NWOBHM

Speedclaw – Beast in the Mist

By El Cuervo on April 23, 2018 in 2018, Croatian Metal, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, Reviews, Shadow Kingdom Records, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, 20 comments

“I enjoy Hellripper to a fairly significant extent. Last year’s full-length release tore up its thrash competition and took home fifth place in my top ten records of 2017, leading to my deeper exploration of his repertoire of splits and EPs. It’s fair to say that the little Scottish bundle of energy is one of my favorite discoveries from the past few years of metal. Where before I would have avoided promos tagged with speed metal, I now take note with the intention of unveiling the next underground speed gem.” Speed is a lifestyle choice.

Trespass – Footprints in the Rock Review

By Dr. Wvrm on January 21, 2018 in 2018, British Metal, Heavy Metal, Mighty Music, NWOBHM, Reviews, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, 11 comments

“Dad metal is a bit of a specialty here at AMG Inc., and Trespass certainly have the “dad” part down. The OG NWOBHM act cut their teeth in the ’70s alongside Iron Maiden and counted Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield among their early fans. But for a band approaching its 40th birthday, their metal resume needs some work. Footprints in the Rock marks only the third official LP of a lengthy career that, until now, has issued more compilation CDs than actual albums.” Rock in an old place.

Ram – Rod Review

By Huck N Roll on November 8, 2017 in 2017, Heavy Metal, Metal Blade, NWOBHM, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, 39 comments

“Back into the depths of traditional, olde-school, cheesy metal we delve, my friends, and what do we encounter but more Swedish goodness in the form of Ram, and their latest album, Rod. The band haven’t let the fact that their logo is perennially in the running for Worst in All of Metal slow them down: Rod is their fifth album over the last fifteen years, making these guys almost as old as the music they love to play.” If the rod don’t fit, Ram it!

Rabid Bitch of the North – Nothing but a Bitter Taste Review

By Huck N Roll on August 21, 2017 in 2017, Heavy Metal, Hostile Media, Irish Metal, NWOBHM, Reviews, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, 46 comments

“Come on, with a name like that can you blame me for grabbing this band’s album? It’s the equivalent of promotional clickbait. Crazy band name, goofy album title, and even goofier band picture, all topped off with the fact that the band consider themselves purveyors of the NWOBHM (despite the fact that this is really their debut album). It all adds up to something that, if Steel wasn’t already double-dipping this week in the review pool, he would have grabbed for sure. Which means I get his sloppy seconds.” The bitter taste of rabies.

Venomous Maximus – No Warning Review

By Huck N Roll on August 2, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, Occult Rock, Reviews, Shadow Kingdom Records, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, Occult Rock, 25 comments

“Venomous Maximus try their darndest to move past the “occult” label and appeal more generally to the metal masses. Like their records before it, No Warning is an attempt to appease fans of both the sinister and the catchy. In other words, they seem to be striving for ownership of the same plot of land Ghost lay claim to. Stealing the ghost.

Rivette – In Vertigo EP Review

By Treble Yell on December 14, 2016 in 2016, Ektro Records, Finnish Metal, Hard Rock, NWOBHM, Reviews, Hard Rock, NWOBHM, 8 comments

“Physicists have long grappled with the enigma that is time travel and while jaunting to the future remains plausible, going the other way is all but an impossible dream. Pfffff, impossible to a lab coat-wearing egghead, maybe, but not to Finland’s Rivette, who have stuck two fingers up the nose of relativity with their debut EP, In Vertigo.” Up yours, Einstein!

Quartz – Fear No Evil Review

By Lord Lucan on October 31, 2016 in 2016, English Metal, Heavy Metal, High Roller Records, NWOBHM, Reviews, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, 31 comments

“Stylistically Quartz play traditional heavy metal in the vein of Judas Priest and Saxon, and Fear No Evil has a distinctively old school flavor. Everything about it, from the chord progressions and melodies to the warm, uncomplicated production sounds as though it was pulled straight from the early ‘80s, lending it a reassuringly authentic quality, and first impressions are positive.” Retro, Shaggy!

Tygers of Pan Tang – Tygers of Pan Tang Review

By Huck N Roll on October 21, 2016 in 2016, English Metal, Heavy Metal, Mighty Music, NWOBHM, Reviews, Heavy Metal, 21 comments

“I love the 80s. And who wouldn’t? If you are an olde guy like me, the 80s were the peak of metal. The big bands were huge (Maiden, Priest) and new shit was cropping up everywhere (Metallica, Slayer). Luckily, as a teen back then I managed to hold down a job, so I was able to spend all my $6 hour wages on music at every opportunity.” Crouching Tyger, hidden Pan-Tang.

Agatus – The Eternalist Review

By Lord Lucan on October 11, 2016 in Black Metal, Greek Metal, Heavy Metal, Hells Headbangers Records, NWOBHM, Reviews, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, 35 comments

“In today’s fast-paced world where instant gratification is king, once a winning formula has been established, it’s tempting for many bands to play it safe, shy away from experimentation, and resort to simply churning out variations on the same record every few years (*cough* Amon Amarth *cough*). I always have a lot of respect therefore for musicians who are willing to take a risk, mix things up a bit and diversify their style – creating their own record as opposed to simply writing what is expected of them. Agatus are one such band.” A double review brought to you by administrative tomfoolery.