Originating from Torquay in Devon, Kris Barras has led a life that a biographer would dream about writing

POW! Right in the kisser! Straight in to Chasing the High, the 6min+ opener to Metal II from Canada’s Annihilator.

No messing, it needed no build up, no elongated intro, you literally get punched in the earholes as soon as you press play.

Rarely do we come across a bands debut album that is so definitive in its imagery, intentions and integrity that we immediately grade it in a class of its own.

Sometimes you need a bit of ass kicking punk rock and roll to enable you to scream and shout and smash things up.

In 2015 Larissa Stupar moved from Russia to Wales and met guitarist Ash Gray from Brutality Will Prevail. From there they began their journey writing music for Venom Prison, lead guitarist Ben Thomas, drummer Joe Bills and bass player Mike Jeffries joining them, marvellously crafting a twist on death metal

Back in 2008 Slash started work on his debut solo album, a ‘Slash and Friends’ album, which was finally released in 2010, and was just called ‘Slash’, it featured amongst others, Lemmy, Ozzy, Fergie and Myles Kennedy.

Back in 1989 the AOR/Melodic Rock world was blown wide open by an absolute monster album release entitled Last of the Runaways.

Like Seeing the Northern Lights blazing across the sky for the very first time, some things just take your breath away and transport you to another world.

The anthemic chaos that is ComeBack Kid drills itself once more to the innards of hardcore punk as they release their seventh studio album, Heavy Steps.

The granular sands of time flow, they flow through the narrow glass neck. From the top chamber to the bottom; falling in reverent cathedral silence.

Founded in 2014 by guitarist Logan Mader and vocalist Lauren Hart, Once Human are about to release one of their most advanced and crushing albums to date.

The hammer falls, the gavel strikes the lectern. Conflagrant sparks brought forth from the very depths of the underworld wildly fly. Waves are sent alee, ripples are noted in the infernal river Styx.

Brisbanes Smoking Martha release their third album which continues in the vein of its predecessors, as an open canvas that’s not limited to one genre of music.

Enter the intro of twirling smoke, fire, skull faced figures and horses to build the anticipation of what Behemoth are about to unleash…

I love a concept Album. In fact, in my ever revolving top 10 albums of all time there are currently 3 of them. Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of the War of the Worlds will always be there.

The arrival of a new Skillet album is always a major event in my world and with this new album, Dominion, Skillet prove that they have lost none of the power, aggression and melody that has graced their albums since their inception.