Banger Picks

Mystic Records are proud to re-release this little piece of rock history, one of the world’s number one boogie rock bands augmented by guitarist Walter Trout who has become acknowledged as a master of the blues/rock field. The CD was recorded shortly after the death of lead vocalist Bob Hite. An Australian tour had been […]

In the course of his career as a highly rated guitarist, Bernie Torme has played with some of the biggest names in rock including ex Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan’s band Gillan and ex Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne. Bernie joined Gillan in 1979 at a time when Ian’s career was in the doldrums. Gillan […]

Saxon have had their “Rock ‘N’ Roll Gypsies” live album re-issued in Europe through the Connoisseur Collection label. The CD features 12 remastered tracks including two bonus songs. “The Eagle Has Landed” and “Just Let Me Rock,” which were not on the original vinyl release. First released on the Roadrunner label in 1990, the album […]

THE AMERICAN LONGHAIR (A CASE STUDY) On the verge of extinction, the elusive and often dangerous male American Longhair can still be found in its dwindling natural habitat, the rock ‘n’ roll night club. Crouching in the dark recesses of the bar, his diet consists mainly of a steady flow of beer and ale. Though […]

Josey Scott – Lead SingerChris Dabaldo – GuitarWayne Swinny – GuitarPaul Crosby – DrumsDave Novotny – Bass Memphis. It’s a place where music isn’t just played; it’s created. From that legacy comes Saliva. On the quintet’s 12-song Island debut, Every Six Seconds, Saliva bring the sturm und drang of hard rock together with hip-hop, grunge […]

To understand how Warhorse created its debut album, “As Heaven Turns To Ash,” it’s almost irrelevant to discuss its past. Not that they arose from hell and mysteriously appeared in human form. Rather every Warhorse performance be it live or in the studio is played solely in that moment and as if each note played […]

Labyrinth’s beginings are not unlike most metal bands that pay their dues in the underground, honing their chops and songwriting skills. Their evolution to one of Italy’s & Europe’s premiere power metal band is far from ordinary. The original line up came together in 1991, jamming in a garage , setting high expectations for themselves. […]

“Iommi is God!” A familiar refrain among rock aficionados in tune with the groundbreaking work of founding Black Sabbath member Tony Iommi. The name itself…Iommi…conjures in the misty mind’s eye visions of down tuned apocolyptic doom and monolithic riff mastery nonpareil amongst his peers. The stalwart backbone of rock’s greatest band has proved time and […]

A new epic/power symphonic metal sensational act from the lands of Rhapsody, Labyrinth and Vision Divine. Thy Majestie! The band formed back in 1998, originally under the moniker of Thy Majesty and leaded by Giuseppe Bondi (keyboards) and Claudio Diprima (drums); later Maurizio Malta (guitars), Giovanni Santini (guitars), Michele Cristofalo (bass) and Dario Grillo (vocals) […]

In just a few short years, Philadelphia’s Wolfpac has stirred up a cyclone of controversy in its hometown, stemming originally from the group’s alleged involvement an illegal Halloween warehouse party gone awry and backed up by an extraordinarily chaotic live show. “It’s controlled chaos,” says Wolfpac founder and leader Daddy Long Legs. “There is no […]

Over the last few years the sentiment of Rose Tattoo’s classic, Nice Boys has proven to be disturbingly prophetic. There’s no real rebel stance, no attitude or aptitude for that matter. There’s nothing tribal, nothing brotherly or sisterly in terms of group cohesion. Everyone just looks at their feet and moans and wouldn’t know Chuck […]

“Unholy Crusade” marks the third installment in the black metal journey of Lord Belial. Recorded at the now famous Los Angered Recording Studios, “Uholy Crusade” is 60 minutes of deep, haunting blasts of long withheld fury and hate. The low tunings of Vassago and Bloodlord add hellacious depths with additional seven string guitars and five […]

Manticora was formed in 1996 on the ashes of other Danish underground metal acts. They play a mixture of 80’s power metal (inspired by the likes of Blind Guardian & Helloween) and 90’s semi-progressive metal (Nevermore & Iced Earth). The band received only positive responses on their “Dead End Solution” mini album (released by themselves […]

Sacrificial was formed in August 1990. The band soon caused a lot of stir in the international metal underground with the “91 demo “Lords Of Torment”. In 1993 Sacrificial issued their debut album “Forever Entangled”. An aggressive death thrash album which was very well received. Sadly the local record company closed down and Sacrificial was […]

Blast off! Prepare to be lifted from that listless, soulless life you lead. Repent and rejoice, 50 Tons Of Black Terror (known as Penthouse outside North America) deliver the juice with their subterranean sick blues in the form of their 2nd long player. Endearingly titled “My Idle Hands,” said record includes 13 self penned beauties. […]

Bernie Torme, legendary cult guitarist, uses his 60’s Fender Stratocaster and Marshall 100 watt amp like he knew them in a previous life.

These ever evolving Oska City stalwarts have been kicking out the jams since 1985. During their early years, the bands sound leaned more towards the realm of thrash/hardcore crossover. In 1991 the band released their album “Psycho Thrash” and spent much of the following year touring Japan and opening for such overseas acts as D.R.I. […]

And when the jaws of the alternative revolution momentarily shadowed the metal scene, only those bands laden with uncompromising dedication found the drive to march on with their metal crusade. Among them stood Sinner. Strutting a laundry list of albums, each seemingly more potent than the last, Sinner is quite possibly one of the most […]