Über Röck • 7th August 2020

Scars – ‘Predatory’ (Brutal Records)

Brazilian thrashers Scars are one of those bands who’ve been knocking around for ages, but rarely manage to get any official releases out. They formed back in 1991 but called it a day seven years later with no more than a split CD to their name. Since then, they’ve reformed twice; in 2004 and again in 2018. In all that time, they’ve only brought out one full length album – 2008’s ‘Devilgod Alliance’ – and with major success eluding them thus far, it sadly seems unlikely that ‘Predatory’ will cha

Über Röck • 6th August 2020

Misery Signals – ‘Ultraviolet’ (Basick Records)

‘Of Malice And The Magnum Heart,’ the debut album by Misery Signals, has enjoyed a dramatic reputation enhancement since its release in 2004. When it first dropped in the music world’s lap, it received decent reviews and had some moderate success, but take a look online nowadays and the general consensus is that it’s an overlooked classic. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but it does indeed stand up. It’s a well-crafted record that’s stood the test of time and it’s not surprising its stature has g

Über Röck • 20th July 2020

Buried Realm – ‘Embodiment Of The Divine’ (Self Released)

Once upon a time, In Flames would have written a song like ‘Overlord.’ The second track on ‘Embodiment Of The Divine’ is a full on assault of duelling guitars, exquisite melodies and gruff vocals, played with the over-caffeinated excitement the Swedes possessed in their younger days. It’s a hugely enjoyable track and exactly the kind of thing that would have cropped up in the track-listing for ‘Colony’ or ‘Clayman.’

Similarly, the next song – ‘Master Psychosis’ – recalls another Swedish melodea

Über Röck • 10th July 2020

Static-X – ‘Project Regeneration Vol. 1’ (Otsego Entertainment Group)

The question of whether their reformation is a heartfelt tribute to their fallen leader or a shameless cash grab has hovered around Static-X ever since they got back together. The impression at Über Rock towers has always been that Tony Campos, Koichi Fukuda and Ken Jay were being very sincere and that was only reinforced when we attended their highly successful ÜK tour. Having a mysterious, Edsel Dope-shaped enigma dressed up as their deceased frontman was a little creepy yes, but the love seem

Über Röck • 9th July 2020

Onslaught – ‘Generation Antichrist’ (AFM)

From a certain point of view, Onslaught could be considered a Christian band. They have an awful lot of lyrics that revolve around faith and theological issues and have in the past referred to Jesus Christ as an actual living being, rather than a conceptual or symbolic figure. Granted, that doesn’t necessarily mean they like him or his followers, however if you accept the idea that belief in the Devil also means belief in God, then yes, Onslaught would be a Christian band. The Son Of God will re

Über Röck • 4th May 2020

Firewind – ‘Firewind’ (AFM)

It’s somewhat striking that Firewind aren’t more famous than they are, given that main-man Gus G is one of the most renowned guitarists in metal. He’s worked with Dream Evil, Mystic Prophecy, Nightrage and some fella from Birmingham with a penchant for bats, but the workaholic Greek lad keeps returning to the band he formed as a teenager. This self-titled effort is their ninth full length but while it has them firing on all cylinders, it also provides some clues as to why Firewind aren’t quite r

Über Röck • 17th April 2020

Rabid Flesh Eaters – ‘R.F.E’ (Self-Released)

Devotees of underground metal at its grimiest will want to check this one out. ‘R.F.E,’ the second album from sort-of-veterans Rabid Flesh Eaters features the last recording from Bruce Corbitt, vocalist for cult heroes Rigor Mortis. He appears on ‘The Fall,’ sharing mic duties with the Flesh Eaters’ regular singer Ricky Wilson and puts in a typically violent, snarling performance. The song itself is a relatively straightforward thrasher and while it’s a fun listen, there’s something bittersweet

Über Röck • 13th April 2020

Bullets And Octane – 'Riot Riot Rock ‘n’ Roll' (Bad MoFo Records/Cargo)

Surely, it’s time for Bullets And Octane to make a comeback? They were touted as “Next Big Things” back in 2006 on the strength of their (excellent) second album ‘In The Mouth Of The Young,’ but any hopes of arena stardom were derailed when they got dropped by RCA. Fast forward a decade and chances are most rock fans will have forgotten them, but they’ve been quietly releasing albums on minor labels all this time and despite some significant line-up changes, never really went away. They had the

Über Röck • 17th March 2020

Heaven Shall Burn – ‘Of Truth And Sacrifice’ (Century Media)

If awards were given out for being successful in mainland Europe without ever breaking the UK, Germany’s Heaven Shall Burn would be a relatively safe bet for winning. They’ve been tearing stages apart since the late ‘90s but have yet to make more than a ripple on these shores. They’re well overdue for finding an audience here beyond the folks who venture abroad for festival season, but if there’s an album that’ll change that, ‘Of Truth And Sacrifice’ most likely won’t be it. Not because it’s bad

Über Röck • 24th February 2020

Great American Ghost – 'Power Through Terror' (eOne)

There’s something remarkably satisfying about a well-executed hardcore album. When an upcoming band delivers a record chock full of fist-swinging, adrenaline pumping mosh songs, it feels as rewarding as the exact moment a long-blocked drain finally clears and ‘Power Through Terror’ is one such example. The third release from Boston’s Great American Ghost is an abrasive and antagonistic number that sets a high standard for all the other hardcore albums due in 2020. They’re not as well-known as th

Über Röck • 13th February 2020

Holycide – ‘Fist To Face’ (Xtreem Music)

‘Fist To Face’ by Holycide is something of a missed opportunity. The sophomore album by these Spanish lads is politically minded thrash and the cover alone is enough to promise a rousing call to arms for any metalhead who’s been feeling particularly angry about the state of the world since 2016, but instead it’s a bit… dull. The picture of the President being beaten in the face by a deranged mutant cyborg man is the most striking thing about it, the music itself is sadly rather forgettable. It m

Über Röck • 7th February 2020

Voidlurker – ‘Industrial Nightmare’ (APF Records)

If you’re feeling particularly bunged up right now and don’t fancy guzzling prune juice to resolve it, ‘Industrial Nightmare’ may well be the solution to your problems. This four track EP from Birmingham-based trio Voidlurker is doom of the most bowel-shaking variety. The grooves are slow, it’s monstrously heavy and the bass has been down-tuned so far that the strings are hanging slack. Play it through headphones and your entire body vibrates, so if you ate a ten-ounce ribeye steak four days ago

Über Röck • 31st January 2020

Kirk Windstein – 'Dream In Motion' (Entertainment One)

The first thing that springs to mind when you receive the debut solo album by Kirk Windstein is why he felt the need to release it under his own name? Given that he is principal songwriter in his own band, why not simply release this as the new Crowbar full length? It’s not like he’s lacking in creative control after all.

Once you’ve sat down and digested it though, it makes sense. This isn’t an entirely different beast, but his standalone work diverges enough from his regular job to warrant ex

Über Röck • 20th January 2020

Bonded – ‘Rest In Violence’ (Century Media)

Cast your mind back to early 2018 and you may recall the controversial change to Sodom’s line-up when guitarist Bernd Kost and drummer Markus “Makka” Freiwald found themselves unceremoniously fired via Whatsapp. Not prepared to just sit at home sulking, they’ve returned with Bonded, an all-new metal act with former members of Suicidal Angels and Assassin filling in the gaps. ‘Rest In Violence’ is their debut album and while it ticks all the thrash boxes, it also gives them a chance to flex their

Über Röck • 15th January 2020

Helldown – ‘In Deaths Hands’ (Self-Released)

You know that Prince Harry fella? Nice guy, war hero, just moved out of his mum’s. Well there’s been rumours online that he’s a closet metalhead and digs Power Trip and Municipal Waste. If that’s true, he could do a lot worse than checking out ‘In Deaths Hands’, the new EP from Welsh thrashers Helldown. It’s a gritty and authentic four tracker, full of mosh-inducing songs and should provide a nice outlet for any anger he might be feeling next time the UK’s impartial media claim that buying avoca

Über Röck • 13th January 2020

Mystic Prophecy – Metal Division (Rock Of Angels Records)

Well, this one’s awesome. ‘Metal Division’,the eleventh album from German veterans Mystic Prophecy is joyous from start to finish. It’s a fist-pumping, rip-roaring, life-affirming belter of an album, full of skyscraper vocals and hard-hitting guitar riffs. It sounds like what it is; high quality metal recorded by seasoned professionals who still love their chosen genre and want everyone involved to have a good time. So, while it’s only early January, there’s a real risk that we’ve already heard

Über Röck • 3rd January 2020

Rage – ‘Wings Of Rage’ (Steamhammer)

If a band has a big back-catalogue, it can be difficult to know where to start when you first get into them. Do you look up the most recent efforts and then work back gradually, or head straight to the classics and expand from there? Well, with German power-metallers Rage it’s even harder to know. Head to their Wikipedia entry and you’ll discover a whopping 23 albums recorded over their career and aside from their ground-breaking ’98 opus ‘XIII,’ there’s no outright must-haves. Peter “Peavy” Wag

Über Röck • 27th November 2019

Cybernetic Witch Cult – ‘Absurdum Ad Nauseam’ (Self-Released)

Anyone that thinks stoner metal takes itself too seriously would do well to check out ‘Absurdum Ad Nauseam,’ the latest release from Cybernetic Witch Cult. On a surface level, this Cornwall-based four-piece are just as doom-laden as the Electric Wizards of the world, but once you dig a little deeper it becomes clear that they’ve got tongues lodged firmly in cheek. And yet this is apparently their darkest album so far.

Take ‘The Cetacean’ for instance. A slow-moving, ten-minute odyssey through c

Über Röck • 25th November 2019

Red Death – ‘Sickness Divine’ (Century Media)

Crossover thrash time! Washington-based four-piece Red Death just made the jump to a major by signing with Century Media and ‘Sickness Divine’ is their first release on the label. Custom built to satisfy mosh lovers, it’s a brisk and energetic record and will no doubt trigger a circle pit or two at a future Hellfest. They take their inspiration from the usual suspects like Slayer and the Cro-Mags and while they don’t exactly open a brave new world for thrash, for nuts and bolts metal that’ll get

Über Röck • 20th November 2019

Marisa And The Moths – ‘Marisa And The Moths’ (Self-Released)

The debut album by Marisa And The Moths is like digging up a time capsule from the early Nineties. Opening with a laidback bass riff and some effortlessly cool vocals, it’s a major throwback to the days when Nirvana ruled the airwaves and homeless Seattle drug addicts became major stars. It’s an album that’ll make you want to throw on a flannel shirt, take a trip to the Space Needle and discuss the latest Richard Linklater movie – and it’s come from the world’s epicentre of grunge… Reading, Berk

Über Röck • 14th November 2019

Impericon Never Say Die! Tour – Engine Rooms, Southampton – 10 November 2019

Let’s get this out the way right now; Sunday night gigs suck. Aside from the transport links being rubbish, there’s the ever-present knowledge that another work week is looming, and it can make it harder for bands to thrive onstage. So, it’s refreshing to see the Engine Rooms coming alive tonight for the Never Say Die tour, even during the later hours when the audience starts to thin out. This package of seven bands is sponsored by the Impericon clothing company and focuses primarily on the meta

Über Röck • 1st November 2019

Red Stone Chapel – ‘Omega Boombox’ (Argonauta)

Regular visitors to our humble website may have already seen our brilliantly written review of the recent Lowburn album, which was described as “party doom” and much loved by the talented, handsome writer involved. Well it’s proving to be a bumper Autumn for upbeat stoner rock as no sooner had we switched that off than Red Stone Chapel turned up with their ‘Omega Boombox’ to keep the good times rolling. There was a minor case of déjà vu, especially as they’re on the same record label, but if you

Über Röck • 25th October 2019

Lowburn – ‘Phantasma’ (Argonauta)

The opening track on ‘Phantasma,’ the new album by Finnish rockers Lowburn is called ‘Doom Dealer.’ And in some respects, that tongue-in-cheek title tells you everything you need to know about this band. It’s got all the hallmarks of traditional doom but it’s also remarkably upbeat and could even pass for party music if you’re drunk enough. This is not funeral music, it’s a hard rockin’, cider drenched bad ass sporting a big beard and a patch jacket. If you’ve ever attended Roadburn festival, ge

Über Röck • 16th October 2019

Ethereal Kingdoms – ‘Hollow Mirror’ (Mighty Music)

Danish four-piece Ethereal Kingdoms offer a darker take on traditional symphonic metal. They have all the staples of the genre; beautiful vocals, classical flourishes and a sense of overblown theatricality, but there’s a nastiness to them you don’t normally find. Their debut album ‘Hollow Mirror’ clearly takes influences from the likes of Epica and Nightwish, but it comes with a more horror-inflected vibe and feels grimly oppressive.

It’s also notable for the frankly fantastic vocals of singer