PRIMAL FEAR New Religion (Frontiers) - "ALBUM OF THE YEAR"
German metal merchants - deliver another amazing album of ass kicking anthems, that is up there with the 'all time' metal releases, just like their last brilliant opus "Seven Seals" (2005) truly magnificent! (9/10)
SCORPIONS Humanity Hour 1 (Sony/BMG)
Klaus & the boys return with an absolute 'masterpiece' possibly the best, well constructed album of their career? This is the SCORPIONS' - Sgt. Peppers brilliant! (9/10)
CIRCUS DIABLO Circus Diablo (Koch Import)
Tasty debut platter of hard ass, hard rock that features members of The Cult, The Almighty, Fuel etc. - cranking out some decent riffs and songs. A very solid product! (8/10)
THE ORDER Metal Casino (Dockyard)
Driving hard rock of an excellent standard - delivered with more catchy riffs than an Angus Young songbook. Good songs, great singer, good band a very good release! (8/10)
ROADKILL God Bless America (Independent)
High octane hard rock, delivered with a swaggering attitude about love, hate, war, sex, rock 'n' roll all played with plenty of passion and fire. A good debut! (7/10)
ROSE TATTOO Blood Brothers (Armageddon Import)
Angry returns with a new, updated version of the TATTS and believe me when I say - it's the best studio Rose Tattoo album since, 1981's Assault & Battery! A solid return! (9/10)
SAXON Inner Sanctum (SPV)
The best British metal release of the year SAXON deliver one of their finest, ever - studio albums full of all the right stuff, proving how damn good they really are! - Excellent! (9/10)
BUCKCHERRY 15 (Universal)
Almost 2 years since release BUCKCHERRY's third album is still a firm favorite with many people around the world and deservedly so. A great satisfying album! (9/10)
GOTTHARD Domino Effect (Nuclear Blast)
One of Europe's most impressive, melodic hard rock acts returns again - with another extremely satisfying album, equal to their last CD, albeit with a tougher edge! (9/10)
OZZY OSBOURNE Black Rain (Sony/BMG)
Six years later .. his Ozzness delivers one of his best, most consistent recordings since his successful 1991's No More Tears - with Zakk cranking out riff after riff now that's, what I'm talking about! (9/10)
TAROT Crows Fly Black (Nuclear Blast)
Tasty, tough sounding goth rock inspired metal - played to perfection with excellent arrangemnets and some fabulous songs. Another very strong release! (9/10)
RATT Tell The World/The Very Best Of ... (Rhino)
One of LA's finest 'legend' hard rock acts is well showcased here on this pretty damn satisfying, compilation album. Full of their biggest hits this is a must for any genuine hard rock fan! (9/10)
MORTAL SIN An Absence Of Faith (Riot)
Veteran Aussie metallers return with a very solid effort, that should see the band become popular all over again. A very good release! (8/10)
MOTORHEAD Better Motorhead Than Dead, Live At Hammersmith (SPV)
Lemmy, Phil and Micky - blast through 23 'classics' from the bands' "30th Anniversary Show" at the infamous Hammersmith Apollo 2006! - An Absolute ripper! (9/10)
HEAVEN & HELL Live At Radio City Hall 2007 (SPV)
The Dio era Black Sabbath, now known as HEAVEN & HELL - cruise through old chest nuts from 20 years ago and guess what? They still sound as killer today!! (9/10)
BLACK SABBATH The Dio Years (Rhino)
Well, the MK II & III line up of Sabbath - are a popular beast and this compilation is an excellent reminder or brilliant starting point for the kings of Heavy Metal! (9/10)
EVILE Enter The Grave (Riot)
UK thrash metallers EVILE enlist former Metallica producer, Flemming Rausmussen for their debut and come up trumphs - with an album full of first rate thrash metal, that equals early Metallica! Excellent! (9/10)
ICED EARTH Framing Armageddon (SPV)
Back with Tim Owens again on vocals Iced Earth unleashes another excellent metal opus that should appease most who love the band. Big riffs, Big Vocals, excellent arrangements it's all hear! (9/10)
VANISHING POINT The Fourth Season (Riot)
The latest release by Australian power metallers sees a slightly more commerical edge creep into the music, bringing out a killer quality - that will widen the bands' appeal! (8/10)
MEGADETH United Abominations (Roadrunner)
Many thought their last was a fluke, well you were wrong! Megadeth come storming back with another ball busting excellent metal release - that sees them back in the saddle and lovin' it! (8/10)
THE 69 EYES - Angels (Virgin Import)
Picking up where the previous, "Devils" (2005) release left off the new album is far more rock orientated with a far superior product all around. Their transformation is almost complete! (7/10)
HALFORD Metal God Essentials Voulme 1 (Riot)
Great little package that serves up a good selection of tunes by both of the Metal God's solo outfits, Halford and Fight while the man was on walkabout from Judas Priest! (7/10)
HANOI ROCKS Street Poetry (Demolition)
Finland's 'legend' sleazy rock 'n' roll band - flex their muscles again with a much more consistent package, this time around - with a number of infectious dirty rock 'n' roll tunes in tow. Magical! (7/10)
GREAT WHITE Back To The Rhythm (Frontiers)
A near triumphant return to the 'magic years' - with plenty of infectious, commercial grooved melodic, blues tinged hard rock handled expertly by Jack Russel and the boys. Smooth with plenty of groove! (7/10)
PAIN DIVISION (Riot)
A fairly, consistent debut by new Australian hard rock metallers with plenty on offer but seems to lack direction and the production quality lets in down a little. (6/10)
THE ALMIGHTY Anf***ology (Sancutary)
Scottish ass-kickers compilation - that contains most of their 'best' moments before their musical slide on one disc. Discover or rediscover - Scotland's finest metal export! (7/10)
RHINO BUCKET - Pain & Suffering (Acetate)
LA's finest rock 'n roll band - The 'Buckets serve up a re-packaged version of 1994's "Pain" release with an added 5 bonus tunes and plenty of dirty hard rock! Excellent! (8/10)
RHINO BUCKET - No Song Left Behind (Acetate)
A great compilation that features numerous live renditions - of the' Buckets early material that is now hard to purchase. A great little rock & roll package! (8/10)
AIRBOURNE Running Wild (Roadrunner)
New Australian hard rockers - who sound like vintage AC/DC with crunchy riffarolla, that rocks just as good as the masters! The Poms are gonna love 'em! A very good debut! (7/10)
SEBASTAIN BACH Angel Down (EMI)
Ex-Skid Row screamer delivers a good, varied hard rock metal album - that should impress some, others will hate it. Unfortuately, no killer SKID ROW styled songs here! (7/10)
VELVET REVOLVER Libertad (Sony/BMG)
Looks like the old 'demons' have returned? Their second album sounds like a poor man's - Stone Temple Pilots - instead of the hard assed, rock 'n' roll 'killer' debut of a 2 years ago! So very fuckin' sad - next ... (4/10)
THE CULT Born Into This (Roadrunner)
Back from the wilderness, with a fairly, lack lustre effort that's OK after repeated listenings but - far from the brilliant return of 2001's "Beyond Good & Evil" ! The pink cover should of told me?! So very lame! (5/10)
HIM Venus Doom (Sire)
More doom, less fairy floss this time around with a few good songs on offer but it's still a few light years away from the brilliance of "Love Metal" (2005)! Hey, that's 2 lame albums in a row now?! (5/10)