A View From The Patriot: Blaze Bayley (Matt Bladen)

Blaze Bayley: Iron Maiden Anniversary, The Patriot, Crumlin, 17.10.26

After finally getting his due for being a singer of Iron Maiden, by performing at this summer's Eddfest in Knebworth. The human dynamo that is Blaze Bayley took his Iron Maiden anniversary tour in the road with the Welsh date landing at 'The Home Of Rock' The Patriot in Crumlin.

While Bayley's tenure at the mic of Maiden is often much maligned, due to his voice not really fitting the Air Raid siren of Dickinson, there's some really good songwriting that came out of that period with a few experiments that would come to define Maiden's modern day output, it also meant that some of the Di'Anno cuts came back into circulation as Blaze can handle these really well.

Personally I've always had a soft spot for X Factor and Virtual XI, though I'm a huge fan of Blaze's solo work and Wolfsbane so perhaps my judgement is a little clouded. Though at the time Steve Harris was quoted as saying "musically we're the best we've ever been".

I have vivid memories of playing both the albums back to back while myself and my brother painted our mother's house, shouting along to the tracks as we did. So to be able to hear these songs live with him at this gig is something I'll hold on to as both of us don't get the time to hang out as much as we did.

But that's what a Blaze Bayley gig is like, the man bewitches you, his intensity and his passion, you can't not love him, the between song stories, the open invitations for comradship and his sheer love of doing this is infectious, backed by the always impressive Absolva, a 20+ song set list flew by in the shortest 2 and a half hours of my life.

Absolva; Chris, Luke, Martin & Aki, began with the instrumental of Doctor Doctor by UFO before crashing into life with Lord Of The Flies into Justice Of The Peace, Judgement Of Heaven, Blood On The Worlds Hands and Look For Truth, all taken from the X Factor album and for many in the crowd, never been heard played live.

From here Blaze explained that songs from his debut solo record Silicon Messiah had been written for Maiden so we got Born As A Stranger and The Brave from there before more Maiden in the form of Lighting Strikes Twice and Sign Of The Cross then another two Blaze tracks that were more recent but just as influenced by The Irons.

The band behind Bayley are brilliant, perfectly recreating the Maiden line up of that time as Martin McNee played with the playfulness of Nicko, Chris Appleton had Dave Murray's tone just right while Aki had Janick's and Luke laid down the foundation with the Steve Harris' nimble bass lines, returning with an acoustic for 2 A.M and Como Estais Amigos.

This acoustic section splitting the more well known tracks such as When Two Worlds Collide, The Clansman, Man On The Edge and Futureal, from Virtual XI while Virus came from Best Of The Beast and there was a rousing rendition of Wrathchild, belted out by Bayley and the Crumlin Choir.

As the apex of the evening came, the band let loose a few solo spots before a couple of instrumental movements that featured UFO, Thin Lizzy, Gary Moore and Budgie as Blaze returned for the finally of Angel And The Gambler.

Though I couldn't hear the terrible guitar synth/keys that make it so endearing, it was a fine way to close out this celebration of Blaze Bayley, Iron Maiden and resilience though doing something you love! Every Blaze show is brilliant, be it solo or with Wolfsbane, he's still got that bellowing vocal, that larger than life persona and just makes you feel welcome and more importantly thoroughly entertained.

Summed up, it was brilliant and I want to do it again! 10/10

Reviews: Gnod, Fallen Sanctuary, Runemagick, Thronehammer (Mike Bailey, Matt Bladen, Myrto-Panagiota Zacharof & Mateusz Stefanow)

Gnod - Chronicles Of Gnowt: Vol 2 (Rocket Recordings) [Mike Bailey]

Gnod is a musical collective from Salford, that features Paddy Shine, Chris Halsam, Marlene Ribeiro, Alex Marcote and Andy Blundell, amongst other collaborators. Because of the experimental nature of their music, it allows for wide departures in tone, energy and feel. Chronicles Of Gnowt (Vol 2) is an unrelenting journey through a vivid and nightmarish landscape.

Vocals are raw, shrieked over the top of a wall of distorted guitar and bass. The drum pierces the gloom with sharp assaulting snare, while also providing a deep pulsing beat beneath. This is not an easy journey to undertake.

Even track 3, the first reprieve from the sonic assault, is shattered by the barks of The Traveler Returns. Strangled – the final track – is a 12min drone of guitars, bass and drum, that builds a driving cacophony. This is accentuated by by the poetry and performance of Lauren McLean. There is a groaning inevitability to the track, punctuated at minute 2 by an air raid siren, that then continues as the press of the noise builds and builds. 

As long as the track it, it still doesn’t overstay its welcome. This sentiment is reflected throughout the whole record. For as much as you are able to dwell in each track, the record is only 5 tracks long so it is over almost as soon as it begins. Knowing that this is the second volume of a tryptic being released this year, and how much of a departure this is from Volume 1, I cannot wait to see what volume 3 brings. 8/10

Fallen Sanctuary - The Gathering Of Dreams (Self Released) [Matt Bladen]

After AFM Records called it a day many of their signed acts had difficult choices to make, signed somewhere else? Release independently?

Well for Austrian/Italian supergroup, they decided on the latter deciding to crowd fund their sophomore record The Gathering Of Dreams, which is now with us and promises more melodic power metal inspired by the European legends of the genre.

It's the follow up to their debut Terranova in 2022, and for the band comprised of vocalist Georg Neuhauser (Serenity, Warkings), guitarist/vocalist Marco Pastorino (Serenity, Temperance), bassist Gabriele Gozzi (Eternal Idol) and drummer Dario Capacci (Trick or Treat), it's a different style to the more Symphonic or Teutonic sounds of their day jobs. 

Inspired more by Sonata Arctica and Stratovarius, the tracks are filled with pace, 90's keyboard sounds, shreddy guitar gallops and anthemic choruses where Georg's vocals carry the majority of the tunes, as Marco adds harmonies and co-leads for a couple of tracks.

Both are very established and extremely good singers in their own right, so this balance works really well with the melodic power metal style of The Gathering Of Dreams, as both also handle the production, again with experience behind the desk for numerous artists as Aldo Lonobile of Secret Sphere taking the mixing and mastering. 

It makes for a grandiose version of those early 2000's record that grew power metal in Europe, the band name even coming from Serenity's second album in 2008, before they focussed almost exclusively on historical concepts, so there's plenty of veteran instinct behind the band and this record, which can be heard across the eleven tracks.

While the debut established what Fallen Sanctuary bring to the table this second record cements their melodic power metal sound heavily influenced by the bands I mentioned earlier, The Gathering Of Dreams feels very retro in its style but brings it all bang up to date. 8/10

Runemagick - After Chaos: Nocturnal Vigil (Hammerheart Records) [Myrto-Panagiota Zacharof]

One man band Runemagick's new album is a listen for eclectic tastes. Despite the cover artwork, that sets the tone for Viking/Pagan/Celtic references, Runemagick do not have significant references, poignant regarding lyrics or sound or vocals, other some shamanic sounds. The album comprises of 8 songs, with the opening track After Chaos, setting the tone. 

A 13 minute song matched only by the outro Into The Endless Continuance of 12 minutes , both songs being an amalgam of slow doom/death metal sound interchangeable with slightly faster tempo , death metal deep vocals , long musical pauses between the actual singing parts where the band is showing their technical prowess.

It’s definitely an interesting listen, however the length of the songs makes them hard to follow, they sound more like soundtracks to a story existing in the psyche and mind of their creator or pieces of music compositions than actual songs. The records second track Rune Magick Unbound has a promising atmosphere at the start, with a clear sound production, stronger doom metal influences, building momentum with drums, vocals from the abyss and heavy riffs, only to drag along for almost 9 minutes, leaving the listener a bit confused. 

A similar pattern is followed in the third song namely Nocturnal Vigil, a song closer to the classic death/black metal tone, continued by Urdu’s Cosmic Weave and The Abyssal Continuum with a great start, lots of tempo changes that only end up deflating the listener due to long length and the so many different tunes trialled in each song. Formless Dawn and The Vast That Knows No Shape are in my opinion the prominent songs of the record, very slow rhythm, nicely changing past the first two minutes and locals literally from the darkest abyss. 

Overall, a record that would appeal to listeners that appreciate long slow heavy atmospheric music. 4/10

Thronehammer - Slay| Kill | Erase (Supreme Chaos Records) [Mateusz Stefanow]

My opinions on death-doom have changed a lot since I began listening to more extreme music, initially I was definitely not a fan, preferring the two subgenres separate, then with time and experience the combination really grew on me. I was very excited to see that Musipedia of Metal had sent me Slay Kill Erase for this reason. 

Unfortunately this album isn’t completely for me, but regardless there are definite strong sides to this album. Coming in at about 73 minutes this album will take a while to get through, but with the average song runtime just barely exceeding 10 minutes none of them overstay their welcome.

This album is comparatively more doom inspired, with sludge and death metal elements scattered throughout, thematically focussing on epic/high fantasy vibes, which may be right up the alley of Crypt Sermon fans. The title track has some clean vocal segments that I personally don’t enjoy too much, but the growls are simply outstanding. 

I may be placebo-ing myself due to the recent release of Runemagick’s most recent album, but I can see resemblances in the guitarwork, which is absolutely not a complaint. Rise Of Resistance has some interesting balancing between the riffs and post-metal segments, with pleasant tones and possible Candlemass influences throughout.

This review has been a little shorter but sadly this album isn’t for me, however if you prefer death metal to play a more supplementary role, enjoy fantastical soundscapes with clean and growling vocals then this album is definitely for you! 5/10

Reviews: HeKz, Hackett & Rothery, The Tangent, Pattern-Seeking Animals (Matt Bladen)

HeKz - Qisma (Self Released)

HeKz have been making a name for themselves for a while now, well 2005, so a bloody long while.

The Bedford band really hit their stride with 2018's Invicta, consolidating founding member Matt Young's writing into the hybrid style of progressive metal meets NWOBHM meets AOR, where experimentation is welcome and concepts are essential.

Young's writing is cinematic, telling complex stories through even more complex music, Matt anchoring them with his basswork, vocals and keys/orchestrations, amongst a number of other instruments. Never a band afraid of taking risks or pushing the envelope their fifth album, Qisma, is their most sprawling, denselyy conceptual and musically imaginative to date.

The title comes from the Arabic word for fate, destiny or divine, and its the name for a double disc concept record which deals with our lead character trying exploring self-discovery inside of dystopian technopolis where conformity if mandatory, part Orwell's 1984, part Cameron's Avatar, part Gilliam's Brazil.

It's an album about the search for creativity, how we can forge our own destiny, performed with the highest level of creativity it's human architect's can muster as they embrace their own destiny as the UKs premier prog metal act, a fact reflected, by the guests they've managed to entice to join HeKz.

Most importantly John Mitchell (Frost*/Asia/Lonely Robot/Arena) who joins the production team, mixing, mastering and adds vocals to The Overlord as Adam Holzman (Steven Wilson, Trifecta, Jane Getter) brings keyboards to Virtual Utopia. Then Mark Bogert (Knight Area, Magoria) adds guitar to The Great Out There and Moyano el Buffalo (King Lizard, Diamond Black) does percussion on The Road Home.

However it's the band themselves who shine well on this album, moving between all the styles they visit on this mammoth record. Jerry Sadowski's drumming sits behind the songs with style and skill, through the shifts into progressive metal, AOR, classic metal and everything else here. Lucia La Rezza's strings are beautiful throughout the violin used as a lead instrument, adding melodies, solos and more while she also provides cello, double bass and fleshes out the orchestrations.

On co-leads on every song is the man they call 'The Maestro' Tolis Zavaliaris, his guitar playing drawn from Gilmour, Fripp, Lifeson and  Petrucci, it's fluid, expressive and at times crushingly heavy, locked in with Matt's bass or gliding on top of it with virtuosity. Matt himself shows all manner of skill with multiple instruments on the album but also his great voice, which has a definition about it that is inspired by others but solely his own.

You can boil it down to brass tacks and state that Qisma is a darker, more prophetic and cinematic version of Styx's Kilroy Was Here, but HeKz are the band Steve Harris wants to be in, Symphony X would be if they stuck to just epics and Kansas if they went heavy metal. Nothing short of a masterpiece the sky is the limit for HeKz. 10/10

Hackett & Rothery - The Roaring Waves (InsideOut Music)

Two Steve's, Two Guitars, Progressive Rock Nirvana as Mr Hackett (Genesis/Solo) and Mr Rothery (Marillion) release their long awaited collaboration album.

Something of legend often spoken about in hushed tones, The Roaring Waves has been nearly a decade in the making, two incredibly busy musicians who rightly stand as cornerstones for their genre, recording sporadically between tours and album cycles, at home studios mainly the duo shaped extended jam sessions into these seven instrumental tracks.

Their guitar prowess flows freely, intertwining and conjuring up the elemental power of the sea which is the creative inspiration behind the record, joined by collaborators Ricardo Rommano (co-writer/mixer/keys/bass) and Leon Parr (drums), these songs are a fusion of both players creative muscles, not really what they would normally write or perform but with the blueprints of both of them in each moment.

The classical guitars on Red Dragon and more so on The Roaring Waves itself, give way to the introspective Floydisms and electronic pulsations of 21st Century Marilion, as Pacific Coast Highway, rolls to the sounds of blues harmonica and the Californian beach culture. The entire record made to sound more cinematic with the orchestrations and strings that fill out the gaps between the guitars.

It makes for an immersive listening experience where K-129 pulsates to the likes of Steven Wilson, while The Black Sea is like the theme from a 60's spy film in all the best ways. An album that's been nearly a decade in the making, we have a record where two maestros combine for something that's anchored by their history but set sail for new shores. 8/10

The Tangent - Was (White Knight Records)

With a total running time of over 100 minutes you have to invest in the new album from progressive rock veterans The Tangent.

It's a rumination on nostalgia.. Whether it's the musical fashions, the bloody battlefields or indeed the media driven nostalgia for the 'glory days' of the Second World War. Disc 1 of this record is a three track exploration of the past, through music, television, current events and how we often like back with rose tinted spectacles rather than recall what actually happened, glossing over the band with the good.

Drawn from Andy Tillison's youth in the late 1960's and 1970's the first part of this record runs through many of the the musical styles from that era, focussing on prog rock mainly, there's influence of Pink Floyd, Genesis, Yes and others, as hard rock, psych, jazz, blues, soul and pop, all play their part as well, as the memories of Woodstock bleed into Vietnam, through a soundtrack of some legendary music.

Tilson's vocal mirroring Roger Waters' on The Final Cut and his solo records, adopting that almost 'talk singing' style which actually suits this recording as it feels like it could be Roger Waters conceptual solo record. Especially when the sax of Theo Travis blasts in the middle part of track one, the keys/organs of Tilson the core of The Tangent as it has been since the outset but as with any prog rock maestro he has a supremely talented band making up The Tangent.

Theo Travis as I've said adds the sax, flutes and wind instruments that are so much a part of that glorious decade, as Rob Groucutt adding more keys to Tilison's on the funk/disco/jazz of Follow The River, track 2 on disc 1 where they let loose a little. John Jowitt's bass funkier than anything, Steve Roberts' drumming hitting every mark no matter the stylistic changes letting Luke Machin adds his virtuoso guitar playing across the whole album.

This first part of the record actually made me quite emotional, as my father is the same age as Andy Tilson and has many of the same music tastes, many of which have been passed down to me. So it was like listening to him regale me with tales of his youth, and I'll be honest it did make me well up, as this kind of music is engrained in my psyche as much as heavy rock such as Zeppelin, Purple and Sabbath is from my mum.

The second disc is almost totally instrumental, based around throwing as much musical history together in one place as possible, it's inspired by Keith Emerson's Five Bridges Suite but with an additional 50 years of musical evolution to add to this idea with classical and jazz right the way through to electronic music and DJ culture

Was is an ambitious record from The Tangent, Disc 1 is perhaps the better of the two for what I enjoy but the whole bundle works a brilliant way for this talented band to show their tremendous musicality. 9/10

Pattern Seeking Animals - Grimalkin (GEP Records)

Since their formation in 2019, Pattern-Seeking Animals have released five albums! Exuding the benefits of being a mainly studio project in the 21st Century, it means that they can record without having to be anywhere near each other, useful when two of your number are also part of Spock's Beard which just takes up their time with touring.

In fact this 'supergroup' all have a connection with Spock's Beard as current and former members/collaborators, which means that like with their previous five records their is a close connection musically to The Beard.

That continues on their sixth album Grimalkin, but still allows them to go their own way drawing from their own influences and their other projects for Pattern-Seeking Animals, the string sections of Jade Sky, haunting piano balladry on Things I Don't Do or brass parps on the nostalgic feel of Traveler On The Wrong Road Home.

There's always been a more introspective side it PSA, driven by the emotive and unique vocals of Ted Leonard, while many will know him as the current vocalist of SB, which is a damn good company to be in, I know him from Enchant and PSA is a lot closer to that in terms of what he does.

Leonard also provides the guitar to the record but more often than not the 'lead' instruments here are the bass of Dave Metros, and the keys and more of John Boegehold and as witnessed by A Flower Yet To Grow, behind everything Jimmy Keegan's drums keep the pace shifting on the dramatic Break Away.

Innovative, interesting and always adding something new, Pattern-Seeking Animals continue to define themselves as a band with a very important past life but in constant forward march towards their own expression. 7/10

Reviews: Hippotraktor, Duncan Evans And The Weeping Starlight, Hatesphere, Slaughtercult (Mike Bailey, Matt Bladen, Mateusz Stefanow & Myrto-Panagiota Zacharof)

Hippotraktor - Annihilist (Pelagic Records) [Mike Bradley]

Annihilist is the third full album by Belgian Progressive Metal band Hippotraktor, and marks the third entry into the saga of the Nameless Protagonist. 

The first full album, Meridian, maps the journey through a desolate wasteland and laments the loneliness of being an ageless being. The second release, Stasis, maps the arrival of nature and civilisation, and the ways in which the Nameless Protagonist must now navigate through a world in which they do not belong. Annihilist is where the protagonist finally encounters the Entity, the being that has been waging war with the Nameless Protagonist. Through countless cycles of incarnation, the Nameless Protagonist searches desperately for a way to end it for good.

As exciting as this concept sounds, it is even better in execution. Stefan De Graef (Vocals) and Kristof Du Jardin (Guitar and Vocals) bring this to life with vocals that range all the way from the willowy and ethereal tones of Maynard Keenan to the roar of Brann Dailor. The contrast creates the feeling of it being a dialogue between the Protagonist and the Entity.

With that then comes the crashing, almost tribal drums of Lander De Nyn. It creates a tremendous and inescapable rhythm that propels the album ever onward. Even the opening track I Breathe. I Am. , at 6:27 mins, doesn't overstay its welcome – it carries you along in the torrent of arhythmic guitars, thanks to De Jardin and Chiaran Verhetden, that toss and crash like waves, but never falls into mindless drone. Jakob Fiszer on bass carries this with a dense reliability, creating a cohesive sound that never overwhelms but does encapsulate and engulf.

The standout track for me is A Different Now. It is the last track on the album and is not afraid to go out big. It also matches the tone and energy of the first track, so listening to it on repeat creates a cyclical feel to the album, both conceptually and musically.

This album is both a great starting point for newcomers, and a satisfying continuation of the already high standard set by previous records. 9/10

Duncan Evans And The Weeping Starlight - The World Is A War Zone (Widowbird Records) [Matt Bladen]

The Weeping Starlight is the new band of Leeds based musician Duncan Evans. He's joined by bassist Ol Jessop and drummer Kev Reid, making a three piece which sees Duncan himself taking vocals, guitar, synths and 'software instruments' but this is a band project.

Evans himself having had two albums previous to this in his own name but with The Weeping Starlight he's let go a little of the creative control from his solo career into a collaborative effort, produced and mixed by Evans, engineered by Tom Orrell and Evans, and mastered by James Plotkin.

The World Is A War Zone is a melancholic slab of post punk which has a foundation in folk music but really channels various genre tropes across 45 minutes, with Pink Floyd and The Beatles just as likely to be visited as The Cure and Nick Cave.

This record is filled with religious imagery, though these appear as a way to navigate catastrophe and offer redemption, rather than as strict dogma or worship, the gothic introspection of the record, utilising them from a humanist perspective rather than anything else.

Progressive post punk could be a misnomer but with The Weeping Starlight, Duncan Evans has managed to do exactly that. An intriguing, introspective record full of mystical soundscapes. 8/10

Hatesphere - Guillotine (Scarlet Records) [Mateusz Stefanow]

Advertised as the twelfth album by Hatesphere Guillotine ended up exceeding my expectations, bringing in rich melo-death and even groove metal influences in the guitarwork, with Uldall barking a lot of his vocals to provide an edge to the typical thrash sound.

Opening up with Chapter XII we have a melodic track to prepare ourselves for what is to come, as by Dogma we are introduced to galloping drum beats, and a punchy thrash style song with definite death metal influences, albeit not as pronounced as they will be soon.

The title track, Guillotine, is immediately heavier, featuring death metal growls, over groove metal riffs, the melodic sections throughout do not mellow out the song, rather they give the sense of something deteriorating (not the heaviness or quality of the album that’s for sure!), but providing a fresh turn in an affiliated subgenre like thrash.

Morbid thunders in with staccato riffs, growls and powerful drums to keep up the ascent, before breaking into a slow segment, before bursting back into a slightly slower assault, much like a horse galloping into battle, this track feels heavy and oppressive, but more in a thrash way than a death metal way.

Snake Charmer opens to some funky guitar riffs that are somewhere between that thrash and groove sound that Hatesphere have been showcasing, and it only seems a little out of place on the first listen, as on repeats it does blend very gracefully into the later, harsher melodies and riffs of the song.

In conclusion, this is a great album, it feels a little too clean and perhaps overproduced for the vibe it’s aiming for but enters the modern death-thrash scene as a unique portrait of what bands can aspire towards if they dare to try something new. 7/10 

Slaughtercult - Devoured By Perversion (Vicious Instinct Records) [Myrto-Panagiota Zacharof]

What a blast of a record! With an art cover taken out of the darkest nightmares of Francisco Goya ,the trio means serious death metal business. Killer heavy riffs, deep, deeper, deepest, vocals and blasting drums straight from the swamp! Paying tribute to the Tampa Bay Area scene, Slaughtercult invites the listener to unstoppable headbanging! 

The band has their own distinct sound with record’s opening track, Birthing Ceremony setting the tone, with raw vocals and riffs that call up a storm, the journey continues with Repulsed By Your Haggard Appearance, a quick strong pace, lots of interchanges between slow and faster music blasting out. Perverse Bestial Lactation isn’t pretty with raw, loud vocals straight from the abyss, grinding guitars, blasting drums and the signature of the band’s sound slow versus fast guitars! 

Horrible Cunt is inviting the listener to the moshpit with a 45 second blast! Menstrual Marinade, a collaboration with the much beloved Kraanium is an offering to brutal death metal that will impress the listener with its abrupt ending. While Steeped In Fungal Discharge, doesn’t disappoint, relentless drums and heavy riffs and vocals, it's a personal favourite of the album. 

Pool Of Bile and Intravenous Acuphagia, both invite you to the darkest, heaviest end of hell as closering duo Molotov Cock-Tease and Soft Foetal Malfornation, complete the record in the best possible way , leaving the listener with bleeding ears and vivid mental pictures. 8/10

A View From The Quest: Quest Fest 2026 (Matt Bladen)

Quest Fest, KKs Steel Mill, Wolverhampton, 10.10.26



There are certain events that you look forward to, certain ones that you want to go to and then there are events that totally consume you, representing everything you first loved about music when you discovered your own taste and not the ones inherited from parents and family members. 

I've mentioned before about my love of stoner and doom but in the flip side of that I discovered power metal in my early teens and bands like Stratovarius, Sonata Arctica, Hammerfall, Dragonforce and many other were given regular rotation, and they still do today.

There's nothing quite like the feeling of a galloping beat, intricate basslines, shreddy guitars, histrionic vocals and songs about fantasy, mythology and sci-fi, it's music for fun. 

No overt politics (not that there's anything wrong with that), just for escapist enjoyment, through the things we love as children, be it witches and warlocks, knights, vikings and even dinosaurs, there's something for everyone.

It's also the genre that is perhaps most overlooked in the UK. Go to continental Europe, there's power metal bands touring every country and major city. In the UK? London, if we're lucky!

Thank whatever deity you want for Quest Fest, formerly known as Power Metal Quest Fest, the UK's premier showcase of power/prog/symphonic metal, nearing its tenth anniversary.

Amie and her dedicated team have put together a totally inclusive, slickly run, celebration of this genre which has been growing in stature and impact since its early days in Birmingham's Asylum to its current home in KK's Steel Mill. 

It doesn't matter who you are, what you are dealing with outside these hallowed halls, once you get your wristband, you're questing collectively with every other enthusiast in the room. 

Whether you're there for the music or the countless other side quests available, such as Guitar Hero Tournaments, Table Top Gaming, Magic The Gathering, Crafting or just enjoying the vibe, catching the wandering bard and soaking up being in place where everyone is united by what they love, then you will love every moment of your Quest.

I do. 2026 is my fifth year attending and I always have a massive smile on my face the counting down the days until the festival before it begins and then for the entire day. 

While I'm not a gamer, or a crafter, Quest Fest has exactly what I want in a festival, a collection of bands performing sets between 30 minutes and an hour, a lot of whom I have never seen before and who I never thought I would see.

This is what makes Quest Fest special for me, it's being able to finally watch Masterplan or Myrath or Serious Black live while also witnessing some of the UK's best flaunt their skills and even getting a few surprises throughout the day. It's given me some of my favourite bands (Hello Tiberius) and ticked off a tonne from my 'must see' list.

I unfortunately missed the pre-show at The Giffard Arms this year, but I know all three bands smashed it, I hope this becomes a regular thing as starting the party early is always a good idea.

However I was there bright and early for doors, into the new layout configuration for KK's this year which saw the second stage as an actual stage, the main stage more enclosed for a bit more intimacy with the bands and host of stalls, bars and food outside that in the main concourse. I can't say enough about KKs as a venue as I think it's one of the best in the UK.

Anyway to the band's and getting us started were Crown Solace (8) who are a unique prospect in the world of power metal as they feature soaring clean and harsh vocals, but unlike their influences such as Epica and Nightwish their mixture of symphonic and modern metal moves away from the norm with both male screams and male soprano vocals, which as a tenor myself impressed the hell out of me.

Weaving classical training with modern metal crunch, the Scots took a lot of the crowd by suprise, still relatively but I'm expecting them to have gained a tonne of new fans with this performance, myself being one of them.

Next it was Fortune Teller (8) a relatively new band but with some experienced musicians of the British metal scene within its ranks. Most notably former Metaprism vocalist Theresa Smith who's vocals have always been mate for this style rather than in a modern metal act in my opinion. So it was brilliant to hear her unleash those pipes on the Quest Fest stage.

The band delivered some mighty symphonic metal as keyboard player Meyrick De La Fuente brings the orchestrations and some co-lead and backing vocals to the stage but it's the twin guitars of band founder Ross McLennan and Ian Rockett, that manages to pair melodic metal with proggy modernity.

This group of veterans have momentum behind them and clutch of muscular power metal, you will see more of them soon, however after it was two newbies brought into the family, we had the return of a band that last took to the Quest Fest stage at The Asylum.

There it was leather and chains, here the neon glow of 80's retroism as Battle Born (8) stormed the stage with some classic Euro power metal. Widdly guitars, macho posturing and huge vocals, Battle Born lead everyone through some Elder Scrolls inspired heavy metal with might and magic along with a storming cover of Electric Eye by Judas Priest.

The irony of playing a Priest cover co-writen by the founder of the venue was not lost on me or anyone else probably as this is an educated, refined crowd. It was also quite numerous early on so Battle Born they took the chance of the state of the art surroundings of KK's to record a music video for their new single which got the right response ensuring that horns, fists, inflatable swords and at least one plush shark was in the air.

Battle Born start a party right and from here it was into two German bands founded by the same person but only one actually featured that person. Let me explain as the first band Serious Black (8) took to the stage. Co-founded by bassist Mario Lochert and ex-Helloween guitarist Roland Grapow in downtime from his other projects.

Since then they've had many changes in members as Grapow moved on to other projects (more later) but with they're still led by Mario who has ecently recovered from a stoke, meaning that they take to the stage as four piece of two guitarists Dominik Sebastian and Maurus Mayer, drummer Christian Schictl and vocalist Nikola Mijic who British audiences may know as the vocalist of Eden's Curse.

Serious Black play very straightforward style of Teutonic metal with some emotive lyrics and some balladry that got lighters aloft. Now relegated to sound desk, but absolutely killing it Mario, came on stage for three songs (as many as his doctor allowed) and played with his band.

This made for lovely moments but a slightly disjoined set from Serious Black, though seeing them for the first time was a great experience for someone like me that has followed them from their debut album.

Next though it was Mr Grapow himself, with another band he founded and another tick off the list from me as I FINALLY was able to see Masterplan (9) live!

Formed when Roland Grapow dropped from Helloween Masterplan too has been through line up changes, with former singer Jorn Lande now more at home with the Midlands own Tony Iommi, the current line up, since 2012, features Rick Altzi on vocals along with a who's who of the European metal scene as members have featured in At Vance, Stratovarius, Almanac and Gamma Ray.

At Quest Fest there was a sense of reverence as they took to the stage, they're bonafide legends, from some of the most influential acts in power metal and leaving most of their progressive tendencies at the door they treated Wolverhampton to a power metal masterclass.

Melding tracks from their recent record and some older nuggets of gold, you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who didn't have their fist/sword/shark in the air during their set of Teutonic heavy metal (despite only two members being German).

A rapturous applause for Masterplan, the presents from this year's Quest Fest better than any Christmas and they just kept coming as next it was a band who I've followed from their debut and thought I'd never get the chance to see after the issues they had at Bloodstock 2016 where they had to pull from the bill due to outside factors.

No such shenanigans at Quest Fest and to a packed house Myrath (10) took to the stage with the Middle Eastern influenced melodic metal that is both incrediblly slick and emotionally powerful. Myrath have it all, the songs, the performance, the style, shout out to their feathered keyboard player, it's no wonder that there's always been such a buzz about this band.

The set, quite rightly was taken from their most recent release Wilderness Of Mirrors including Les Enfants Du Soleil, with a few such as Dance from Shehili and even throwing back to Legacy with Believer, it was mainly the last three records that were played but the crowd didn't mind, these are the ones that have opened up Myrath to a wider audience and performed live they feel almost exactly like the record.

A virtuoso performance from the entire band I will of course highlight, the incredible vocals of their front man Zaher Zorgati as Myrath brought "blazing desert metal" to a dreary Wolverhampton. Well worth the wait and I already want some more.

Ther fun didn't stop there though, we had one more act to go and while Myrath offered all the poise and precision of a headliner, the last band of the day brought it all back to how much of the power metal scene started, muscular blokes singing about battle. Be it Manowar, Virgin Steel, Hammerfall or Heavy Load, if you get a load of dudes in leather singing about heavy metal it's going to go down a storm at a power metal festival.

Amie and the team know this so All For Metal (9) closed the day out perfectly. Another band I'd not seen and one that I'll admit I wasn't particularly looking forward too as I thought it might be a bit of joke. However I was very wrong as from the first notes this was macho heavy metal with it's tongue in cheek but a mighty fistful of fantasy metal anthems.

Delivered by a masked rhythm section, a statuesque guitarist (Dawid Wieczorek) and two burly frontmen who trade off low booms and shrieking highs, All For Metal's current form (they've had a few) seems to be the closest to the likes of Manowar, they even have bass solo section that built into frenzy just shy of ripping out the strings.

The vocals are shared by Tim Schmidt of Asenblut (low) and Amerigo Vitiello (high) and these are the focal point of the band, leading the Epic Fest choir in sing-alongs, call and response and more, treating their headline set like this was an arena and they were the invading Vikings, ready to pillage the town with pure heavy metal machismo!

With the last growl and the shriek it was over another Quest Fest complete, the audience exhausted but elated, gathering their coins and trophies as they look forward to the next chapter of this special festival, built by fans for fans and curated brilliantly every single time.

The next chapter promises to be even more special. 

A 10th Anniversary party that already has Rattlesnakes, Power Paladin, Frozen Crowd and Firewind (From Greece!) confirmed to join the Quest. Prepare yourself for more might, majesty and metal in 2027 as Quest Fest continues to be the most inclusive heavy metal celebration of the year!

Reviews: Iapetus, Defects, Master, Sidus (Keith Boswell, Matt Bladen, Mark Young & Mateusz Stefanow)

Iapetus – The Mother Void (Willowtip Records) [Keith Boswell]

Iapetus release the third and final instalment of their conceptual trilogy with the album The Mother Void. It seeks to follow up on the 2017 Long Road Home and the 2019 The Body Cosmic albums, both of which have received rave reviews ensuring that this album is hotly anticipated from those in the melodic death metal world and beyond.

One thing I can say from the off is that the anticipation is not misplaced in the least as The Mother Void is a fantastic album and is easily in my top five for the year! One could describe this offering as atmospheric, melodic, intense and most importantly for me, it provides a considerable amount of variety throughout being it vocal, instrumental or atmospherical.

Iapetus, founded in 2010, originate from Long Island New York and comprise only two full-time permanent band members Matthew Cerami and Jordan Nevarro, who are supported by collaborators invited in to contribute to the project. This in my opinion sort of makes sense with the main direction provided by the permanent members and the variety of approach supplied and delivered assisted by the invitees.

The Mother Void starts its journey with an introductory melodic piece entitled Parturition, evident in this song are the angelic vocals of Fabienne Erni (Eluviation) which I positively love, such vocals are a continuing presence and intermingled throughout.

This brief opening offering is soon interrupted by an intense avalanche of very melodic but aggressive guitar riffs, guttural death metal vocals and softer supporting vocals setting the tone for more to come in the form of the track The Mother Void. This song catches hold of the listener and does not let go for the nearly 13 minutes duration. In the first two songs the scene for the record is set. With its quality apparent, its tempo changes, variety in heavy guitar riffs, melodic undertones, vocal variations and an atmosphere in which the band deliver a melodic masterpiece in Aniara.

Using similar ingredients only mixed and presented in another fantastic arrangement the album progresses on with the equally as powerful Red Giant. Once again, a tempo change is noted and enjoyed throughout the excellent song Emolument which, in my opinion, is almost operatic in nature and similarly leads into TON and the final tempo change of The World Be Undone.

Wow! I cannot praise this album enough, what a great piece of work, such a complete journey from start to finish. Make sure you give this a listen; you won’t be sorry! 10/10

Defects - Artificial Icons (Mascot Records) [Matt Bladen]

It's probably not too much of a stretch to say that without Trivium a band such as Defects wouldn't exist, so it's only natural then that Matt Heafy completes another side quest by adding vocals to Signs, the precursor single to the new album from Defects.

A band who never shy away from having an opinion, unlike some other metal legends recently. Signs is about war, the current conflicts across the world that are leading to countless people dying for basically no reason. The collaboration between Heafy and Tony Maue, manages to balance the anger and search for hope this song conveys through both of them giving a great performance.

Not that Defects need guest singers, Maue has a brilliant vocal, anthemic cleans come through on massive electronically-tinged groove numbers such as Where Did I Go Wrong, while his snarl is right up there in the deathcore steaks on the crushing Critic.

Their previous album Modern Error was about Maue's history in the care system, the trauma that caused still present in the lyrics of Artificial Icons but now the aggression is pushed outwards towards the world at large, it's about "the balance of survival" with topics such as war, addiction and societal systems all put under a microscope and delivered with the bristling modern metal sound of Defects.

Production from Jim Pinder (Sleep Token, Bring Me The Horizon), allows the album to feel distinctly modern but never too clinical, the electronics bleep and oscillate, the riffs are filled with groove, the vocals passionate and there's also some great lead/solos on State Of Mind and Hollow.

Maue and guitarist James Threadwell are the only two remaing from the line up that recorded Modern Error, as Rowan Jack (drums) and Orlando Morris-Winmill (guitar) join the ranks for this intense and emotional second record, that has profundity throughout.

Closing with its most heartfelt moment on Afterglow, Defects are more than just a modern metal/metalcore band, they take a lot inspiration from that early NWOAHM sound favoured by Trivium, Killswitch Engage (The Other Side) and other but make it their own and push their style forward with album number two. 8/10

Master - Among The Seeds Of Death (Hammerheart Records) [Mark Young]

There is a note at the bottom of the accompanying press sheet for Among The Seeds Of Death which makes sure you are aware that Master is one of the original Death Metal bands and that this is a release for fans of (Old) Death, Massacre, Venom, Autopsy amongst others. In a way, it is setting the scene for any new listener about to jump on. 

Like those bands? Well you should like this too is the argument being pushed here but I’m not sure that it works. My experience of Master is that I think I saw them on tour with Obituary at the Bradford Rios, back in 2004 and from memory (which isn’t the best) I didn’t then go out and find more of their music. It seemed fine, but I was there for Obituary.

Anyway, that’s not really important here, except that as Twas Always A Plan unspools I’m reminded that it kind of sits in a no-mans land. Its not death, its not quite thrash so what the hell is it? Well, its fast, aggressive that is decidedly old school in its execution, which given the direction that bassist and leader Paul Speckman has taken (I’m reliant on online sources and the exceptional Choosing Death by Albert Mudrian) where he ploughs a singular field that remains true to his vision. 

Its not overly technical, yes there are lead breaks present and the death growls are definitely more aligned with Venom as an example. Each track doesn’t move from that lane, the variations found are in tempo as some do charge at top speed, others happy to occupy a more medium pace where a lot of the heavy lifting is done by the drummer Peter Bajči who propels each song along (Unsettled Loss is a great example of this). 

The issue I have is that they don’t land with me and 20 years on from that live show, there is nothing here to change my mind and make me dive into their back catalogue. I don’t find myself hating or loving it, just ambivalent to it. I’m pretty sure that there are fans out there, there has to be considering that this is album number 16 which is an incredible achievement (no, I’m not being snarky) so let’s celebrate that and leave it there. 6/10

Sidus - Lotus (Dunk! Records/A Thousand Arms/Black Box Records) [Mateusz Stefanow]

Having never come across post-metal before, Sidus’ Lotus is a unique experience, and a very interesting listen. Bearing this in mind, this review may not be my most educated one, but a lot more vibe-based.

Immediately the most striking aspect is the album cover, a melancholic image of a drowning lotus flower, which we can experience aurally through the slow strumming upon the start of Origins Beneath. The drummers use of cymbals contrasts nicely against the slight distortion effect on the guitar, which has a fuzzy, soft sound to it, pairing with the gentle background vocals. Over time the drummer moves towards the toms more for a thicker sound, which gives the song an organic evolution.

Chasmal in contrast sounds a little harsher, if the first track was someone floating downstream, then this track is them fighting to break out of the water but losing strength. Embrace The Void feels like the middle ground between the last two songs, it’s slow with some quicker sections, but most distinct are the vocals, as we have growls breaking through the guitar and drums, once again feeling like this imaginary person of ours is fighting for breath.

Awaken is slow, melancholic and strangely meditative, calling back to the peace of the first track and tying wonderfully to the album cover again. Awaken bleeds into Soul Gazing, a track that is strangely reminiscent of modern Gojira, with funky guitarwork over a steady and prominent drumbeat. Around halfway into the song we get a space-like melody, which gives way to chugging riffs, before fading out to that similar melody again.

Divine Paradox follows the same scheme as Awaken- Soul Gazing, where the beginning continues the previous song before morphing into it’s own unique sound. This album is interesting, in that it is sonically different to any other albums I’ve heard before, but personally I find it a little repetitive at times, but it is absolutely worth a listen. 6/10

Reviews: Carnation, Throes, UnTeachers, Sundowner (Will Bond, Mateusz Stefanow, Jordan Griffiths & Mark Young)

Carnation - Symphony In Flesh (Self Released) [Will Bond]

Symphony In Flesh is the fourth studio album from Belgian death metallers Carnation. Nine blood soaked tracks overflowing with thundering double kicks, power saw riffs and bone breaking guttural vocals.

Blackmouth opens ferociously, with razor sharp riffs and a lot of groove in the verses. Flesh-Eating Frenzy follows with screaming feedback bursting into full mosh out death metal. The guitar tone is filthy, the vocals are strong and intelligible, but no less brutal for it.

Symphony In Flesh, brings the pace down into a rotting death waltz, the tempo change signifying the variety on offer from this album. The production is clear, with a heavy low end, double kicks thundering in that space. With the guitar occupying the high mid area it leaves space for the pummelling vocals to cut through. The guitar solos feel well thought out, instead of just shredding for the sake of shredding. The record has an analogue feel, taking me back to rustling through cassettes, looking for the brutal gems hidden within.

Labyrinth Of Silence begins with a clean guitar, offering a short palette cleanser, followed by a fantastic high register riff as the track gathers pace and power. Towards Death then throws a bucket of gore in your face, with a frenzied fast intro moving into a head banging groove, and even leaning towards blackened death.

The deeper I went into the album, the more I was blown away by the quality of the song writing. No section outstays it’s welcome, and each part hits you just when you need it to. Not that it’s predictable music by any stretch, it’s just incredibly well written death metal.

Legacy Of The Forefathers is a magnum opus of a track at over ten minutes, with hailstorms of blast beats, chugging verses and wide open chorus parts. Evoking a horror soundtrack aesthetic at times, it evolves and keeps surprising the listener.

Symphony In Flesh is a glorious gore splattered joyride. It moves seamlessly from pummelling blasts, to neck breaking grooves and soaring euphoric horror. Fire up the chainsaw and get stuck in. 9/10

Throes - The Colorless Light Of Emptiness (Church Road Records) [Mateusz Stefanow]

Coming in like a sledgehammer in slow motion, Western Violence crushes us under it’s heavy drums, fuzzy riffs and growls, leaving us too soon, for Revenge Death is awaiting it’s turn in the spotlight.

Revenge Death could be taken off a death-doom album without anyone batting an eye, it has a heavy, oppressive atmosphere, similar to the greats of sludge metal like Grief, Sludge or Buzz*Oven, and the drumming being slower during sections without vocals, then speeding up when the vocals kick in is an awesome touch.

Joy is the third track, and once again the Grief parallels are clear. The song has static effects, a pounding chunkiness to the sound that makes you feel like you’re drowning in liquid concrete and the faster segments add frenzy and desperation without weakening the sludge metal crawl. Eat Glass is quick and pummelling, a track that takes no prisoners and shows that Throes are a band who know what makes up the heart and soul of sludge and retain that while garnishing it with their own unique spin.

Coming in with punk-esque fury is ApePersonAnimalHuman, a track full of violence, rage, groovy riffs and thundering drums and a thick bassline that adds a feeling of oppression. Spiritual Debt is nearly completely melodic, showcasing the technical skills of the guitarists and drummer, just pure gravelly sludgey goodness for 2 minutes and 31 seconds.

Over the trio of Pain, Beg and Basura we see the variety of styles that sludge metal can take, from the quicker paced pain, to the uber-slow and crushing Beg and the mixed, fuzz-led Basura these three songs bookend the album by showing that experimentation brings you exciting new albums like this one to listen to.

Overall this album was fantastic, showcasing depth and range in one of my personal favourite subgenres. 8/10

UnTeachers - Under Bright Sadness (Rottweiler Records) [Jordan Griffiths]

Once again, I am back, with another album from a band that I have not heard of before!

The first track of this 11-track stretch was extremely repetitive, utilising the same guitar riff for the entire 6:52 that the track runs for, with the first clearly understandable lyrics coming in at the 3:06 mark. While I definitely appreciate the atmosphere and tension in this drawn-out composition, I found myself, overall struggling to keep engaged with a track that seemed to go nowhere for much of its runtime.

Psalmnambulist, picks things up instrumentally, with much more variation than the first track, however, despite the change in tempo and sound, I still found myself struggling with the overall repetitive nature of the album as a whole. Don’t get me wrong, there are progressions in the songs, however I found myself ever wanting for more from the compositions, specifically in their ability to build and maintain momentum.

However, onto the good things! The vocals themselves, really set the overall tone and vibe for the album, often feeling strained, expressive and vulnerable at times, adding a quite emotional undertone throughout the entire album, while not my cup of tea, I can really appreciate the intent and process behind this artistic direction.

Under Bright Sadness feels like an experimental prog metal project, instead of the more conventionally structured and compositionally intricate progressive metal that I am accustomed to, and enjoy. This album seems to largely avoid any sort of immediate hook or memorable choruses. But I feel that this is the intention of the album itself. Opting for a more expansive, unconventional approach to the prog mental genre.

Overall, while I can really appreciate the balls it takes to really put yourself out there, and experiment with music in the way that Unteachers have done here, I really do feel that I am not the intended audience for this album, as such, while I can respect the artistic direction and ambition behind Under Bright Sadness, I don’t see myself returning beyond this review. 6/10

Sundowner - Cesspool (Disdain Records) [Mark Young]

Well, as we try to find new and wholly inappropriate adjectives, todays stab is ‘Cavernous’. Probably the not-quite-right way to describe Sundowner’s sound, but I like it so I’m running with it. This is their third full length release, touted by them as an album of ‘poisoned blues and sludge-soaked hostility’ which just about writes the review for me. What it also shows is that Australia’s metal scene is doing some of the lord’s work when it comes to extreme music and its great to see it making its way over here.

The Deep is their opening shot and well its glorious. A great set of proper riffs, pounding drums and harsh vocals delivered with a swing. If I say that the guitar has a tone on this that you could chew on, that should give you an indication of how thick this sounds. They blast through and the bit I love is that its straight into Golden Skinned Gods with no pause, barely a touch of feedback and then bang, we are off. 

A trick they repeat into Grave Wax which pulls in from eastern influences but doesn’t miss with their riff choices. Absolutely killer in how they have put these together, because I suppose if you held these up against some technical metal (I don’t know why you would do that) yes there is an argument for it being ‘relatively simple’ but there is a load more expression and life here, its not cold or sterile.

If you take the start of Bleach Sniffer, there is moment where its feeding back then they kick it in the guts and let the bass and Pagey’s vocals take the lead. If this is the blues, this is for people who are truly suffering with their lot. When they kick it up a notch, it doesn’t lose any of its impact for the tempo shift and live this will cause carnage, that marrying of the sludge with hardcore gives it that violent edge, and the step back into that slower pace, whilst expected doesn’t mean it loses any momentum. 

That is one of the key things you pick up from this album, is that it is in a state constant movement, always pushing forward and there isn’t a moment where that is arrested in any way. Another strength is their approach. I mentioned simplicity earlier; they make it so that each track doesn’t overcomplicate anything. Patterns are built so the riff takes centre stage, and with a tone like they have here, why not? 

The sub 2 minute Complete And Utter Ruin is a great example of this and its difficult to pick out a highlight when you have 10 tracks that are consistently abrasive and heavy from start to finish. Ultimately, if you lean towards super thick guitars, memorable riffs then this should be right up your street. If you are into fleet-fingered virtuosity and guitar solos that approach the speed of sound without saying anything then avoid. 7/10

Review: Thrakian - The Way (Matt Bladen)

Thrakian - The Way (Aonair Records)



I first heard, saw, felt Thrakian when they played alongside Pantheïst at a gig in Cardiff. They share a membership and an ethos for creating music that is forward thinking and devastating in it's heaviness and its intelligent lyrical content.

Though reformatted in Wales, Thrakian's beginnings are in Bulgaria, the birthplace of three of its members, their music is directly inspired by their immigrant experience with themes of displacement and identity, forged with ancient Thracian mythology which speaks of loss and resilience.

Thrakian in a live setting are a force of nature, from their dominating run at M2TM through almost constant gigging, playing with the likes of Pantheïst, Warcrab, My Silent Wake, Ba'al and Ofnus. Thrakian have become a live beast with some imposing, megalith flattening, post metal that creates a crushing union of heaviness and introspection.

I hoped that when the time came for recorded output it would reflect who they are on stage so now with The Way, their debut album we can put that to the test, as things begin with the kind of ferocity I want from them on Labours Of Insanity, at just over 6 minutes the shortest cut here but it welcomes you into the world of Thrakian with a slow burning beginning.

The melodic lead guitar lines of Kristiyan Peshev are evocative, before the rhythmic chug of Atanas Kyurkchiev (guitar) and Matt Strangis (bass) begins the song properly, the blasting of Svetoslav Simeonov irrepressible even under this slower riffage, as Atanas' pained growls bring a a passionate veracity but also sense of clarity where you can hear what he's shouting.

It's a skill many bands struggle with but even when the pace quickens into blackend blasts at the end you can still feel the introspection and emotion in the vocals as you're drawn into the mesmeric riffs of the band with only song one, proving that they can mirror their live assault on record.

Following Labours Of Insanity is the epic of the record, the 12 minute plus Ancient Glory, a track that has all the monolithic density of modern Rotting Christ, layered with ritualistic guitar riffs, intricate and constantly shifting drumming, it moves between time signatures and styles with the ease of serpent, the full intensity and melodic beauty here showcasing the skills of engineer Timothy Vincent who I've waxed lyrical over before.

Ancient Glory lives for the instrumental sections, elongated moments of that insistent riff, punctuated by ambient parts as the pace quickens and slows for devastating effect, arguing into the blasting beginning of The Way itself, another slab of post metal/sludge sound shifting that showcases Matt's bass work and how the band merge extremity and melody, through atmospherics that always keep the potent drumming. 

It dictates its own unravelling, the counteracting soundscapes leading you on an auditory journey through classical antiquity, punctuating every triumphal and hubristic moment with more intense musicality, similar in many ways to bands such as Neurosis, where multiple genres are all used at once, wrapped in distortion and volume. 

Oddly The Way (the song) is Thrakian at probably their most direct, even with 7 minutes behind it and little vocals, it powers along ready for you to bang your head. I don't want to call it mainstream but it showcases that Thrakian don't have to do, layered complexity to be effective. The mainly instrumental cut has a propulsion to it, its post metal meets a more classic metal output and, like the best post/sludge bands around, the ever shifting momentum means that there's never a moment to ease into but rather you get caught in a swirling vortex of heavy rhythms, where all you can do is just to let go.

Similarly In The Grips Of Illusion, takes things further the other way, cleaner spoken word vocals, textured ambience and a clarity at the beginning, takes them into some progressive textures, that are edffective although shortlived because it's not long before the heavy comes back in with modern metal groove that again is built around repetition and an insistence, that I can only liken to Rotting Christ, when they are locked in, heads down and taking an audinece with them. It's a closer where there feels like there's both finality but also a opening to the next chapter, as if there's plenty more to come but a unknonwing about what form it will take. 

At 35 minutes across 4 tracks, Thrakian showcase why they are one of the bands to keep an eye on in the South Wales/UK scene, capturing their live power on record brilliantly, The Way highlights their dedication to their craft and how extreme heaviness can also be atmospheric and full of melody. 10/10

Reviews: Frozen Crown, Tungsten, Smoulder, Crimson Steel (Matt Bladen)

Frozen Crown - The Legend Of The Six Kings (Napalm Records)

Italian power metal act Frozen Crown return with their six album The Legend Of The Six Kings, giving us another ten tracks of bold, power metal that sits on the heavier end of the scale.

This record takes things further with an album that's darker in its sound, using more of a narrative style to these songs so vocalist Giada “Jade” Etro is able to mix up her vocal style a bit as guitarist Federico Mondelli adds growls and cleans to the Title Track, advancing Frozen Crowd towards melodeath than anywhere else.

It's like everything is permitted on this new album, there's Tolkien influences everywhere, especially on The One, while theres stories of resilience on Reborn, radio bothering melodic cuts such as River Of Time and even a cover of Iris by Goo Goo Dolls that gets a Euro power metal overhaul.

Every song showcases the musical skill of the band from the galloping rhythms of Niso Tomasini (drums) and Francesco Zof (bass), through the triple guitar interplay between Mondelli, Alessia Lanzone and Aleksandra Stamenkovic, all of whom are credited as lead guitar and prove that they all are with every virtuoso solo/harmonic melody on this record.

Power metal with more muscle, Frozen Crown still reign supreme in their own kingdom with album number six. 8/10

Tungsten - Ashes (Perception)

Ever wanted some modern power metal with yodelling then play Joker, the first track on the fifth album from Swedish band Tungsten. Guitarist Nick Johansson is the one singing to the milking cows here, as Mike Andersson provides the main vocals, his voice we'll suited to the melodic power style here, going from gritty lows to high screams.

Mike is joined by screams from bassist Karl "Kalle" Johansson on Bite My Tongue, Nick and Karl laying down the riffage while the changes of pace of is dictated by Niklas and Kalle's father Anders Johansson behind the kit, keeping the rudder in a strut for Supernova and a speed for Happy.

With so many power metal bands these days it's symphonic keys that's are the most important element to Tungsten's overall style, adding a bit of countrymen Ghost here, with Fuego Del Sol they add some throbbing Europop that would work well in Eurovision, industrial throb for Ted The Exorcist and folkisms on For Thee.

Tungsten are almost a jukebox if power metal styles, all linked by the synths shifting between the genre changes, Tungsten have a humours side that reminds me of Edguy, while when they really want to showcase their chops they do so with a track like The North Shall Rise which is a blitz of double kicks, chuggy riffs and a special vocal appearance from Tony Kakko of Sonata Arctica.

Tungsten don't do anything radical on album six but they still deliver anthemic power metal. 7/10

Smoulder - Witch Wife In An Alien World (Cruz Del Sur Music)

Smoulder return with their third record of epic doom metal and with vocalist Sarah Ann's move to Finland, Witch Wife In An Alien World contains more black metal influences than on previous releases.

Having recorded a cover of Bathory before, the black metal influence of this record is not actually from the Scandinavian style but more so from the Hellenic scene where death and black combine for a more intense and muscular style of extreme metal that is perfect for the powerhouse sound of Smoulder, see both Crush The Neophytes and Empathy's Wrath.

It means that album three is a much more diverse release, with Sarah Ann's vocals on tracks such as Noitien Loitsu (sung in both English and Finnish) and Shadow Of The Vulture, adopting styles that you may not expect but fit brilliantly into this experimental approach to the album.

She has always been a brilliant singer, one of the best in the epic doom genre but here she shows that she can do much more than just that while the band; guitarists Collin Wolf and Shon Vincent, bassist Adam Blake and drummer Kevin Heste, take these changes to style in their stride, the studio band differing from the live one, though live guitarist Bootleg Henkka (Havukruunu), drops in for a solo

The spirit of epic doom remains on Water Wars and Their Name Lives On but Witch Wife In An Alien World, takes Smoulder further into the blackness, the inspiration of the black metal scene tightening its grip upon the band to make their third album an overall more menacing record. 8/10

Crimson Steel - Show No Fear (Heaven And Hell Records)

Heavy metal from Raleigh, North Carolina now with Show No Fear the new record from Crimson Steel. The intro As Above, So Below, lets you know what you're getting into with the sound of a battlefield, horses charging and the triumphal parp of trumpets, before we kick off properly with Dark Rider.

Dark Rider, features distorted guitars from David Ryan, galloping lead bass from band founder Joel McGee, who gives himself a solo before the six string widdling, but don't worry he gets to show off on Final Phase too. All the while the drums of Will Adkins has a measured power, which lends itself to the more epic and progressive arrangements Crimson Steel have here.

Influences such as Savage, Crimson Glory and Manowar can all be felt through these songs, the latter in the vocals of Tina Langevin who can shriek with the best of them as they tune into some Judas Priest on No Absolution, from the vocals right down to the dirty guitar sound it's pre-British Steel Priest for sure as there's definitely an old school ethos from Crimson Steel.

The instrumentals are all full of that classic metal power with a technically that may go overlooked by I really enjoyed. Vocally too McGee joins for Purifier while on the atmospheric Bleed Into One, James Rivera (Helstar/Vicious Rumors etc) duet with Tina for extra theatrics.

Crimson Steel, Show No Fear with album number two. Classic heavy metal that's a little bit cleverer than normal. 7/10

Reviews: Witchthroat Serpent, Pegzilla, Travo, Doctor Nez (Matt Bladen)

Witchthroat Serpent - Demons Left To Roam (Heavy Psych Sounds)

In praise of Satan and all his works, occult French band Witchthroat Serpent look to corrupt the children of Jehovah into their service if their Satanic majesty with new album Demons Left To Roam.

Hypnotic doom that leans heavily on fuzz, spectral vocals and slow repeating rhythms, each song will ring inside your brain for days after, slowly taking over your body like the black oil from X-Files until you need to throw the recor down again to pledge your allegiance to Lucifer.

Formed way back in 2011, the quartet have been walking in the footsteps of Electric Wizard and Monolord with both feet firmly set in the concrete tones of horror, the occult and all things that come with it, the horror driven lyrics, the long instrumentals, the fuzz, the volume, everything you could want from evil psych rock.

Whether you've heard their albums before or on their splits with bands such as Dead Witches, the Toulouse band always give their best showings on their own albums, through the thick as tar doom of Silver Bell Of Ritual, the screaming lead guitars and spatial awareness on the glacial The Screaming Magpie while the end comes with Sabbath worship of The Zany Magician.

Witchthroat Serpent present The Demons Left To Roam, and they will corrupt you with their sinful, hazy, heft. 8/10

Pegzilla – Disobedience (Ripple Music)

L.A rock trio Pegzilla don’t hide their ideals with their name. This is “witchy stoner rock” with female first agenda, an assertiveness, that often spills over into aggression as frontwoman Olivia Saperstein writes lyrics to criticize the patriarch, by advocating for more women enter and flourish in the heavy music scene, forcing the male dominated labels and festivals to be more inclusive in their signing and booking strategy.

With Disobedience the band have provided their mission statement, following an EP and singles with Ripple Music backed debut record, this trio are set to take the stoner metal scene by storm. The fuzzy guitars and haunted vocals of Olivia add those witchy elements while the thick grooves from Juan Barsse (bass) and open drumming of Ryan Swain move them between thick metal stoner and floaty desert rock.

The kick off being the Troll On Speed, a fat riff and clever lyricism “I get so hard when you turn we down” and “who else is going to gatekeep” particularly effective, the anger just at boiling point as they shift from the doomy tones of Pistola into the occult murder rock of Chelsea before slowing into the tribal rhythms of Virginia Werewolf which worships Sabbath through Feminine rage, perfectly showcasing Pegzilla at their gargantuan best, spectral, feminist and slightly murderous with some killer riffs holding it all together on tracks such as Bootlicker especially.

There’s a retro feel to Disobedience, but it’s never a main focal point like it is with some bands, Pegzilla’s sound encapsulates a lot of stoner/doom/desert style, the latter on Hell Ya Brother and with Troll Reprise they play that opening riff to close out the album as if the circle is complete. Female empowerment through fat riffs and packs with the dark beings, Pegzilla are coming, bend over and take it! 8/10

Travo - Wasteland (Fuzz Club)

Portugal quartet Travo are a band who blend music and literature on this new record with each song inspired by a section of T.S Eliot's The Waste Land, if only loosely the themes of that poem can be felt more strongly these days and Travo channel the themes through this new record in a swirling mass of psychedelic intensity.

These hit you like a trip gone wrong through walls of noisy riffs, ambient textures, mind bending vocals and a nagging insistence that draws you in never lets you go. The insistence is a deliberate move on the band's part as they recorded it in break from touring, bottling that live lighting and adrenaline as they wrote this record in the studio with an urgency to get new material out on the road.

Wasteland combines psych rock experimenting with garage rock ferocity as they break out with Burial, then get angular with Decipher, allowing the atmospheres to increase on Silenced Soul which bleeds into the full stems ahead garage punk of Sleeper. Travo are a band that hit you hard and fast, allowing for some rest time, the beginning of this record is full of fire and fury.

The second half though has the woozy Way Down on it which takes you in the other direction towards the spatial sparsity. Though the Title Track manages to get the primal power moving again with it's huge drum intro, squealing feedback and screamed vocals that lead into Rapture, the final song on this record, a throbbing, tenacious, instrumental which builds into a closing crescendo.

Travo create music as a force of nature, psychedelic but unnerving with an aggression of Altamont it’s a bad trip made real, dive in headfirst and embrace chaos. 8/10

Doctor Nez – Nothing Short Of Silver (Self Released)

Doctor Nez is a one man show with the titular Doctor performing/recording/engineering everything on this third EP, Nothing Short Of Silver.

The first part of what will be an ongoing set of conceptual releases that bleed the myths of creatures that go bump in the night with some D&D like table top gaming, through fuzz occult stoner doom inspired by Sabbath, Goblin and Uncle Acid.

Driven by guitars that have never not had a fuzz pedal used with them and vocals that feature some reverb, it’s got a tone so familiar that it could be called Renfield, but there's also some classic rock sounds that arrive too with more clean voices and some big choruses on the title track.

Dusk sets the cinematic tone while Last gets things going properly, the lycanthropy continuing through Pale Full Moon as Find Familiar add those D&D inspirations as the EP closes out with Perfectly Human where the likes of Green Lung can be heard.

Nothing Short Of Silver is a decent stoner EP from Doctor Nez, if the occult, hard rock style is up your street go check it out. 7/10