Bertus

Salem .. one of those names that might sound familiar with those metal heads who have a more than average interest in NWOBHM.

Exmortus are a very heavy formation from California. After some self-released EP’s, the band released two full lengths via Heavy Artillery Records, In Hatred’s Flame (2008) and Beyond The Fall Of Time (2011). Recently Exmortus signed to Prosthetic’s roster in order to release their third full studio album, Slave To The Sword, which lasts for fifty minutes.

French act Dirge is about to celebrate its twentieth anniversary (!). A first result of this upcoming party is the release of the band’s sixth album, Hyperion, which was recorded and mixed by original member Marc T., and mastered by Nicolas Dick (known as well from Kill The Thrill, and collaborating on this album as guest too, by the way, besides Lycia’s Tara Vanflower and Milena Rousseau of Miroda-fame).

Blackbird is a band coming from South-West Germany.  To cut a long story short.  If you’re into bands like AC/DC, Krokus, Airbourne, and want to have a good time, you definitely should buy this album.

It’s pure no-nonsense rock’n’roll from start to end.  The vocals sound like a mix between Brian Johnson and Udo Dirkschneider.  Of course not all songs are equally good, but isn’t this type of music meant to have fun?  In which case it doesn’t do any harm if some songs sound alike.

If you’ve been around for a while, you might remember that Jack Starr back in the eighties was a member of Virgin Steele, but quite unexpectedly left the band in 1983, just after they had released ‘Guardians Of The Flame’. 

I remember when I received the first album from this Dutch band a few years ago, their bluesy organ rock was a bit too average for my taste, although it was obvious that they had the technical skills to reach a better level.

Here's an interesting one. Widows is a UK (Nottingham) band whose sound is much akin to older Clutch, Trucker Diablo, Throttlerod, Down and a dirtier Orange Goblin.

Sparta  a  NWOBHM band who’s history goes back to  1979! decided to record a new album  after  a successful re-release of their old  ( obscure) stuff via the HIGHROLLER RECORDS LABEL.  Begs the question if this was a good idea….. I would say yes and no…..

I just got hit in the face by a wall of notes. That’s how I would describe my first reaction when I started listening to this record. The band is composed of Jake Foster (lead vocals), Patrick Somoulay (lead guitar), Charles Caswell (rhythm guitar, second lead guitar, backing vocals), Francis Xayana (bass), and Cam Murray (drums).

Primeval Realm sit firmly in the classic school of doom metal, but what more can I say? Primordial Light ain't a bad seven tracks of music, it's nicely played, quite well produced but ultimately lacks being special. While this 40-minute CD displays the members' talents, it also leaves me to wonder what more they can do to expand on the sound they're slowly developing.