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Edited by Anselm Anderson NWOBHM Icons Saxon have unveiled the video for 'Heavy Metal Thunder (live at Hellfest)', taken from their upcoming new live album 'Eagles Over Hellfest'. due out this week via Silver Lining Music PRE-ORDER AT THIS LOCATION Saxon has generated excitement with their new release ahead of their September European tour. "Eagles Over Hellfest" is a recording from their performance at last year’s Hellfest and serves as a sneak peek of what fans can expect during their “Castles & Eagles” headline shows in September 2025 at the Zénith venues in Paris, Nantes, and Toulouse.  Lead singer and founding member Biff Byford enthuses that 'Heavy Metal Thunder' is a revered classic, taken from the new album. Watch “Heavy Metal Thunder (Live at Hellfest)” here – videos courtesy of Sombrero & Co in collaboration with Hellfest Productions. 'Eagles Over Hellfest' revisits classic albums like "Strong Arm Of The Law" to ...

 Words by Anselm Anderson After thirty years together, the French metalcore pioneers Primal Age released their fourth studio album, Until the Last Breath , via WTF Records. The quartet returns following a four-year hiatus with one of their most intense releases. The follow up to 2021's  Masked Enemy carries on the exploration of animal rights, political and social injustices, delivering these themes through bold lyrics and compelling melodies. Lead vocalist Didier channels his inner rage into the tracks accompanied by the precise and intense interplay between guitarists Florian  and Benoit. Drummer Dmitri drives each track with relentless energy, bassist Dmitri complements the performance with powerful and resonant bass. The thirty-minute runtime feels extended, as the band delivers an explosive performance on this release. The haunting introduction unfolds with bated breath before ferocious drumming announces the start of 'Empire Will Always Fail.' The intensity escal...

  Photo courtesy of Frontiers Music SRL Edited by Anselm Anderson Nicklas Sonne , a rising star on the rock scene, has  released his new lyric video “Helldivers Anthem”, taken from the upcoming studio album “Electric Dreams”, due to be released on June 27th, 2025, via Frontiers Music Srl. Watch the official lyric video for “Helldivers Anthem”  HERE . Pre-Order “Electric Dreams” HERE  Nicklas Sonne commented on the new single: “ From one gamer to another - this is my tribute to the Helldivers. Loud riffs, big explosions, and just the right amount of sarcasm. Freedom never sleeps - and neither do we”. He adds about the album: “ This record is a deeply personal journey back to where it all began for me - to the raw energy and spirit of my earliest musical inspirations. It blends the soul of old school hard rock with the punch and clarity of a modern production, creating a soundscape that feels both nostalgic and new”.   Nicklas Sonne is a Danish musician, voca...

  Words from Anselm Anderson Horror rocker Wednesday 1 3 returns after a three-year hiatus with his latest studio album, "Mid Death Crisis," released today via Napalm Records. The Murderdolls vocalist follows up his 2022 album "Horrifier" with his heaviest record. The new album is filled with his signature wit and clever wordplay. It features a strong 1980s influence, with chugging grooves and arena-like fist-pumping tracks sure to satisfy the average fan . The Duke of Spook promises a "leave-your-brain-at-the-door" rager, and he certainly delivers. The vocalist has brought in guitarist Alex Kane to produce an album that blends dark glam with 80s-influenced hard rock. 'Mid Death Crisis' demonstrates that there are no signs of slowing down as he delves into lyrical depth and experiments with new sounds. Photo courtesy of Anabel D fLux The eerie intro "There Are No Such Things as Monsters" begins before the rebellious "Decease and De...

Edited and written by Anselm Anderson Shock Rocker MARILYN MANSON has unveiled details about his return to the stage this Autumn for the second leg of the One Assassination Under God Tour. The ticket presale starts on April 2nd at 10:00AM local time. General public tickets are available on April 4th at 10:00AM local time at https://www.marilynmanson.com/ . The singer is returning for his first headlining world tour in six years, announcing a tour that will include over thirty dates. It will kick off on August 7th in Sturgis, SD, at The Buffalo Chip. Following his shows across the US, he will perform in the seaside towns of Brighton and Bournemouth in England this October. The 'Disposable Teens' singer will also visit Manchester, London, and Nottingham before continuing to Europe. The tour will cover several countries, including France, Czechia, Poland, and Italy, ultimately concluding in Lisbon, Portugal on November 30th. The singer recently released his 12th studio album, ...

  Words by Anselm Anderson  Decrepit Youths  is the latest band to gain popularity in the UK. This Newcastle-based quartet of rap metal musicians released their three-track debut EP, "Love Psycho Kill Machine", last week as an independent project. Formed in 2023, they quickly gained widespread airplay on BBC Radio One as part of the channel's Introducing series. The band features a dynamic vocal partnership between David Stoker and Connor Pattison, accompanied by bassist Tim Gambles and drummer Thomas Lee. They now offer a preview of their high-octane, aggressive sound. The group isn’t shy about tackling themes such as drug and alcohol use, as highlighted in the opening track "Love Psycho Kill Machine." This song is a burst of rapid rap verses layered over gritty guitars and distorted monologues, evoking the chaos of a very messy night out. Photo courtesy of San PR The chaotic and dysfunctional sound continues with "Black Dove," which features a combi...

  Photo Credit courtesy of Sound of Silence.  Words by Anselm Anderson French Quintet Pledge The Silence emerges on the metal scene with the tenacious EP"Guilty as Charged", released via Sound of Silence. Formed in 2005, The Parisians blend thrash metal with raw hardcore elements and aggressive metal. The "Guilty as Charged" production values highlight these styles through emotion and intensity. Each riff culminates in a volatile climax, featuring harsh vocals and poetic monologues interspersed throughout the 23-minute duration. The songs combine deeply emotional subjects like social anxieties and depression with politically motivated ones, enhancing the aggressive nature of the release. The monologues bring stability to an otherwise hectic mini-album. "Guilty as Charged" opens with an intro that transitions into the intense track "Burn the Flag," featuring powerful lyrics and sharp riffs that hit the listener like a sledgehammer to the stomach...

  Words by Anselm Anderson  You can enjoy not many things in ten minutes, but "Borderland" might be one of them. That is the name of the mini EP from the British Metal act SYPHA. The three tracker is released today to an international audience via all major streaming platforms. The female-fronted band cites Avenged Sevenfold, Deftones, Halestorm, and Marmozets as influences, but their sound is grittier and darker. SYPHA was formed about two and a half years ago in the beachside resort of Brighton, England. Alicia Pilling, whose haunting vocals lead the band, first came to prominence with the video for "World's End," which became a YouTube hit. Since then, they have captivated audiences with their live performances. The quartet combines blistering riffs, dark lyrical content, and pop stylings that resonate with the listeners. "Dirty Floor"  opens with dark, dissonant chords clouded by Pilling's unsettling multi-layered vocals. The juxtaposition betw...

  Words by Anselm Anderson England's Extreme heavyweights KillerKorp may sound like a horror movie, but their sound is brutal and uncompromising. Last week, they released "Vices", their latest four-track EP. The follow-up to the 2019 debut "Pain"  The quintet produces extreme metal at breakneck speed, blending modern death metal with blackened hardcore elements to create a headache-inducing experience. The savage riffery and guttural screams are some of the main attributes for fans of Cannibal Corpse and Machine Head. They combine the latter's songwriting for lengthy guitar intros and brutal breakdowns with ex-Cannibal Corpse singer Chris Barnes's vocal ferocity. KillerKorp have used this tenacity and aggression to evolve on the live circuit with notable appearances alongside contemporaries Raised By Owls, Celestial Sanctuary and Beyond Extinction . Photo courtesy of San Pr KillerKorp was formed in 2018 by the Lydiatt brothers: Ben (vocals) & Dani...

    Words by Anselm Anderson Italian dwarf metal band Wind Rose begins a new journey with the release of Trollslayer via Napalm Records today. This album follows their 2022 release War Front , offering another round of modern metal, catchy singalong choruses, and impressive string arrangements with bombastic production. The band greatly impacted the metal scene with their popular song "Diggy Diggy Hole", gaining a strong following on YouTube and TikTok . I gave their last album a 9/10 rating due to the songwriting and enjoyable songs on the album and subsequently entered the T op 10 US Current Hard Rock list. On Trollslayer , the band take a new direction with a sound heavily influenced by battle bands of the past like Turisas and Hammerfall. The tracks have a more serious edge, leaning more towards a sentimental side, rather than relying on writing tracks that will become hits. The production is still as polished as "War Front", giving the sense the listener ...

  Words by Anselm Anderson Metalcore act Paradis released their hotly-anticipated self-titled debut EP last week, The quintet combines the raw ferocity of the genre's vocals with the dark atmospheric music of black metal, which is a unique approach to the revived genre, once maligned by metalheads all over. Formed in London, England, the multicultural group consists of vocalist Johnny Weaver, guitarists Pedro Silva and Federico Di Biase, bassist Mark Kuchmenko and drummer Flynn Everard. The band commented on how this was a team effort, reflected over five intense, headbanging tracks. Photo Credit: Michael Williams One notable aspect of this EP is the diversity of the tracks. Paradis delivers powerful and ominous metal with impactful orchestration and bone-shaking breakdowns. The band's creative ideas allow the music to take on a life of its own, showcasing a contrast between aggressive, angst-filled vocals paired with heavy riffs, and melodic vocals set against gothic underton...

  The Rambling Man's playlist returns with a look at the best tracks from the past few weeks. This week's playlist features tracks from Moggs Motel and The Dead Daisies, which the blog recently reviewed. Also, there are great tracks from British artists like DeadLetter and Crooked Revival, plus country songs by Lour Ridley and Jenna De Vries. Click below to listen to the player. Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following  https://follow.it/anselm-s-rambling-man-s-reviews?pub Copyright: Anselm Anderson ©

  Words by Anselm Anderson Today's Song of The Day is "Bella", the brand new single from Gothic Metal newcomers Tellers Scribe. The quintet, led by the haunting vocals of Kim Stacey-Merino, tells the story of a woman's body found inside a hollow tree. The band questions the identity of Bella from Witch Elm. The band's eerie lyrics are inspired by Dicksenian and Victorian Literature, conveyed through a unique blend of Gothic, Doom, and Heavy Metal. Tellers Scribe were formed in Bedfordshire, England in 2022. Stacey-Merino is joined by guitarist Michael Merino, Rythm guitarist Yus Dervish, bassist Dan Tuck and drummer Dave Brett. "Bella' is one of many singles released in the run-up to their debut album Volume 1. The track goes through several stages to convey the true horror of the story. The opening guitar salvo, is rapid and intense, leading lead vocalist Kim Stacey-Merino to showcase her immense vocal range. The aggressive, discordant chords return as ...

  Words by Anselm Anderson Today's song review will be the latest single from Metal act 40,000 Leagues. The five-piece broke from their traditional melodic and progressive metal style to experiment with Power Metal. "The Dragon Will Rise" combines synths with soaring vocals and head-spinning guitar solos to give the genre a fresh outlook. The quintet hails from Manchester, England, and consists of vocalist 'Nips' Crossdale, guitarist Joe Leonard, rhythm guitar player Harry Hulme, drummer Paul Beesley, and bassist Rick Wiltshire. They follow the tried and tested tale of building a solid fanbase through hard work and dedication to their art. 40K Leagues has made a name for themselves following the debut release of EP 'A New Beginning', and the further successes of lead singles 'Reaper', 'Control' and Chaka Khan cover 'Ain't Nobody'. I will now redirect my attention to the single. "The Dragon Will Rise" immediately grabs ...

Photo Credit: Carlos Nemeth   New album Inner Self set for release on December 13th Iconic Record Label Eclipse Records  has announced its latest acquisition with the signing of In We Fall to a worldwide exclusive deal. An alternative metal band from Vila Real, Portugal, In We Fall, is known for creating a distinct and exotic sound through a mixture of alternative metal, progressive metal, and grunge. The band recently finished recording their debut full-length album entitled Inner Self which will be released on December 13, 2024. The album was produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Daniel Moreira, at EvoluiSom Studios .    guitarist Carlos Carneiro says of the signing “We are really thrilled about signing with Eclipse Records and looking forward to the best work we can do with them!” says guitarist Carlos Carneiro. “Our debut album is ready to be released, so it really is great to be able to have this kind of support from them at this stage of our careers! Vo...

  Words from Anselm Anderson Metal Supergroups are always a testy subject, for me. They are an opportunity for our favourite musicians to form a band with other musicians from another band to try to create something different from what we know.  Some go on to flourish, while others disappear without a trace. My question is: Which category does Category 7 fall under? Last Friday, the newly formed metal supergroup released their self-titled debut album through Metal Blade Records . The band includes well-known figures in metal, not just a mix of session musicians. John Bush, formerly of Anthrax and currently with Armored Saint, leads with his powerful vocals, along with the skilled guitarist Phil Demmel, formerly of Machine Head. Mike Orlando, a guitarist and producer known for his work with Adrenaline Mob and Sonic Universe, Jack Gibson from Overkill on bass, and Jason Bittner from Shadows Fall on drums round out this ambitious project.  The band combines the sound of th...

 Interview by Anselm Anderson The Rambling Man grabbed an opportunity to speak with veteran metal vocalist John Bush, best known for his stint with Anthrax and Armored Saint, who discusses his new band Category 7 , and their upcoming debut album, due out on July 26th via Metal Blade Records. Category 7   is a supergroup, which features ex-members of Machine Head , Adrenaline Mob and Anthrax. Click below to read the full article. Congratulations on your upcoming self-titled debut album, due on July 26th.  How are preparations going for the release?  Great! Doing interviews. two videos were released. Good buzz out there. Category 7 is a relatively new band featuring ex-members of Anthrax, Machine Head, Adrenaline Mob and Overkill. That is an impressive C.V. for a new band. What can you tell me about how you formed?  Phil contacted me about this project he was working on. He asked if I would be interested in working on it, so I said send some stuff to me....