Tag Archives: Sweden

It might have been a cold and wet autumn evening, but it isn’t every day that my favourite band tours within an hour’s drive of my house, not when I live in what feels like the middle of nowhere. It felt like a lifetime of watching clips and seeing photographs from the preceding five weeks  Continue Reading »

Artist: In Flames Album Title: Battles Label: Nuclear Blast Date Of Release: 11 November 2016 In Flames. Where do I begin with my review of ‘Battles’, the Swedish juggernaut’s thirteenth album of their career? How about at the beginning, with a little personal context? In Flames were the very first band that I was exposed  Continue Reading »

Artist: Enbound Album Title: The Blackened Heart Label: Inner Wound Recordings Date Of Release: 18 November 2016 If I’m honest, I thought Swedish melodic metallers Enbound were one of those bands that had been sadly consigned to the ‘one album wonders’ dustbin, having released the marvellous debut ‘And She Said Gold’ back in 2011 only  Continue Reading »

Artist: Hammerfall Album Title: Built To Last Label: Napalm Records Date Of Release: 4 November 2016 Hammerfall were one of the first bands that I listened to during a period of power metal discovery around the turn of the millennium, when I simply couldn’t get enough of this genre. Alongside Gamma Ray, Sonata Arctica and  Continue Reading »

Artist: Meshuggah Album Title: The Violent Sleep of Reason Label: Nuclear Blast Records Date Of Release: 7 October 2016 Despite the fact that the genre of heavy metal as we know and love it today has been in existence for the best part of half a century or so, there precious few metallic creations spawned  Continue Reading »

Artist: Amaranthe Album Title: Maximalism Label: Spinefarm Records Date of Release: 21 October 2016 When I first heard the self-titled debut album from Amaranthe in 2011, I was quite rude about it. I considered it to be heavy metal fluff, the kind of music that goes in one ear, gives a momentary shot of aural  Continue Reading »

Artist: Wolverine Album Title: Machina Viva Label: The Laser’s Edge Date of Release: 8 July 2016 There were hushed rumours soon after the release of the Swedes’ fourth release, the sensationally powerful and emotional ‘Communication Lost’ that there might not be another album from Wolverine. It was a rumour that I prayed would not become  Continue Reading »

Seeing as the very excellent Evergrey were making the effort to travel to the UK in support of the magnificent new album, ‘Hymns For The Broken’, I felt it would be rude not to make an appearance to support my favourite band and hopefully say ‘hi’ to my Swedish buddies. I arrive in Camden and,  Continue Reading »

We’ve reached the number 13 spot which might be considered to be an unlucky position. Not so here, because hopefully the band at the centre of this post will enjoy a little more time in the spotlight. I hope so anyway. Before I launch into today’s pick, just a reminder that you can read any  Continue Reading »

Well, here we are again at year’s end. I can’t quite believe that another year has passed and that I’m embarking upon another end of year countdown. Much has happened over the past 12 months and in many ways I’m surprised that the blog is still going. External pressures and a growing family has meant  Continue Reading »