Erik Dahl Ensemble: Everyone's Too Sad For Everything (2023) There has been just one change in personnel since the 2022 debut ‘Gethenian Suite’, as double bassist Tove Brandt has been replaced by Viktor Reuter. Eri […]

Dying Fetus: Make Them Beg For Death (2023) With a line-up which has been a constant since 2007, and a recording history which goes back 30 years to their first debut, there are no surprises when […]

Helms Deep: Treacherous Ways (2023) I know I speak for all reviewers in saying we get flooded with requests on a daily basis, and we can only take a small percentage of what we are offered, […]

Dave Loveland: Dangerous Rhythm (2022) As soon as one starts listening to this album the time machine kicks in as what we have here is something which does not belong in the current music […]

Darrel Treece-Birch's Atlantea: Choices (2023) Back in 2013 I was trawling the web one night and came across an album called ‘Celestial’ by Darrel Treece-Birch which seemed interesting, so I gra […]

Various Artists: 25 Anniversary of Odium Records (2023) Subtitled ‘Devoted to Devils Music’, this free sampler contains fifteen tracks from across the Odium Records roster to provide listeners with some ins […]

Bowmanville: Bowmanville (2022) Here we have the debut album from jazz quintet Bowmanville, who comprise Ethan Adelsman (violin), Graham Nelson (vocals, harmonica), Mason Jiller […]

Sadistic Force: Midnight Assassin (2023) Sadistic Force describe themselves as a blackened speed metal band who hail from Austin, Texas. Formed in 2020 by lead vocalist and guitarist, James […]

Autopsy: Ashes, Organs, Blood and Crypts (2023) Looking over at my music DVDs I can see Autopsy’s ‘Dark Crusades’, a rough and raw set of cuts dating all the way back to 1988. Back when this was relea […]

Imperial Slave:.​.​.​Still At Large (2023) Imperial Slave was formed by vocalist and former Sinate and 8 Foot Sativa drummer Sam Sheppard in 2020, with local Palmerston North musicians Anthony […]

Afro-Peruvian New Trends Orchestra: Cosmic Synchronicities (2023) One can probably guess all one needs to know about this album just from the band name and the album title. Yes, here we have a jazz big band (10 […]

This Silent Divide: Outside (2023) singleShaun Jones (vocals, guitar), Kieran Williams (lead guitar, backing vocals), Jonatan Jaworski (Bass) and Sunil Jolly (drums) are back with their third […]

Imperial April: Imperial April (2023) Last year I was pleased to discover Christchurch-based band Volts, who not only have a female lead singer but a very strong backing singer in bassist […]

Noshir Mody: A Love Song (2023) A self-taught guitarist who was born and raised in Bombay, India, Mody moved to America at the age of 22 and immersed himself in the jazz scene. The last […]

Rebaelliun : Under The Sign Of Rebellion (2023) Brazilian death metal outfit Rebaelliun released two albums before breaking up in 2002, then reforming in 2015 and soon afterwards releasing their third […]

Stray Dogs: Stay Loyal (2023) For some years, one of the most popular gigging bands in Auckland were Fire For Glory, but having been through some line-up changes they decided to have […]

Vicious Blade / Blasted Heath / The Gauntlet / Bastard Cröss: Faster Than the Devil 2 (2023) I have always enjoyed albums where it is possible to discover unknown bands. The first I purchased was ‘Private Pleasures’ in 1978 which introduced me […]

Alice Cooper: Road (2023) Coming across Alice in the Seventies was nothing short of a revelation, and like many of my generation we had all his early albums while his first live […]

The Griots Speak: Destiny Calling (2023) The complete credit for this album is Charlie Apicella & Iron City meet The Griots Speak, and the concept was to bring together two sets of musicians […]

Doug MacDonald Trio: Edwin Alley (2023) Here we have the latest release from jazz guitarist Doug MacDonald and his trio. ‘Edwin Alley’, named after a historic location in Old Town Pasadena, whe […]