We’re fairly used to dealing with freaks and clowns here at ÜRHQ. In fact, it’s something of an occupational hazard, and we’ve had to deal with our fair share of them over the years. However, one set which we encountered around this time last year was this band of the same name, to whom we took an immediate liking, thanks to their highly impressive debut album.
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Seven years ago, Skálmöld released what is possibly Jonny Bakes’ favourite live album of all time when they teamed up the Icelandic Symphonic Orchestra for a series of tour dates. It was at this point that he was absolutely sold and a couple years later he was fortunate enough to catch them at Hammerfest (even if he had snapped his ankle on the first night of the festival). It was clear then that Skálmöld are an absolute live force to be reckoned with, so when I caught wind of their new tenth anniversary live album, there was no way JB could turn down the opportunity to check it out. ..
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It is comforting to know that, in these troubled and uncertain times, there are some things we can rely on. Not least of these is that the Gallagher brothers (no, not those ones) will continue to produce solid heavy metal albums and fly the flag for the NWoBHM and its abiding core values for as long as they have blood in their veins and breath in their bodies. And, while it may have been five long years since they presented us with one, that is what they continue to do with this new album, which sees us taking a welcome trip into the back alleys and sewers of the aptly named ‘Metal City’.
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When a friend whom you respect and admire, not least for their discerning musical taste, recommends that you check out a new band, it is the least you can do, out of that respect and admiration, to do so… which is exactly how Monk first encountered West Midlands stoner crüe Red Spektor, when his good friend, and photographer extraordinaire, Simon Dunkerley mentioned they were playing one of the minor stages at one of the myriad Hard Rock Hell festivals they have both attended over the years… to say that the boss man was impressed would be something of an understatement. As a result, both himself and the entire ÜR team have been keeping a close eye on the trio’s development ever since – which brings us neatly to this, their stunning second album…
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Especially in these uncertain times, when we literally don’t know what is happening with our lives from one day to the next, or what any new dawn will bring with it, many of us probably wish we could turn back the hands of time to our respective youths, and relive the period when we were growing up, without a care in world; without the hassle of lockdowns, mortgages, pension plans, homeschooling – or even wondering if our next pay check may well be our last… a time when our only concern was where our next big rock ‘n’ roll hit was coming from…
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