Xavier apparently spent more time catching up with what he missed in 2022, than discovering new releases in a year that he seemed somewhat disappointed about what was coming out. He still picked out a handful of releases that stuck out for him with Nytt Land, Avatar, Gloryhammer, Kludde and Dymna Lotva!
Gary’s albums of the year venture away from our more standard metal selection with a bunch of stellar punk releases from bands like The Bar Stool Preachers, Grade 2, The Darts, The Dollyrots, Rumkicks and Rancid, but also sidesteps into other music like the special brand of rock that Public Image Ltd. brings, blues rock with Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton, an acoustic Dropkick Murphys and a trip back into time, reminiscing about London’s legendary Batcave Club!
British indie rock band The Last Dinner Party were recently crowned as “Sound of 2024” by BBC Radio 1 and dropped by Belgian radio channel Studio Brussel for a live session, just ahead of the release of their debut album ‘Prelude to Ecstasy’, scheduled for February!
Portuguese outfit Ponte Del Diavolo dance with the devil on ‘Covenant’, another spellbinding single and video from their upcoming self-titled album set for release next month via Season of Mist!
The enigmatic warriors of Eihwar are set to unleash their “Viking War Trance” on shows throughout this year!
Mark took it easy in 2023 and offers a selection of pictures of the handful of shows that he covered with his photography, mostly in the realm of new wave, old school electronic music, experimental and pop music with Self Esteem, Gary Numan, Heaven 17, Martyn Ware and friends, and Utopia Strong!
Our resident extreme metal reviewer Mazen has a selection of stellar (mostly) black and death metal releases as his favorite of the year with Sulphur Aeon, Varathron, Moonlight Sorcery, Cruciamentum, Suffocation, Dying Fetus, Asphodelus, Marduk, …And Oceans, and Cirith Ungol!
A selection of 30 photos that Helder likes a lot from one of his most productive year considering covering concerts, including captures of Fear Factory, Atreyu, Jinjer, Rolo Tomassi, Stone, The Kooks, Pixies, Wunderhorse, Yours Truly, You Me at Six, Lake Malice, Bloodywood, Epica, Avatar, The 69 Eyes, Nova Twins, Cam Cole, Sabaton, The Lumineers, Grailknights, All For Metal, The Baboon Show, Combichrist, Megaherz, The BossHoss, Cancer Bats, Kvelertak, Fixation, Ignea, and Butcher Babies.
Australian dark folk/blackgaze act Suldusk announces upcoming new album ‘Anthesis’, set for release via Napalm Records in March, and share the title track now with an accompanying video! Fans of Myrkur, Oathbreaker and Chelsea Wolfe, don’t sit on this one!
French industrial post-punk duo Kill The Thrill drift with force on ‘A la dérive’, another single from their upcoming album ‘Autophagie’, set for release at the end of this month via Season of Mist!
