Paul McLaney: As The North Attracts The Needle (2023)

Paul McLaney: As The North Attracts The Needle (2023)

Over the last few years I have been fortunate enough to have been able to hear Gramsci’s two most recent albums, ‘Inheritance’ and ‘The Hinterlands’, so I was quite surprised to hear that Paul McLaney had decided to release a solo album. I was even more taken aback...
Mike DiRubbo: Inner Light (2023)

Mike DiRubbo: Inner Light (2023)

DiRubbo is back with his tenth album as band leader, this time with a new quartet featuring organist Brian Charette, drummer Jongkuk Kim, and guitarist Andrew Renfroe while of course he gives us alto sax. There is an obvious and important bassline throughout, but I am...
Lynch Mob: Babylon (2023)

Lynch Mob: Babylon (2023)

Here we have the eighth album from Lynch Mob, the first since 2017’s ‘The Brotherhood’, and apparently is the last one as George Lynch has decided to call time on the band after 35 years. Mind you, there is an 18-month long tour to get through first so...
Left to Rot: Breath of the Tomb (2023)

Left to Rot: Breath of the Tomb (2023)

Left To Rot (LTR) is an Austin, Texas-based death metal band formed in 2021 by guitarist/vocalist Jason Dahlke and drummer Justin Olejnik who soon brought in bassist Aryan Nawim. They released a four-track demo that year, following it up with a single in 2022 before...
Joe Wittman: Trio Works Sol (2023)

Joe Wittman: Trio Works Sol (2023)

Here we have the debut album from guitarist Joe Wittman, who has been accompanied by bassist Daniel Duke and drummer Keith Balla, who together have played hundreds of gigs together since Wittman arrived in New York. Recorded in a live room, one thing I immediately...
Frozen Wreath: Mea Culpa (2023)

Frozen Wreath: Mea Culpa (2023)

Everything about this release screams old school atmospheric black metal from the logo through the album art and the obligatory black and white promo photo taken in a forest. The only thing really missing is snow, but these guys are from Hungary and not Scandinavia,...