Abdullah(US) – Snake Lore Abdullahs latest much acclaimed demo ( reviewed earlier on the demopages) released now on Cd by brittish label Rage of Achilles that according to their bio do have quite a few interesting releases coming out. Abdullah a 2 piece band that have made a few demos before this one but this one was the first one I came across last year. Good news is that Abdullahs sound have been noticed by Meteor City that will release Abdullahs debut album later this year. Snake Lore is definitely the bands break through demo with Jeff Shirillas great sounding melodic voice with Alan Sieberts great guitarwork that forms this release into something very enjoyable for fans of heavy progressive melodic doom metal. Just check out tracks like The Path to enlightenment, Sot-weed and one of the most ultimate doom numbers I have ever heard The Sickness unto death a track that lasts over 14 minutes with its murdering slow hypnotic painful sound, a solid combination of Solitude Aeturnus, Count Raven and Saint Vitus. Snake Lore will please all you doomsters out there definitely. Order Snake Lore from the Rage of Achilles website

Cold Mourning(US) – Lower than Low Close to 15 months of recording and mastering is quite a long time to record an album but those who´ll wait for something good wont wait too long. Finally one of the greatest doom bands that have come out of the US released their debut album. It was 5 years ago Cold Mourning first got the attention from the underground doom metal scene with the demo Looking forward to Reason, a demo that is still today a excellent piece of classic doom metal a solid mix of Saint Vitus, Pentagram, Sabbath, Trouble and Witchfinder General. The band released the second demo in early 97 a promo with 2 songs that also got a great response and the fanbase was growing. It didnt take too long after that for the band to release 2 split singles with their east coast doom brothers Twisted Tower Dire and While Heaven Wept(released by Game Two) along with a split Cd with germans Officium Triste. All the releases got a great response and the fanbase growed even more. The next thing Cold Mourning did was to contribute to the brilliant doom compilation At the mountains of madness released by the brittish label Miskatonic Foundation. With the response of the singles and the demos Cold Mourning got signed with the brilliant Denver label Game Two Records for a full length release and here it is finally. Lower than Low is a perfect Doom metal album in the same regions as Saint Vitus Born Too late, V to the early Trouble Records. Classic material, great production and the material is just awesome. Since the very first demo have the Californian combo also had a strong heavy 70s back to basic sound. The hardcore Cold Mourning fans will get this album right away, for the new fans my advice is that you get this album cause it's a fantastic piece of slow mournful classic doom metal.For more info on Cold Mourning check out their Official Website Order it from the Game Two Records Website

Eternal Elysium(Jap) – Spiritualized DA new release from the brilliant Meteor City label, and this is a band that I have been a fan of since I heard a tape from their adv.album that supposed to come out 1993. Eternal Elysium one of the greatest powertrios around and definitely one of the heaviest bands out of Japan ever. Eternal Elysium had back then a very strong NWOBHM sound similarities with the likes of Angelwitch, Witchfynde and Witchfinder General. Eventually an album came out in 1996 titled Faithful released on the Japanese label Cornucopia Records, a fantastic album that have been reviewed here on these pages. The band came back wih a promo tape that came out in 1998 with 3 incredible mindblowing tunes from the Japanese doom compilation released again on Cornucopia Records. Meteor City showed a great interest in the band and the signed them a deal. Spiritualized D was recorded in different periods last year except the number Easygoin´already recorded in 97. That track along with Splendid selfish woman is taken from the Promo release. The album also includes Innocent Exile, the bands contribution to the Iron Maiden tribute that came out a while back on Meteor City, also reviewed earlier. Spiritualized D have all the elements a tripping, psychedelic album should have. Eternal Elysium have progressed in their sound, just listen to mindblowing tunes like Floating Downer, What a difference a day makes, W.T.G.B and the classics Splendid, Easygoin. The album also includes the great titletrack from the 1996 release Faithful, a Japanese folk traditional inspired number with plenty of suprises. Musically on this album the NWOBHM influences are still there its also influences from the early 70s monsterbands such as Flower Travellin band, Sir Lord Baltimore, Blues Creation to Black Sabbath. Spiritualized D is a powerhouse record that will suit all you groovers out there perfectly. Order it fromMeteor City Records

Gas Giant(Denm) – Pleasant Journey in Heavy tunes Denmark havent exactly produced any heavier bands in a long long time, they had quite a few in the 70s such as Culpepers Orchard, Sensory System, Burnin Red Ivanhoe, Hurdy Gurdy and since then it hasnt been so much at all. Maybe Gas Giant are able to change the situation with the release of their debut album on a new great label called Burnt Hippie Records a Copenhagen based label. Pleasant Journey in Heavy Tunes is one of the first releases from them and Gas Giant is coming out with suprisingly great sound on this one. Recorded in the end of last year and even though its their debut album the band have been around for a good decade and so far played support to Mother Superior, Unida and Nebula in Germany and Denmark. The production of the album helps a whole lot to capture the devestating sound that Gas Giant is capable of, they have a excellent singer in Jesper Valentin that sounds like a combination of Dave Brock of Hawkwind and Dave Wyndorf of MonsterMagnet and both of these bands are 2 obvious influences along with Cactus and Spiritual Beggars while playing this album especially on numbers like Too Stoned, Sit Down, All Creatures and Freak Sensation that is actually my personal fave on the album, a incredible devestating tune packed with spaceeffects, doomladen guitarwork excellent vocals. Gas Giant have made a pleasant tripping psychedelic heavy asskicking record, so grab yourself a copy of this album by order it from burnthippie@hotmail.com

Hawkwind – In your area Dave Brock and his space rock troop are back with a new album, In you area is not a complete new written album. Its actually a divided album with the first 6 tracks recorded live where you find 3 new numbers, the title track by Brock and new singer Captain Rizz, Alchemy by new guitarist Jerry Richards and Rat Race by Brock/Rizz. The rest of the liveset is 3 Hawkwind classics Brainstorm in a brand new version including a mindblowing reggea part in the middle, the other tracks are Love In Space and a track that was originally on Captain Lockhead and the Starfighters Aerospace Age Inferno. Beside Brock,Rizz and Richards Hawkwind today is also Richard Chadwick that have been in the band for years now and singer/bassplayer Ron Tree that have been in the band for the past 5 years, he replaced Alan Davey that sadly went solo but even though Tree cant match Davey musically he has managed to progress since the last time I heard him on the album Alien 4. Unfortuneatly Mr Brock steps back on this album also he only sings on 2 songs on the whole album, he is such a master singer so he should sing more but Rizz and Tree is capable singers but no way as good as Brock. The studio material also includes a re-recorded classic First Landing on Medusa, the rest of the tracks is new written stuff where you find a few instrumentals, out of the vocal tracks is my fave the track I am the reptoid a track that sounds similar to the old Hawkwind. In your Area is released on Hawkwinds own label Hawk Records. The most positive thing about this album is the new tracks that certainly gives hope for a brand new Hawkwind album that I hope will come out soon. Check this one out in the meantime.

Iron Maiden – Brave new World One of the most welcomed re-unions took place last year when 2 of Maidens longest serving members came back and saved the band from becoming a tired old metal band that Iron Maiden became when they recruited former Wolfsbane singer Blaze Bayley, Bayley could never learn how to sing the songs properly on the albums and live it was sounding terrible and Maiden was going downhill. Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith that already was playing together in Dickinsons soloband came back and with their help Iron Maiden have taken back the throne again as one of the premiere heavy metal bands on the planet. Brave new world was recorded last year and before the release it was much speculations,fans and press were arguing how the material would sound, the first single came out before the release The WickerMan also the first track on the album, with the first single it was first time in years that Maiden was rising high in the charts, they didnt manage to do that with Bayley. Brave new world is complete knockout a solid mix of every great Iron Maiden classic that was released before the Bayley period. Dickinsons vocals is again fantastic, one of the greatest singers on the planet he has kept this high standard since the Samson days in my opinion and Smiths return is very very special. There is so much classics on this one that brings back the great memories of the past such as Ghost of the Navigator, the title track, The Mercenary, The Nomad, Out of the silent planet. The production by Kevin Shirley is just incredible he has helped Maiden to bring back the classic epic sound that was Iron Maidens trademark in the 1980s. One of the most ultimate releases this year and Iron Maiden is back to show what a fantastic band they are. A huge Welcome back. For more info check out Iron Maidens Official Website

    King Diamond Live at Sweden rock fest. 2000
King Diamond – House of God The old dane is back again with a new concept album, a welcomed return after the fantastic album The Graveyard that came out in 1996, on that album he went out with both bands King Diamond and Mercyful fate on a extensive tour I went to both shows in Gothenburg and Stockholm and it was just amazing to see King carrying out 2 hammering shows with both bands. After that tour King Diamond released Voodoo, also a brilliant album and the new Mercyful fate album 9, another tour followed with Mercyful fate I saw the show at the Sweden rock fest last year and it was just incredible. Now he is back, still with Swedish guitarwizard and main songwriter Andy La Roque on his side. On this album King and Andy have recruited 3 new members guitarist Glen Drover(toured with King Diamond on Voodoo), bassplayer David Harbour and drummer John Herbert that arrived on Voodoo. King Diamond were recently overhere in Sweden to promote House of God and played at the Sweden rock fest and it was certainly one of most exciting happenings this weekend, the new stuff sounded incredible live. My alltime fave King Diamond records is the early records Fatal Portrait, Abigail and Conspiracy but the rest of the albums is also unique and exciting. House of God is in my opinion a step back to the early period it's a very strong album. The concept this time is about a man that after contacts with wolfes comes to a church where the leading wolf turns into the wonderful woman Angel. She is forced to guard the church after a pact with the devil, she has a year on her to find a replacement otherwise she´ll die. There is plenty of great tunes here such as Follow the wolf, the title track, Black Devil, The Pact, Just a shadow to name just a few that is included here and will be future King Diamond live faves. 17 years have passed since Melissa and King Diamond is still waving the flag high for classic heavy metal. For more info on House of God and King Diamonds activities, check out the Massacre Records Website

Motörhead – We are Motörhead "We are the flame at night, the fire in the trash We are Motörhead, born to kick your ass" that is quoted on the brand new Motörhead album that celebrates the 25^th anniversary of a band that is one of most important figure for the heavyrock/metal scene. Motörhead got back into being a loudest power trio again in 1995 when second guitarist Wurzel got sacked. Campbell, Lemmy and one time King Diamond drummer Mikkey Dee have released a excellent album packed with grooves, hooks, speed and loud ass kicking rock and roll just like the last studio album Snake Bite Love that came out in 1998, last year they released the live album Everything louder than everything else and just that title has followed Motörhead in the past 20 years since the release of the 1980 classic Ace Of Spades. On this album there is plenty of numbers that will be great faves in the Motörhead liveset such as the fast opener See Me Burning, the grooving Slow Dance, Stay out of Jail have got the classic syndrome of the past along with Out to Lunch a loud heavy rock and roll hit, Wake the dead is a bit like Sacrifice, and the title track will be a huge hit it has the same magic syndrome of the early Motörhead classics such as Overkill, Bomber and of course the unknown little song called Ace Of Spades. The only complain I have on this album is the cover of Sex Pistols God Save the Queen, it doesnt fit the album at all, maybe it was better to put it out on a b-side of a single or something, the ballad One more fucking time is also fine it's a bit of Love Me Forever from 1916 right there. Motörhead is back folks and later this year they will invade Europe for another series of loud ass-kicking shows. If you havent picked up any of the later of Motörhead records my advice for you is to start with this one. For more info on the new album and the touring plans check out the Official Motörhead Website

Pagan Altar(UK) – Volume One Pagan Altar is not a brand new band, this 4 piece band was one of the best kept secrets from the NWOBHM scene and finally their recordings from the early 1980s have re-mastered and released by the brittish label Oracle Records with supportive help from Black Tears Distribution. Pagan Altar the first time I heard about them was over a decade back when I all of a sudden heard some incredible songs on a tape it was devestating heavy so I could not believe it, the recording were back then close to 10 years old and now after close to 20 years Pagan Altars fantastic dark heavy doom laden magic rock seen the light of day. The tape that I got to hear has been circulating around the underground doom scene over the years now so the arrival of this album is very much welcomed. Pagan Altar were a classic reflection of the brittish mediahype in the early 1980s totally ignored by the brittish musicpress just like Sabbath was for long long time. With the arrival of internet bands like Pagan Altar got back into the light. However back in the early 80s Pagan Altar released 4 albums on very small independent labels with the lack of distribution and no press coverage Pagan Altar had to fight all by themselves. The band had according to their bio a extreme liveshow dressed in cloak clad costumes with black candles, skulls and inverted crosses on top of a high draped altar gave the audience an theatrical stage show, pretty much the same way their fellow brittish band Black Widow used to do back in their heydays and like them they also had offers to be sacrificed on stage. Musically Pagan Altar were much more heavier than Black Widow(except Sacrifice) they had more in common with Witchfinder General, Zior, Elias Hulk,Bang, Pentagram and of course Black Sabbath. The 7 tracks on the album is so devestating heavy so its almost unreal. Volume One blows a new fuse in the word Heavy, this is so heavy so it takes the speakers a while to recover. Buy this awesome album from Oracle Records contact: oraclerecords@btinternet.com check out the Pagan Altar Website

Spiritual Beggars(Swe) – Ad Astra One of Swedens major metal acts of today have released their 4^th release since the debut mini album Spiritual Beggars that came out 1994 and this is the biggest Swedish Heavyweight albums to be released this year, its the ultimate heavyrock album that will get all you groovers,beggars fans 70s heavyrock fanatics going nuts. Ever since I got a copy of Ad Astra it has been played over and over again. Spiritual Beggars that once upon a time started out as a trio with Spice bass/vocals Mike Amott guitar and drummer Ludwig Witt a stable lineup right up today, organplayer Per Wiberg joined not too far later on their liveshows not as a permanent member but he added a extra dimension to their extremely vital and thunderous liveshow that have always been this bands trademark, Wiberg is today a permanent member of the lineup. Just that trademark have played a enourmous factor on this new album, they have managed to bring this album very close to their liveshow. Recorded at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden a studio that have become quite well known in metal circles. Ad Astra or chasing the stars that it means in the translation. The Beggars previous albums Another way to shine and Mantra III were fantastic records and it marked the progression where Beggars were then, now they have reached the climax just hear Left Brain Ambassodors the openening bulldozer, the epic Wonderful World, the ultimate groover Angel of Betrayal, the heavyprogressive psyched out Blessed, the heavyweight rollercoasterride of Save your Soul. I can keep going about the fantastic tracklist on this magic album. Spice Vocalsound is just incredible, one of the greatest singers Sweden have ever produced in my opinion and Amotts guitarwork is just magic added with Wibergs organsound and Spice and Witt backing up from behind makes Ad Astra one of the most ultimate mindblowing, devestating and psychedelic records ever released this year. 2000 will be the year of the beggars. For more info on Ad Astra check out Spiritual Beggars official Website

UfoMammut(Ita) – Godlike Snake This is the brand new effort from Italys answer to Sleep UfoMammut have released their debut album on the Beard of Stars label titled Godlike Snake another mindblowing tripped out effort just like their last one Satan the first release I heard I last year. Like Satan UfoMammut continues in their progression of heavy, loud tripped out psychedelic rock packed with loads of space effects and it comes out very original. The band doesnt hide their influences on this one either it's a solid combination of Sleep, Blue Cheer, Hawkwind and Saint Vitus. With the release of Godlike Snake UfoMammut have included a videotrack Where? that you can watch in your own computer I have seen the video quite a few times and its really excellent. Beside the obvious influences that I mentioned here there is also other acts that I can refer to when I play the album german cult 70s band Message is one, the canadian fathers of stoned grinding rock from the 70s Grand Theft and also Sons Of Otis. The Italian scene keeps getting stronger with Warhead, Skywise, Loosin O´Frequencies and UfoMammut and a couple of other bands. Godlike Snake is packed with hypnotic, loud, mindblowing mean and heavy material. Get your copy now by order it from the Beard of Stars Records at the VinylMagic3 Website

Various Artists – He´s not good to me dead A new release from the Game Two label with 5 bands that have pretty much the same thing in common, completely weird "sludge metal". Starting with a band outside of New York Long Islands Negative Reaction that brings out 3 numbers that shifts from slow mournful psyched out hardcore kind of Saint Vitus meets Slayer at least the last track Hurtling through the cosmos, actually it grows a couple of spins cause Negative Reaction are at least trying create something something out of the ordinary, its quite doomladen and pretty loud. Next up is Grief out of Boston, rated by many as the most depressive band in history. Grief is the longest serving band out of this bunch, and today they have gone from ultraslow Saint Vitus based mournful metal with deathy vocals to more speedy sound but its still gives me nothing musically. Next up are Oklahomas Subsanity another band that gives me nothing musically some cool riffs here and there but they try to sound like a slow Napalm Death and Napalm Death is totally wasted and tragically boring. Next up are Wisconsins Bongzilla that have recorded their tracks live and they dont succed well, it sounds pretty crap to me musically they are heavy doom laden but the vocals are so irritating so its unpleasant to hear them, I had more expectations on them. Next up and final band are Sour Vein from New Orleans that is a relief to hear after Bongzillas torturing madness and certainly the most creative band on this compilation along with Negative Reaction, musically it's a bit like Cathedral and The Melvins. A promising band but the singer needs a pair a extra lungs cause his voice is a bit low in the mix, maybe its the production. To investigate these bands buy this compilation from the Game Two Records Website

Various Artists – Right in the nuts – Tribute to Aerosmith Tribute records have become a big trend nowdays, which is sad in my opinion its better to come out with compilations where the bands are doing their own thing cause the originals are the real thing. Detroit based label Small Stone Records have released this one with 27 bands doing covers of a band that I have never thought would have such a bigtime legacy. Aerosmith first 2 albums were Ok, back then they managed to create a pretty good combination of Rolling Stones mixed with their own heavy blues funky rock, while the rest of the albums is nothing special. I have just a 8 track promo of the whole thing and most of the covers is actually worser than the original. Some of them manages to create something out of them Fireball Ministry is one with Movin out, The Quill with S.O.S(too bad) and Five Horse Johnson with Bright Light Fright, Five Horse Johnson own material would be nice to hear someday, the rest of this promo sounds just wasted. The complete album will come out in august and there will be bands like Half Man, Solace, Iron Boss, Atomic Bitchwax to name a few. For those who dig Aeromsmith and want to have another tribute record here is Small Stone Website

Warning(UK) – The Strength to Dream The last review in this Volume 7 section is a band from Harlow, Essex that finally released their debut album after spent the past 5-6 years doing demos and gigged around brittish isles pretty extensive. Warnings demos they did in the past is fantastic melodic doom metal based in the same roots as Candlemass once created followed by the doom giants of today such as Solitude Aeturnus, Solstice, Dawn Of Winter, While Heaven Wept to name some of them. Warnings debut The Strength to Dream is released by Miskatonic Foundation runned by Solstice founder Rich Walker and the link to Candlemass is obvious also Saint Vitus is a obvious influence while playing the album. Warning is just a trio but they manage to come up with a sound that becomes something very extraordinary out of their influences. There is only 5 songs on the record but its over 50 minutes of brilliant sorrowfilled, mournful epic progressive doom metal, there is not a boring minute on this album and the production is awesome. I hope Warning will come out with another record soon with loads of more songs. The Strength to Dream is a must for every doom head out there, order it for the price of £8,50/$16 at The Miskatonic Foundation Po Box 107 Dewsbury WF12 9 XR U.K or place an order by email Black Tears distr at btears@aol.com
A Cheap price for a excellent record!!.

By Gabriel Lilliehook