Author: Fraggle

Born in the 80s, grew up with the 90s and confused by the millennial generation, I am Peter, more commonly known as Fraggle (long story, don't ask, details are a little hazy!) With a degree in biochemistry, an ever growing guitar collection and a job handling medication, things are far different to how I expected them to have turned out, but the one thing which hasn't changed is how important music is in my life—it is one of my main passions, be it playing it, listening to it or attending it and experiencing it in the live setting (the way it is meant to be). Blessed with a 'proper punk/metal spirit' (quote from Kailas), you will often encounter me at gigs or festivals with a beer firmly clutched in one hand and shirt in the other... Or these days, a pen and notepad too, maybe a camera if needed.

20 Years On: Scenes From a Memory

Dream Theater’s much loved concept album turns 20 this year. Does it stand the test of time or is it merely relegated to the back of the mind?...

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Atmospheric Impact In Your Face

Norwegian post-rockers Grant The Sun boast a huge range of atmospheric impact in new EP, Simmar Ur Bild....

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Mr. Big Flies To Milan

Mr. Big return with a(nother) live album, but this one's special - it's founder Pat Torpey's final bow with them before his death earlier this year....

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Heroes Sometimes Let You Down

Fraggle casts a critical eye on newcomers to the Finnish Metal tradition Heroes Don't Ask Why, and their new release 'Sound Of A Broken Heart'...

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When Godsmack’s Legend Stagnates

So just how much have seminal Nu-Metallers Godsmack phoned it in with latest release 'When Legends Rise'?...

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Sons of a Galactic Wasteland

Sons Of Alpha Centauri get a little space-y with latest instrumental release 'Continuum' - but is it cool, Sci-Fi space or just the dark bits in between?...

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Downfall of Nothing! (Nervosa)

Thrash Metal is a scene dominated by the same old household names... Can some fresh faces in Brazilian upstarts Nervosa clamber onto that level, too, with new album 'Downfall of Mankind'?...

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Compound The Heaviness – Ingested

Manchester's kings of Slam-infused Death Metal Ingested take a nice little day trip over to Liverpool. Naturally, Trebuchet followed suit....

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The More Uncommon Slurs and Smears of Napalm Death

Outtakes and rarities offer a genetic glimpse into the Napalm Death machine...

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Six compilation albums wasn’t enough – Nightwish

Finland's Symphonic Metal pioneers Nightwish dig through the archives to present yet another compilation of their work....

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Nomadic music and the convergence of style – Tengger Cavalry

Sometimes, the tropes of contemporary Western culture can combine with the music of other eras and nations to turn up unexpected results....

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Pissed Regardless – Feed The Birds (Review)

Crossover Thrash is a fickle beast. Have Californian newcomers Pissed Regardless managed to crack the code with their sophomore EP effort 'Feed The Birds'? Fraggle investigates....

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Tankard – A Compilation of Inebriation

Thrash Metal, like most genres, has its tropes. Those same reoccurring themes which pop up in the lyrics, inspirations or meanings behind the songs....

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Roll On, Roll Over, Roll Away: Dimevision (Dimebag Darryl)

Legend? Yes. Talented? Certainly. Brilliant on every occasion? Well, about that......

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Suitably Complex Brutality: Red Before Black (Cannibal Corpse)

Focus, work ethic, rhythmic dexterity and lots of entrails...

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Death (Sentence) Metal: Not a Crime [Tarantist]

Iranian Metal goes one step further - TarantisT now sing in Farsi...

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Fragarak: A Spectral Oblivion

Indian Experimental Black Metallers Fragarak demand an extended attention span...

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One More for the Road:The New Roses

Life ain't easy when you're cheesy. Happily, The New Roses (mostly) aren't. ...

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The real cost of music?

Suffering for your art is common practice, but is it worth dying for?...

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Will to Power (Arch Enemy)

Will to Power packs a furious punch, but have Arch Enemy released one of the metal Albums of the Year?...

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To Die For? Iranian Metallers Heterochrome Offer Melancholia Against All Odds

Progressive metal from Iran. Now that's extreme....

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Enter the Arena (Warbeast)

Entering the arena is easy, but it takes killer death moves to get out alive. Can Warbeast provide?...

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And Time, and Fashion, and Fads: Defying Gravity (Mr. Big)

Age will not wither them, nor gravity hold them down. No frills hard rock from Mr. Big...

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Infintissimal to Infinite: Unparalleled Universe (Origin)

Speed, precision and ferocity: Prepare to be overwhelmed...

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The End is Nigh (Apocalypse Orchestra)

Here be monsters, here be hurdy gurdy. Folk metal, doom and drone, arr harr!...

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Glug! No Grave But the Sea (Alestorm)

Duelling keyboards, high energy rhythms, infectious vocal hooks, tales of wenches, mead, rum, beer, tequila, tacos, donkeys and nautical naughtiness... Alestorm bring the fun...

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As the Stages Burn: Arch Enemy Live at Wacken

Arch Enemy nail the always-tricky task of putting a live performance onto wax...

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Let fly the rasping growls and demonic riffery! Sacred/Scared (5Rand)

Italian thrash/groove/melodic death metal four piece 5RAND test the waters for their debut...

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How Deep is Your Mom? (Tragedy, Live in Liverpool)

dropcap style=”font-size:100px; color:#992211;”I/dropcap have seen many things in my years of gigging. Some were merely strange. Others, I would have put down to other things influencing...

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The Joy of Sex and Chestwigs (Tragedy)

Tragedy do one thing and they do it well...

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