DESOLATION ANGELS – 2018 “King” label: Dissonance recordsweb: https://www.desolationangels.co.uk/If there is a NWOTHM album that nails the modern adaptation of the NWOBHM thing, then it is Desolation Angles. Not much of a surprise coming from a band that actually were part of the NWOBHM machine; they've just powered up the whole thing, including some really heavy, grainy guitars. This makes the band occasionally tend to PowerMetal down the up-tempo cruncher “Another Turn Of The Screw”, and the dark-edged “Your Blackened Heart”. There is all-out NWOBHM in the shape of “Doomsday”, and matters slow down a bit with the Saxon esque “Devil Sent”, the slow grinder “My Demon Inside”, and the heavy, semi-balladry of “Find Your Life”. This is also the moment where the vocalage peaks, delivering a muscular roar and lots of volume. For most of the time, the vocals operate in a deserving, melodic edged mid-tone that on more than one occasion clicks with Biff Byford (Saxon). There's a good allround diversity within the repertoire that does really well in terms of accessibility and entertainment value. Overall, “King” is a power packed outing that is further upped by the quality musicianship and its beefy production. Paul van der Burght

TRAUMA – 2019 “As The World Dies” label: Pure Steel recordsweb: https://www.traumametal.comRe-release of the 2018 album by retro U.S Metalers Trauma that moved under the radars of recognition despite having released a worthy album, “Scratch And Scream” in '84. The band released a come-back album, “Rapture And Wrath” in 2015 and has now followed it up with “As The World Dies”; a potent display of 90's styled U.S PowerMetal that comes with all the trimmings, including superb, all-out PowerMetal vocalage courtesy of original Trauma singer Donny Hiller, delivering a muscular upper mid-range tone with a solid

HIGH COMMAND 7”EP 2018“The Premordial Void”label: Haftvad recordssongs: The Premordial Void /Labyrinth Of Pain //https://highcommand.bandcamp.com/Massachusetts based band that debuted in 2016 with “The Secartha Demos”. Their most recent work couples two tracks of intense, old

AGAINST EVIL – 2018 “All Hail The King”label: privateweb: https://againstevil.bandcamp.com/From India hails 4-piece unit Against Evil, and though this part of the planet is not exactly known for its Metal, these guys are cut above most retro Metal bands, delivering a mix of HardRock / Metal / PowerMetal and Thrash that just oozes this genuine 80's Metal character and style with a strong Anthemic /

Barbaric Metal feel a la Manowar, as evidenced on the bobbing fist pumpers “The Army Of Four” and “Gods Of Metal”. Contrasting twists are the early Metallica (“Seek & Destroy”) styled Thrasher “Mean Machine” and the Fear Factory - meets - modern Metal esque “Sentenced To Death”. Another change in style and approach comes in the shape of a rather linear Mainstream Rocker that is put right with the pounding PowerMetaler “We Won't Stop”. Vocalage features two styles; hoarse and rough for the heavier outings and and more melodic edged to accommodate the Epic Metal minded tracks. Music is mainly mid / up-tempo driven with guitar oriented themes and some tasty solo actions. Add to this a clean production, and a neat, balanced performance, and the outcome is a potent and highly entertaining slab of manly Metal. Solid! Paul van der Burght

school DeathMetal / DeathThrash with very heavy, grinding Thrash guitars. First one up, “The Premordial Void” sounds like a mishmash of Whiplash, Slayer and Sodom; fast and relentless with gruff, talk-type growl vocals. “Labyrinth Of Pain” tends towards classic Swedish DeathMetal dressed with DeathThrash styled vocals and slower, Thrash oriented mid-tempos alongside its fast programming, This is one harsh, in-the-face offering that comes with a matching, razor sharp production and some good, mobility drummage. Solid Paul van der Burght

Vibrato and siren yells. Strong point throughout the album is the accessibility and energy of its songs, even regarding the fact that the majority of tracks range from slow and grinding tempos (powering the bobbing “Asylum”, the pounding “Entropy” and the first half of “As The World Dies”) to Power balladry (“Last Rites”). The set is accelerated twice on the Euro-Metal sourced Headbanger “Run For Cover” and the propelling, grooved up “Gun To Your Head” that in certain areas may bring Pantera to mind. In all, a complete, diverse and very convincing album with a high entertainment value. Strong. Paul van der Burght

SATAN – 2018 “Cruel Magic”label: Metal Blade recordshttps://www.facebook.com/officialsatanpage/U.K's Satan are one of the pioneering acts from the early NWOBHM generation adopting a faster, more Speed oriented approach whilst still retaining this NWOBHM undertone. This formula worked, and still does to this very day, although there's no traces of the NWOBHM sound left, apart from the unique vocal tone of NWOBHM deluxe singer Brian Ross, and this one track; “Ghosts Of Monongah”, and particles of “Into The Mouth Of Eternity”. Overall, the set hovers in between a varied array of genres, includingPowerMetal, Thrash80's & 90's Metal and SpeedMetal. Fastest tunes on offer include the rhythm riffed “The Doomsday Clock”, the monster-riff driven “Who Among Us”, and the U.S Power / Speed styled “My Prophetic Soul” and “Death Knell For A King”. Down the slower end of the spectrum are the chunky, 80's Metaler “Cruel Magic”, the driven and rhythmic, PowerMetal edged “Legions Hellbound” (featuring some great drummage), the sludgy, atmospheric laden “Ophidian” (that has a certain click with Megadeth), and the moderately paced, 90's Metal minded “Mortality”. The album stands out in diversity and impact and comes with a slight melodic edge and a whole lot of guitar and drum hooks. In all, an impressive and convincing set that entertains al the way through. Great! Paul van der Burght

FORTRESS - EP 2018 “Fortress” (private) https://www.facebook.com/FortressheavymetalCalifornia based Fortress doing some classic, mid-80's Metal with a strong European root. The melodic edged opening tune “Witchcraft” radiates all that in a Breaker meets Maiden sort of sound that is dressed with some nice, extended solo actions, “Midnight Dream” is another riff-based outing somewhere in between Dokken and Malice whilst the up-tempo “Bloodmoon” has Iron Maiden written all over; a comparison that is inevitable with a singer that sounds much like Bruce Dickinson with a James Neal (Malice) styled sidekick, pushed forward on the driven, Malice / Maidenmerged “Peace In Hell”. It is exactly those great, wide-range power vocals that add up in delivery of a sticky set that is musically fit with some cool, tasty guitar flash. Great stuff. Paul van der Burght

chorus. There's the occasional hint of Exodus popping up on certain tunes, and concept as a whole comes with a razor sharp guitar sound, hard as nails vocals and a K.O production. Cool. Paul van der Burght

DEATHSTORM – 2018 “Reaping What Is Left” (High Roller records)https://www.facebook.com/deathstormthrashThese Austrian Deathsters may not score top points in originality, incorporating a strong Slayer taste - that is most evidently on the “South Of Heaven” esque “Ossuary Darkness”, and the fast, snare drummed “Unholy Lamentations” - however, the band makes up for it in its delivery, squeezing the maximum out of the 90's DeathThrash thing on the album's heaviest and best picks “Hallowed Ground” (a double bass-drummed Thrash frenzy), and the equally intense “By Sword, By Pick, By Axe” with its gripping

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