This is something superb from an unexpected source, as it’s an absolute ripsnorter of a righteous RIFF fueled orgy of heavy metal worship! – By Andrew Rawlinson

The story completely failed to captivate me…but happily the music itself is once again flawless, especially when provided with breathing space on the ‘instrumental’ version that allows the subtleties and emotional depths to come to the fore to dramatic effect. By Andrew Rawlinson

Andrew Rawlinson recently saw British melodic death metal band Countless Skies play a very impressive set at Bloodstock Open Air and decided to ask vocalist/guitarist Ross King some questions to find out more about the band.

A trio of brothers from Missouri with a single goal, to move your feet and melt your face and debut album Dark Black Makeup achieves that goal perfectly. By Andrew Rawlinson

An interesting attempt at straddling two disparate genres, but more often than not the band finds themselves stranded in no man’s land being neither one thing nor the other, lacking the icy heart of black metal or the full exuberance of punk rock. – By Andrew Rawlinson

Andrew Rawlinson went to Bloodstock Open Air and picks his ‘Top 5 bands of the weekend’, ‘Five other worthy mentions’ and ‘Five New Blood bands’.

It’s not perfect and lacks an outright anthem to hook in casual listeners, but it’s undeniably great fun. – By Andrew Rawlinson

Andrew Rawlinson asked vocalist Brittney Slayes from Canadian metallers Unleash The Archers some questions to find out more about the band and their influences.

Unleash the Archers are a band who are obviously having the time of their lives and this enjoyment positively flows out of your speakers and is ridiculously infectious. – By Andrew Rawlinson

Andrew Rawlinson gives us a taster of what to expect at this year’s Temples Festival.

Graveward’s scattergun approach is as subtle as a blunderbuss and rather chaotic to boot, but all the more entertaining and colourful for this. – By Andrew Rawlinson

The substantially improved production job overall also adds depth to Mist’s sound ensuring that overall this is another promising step forward for the band. – By Andrew Rawlinson

Ultimately if you worship the RIFF you will find yourself worshiping the ‘cauldron and Acid Cattle is another holy slab worthy of tribute. – By Andrew Rawlinson

Despite firing a couple of blanks ‘The Comfort of Loss & Dust’ is an engrossing and imaginative take on the doom genre that is brimming with an over-abundance of confidence to soar above any missteps. – By Andrew Rawlinson

‘Armadillo’ delves into all the weird and wonderful directions, mixing metal, punk rock, surf rock and more. – By Andrew Rawlinson

Siberian Hell Sounds live up to the intention by serving up four vicious slices of brutal intensity. Wowzer. – By Andrew Rawlinson

As with any self-respecting album with ‘progressive’ tendencies it works well either as a collection of songs or viewed as a single entity with the hook of fantastically varied RIFFS keeping you invested. – By Andrew Rawlinson

“Hard Rock, #DidgeridooMetal, #VoodooMetal”, that description and the fact the band in question, Like A Storm, originate from New Zealand is always going to spark a sense of curiosity. – By Andrew Rawlinson

Despite influences from opposing musical spectrums the sound hits a nice middle ground and feels completely comfortable in itself. By Andrew Rawlinson

Another high quality rock ‘n’ roll album packed to the brim with punching anthems by a band who have long forgotten how it’s even possible to fail at this level. – By Andrew Rawlinson

An unashamedly bombastic and powerful display of power metal heroics laced with 80’s stadium rock theatrics that doesn’t take themselves too seriously. – By Andrew Rawlinson