Author: Team Uber

Confess – ‘Revenge At All Costs’ (Rexius Records)

Confess – ‘Revenge At All Costs’ (Rexius Records)

Posted by | Dec 16, 2021 | ,

Not to be confused with the Swedish sleaze act previously reviewed in these pages, this incarnation of Confess are Iranian/Norwegian metallers. The band has a new album out on 21 January through Swedish label Rexius Records. They have a unique back story, which deserves to be told: guitarist and vocalist Nikan Khosravi and fellow band member, DJ Arash Ilkhani, were arrested and imprisoned in one of Iran’s harshest prisons in 2015. The two were accused of Satanism and faced the death sentence for blasphemy. Nikan was sentenced to 14 and a half years in prison and 74 lashes and Arash was sentenced to two years. Fortunately, they were offered political asylum in Norway and fled Iran. The two have formed a new line up with Norwegian musicians, which helped them complete work on ‘Revenge At All Costs’.

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Mad Butcher – ‘Metal Meat’ (Relics From The Crypt)

Mad Butcher – ‘Metal Meat’ (Relics From The Crypt)

Posted by | Dec 16, 2021 | ,

In the vast history of heavy metal, there are of course plenty of bands that simply fell under most fans’ radar of metal at the time, leaving a small footnote in history. If they’re lucky, an album they left behind could one day be dubbed a ‘cult classic’, and labels such as Relics From The Crypt do the metal community great service by digging out these obscure lost treasures and giving them a second chance. One such band this applies to is Germany’s Mad Butcher. Forming in Essen in 1981, Mad Butcher were one of the first real metal bands in Germany to pick up sonic influence from the burgeoning NWOBHM movement and the early US metal scene of the early 80’s. Last year their 1985 debut ‘Lightning Metal Attack’ got a vinyl reissue, and a year later their second and final album, 1987’s the curiously titled ‘Metal Meat’, gets the same treatment.

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Age Of Athena – ‘Gates To Oblivion’ (Self-Released)

Age Of Athena – ‘Gates To Oblivion’ (Self-Released)

Posted by | Dec 15, 2021 | ,

Age of Athena are a four-piece band from Canada.  David O’Neill researched the band’s social media and Spotify accounts to find out how much of a following they have. He was very surprised that it is not very big. However, the album sound is HUGE! Think of a cross between Bullet for My Valentine and Nightwish – sort of metalcore meets opera, sans orchestral arrangements.

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Hawkwind – ‘Dust Of Time: An Anthology (1969 – 2021)’ (Atomhenge Records)

Hawkwind – ‘Dust Of Time: An Anthology (1969 – 2021)’ (Atomhenge Records)

Posted by | Dec 15, 2021 | ,

“Finally, an anthology that covers the entirety of the Hawkwind back catalogue” we hear you cry – and yes, we share those same sentiments. While mighty Hawkman Dave Brock has been our resident space guru throughout the entirety of their career but there have definitely been different eras within the group – Robert Calvert and Lemmy being among the alumni of the legendary band, as an example. The days of their dancers seem to be gone but in a live setting, their combination of hypnotic rhythm and psychedelic visuals is still unrivalled, keeping them as relevant as ever. So, what does this compilation have to offer?

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