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For those who shouldn't know, AYS stands for Against Your Society and with the release of their new mini-album Suburban Haze, it's quite clear that they really take society by storm.

While our world’s feverish impatience has been the undoing of many hopeful rock band, Psychopunch are among its most consistent and stalwart quantities. During the 14 years of their career to date, this Swedisch punkrock act has wowed countless clubs and festivals.

Since 1999, Psychopunch have brought out nine regular albums, as well as a number of EP’s, singles, split releases and videos. Their tenth studio album ‘Smakk Valey’ has again that typical sound of full throttle and diversity, toughness and melodies. Simplicity and complexity.

The last thing we’ve heard of Neara was their fifth album ‘Forging’ The Eclipse’ in 2010. The years after where very busy. They shared the stage with Parkway Drive, System Of A Down,… They were honored to be chosen by German Metal Hammer magazine to contribute a cover version of Metallica’s “Through The Never” to the bonus cd of the magazines ‘Black Albem 20 years anniversary’.

From Leipzig, Germany, comes a relatively young band playing what they call "Opera Metal". So, what is the possibly interested party to understand by that statement? In short (they elucidate on the matter somewhat on their website, explaining things to greater detail), Opera Metal, as seen by molllust (written with a small "m" on purpose) is a perfect blend of Opera and Metal elements.

The Barbe-Q-Barbies from Finland just came out with their first album ‘Breaking All The Rules’. When I saw the cover and the name of this band I didn’t know what to expect. But after a few listening I as impressed.

These girls are bringing us raw vocals, catchy lines and actually a well album. The guitar work is grungy and solid, with some bluesy touches. Granted no blistering solos, but great nonetheless.

Fans of AC/DC, Queens Of The Stone Age and Motorhead should check this band out.

A search on the Internet for “My Lai” will invariably set you onto a small Vietnamese village, where a bunch of American soldiers made a bloodbath out of each man, woman and child living there in March 1968. But since 2010 My Lai is also a musical outfit of the modern Garage Rock inclination from Roosdaal, Belgium (a village East from the town of Ninove) consisting of the trio of Matthijs Verstegen (lead vocals, guitar), Koen Devits (drums, keyboards & backing vocals) and Brent Van Lierde (fuzz bass).

17,18,19, 19. No, that’s not today’s lottery numbers, but the age of the band members of Finland’s most promising newcomer combo. Founded early 2010 by thrash/ speed metal enthusiast Samy Elbanna.

The band decided even after a few years to take part in the word- renowned GBOB (Global Battle Of The Bands). After they had won the preliminary decision round in their hometown.

Alpha Tiger from Germany are the living proof for the fact that traditional heavy metal does not necessarily need to be created by elderly people. With their second album ‘Beneath The Surface’ this five young guys kicking rusty rockers out of their wheelchairs.

Thoroughly much celebrated shows at German cult festivals Keep It True and Rock Hard Festival the band became one of German’s hottest heavy metal newcomers. Due to epic compositions, catchy hooks and the powerfull voice of Stephan Dietrich the band succeeded in living up to the positive feedback.

Having had to wait for five long years for a new Threshold album seemed like a very long time.  Of course the band has had bitter times, with the passing away of their vocalist Andrew McDermot, but this is a triumphant return, and cherry on the cake is of course the return of their former vocalist Damian Wilson. 

You all probably know ‘The Phantom Of the Opera’, well, here is ‘The Opera Of The Phantom’, the fourth studio album by US-metallers Phantom X.  Not that original as title, but we’ve had worse.  This is a concept album, although I’m not quite sure what the concept really is.

Most of the tracks on this album have featured on other Phantom X albums, in fact the first ten out of the sixteen tracks in total, but they were re-recorded completely.