The Rockstar Reviewer (Rambling Man's Reviews)

  Words by Anselm Anderson Brazilian thrash metal band Nervosa returns with another batch of raw, brutal, and honest songs, centred around politics , war , and religion . The band's sixth album, titled " Slave Machine ," will be released on Friday, April 3rd via Napalm Records . The album picks up right where 2023's Jailbreak left off, with singer Prika Amaral still in top form after making her debut on that record. Her fierce, abrasive vocals rival those of any male singer with guttural growls , as she howls like a wolf on the hunt. The quintet are helped by the strong production skills of Martin Furia , best known for his work with German destroyers, Destruction . His attentive ear to detail brings out the menacing and hellacious feelings of the band as a whole. I have been an admirer of the band ever since I saw them open for fellow Female Metal act, Burning Witches on tour a few years back. Their sound is crisp and emotional, layered over sharp, frenetic guita...

  Words by Anselm Anderson Rob Dukes returns for this twelfth outing for Exodus . The shaven-headed vocalist returns following a ten-year hiatus from the band. ' Goliath marks his first appearance since 2010's Exhibit B: The Human Condition . Dukes returned to the fold last year, following the departure of vocalist Steve Souza , and this release also marks the first on Napalm Records for the band. Produced by Exodus and mixed and mastered by Mark Lewis , known for his work with Whitechapel , Nile and Undeath , this ten-track release feels like a return to form for the Bay Area Thrashers . The music is intense and authentic, with each riff cutting through precision like a butcher's knife. Dukes sounds like an insane man who's making up for lost time. The album features guest appearances by Peter Tägtgren ( Hypocrisy , Pain ) and violinist Katie Jacoby .  Photo Credit: Jim Lovau The album begins with the dissonant chords of" 3111 ", a track that sets the to...

  Written by Anselm Anderson Today, Alter Bridge releases their eighth studio album . The self-titled release features twelve tracks of their most deeply personal and heaviest material since 2007's Blackbird album. "Alter Bridge" follows up 2022's critically Acclaimed Pawn and Kings , and is once again produced by Michael 'Elvis' Baskette  at his legendary 5150 Studios in Los Angeles . He consistently brings out the best in the band with his keen ear for their nuances. This is true for Alter Bridge. Baskette emphasises the band's strengths as writers and musicians, with the group aiming for a harder rock sound. They express deeper meaning and emotion than their previous albums. The songs feel darker, featuring a dark sound with more emphasis on solos and memorable riffs. In this release, guitarist Mark Tremonti takes centre stage with dual vocals on two tracks: ' Trust in Me ' and ' Tested and Able .' His quiet, melodic vocals blend se...

  Photo: Altankhuyag Erdenebat Words by Anselm Anderson There are times when a band comes along and becomes an instant success; the music industry takes note and churns out its successor. Mongolian Folk band UUhai follow the success and signature sound of fellow countrymen The Hu . The band's use of traditional elements, such as horsehair and throat singing , aligns with the previously mentioned Hu. However, the band's sound is more melodic and easier to listen to, in contrast to the commercially accessible features of the former. This Friday (5th January), UUhai will finally explode onto the international stage with their debut Human Herds , set for release via Napalm Records .  The seven-piece first gained notoriety when their first songs gained millions of views on YouTube . They have created an album that draws inspiration by folklore and societal themes in the Mongolian language . The band blends traditional Mongolian music with heavy metal.  Formed in 2020, t...

  Words by Anselm Anderson Legendary German metal band Accept returns with an unstoppable force, packed with punishing riffs and head-banging tracks. ' Humanoid' is their 17th studio album, set for release this Friday via Napalm Records. Lead Singer Mark Tornillo and co cover the murky issues of technology and AI in this other blistering release from the legends. In almost fifty years, the band has entertained the masses from all over the world in various guises. I personally feel the band has grown as a unit in that time and has cemented themselves with some of the titans of metal. A significant factor is the addition of Tornillo's vocals. His voice, a torrent of raw emotion like a contemporary Bon Scott, has elevated Accept's music to unprecedented heights."Humanoid" is an album that exemplifies this statement.  Andy Sneap is back behind the producer's table at his Backstage Recording Studios LTD in Derbyshire, England. This helps increase the volume to...

Words by Anselm Anderson Female-fronted Brazilian Metal band Nervosa's latest release is intense, brutal and aggressive. Jailbreak,  the fifth instalment of the band's thirteen-year history was released last Friday via the always reliable Napalm Records. The follow-up to the breakthrough album 'Perpetual Chaos' carries on from that success with a few lineup changes and a positive attitude. This is the first record with founding member, P rika Amaral as the vociferous frontwoman barking out messages of encouragement over the savage drumming of Michaela Naydenov a, bassist Hel Pyre  and the twin guitar offence of Helena Kotina and Amaral herself. Producer Martin Furia rejoins the band to add his expertise to a crisp and raw sound. The crew explores society's lyrical themes and offers messages of hope by commenting about breaking free from conventions and finding your true self. The use of guests like Exodus Guitaris t Gary Hol t and Death Dealer Union vocalist Len...