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Pretty Maids have been around for some thirty odd years now, I still remember their first album ‘Red, Hot and Heavy’ from way back in 1984, hey, I’ve recently even bought a copy of this album on CD.

And this new opus ‘Motherland’ once again shows what a great band they are.  It’s heavy metal that should be revered.  The songs are tight, not overcomplicated, but do just what good music should do to you, and that is bringing a smile on your face.  The songs are very catchy, and after hearing them once or twice you can almost start to sing along.

Even though they might not be known that much, Ukrainian act Paganland was formed more than fifteen years ago. At the end of last century, the band released a demonstrational record (Gods Of Golden Circle, on tape) and except for some local shows, nothing of importance happened. Eventually Paganland split up, but not officially.

Does Rogga Johansson ever sleep? Or is he a five-piece entity? Five persons in one? For sure he must be one of the most active and creative musicians on Earth.

It took quite a while before Wisconsin-based band Jex Thoth recorded some stuff again. The last thing this band did, was the EP Witness in 2010 (review: Concreteweb’s Archives section, posted on 29/09/2010). However, in mean time Jex Thoth toured the globe, performing on festivals such as Hammer Open Air, Tuska, Doom Shall Rise, Roadburn or Rock Hard. Finally the band found the time to write, and record new material.

Forlorn Path are a young act from New Jersey, formed in 2008 by Yuriy Garnaev, Ray Dib, Alex Fiore and Dave Imbriaco in New Brunswick, NJ, US of A. In 2010, the quartet recorded a first EP, called Being Towards Death, followed in 2012 by a second EP, Intifada.

Already the fifth studio album for this Norwegian band, but I admit never before having heard of them, I guess the stream of bands/albums etc. is just getting too big to be able to follow them all.  I got a bit scared when I put this album on, and it started with some flamenco guitar and handclap, but that was just the intro.

Interlude isn’t just a ‘new’ album by Dutch Sympho-Metal band Delain. It’s a special release in order to thank their fans for their support throughout the years.

Ritual Death Metal is the sixth album by Finnish band Deathchain, and the whole was produced, engineered and mixed at the famous Necromorbus Studio by Tore Stjerna (think: Zombiefication, Portrait, Funeral Mist, Merrimack, Jess And The Ancient Ones and many, many more). When it comes to the latter, JATAO: both guitar players share both bands, by the way.

Acolyte are a band from Manchester, U.K., formed in 2008 by Malekh (guitars, music) and JT (vocals and lyrics). They debut with Alta on renewed label Mordgrimm with a renewed line-up (from the recording line-up, two of the three members did leave in mean time). Before this first full album, there wasn’t but one official release, the Leng EP (2011). The three tracks from that mini have been remastered for this full length.

Acherontas are a project from Greece, once formed as Worship by a guy called V. P. AcherontaSS. After a short while, Worship became Stutthof, and finally the project continued under the current moniker.