The Rockstar Reviewer (Rambling Man's Reviews)

  Words by Anselm Anderson Nuclear Blast Records continues its excellent run of releases today with "Overdriver," the ninth studio album from the Swedish quintet The Hellacopters.  The follow-up to 2022's comeback album "Eyes of Oblivion" is a guitar-centred eleven-tracker that clocks in at forty minutes. The album was entirely produced by guitarist/vocalist Nicke Andersson at Strawberry Studio and The Honk Palace.  The album has a personal touch that reflects the effort put into bringing these tracks to life. The blend of anthemic choruses and punchy guitar riffs harkens back to classic rock artists of the 1970s. Additionally, the combination of blues elements and powerful lyrics creates a dynamic and rich rock sound. The Hellacopters have been making music for 30 years, and were formed in 1994 by ex-Entombed drummer Nicke Andersson and guitarist Dregen. Initially started as a side project, they quickly became a beloved part of Sweden's hard rock revival....

  Words by Anselm Anderson  You can enjoy not many things in ten minutes, but "Borderland" might be one of them. That is the name of the mini EP from the British Metal act SYPHA. The three tracker is released today to an international audience via all major streaming platforms. The female-fronted band cites Avenged Sevenfold, Deftones, Halestorm, and Marmozets as influences, but their sound is grittier and darker. SYPHA was formed about two and a half years ago in the beachside resort of Brighton, England. Alicia Pilling, whose haunting vocals lead the band, first came to prominence with the video for "World's End," which became a YouTube hit. Since then, they have captivated audiences with their live performances. The quartet combines blistering riffs, dark lyrical content, and pop stylings that resonate with the listeners. "Dirty Floor"  opens with dark, dissonant chords clouded by Pilling's unsettling multi-layered vocals. The juxtaposition betw...

  Words by Anselm Anderson OOB Records invites the listener onto the magical and mysterious journey o f Beyond The Green Realm from the ancient forests of Northern Portugal. Drusuna released their highly anticipated follow-up to their 2016 debut 'Kaytos Kon' last November, promising to reconnect humans with the planet Earth through the traditions of Ritual Pagan Folk music. Drusuna was formed in 2009 by brothers Sephirus and Alvahagal. They initially wanted to tell their stories through organic sounds, using stones, wood, and various other elements to replicate the natural sounds of the planet. However, these plans changed with the release of their debut album. They have since changed their musical direction through a series of appearances across Portugal. Beyond The Green Realm embraces the signatures of Pagan folk music through poetry and instruments like acoustic guitar, flute, percussion, and various other non-folk sounds to captivate the listener into this enchanting wor...

 Words by Anselm Anderson Last month, British singer/songwriter Chris Riley released his sophomore solo album Echoes in a Gloaming  via Nice Mind Records. 'Echoes in the Gloaming' is the follow-up to 2020's Cestrian, Echoes It is an eclectic collection of thirteen personal tracks based on Riley's experiences and inner thoughts. The blend of 60's-inspired pop intersperses with folk ballads and instrumental tracks to create a heartwarming album for these winter months. Rambling Man's Reviews  has previously featured Chris Riley in his other bands, The False Poets and The Support Band,  which focus more on folk and atmospheric material. Riley wrote and recorded most of the tracks here, which gives the album an intimate appeal, through acoustic and electric guitar. The variety of tracks kicks off with the 60's jingly pop of "Kicking On", followed by softer ballads like "Fine Day" and "Another You", which set the tone through visc...

  Words by Anselm Anderson England's Extreme heavyweights KillerKorp may sound like a horror movie, but their sound is brutal and uncompromising. Last week, they released "Vices", their latest four-track EP. The follow-up to the 2019 debut "Pain"  The quintet produces extreme metal at breakneck speed, blending modern death metal with blackened hardcore elements to create a headache-inducing experience. The savage riffery and guttural screams are some of the main attributes for fans of Cannibal Corpse and Machine Head. They combine the latter's songwriting for lengthy guitar intros and brutal breakdowns with ex-Cannibal Corpse singer Chris Barnes's vocal ferocity. KillerKorp have used this tenacity and aggression to evolve on the live circuit with notable appearances alongside contemporaries Raised By Owls, Celestial Sanctuary and Beyond Extinction . Photo courtesy of San Pr KillerKorp was formed in 2018 by the Lydiatt brothers: Ben (vocals) & Dani...

Words by Anselm Anderson In We Fall  is a new act on Eclipse Records. Most recently, they released their debut, "Inner Self." The ten-tracker is a deeply personal and philosophical take on a band that has reached a pivotal moment in its career. The quartet, from Portugal, combines grunge stylings with progressive elements and alternative rock signatures to help create a sound reminiscent of bands like Alice in Chains and Alter Bridge. Formed in 2022, In We Fall was formed by guitarist Carlos Carniero and drummer Federico Lopes with a childhood dream of creating a band. Vocalist Daniel Moreira soon offered his gruff vocal lines and productive values into the mix providing a retro sound of dark melodies, hook-laden choruses and intricate guitar lines for fans of grunge-era bands. Moreira recorded, mixed and produced the album at Evolui Som Studios and the results are a polished and refined edge to the music. In We Fall challenge themselves through lyrics about war, betrayal and...

  Photo Credit: OOB Records Words by Anselm Anderson Multi-instrumentalist Peter Lawson shares the story of a 17th-century witchfinder and his accomplice on his latest EP, "The Witchfinder." The EP is inspired by the true story of Matthew Hopkins and John Stearne, two witch-finders intent on causing chaos and destruction during the Civil War in 17th-century England. They hunted down suspected witches under the Witchfinder Act of 1542 before presenting them for trial. Lawson produces over half an hour of seven tracks, using traditional medieval instruments like the bodhrán and mandolin to depict their horrible deeds. Lawson combines folk, blues, and progressive music elements to craft a distinctive style that resonates with the essence of that period. The darker electronic elements come into play with a distorted monologue in the opening track "Saint Vitus Dance," which captures the innocence of the time before tragedy struck. The narrative turns unexpectedly in ...