honest, without him the band would be struggling in the midsection of the plethora of bands in the scene Continue Reading

I am not going talk much about the fact that the members of this band are all females. That is completely irrelevant when analyzing the music and judging whether it is any good or not. Quality metal is quality metal regardless of who is playing. The only thing I am going to mention is that most women that sing in harder rock- or metal bands always tend to sound kind of the same when they try to sound aggressive and rough. It becomes a bit too forced and this occupies my attention a little more than it should and sometime takes away the focus from the actual music. It should be mentioned, though, that Mia Coldheart sings way better than average and has a powerful and respectful voice enough Continue Reading

The finnish folk metal band Ensiferum have climbed the ladder quite a bit the past two or three years, now doing big tours in especially America. And rightfully so, since they are belonging to the elite of the genre. If you are a follower of my reviews you know my preferences and therefore also know that this album is highly anticipated by me Continue Reading

For this album, Udo Dirkschneider and Stefan Kaufmann have travelled around in the north of Africa, around the area of Tunisia and Marocco, to gather influences from eastern music. They have incorporated instruments such as a sitar, different kind of lutes and fiddles. They are this time also experimenting with bluegrass music, bossanova and…. Naah… just kidding. This sounds as any U.D.O. album ever has and that is the way it should be Continue Reading

This is a very positive surprise! After releasing a brilliant debut album (Thunderstorm, 2000), Iron Firefrom Denmark have kept making decent heavy metal but nothing over the top in my ears. The album Revenge (2006) was a step up again, followed by the even better Blade Of Triumph (2007), but still it was quite not there yet. It felt at the time as if that was as good as they were going to get, but I am very glad to have been proven wrong. With their new album To The Grave they deliver a smorgasbord of really catchy songs, filled with their trademarks spelled great riffs and refrains that most of the time sticks like glue Continue Reading

Steady as a clockwork, the german veterans Grave Digger release a new album pretty much every Continue Reading

Background history, sound, members, previously released albums – everything of this is needless when it comes to starting up a Motörhead review. Continue Reading