Reviews Re-Mastered

Def-Con-One – Warface

Warface Cover

Def-Con-One – Warface
Scarlet Records
Release Date: 19-06-2012
Running Time: 51:10
Review by Rick Tilley
9/10

Hi Everyone. One of the previous places I wrote reviews for was US Radio Station Brutiful Metal Radio which closed its doors a while back and their website disappeared along with all the reviews I wrote! I thought it would be great if we could repost the reviews on Ever Metal so that they are not lost completely and, possibly, you can discover some great albums and bands you may have missed the first time around! Do bear in mind that line-ups may have changed and, in some cases, the bands may be no more but the albums created at that time are what is important so delve into the fairly recent path and have a read!
This Def-Con-One review first appeared in 2013
2012 was a storming year for great albums, but when I first heard “Warface”, from the UK’s Def-Con-One, it went straight into my top ten releases of that year. If you want brutal groove then this is the band for you and quite simply I see them as a modern day Pantera. Put together by the severely underrated Antton Lant (one time Venom drummer) this is about as much fun as you can have, whilst systematically feeling that you have had your insides kicked out of you by a size 12 boot!
Kicking off with an almost tribal drum rhythm, opener ‘Never Look Back’ sets the scene for what is an uncompromising fifty minutes of pure hardcore metal, with so much groove you will not be able to keep still. Apart from the staggering and heavy-as-shit drum patterns, from Antton, which pepper the album like a bad rash, Vocalist Davey Meikle is a real find. He screams and sings in equal measure with an evil ferocity that defies belief. Guitarist Johnny Hunter and Bassist Steve Miller cannot be overlooked. This is a real band, and one that requires all four members to collectively strip the skin from your face. March Of The Dead’, ‘Blood’, ’10 Bullets’, ‘In Death’ and the title track, the list is endless of tracks that deliver a hammer blow to your groin and with ‘Feeling Cold’ Def-Con-One have delivered one of the most hauntingly brilliant acoustic tracks I have heard for years. There is just not one dud on this album. Fantastically well produced by the band themselves, there really is no reason for you not to check these guys out.
Having finally witnessed them live at Hammerfest V, where they literally blew the roof off of the venue, you might have guessed correctly that I rather like this band and predict huge things for them. With album number two in the pipeline and plenty of upcoming gigs throughout the year Def-Con-One could not be a better name for this awesome band from Newcastle and I defy you not to like them.
TRACKLISTING:
01. Never Look Back
02. March Of The Dead
03. Warface
04. Hold On
05. Blood
06. Steeped In Pain
07. 10 Bullets
08. Feeling Cold
09. My Halo
10. Hit List
11. In Death
12. Give Me Strength
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/defcononehq/
https://www.instagram.com/def.con.one.official/

https://www.youtube.com/user/skuzzy/featured

Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Richard Tilley and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.

Absolva – Flames Of Justice

Flames Of Justice Cover

Absolva – Flames Of Justice
Rocksector Records
Release Date: 05/11/2012
Running Time: 51:47
Review by Rick Tilley
9/10

Hi Everyone. One of the previous places I wrote reviews for was US Radio Station Brutiful Metal Radio which closed its doors a while back and their website disappeared along with all the reviews I wrote! I thought it would be great if we could repost the reviews on Ever Metal so that they are not lost completely and, possibly, you can discover some great albums and bands you may have missed the first time around! Do bear in mind that line-ups may have changed and, in some cases, the bands may be no more but the albums created at that time are what is important so delve into the fairly recent path and have a read!
This Absolva review first appeared in 2013
What happens when your band is on the verge of breaking through and then the bass player gets asked to join metal titans Iced Earth? That is what happened to heavy rock trio Fury UK last year. Instead of replacing Luke Appleton, brother, lead guitarist and vocalist Chris Appleton and drummer Martin McNee put that band on hiatus and formed Absolva, “Flames Of Justice” was their debut album released in the second half of 2012 and they hit the ground running faster than Usain Bolt on steroids. Fusing the heavy rock sound of their previous act with classic metal bands such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Saxon “Flames Of Justice” is a blinding album. Joined here by bassist Dan Bate and lead and rhythm guitarist Tom Atkinson (who has since departed due to other commitments), Absolva aren’t completely retro though. There is enough of a modern twist to their sound to keep fans old and new very happy, a point proved by the size and diversity of crowds at their gigs.
“Flames Of Justice” kicks off with the screaming title track, and that alone leaves you in no doubt that Absolva mean serious business. Followed by ‘Hundred Years’, ‘Code Red’ (which is sure to become a live classic),’From Beyond The Light’ and ‘Breathe’, which thanks to Chris Appleton’s slightly Dave Mustaine style delivery could be a Megadeth song, in fact “Red Lamb”, Mustaine’s recent collaboration album with Dan Spitz would be a good reference point for Absolva. This is full of crunchy riffs, choruses that stay in your brain long after the album has finished, great solo and duel guitar work that fits the songs extremely well, a good variety of tempo and rhythm section of a very high calibre that ties the whole thing together beautifully. “Flames Of Justice” has been well produced, mixed and mastered by Matt Elliss, although if anything he hasn’t quite managed to catch the raw power that Absolva share on the live circuit. That is a pretty small criticism though for a band that really is set to keep the spirit of classic metal alive if they continue to produce work of this quality.
There is something strangely alluring about Absolva’s music. It feels very familiar, as if you have known the band for years, but at the same time it adds new and exciting flavours, a bit like a good wine, and that great mix has had me going back to this album time and time again to enjoy its contents. Another of the great bands on Rocksector Records you genuinely have to keep an eye out for Absolva because they are going places!
TRACKLISTING:
01: Flames of Justice
02 .Hundred Years
03: Code Red
04: It Is What It Is
05: Breathe
06: State of Grace
07: From Beyond the Light
08: Free
09: Love to Hate
10: Only When It’s Over
11: Empires
LINKS:
http://www.absolva.com/
https://www.facebook.com/absolva/
Tweets by Absolva
https://www.instagram.com/absolva/

https://www.youtube.com/user/Absolva

Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Richard Tilley and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.

Baleful Creed – Baleful Creed

Baleful Creed – Baleful Creed
Self-Released
Release Date: 01/09/2013
Running Time 46:40
Review by Rick Tilley
8/10

I have been so busy in recent months there are certain reviews I should have done that I still haven’t got around to. “Seismic Shifter”, the excellent second album from Baleful Creed, being one of them so I thought the least I could do was re-publish (courtesy of Brutiful Metal Radio and for the first time on Ever Metal) my review of their self-titled debut which was first put online in 2014.

Rick Tilley 31/05/2018

Before settling down to write this review I was having a conversation about the price, or rip off as I call it, that some bands are charging for gig tickets. Bow your heads in shame Pearl Jam! £145 for a ticket plus £15 for parking. That is taking the piss and I’m not even a fan of the band! Why do I mention that? Well it’s precisely the reason I try to focus on good up and coming bands, firstly because we need to stop stroking the egos of some larger bands and their managers, secondly because we have to find the next generation of bands to carry the torch and thirdly when a band as assured and steeped in proper rock sensibilities, as Baleful Creed are, come along they need to get some much deserved publicity!

Baleful Creed hail from Belfast, Northern Ireland and were founded in 2009. This self titled debut album, released at the tail end of 2013, is actually comprised of remixed and remastered versions of songs from two of their previous EP’s but as I hadn’t heard any of them before that wasn’t an issue. What I can say after spinning this on numerous occasions is that it is an excellent and honest slab of Heavy Rock!

I have seen it mentioned elsewhere but you cannot get away from the Glenn Danzig sounding vocals, although I think Baleful Creed’s vocalist/guitarist ‘Fin’ Finlay is actually the better singer. Danzig aside there are elements of Alice In Chains and a bit of Sabbath contained within combined with a dirty, low slung, southern US intensity. Baleful Creed certainly don’t sound like they come from Belfast!

‘Baleful Creed’ the track opens up the album and from the off you are presented with some great riffs and melodies, it’s bass heavy, which I personally love, and all four members of the band play out of their skins with special mention going to the guitar playing of Finlay and John Allen. Backed up superbly by bassist Stephen Fleming and drummer Mark Stewart, Baleful Creed are a proper band, playing their own instruments, without the need for triggers, tricks or a 72 piece orchestra and choir! This is just how Rock N Roll should be played and if you don’t believe me then check out ‘Autumn Leaves’ or ‘Illuminati’!

Baleful Creed…great songs, great band and proof positive that you don’t need a second mortgage to enjoy rock music!

TRACKLISTING:
01. Baleful Creed
02. Autumn Leaves
03. Illuminati
04. Crazy Man
05. Misanthrope
06. Double F.S.
07. Hex
08. Her Promise
09. Thorazine
10. Suffer In Silence

LINKS:

Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Richard Tilley and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to reproduce and part of this review, unless you have the explicit permission of both parties; failure to comply will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.

Reproduced with the kind permission of Brutiful Metal Radio

Onslaught – VI

Onslaught – VI
AFM Records
Release Date: 20/09/2013
Running Time 39:30
Review by Rick Tilley
10/10

This Review was first published in 2014 and is reprinted courtesy of Brutiful Metal Radio

I have been a big fan of Onslaught since their debut album ‘Power From Hell’ hit the streets in 1985. They were at the forefront of the UK Thrash movement back then and a perfect counterpart to the Bay Area and German scenes. I was also lucky enough to be part of the crowd who witnessed one of Sy Keeler’s very first gigs with the band at The Marquee Club, London in April 1986 when they supported Exciter. Due to the timetable running a bit late everyone was inside the venue when Onslaught emerged onstage to soundcheck ‘Let There Be Death’, which they did with such ferocity and precision that there were bodies and open mouths everywhere you looked. It was one of those spine tingling moments that only happen occasionally, it remains forever scorched onto my brain and second album ‘The Force’ is still one of my all time favourites!

What happened in subsequent years up until their eventual split in 1991 is a story for another day, needless to say I was more than a bit surprised, but extremely happy, when they decided to get back together in 2005. “VI” is Onslaught’s third album since returning and not only is it the best of the three it is also very close to being their finest hour. This is about as heavy and precise as a squadron of British Chieftain Tanks hitting you at full force, in other words “Fucking Immense”! Thirty second intro ‘A New World Order’ leads into ‘Chaos Is King’ and for the next forty minutes the skin is going to be melted from your face. Keeler’s venomous, spitting vocals improve as he ages and this is arguably his best ever performance. Founding member Nige Rockett and Andy Rosser Davies’ guitar work is outstanding, and in places reminiscent of Slayer’s Jeff Hanneman (R.I.P) and Annihilator’s Jeff Waters. Jeff Williams bass thunders and rumbles in perfect unison and new drummer Mic Hourihan appears to have been taking lessons from Gene Hoglan such is his split second timing. There really isn’t a poor track here and ’66’Fucking’6′ is going to become a thrash anthem!

Yes, I unashamedly love this album and after such brilliant releases from Exodus, Testament, Annihilator and Kreator in recent years I’m proud to say that Onslaught have matched them. I’m just pissed I never got round to reviewing this last October because it would have been top three in my albums of the year list. Double check the score I’ve given this, believe me, I don’t hand that out very often!

TRACKLISTING:
01. A New World Order
02. Chaos Is King
03. Fuel for My Fire
04. Children of the Sand
05. Slaughterize
06. 66’Fucking’6
07. Cruci-Fiction
08. Dead Man Walking
09. Enemy of My Enemy

LINKS:

Reproduced with the kind permission of Brutiful Metal Radio

The Deep – Premonition

The Deep – Premonition
Self-Released
Release Date: March 2015
Running Time 53:37
Review by Rick Tilley
10/10

This review was first published in 2015 and is reprinted here courtesy of Brutiful Metal Radio

When vocalist Tony Coldham kindly sent me The Deep’s four track demo last year I immediately knew we were in for something special! Tony has now very kindly sent me an un-mastered copy of ‘Premonition’, the band’s debut album, due in March 2015 and if the demo whetted your appetite then this is going to absolutely knock you for six and remember I’m listening to an unfinished version!

Some members of The Deep have been around the music business since the early 1980’s, and have been part of Airrace and Rogue Male, amongst other bands. It’s fair to say that between them they have a rich heritage but if you don’t believe me then listening to ‘Premonition’ will be the only evidence you need! The Deep’s sound is rooted between Classic Hard & Heavy Rock, Melodic Rock and NWOBHM so think Saxon meets UFO and Uriah Heep and this album has given me goose bumps in places I didn’t know you could get them!

First and foremost is Tony Coldham’s voice which is utterly outstanding, reminiscent of one of my favourite vocalists Bernie Shaw (Uriah Heep, Grand Prix, Praying Mantis). Tony’s singing is the centrepiece of The Deep, power and emotion ring out in equal fashion and he absolutely destroys many modern day ‘singers’, but as I said in my review of the demo, that in no way takes anything away from the rest of the band who are all utterly superb. Paul Smith and Mick Feleppa’ guitar work & backing vocals are fabulous. Riffs and solos fly with abandon, whether the song is heavier or more ballad driven (The Deep are extremely good at mixing things up) and bassist Don Whiberley along with drummer Steve Kingsley have become a very solid and entertaining rhythm team!

Being in a superb band doesn’t just mean having good musicians though. You all know as well as I do that what matters most are the songs themselves and ‘Premonition’ is packed to the rafters with good songs. All four tracks from the demo are present and correct but the six new tracks showcased here are equally as good and it feels like the album has been sequenced perfectly, something a lot of bands don’t bother with now in the downloading era! From the opening Saxon like riff of ‘The Rider’ through to closer ‘Turn Me Loose’ this is 100% quality and I’m privileged to be one of the first to here it! Highlight moment for me currently, and it’ll probably change, is ‘Saga’. One of the quieter tracks but it’s near seven minutes of perfection and is just magnificent!

It’s only the middle of January and to receive an album of this magnitude so early on in 2015 is really quite something special. Even though there will be other bands that get given more column space this year I will be shouting The Deep’s name from the rooftops until you all get fed up with me because this band is too good to ignore and ‘Premonition’ is a must have for any lover of Classic Rock & Metal’. I’ll be damned if I know what this album will sound like when it’s actually completed because I honestly don’t think the band can make it any better!

TRACKLISTING:
01. The Rider
02. You Take My Breath Away
03. Night-Stalker
04. Cold-Hearted
05. All I Want
06. Out Of Touch
07. Premonition
08. Spell-bound
09. Saga
10. Turn Me Loose

LINKS:

Cover Artwork

http://cadiesart.com/home

Reproduced with the kind permission of Brutiful Metal Radio

Gaskin – Edge of Madness

Gaskin – Edge Of Madness
High Roller Records
Release Date: 24/08/2012
Running Time: 41:27
Review By Rick Tilley
8/10

THIS REVIEW WAS WRITTEN AND FIRST PUBLISHED IN 2014

If you read my recent review of Gaskin’s gig at The Rock Den last month, then you’ll know how impressed I was with them and how much of a pleasure it was to finally see them live after so many years. Meeting with Paul Gaskin after the gig, he was kind enough to give me a copy of Gaskin’s most recently released studio album ‘Edge Of Madness’ (2012) and here is my review!

Gaskin arrived on the UK Metal scene in 1980 and were squarely lumped in with the NWOBHM movement at that time. They released two very good albums ‘End Of The World’ (1981) and ‘No Way Out’ (1982) and then, as so many bands did, faded away! I didn’t get into Rock & Metal until very late in 1982 so, even then, I was already a little late for the Gaskin party but I got hold of both albums in 1983 and still cherish them. I always felt, as many people did, that there was more to Gaskin then pure NWOBHM. They could certainly thump out the metal when they wanted to but Paul’s influences in Blues & Heavy Rock meant they were always a more melodic prospect than many of their peers and I personally thought they were very underrated! They returned in 2000 with third album ‘Stand Or Fall’ and after many ups and downs have thankfully been a more regular band on the circuit again since 2010!

And now we come almost up to date with fourth album ‘Edge Of Madness’ which is the best sounding Gaskin release to date, thanks to a fine production from drummer David John Norman, and an album that sees the band do what they do best which is give us eight full and two short instrumental tracks full of the trademark Gaskin sound! They know exactly what works for them and write the songs they love playing so there is no point expecting anything modern or original. This is a good hard rock album and if you have an ear for melody, some great guitar playing and fairly dark lyrics then you’ll really enjoy this. I certainly do!

What I am going to say is that one track doesn’t work so well for me and that’s ‘Wake Up Dead’ Now lyrically it’s a very personal, emotional and dark song, dealing with Paul’s descent into depression and drugs at a low point in his life and they are an engaging listen, but musically I find the track pedestrian and plodding, especially at over six minutes. However, Gaskin more than make up for it with opener ‘Damnation’, which has a very mid-paced sounding Saxon riff and is a good way to start the album, ‘Heart Like Thunder’, ‘Bedlam’, The title track and the barn storming and brilliant ‘The Contract’.

Apart from Saxon, there are elements of Diamond Head, Ozzy Osbourne, Rainbow and even a couple of instances that reminded me of classic UK Melodic Rock greats FM! Paul’s voice has stayed intact over the years, although he comes across more powerfully live and his guitar work is lovely, with a certain Ritchie Blackmore feel in places. Fellow guitarist Andrew Solomon is an excellent soloist and the aforementioned Norman on drums and bassist Mick Cross make a very solid rhythmic team. We also get a couple of guest appearances from Emma Hudson on backing vocals and Hawkwind’s Nik Turner who turns in a nice saxophone solo on the track ‘Mans’ World’

I’m not going to suggest that Gaskin have released an album of the year contender, but you also know what else I’m going to say if you are a regular reader. If it’s played with passion and emotion and nearly all the songs rock your boat then it doesn’t matter. Edge Of Madness is a good album and it’s by Gaskin. That I’m still saying that band name in the year 2014 means a lot because they, along with Saxon, Motorhead, Priest, Rush, Magnum, Demon and UFO were one of the bands that set me off on my long rock journey over thirty years ago and they deserve their moment in the spotlight! Come on Paul, I want album number five!!

TRACKLISTING:
01. Just Before Dawn
02. Damnation 04:36
03. Heart Like Thunder
04. Man’s World
05. Wake Up Dead
06. Lost & Lonely
07. The Contract
08. Bedlam
09. Te Amavi
10. Edge of Madness

LINKS:

Reproduced with the kind permission of Brutiful Metal Radio

Hammerforce – Access Denied

Hammerforce – ‘Access Denied’ (2013)
Metalism Records
Release Date: 27/03/2013
Running Time: 51:00
Review By Rick Tilley
9/10

THIS REVIEW WAS WRITTEN AND FIRST PUBLISHED IN 2014 ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOW GIVEN THE ALBUM A SCORE OUT OF TEN.

Hammerforce have returned with their sophomore album ‘Access Denied’ and for anyone unfamiliar with their sound and who has to have a genre tag, I have taken it upon myself to give them the title ‘Twisted Power Metal’. Hailing from St. Petersburg in Russia, Hammerforce are one of a handful of bands, I can think of, who are breathing fresh life into the power metal genre and if you crave something a little bit different then these guys come highly recommended!

Why do I call them twisted? Well, they are essentially an extremely good power metal band at heart, and possess all the good elements of that genre in spades. Soaring vocals, powerhouse drumming and bass runs with fantastic guitar work, but…where they stand out from legions of other bands is in the keyboard department. ‘Nikita Merzlyakov’ delivers some quite stunning work. If you can imagine synth work in an almost dance/trance style mixed with classic power metal you’ll find something that really shouldn’t work, or so I keep telling myself, but in actual fact adds an outstanding clash of styles, especially for a huge fan of the genre, like myself.

The album kicks off with ‘I Am I’ and leaves you in no doubt that this is going to be a pretty special listen. Picking out individual tracks is pointless though, because most of them follow a similar pattern, although that doesn’t mean they all sound alike, far from it. There are some great melodies and choruses contained here that will have fans of Dream Theater, Symphony X, Pagan’s Mind and Dragonforce jumping and headbanging for all that they are worth. There are also elements of classic metal bands such as Judas Priest, so anyone who thinks I’ve lost my mind will very definitely know what side of the fence Hammerforce sit on. Fantastically produced, mixed and mastered by Nikita at his own studio, and with artwork and booklet to put much bigger bands to shame, ‘Access Denied’ is nine tracks (plus two bonus cuts sung in Russian) of awesome catchy metal that should really see the ‘Hammerforce’ name spoken by many more people in the coming months. Check out their website, which gives you access to lots of free songs and see what you’ve been missing!

NOTE:

It looks like it has been very quiet on Hammerforce Social Media for quite a while now, which is unfortunate, but I wanted to share the review again because “Access Denied” is such a good album and deserves to be heard.

Rick – November 2017

TRACKLISTING:
01. I Am I
02. Templates For All
03. Wasted
04. Mass Media
05. Fugitive
06. Earth Is On Trial
07. No Place For The Old Men
08. Reflections
09. Access Denied

LINKS:

Reproduced with the kind permission of Brutiful Metal Radio

Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Richard Tilley and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to reproduce any part of this review, unless you have the explicit permission of both parties; failure to comply will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.

Neverworld – Visions Of Another World

Neverworld – Visions Of Another World
Dream Demon Recordings/Self Released
Released 22/03/2014
Running Time 57:27
Review By Rick Tilley
9/10

THIS REVIEW WAS WRITTEN AND FIRST PUBLISHED IN 2014

I am honoured to be one of the first people to listen to and review the debut album ‘Visions Of Another World’ from Progressive NWOTHM Metal band Neverworld. I know there are a lot of people who have been pulling their hair out waiting for this so I’ll not beat around the bush, are you ready everyone…Forget the bubblegum, this CD kicks ass BIG TIME!! Neverworld have delivered a rip roaring and emotional nine songs of metal magic and fantasy spread over nearly an hour and I still fail to understand why they have not been snapped up by a record label! Hopefully with this release, and the exposure it will undoubtedly bring, Neverworld will be able to hold their collective heads up high and say “We have arrived!”

Opening with the ticking of a clock and gorgeous orchestration, the instrumental ‘Tempus’ sets the scene wonderfully. This leads headlong into the title track riff and we’re off on our Neverworld journey of discovery. When vocalist and guitarist Ben Colton kicks in with his trademark thundering scream the Cheshire cat grin on my face was huge. Not only is this track heavy it has wonderful melody, a sublime chorus and immense guitar solos courtesy of Colton and fellow axe master Jack Foster. Believe me these two make an outstanding team. Couple that with the fabulous bass work of Gary Payne, drumming of Mike Vaughan and keyboard wizardry of Daniel Potter and you’ve got a super talented bunch here! Not content with this amazing opening salvo the guys then lead in, almost immediately, to arguably their best known song and anthem ‘They Live’. If you’re already a fan of the band then you’ll know what an absolutely mighty track this is. Instantly recognisable as giving Neverworld their signature sound it is one of those songs that will be remembered long after I’m gone! ‘Blood & Romance’ is up next, a near perfect 10 minutes of emotional impact that introduces us to sublime female guest vocalist Christina Gajny. Her voice compliments Ben’s superbly and she puts a lot of more well known female singers to shame! Without pause for breath the titanic riff of ‘Ghosts’ comes next and also what I think is Ben’s crowning moment vocally on the album. He absolutely nails the singing with enough power to split an atom!

I could go on telling you how good these tracks are. ‘The Wheel Of Misfortune’, ‘Eminent Reprisal’, ‘Salt Water Bandits’ (with guitar work that gives me goose bumps) and final song ‘This Fire’, which comes full circle and leads back into the ticking clock, are all utterly superb, the quality of writing, lyrics and musicianship is outstanding and you would be correct in thinking I’m just a little bit in love with this band. As far as influences go then think Dream Theater, Fates Warning, Gamma Ray, Judas Priest, Sonata Arctica, Iced Earth and Blind Guardian amongst others i.e. some of my favourites which is probably why this works so well for me!

Of course, I always try to be completely honest when reviewing and if there is one (only very slight) weak point, it’s in the production. Mike’s snare drum could definitely do with being higher in the mix, especially on the heavier numbers as it can get a bit lost, and on a couple of occasions Daniel’s keyboards come through a little too loudly, but you also have to remember that Neverworld do not have the resources to employ Mr ‘Uber’ Producer and this whole album has been produced by themselves. With that in mind, I sort of feel bad even mentioning it!

At the end of the day, for a debut album, this is nothing short of blissful to listen to and I’m utterly stoked for the guys that they’ve released something this good because they deserve nothing less. Artwork and CD booklet are also of extremely high quality, damn, I know how hard they’ve worked on this and it shows. It’s only March and I have yet another contender for my top five albums. Get ready everyone because Neverworld are here to stay!!

Neverworld photo courtesy of Sally Newhouse

TRACKLISTING:
01. Tempus
02. Visions Of Another World
03. They Live
04. Blood And Romance
05. Ghosts
06. Wheel Of Misfortune
07. Eminent Reprisal
08. Salt Water Bandits
09. This Fire

LINE-UP:
Mike Vaughan – Drums
Jack Foster – Guitars
Ben Colton – Vocals, Guitars
Gary Payne – Bass
Daniel Potter – Keyboards

LINKS:

Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Richard Tilley and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to do adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities

Reproduced with the kind permission of Brutiful Metal Radio

NitroVolt – Pänzer

NitroVolt – Pänzer
Mausoleum Records
Release Date 12/08/2014
Running Time 32:51
Review by Rick Tilley
8/10

‘NitroVolt’…For some reason I really like that name, and after listening to their second album ‘Pänzer’ there is also a lot to like about this German band. NitroVolt ply their trade in a variety of genres, namely Speedrock, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Punk, Hardcore and a little bit of Thrash. Take ‘Motorhead’, add liberal doses of ‘Airbourne’, Rose Tattoo and ‘AC/DC’ (after they’ve been smoking some good weed) and mix together with a little ‘Warfare’ and ‘Septic Death’ and what you get is a completely unpretentious thirty minutes of fun!

NitroVolt have been around, in one form or another, since 2004. They have toured relentlessly and built a following the hard way. In 2011 they were rewarded with a record deal (IHP Records) and released their debut album ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll Commando’. to favourable comments. Unfortunately the record company folded and the owners disappeared leaving the band high and dry. Undeterred, they forged ahead, and where many bands would have packed it in NitroVolt persevered, and have now signed a deal with Mausoleum.

‘Pänzer’ kicks off with the speedy ‘Pay The Price’, and at just under two minutes it leaves you in no doubt as to what this album is all about. Dirty, sweaty and alcohol soaked rock music with loads of catchy tunes and some great guitar work (Phil Campbell from Motorhead would be proud of some of these solos). Tracks follow swiftly with barely a chance to take breath. ‘Twisted Shot Of Booze’, ‘Hardröck Queen’, ‘Rock It Out’ and ‘Hail Hail’ all bristle with energy. At first you might be a little put off by the vocal scream/bark of singer and guitarist ‘Tom Krämer’ (NitroTom), but after a few listens it all makes sense. NitroVolt’s lineup is completed by ‘Tim Vader’ (NitroTim) on guitars, ‘Luciano Vanini’ (Louis Nitrovolt) on bass and ‘Shockstar’ on drums who all play with the required amount of filth. Everything sounds great production wise but I reckon seeing these guys live would make for a great evening out, although you might need an extra long cold shower afterwards!

There are thousands of bands around and many of them are releasing long, story driven albums or similar. I have nothing against that, but once in a while I just like to get back to basics, open a beer, let my hair down and listen to some unadulterated heavy rock ‘n’ roll and NitroVolt fit that bill very nicely thanks.

TRACKLISTING:
01. Pay the Price
02. Rock It Out
03. Don’t Let Go
04. Twisted Shot of Booze
05. Lie to You
06. Into the Night
07. Hardröck Queen
08. Going Down
09. Born to Love
10. Get Rid
11. So You Die
12. Hail Hail

LINKS:

Originally written for Brutiful Metal Radio in 2014 and reproduced here with their kind permission

Unhoped – Nuclear Death EP

Unhoped – Nuclear Death EP
Violent Journey Records
Release Date: 24/05/2013
Running Time 19:25
Review by Rick Tilley
8.5/10

I have a question for you Dear Readers! Do you love any of the following bands; Slayer, Kreator, Possessed, Venom, Warfare, Exciter, Sodom, Destruction, Nuclear Assault, Exodus or Obituary? If the answer to any of the above is yes, then you are going to love ‘Nuclear Death’ the new EP from Unhoped because it is Thrash/Death excellence! Hailing from Finland (how many good bands can possibly come from this country?), and formed in 2007 Unhoped already have a Demo EP (‘First Blood’) and full length debut album (‘Die Harder’) to their name, both of which have received a very positive response, and now they are signed to Violent Journey Records are hoping to take the next step with ‘Nuclear Death’. If they don’t achieve that then there is no justice because all five tracks on this EP kick some serious butt!

There is no hanging around with this band. Opener ‘Pestilence’ punches you in the guts within seconds and for the next 20 minutes vocalist ‘J. Luostarinen’, guitarists ‘K. Laanto’ and ‘A. Paasu’, bassist ‘S. Parviainen and last, but not least, drummer ‘M. Huisko’ repeatedly pound you into a bloody submission with their brutality until you are a crumpled heap on the floor! Unhoped recreate the feel of the classic bands whilst still managing to sound current and relevant and even though you shouldn’t expect heaps of originality, what you will get is a band who know how to write a great song and infuse that with enough melody and change of pace to make them more than memorable once the music has ceased and you recover your breath! Even the blast beats (not one of my favourite things) sound right because they aren’t used constantly. Add to that a production and mix which could probably crumble concrete and you have a band that any self respecting thrash or death fan should check out immediately!

TRACKLISTING:
01. Pestilence
02. Modern State Of Sodomy
03. Eternal Infernal
04. Empire Of Lies
05. Nuclear Death

LINE-UP:
Samu Parviainen – Bass
Mikko Huisko – Drums
Aku Paasu – Guitars
Kalle Laanto – Guitars
Jyri Luostarinen – Vocals

LINKS:

First published on Brutiful Metal Radio. Reprinted here with kind permission