A Desert Ritual for Obey The Sun!

Obey The Sun - Desert Ritual - Album Cover

Looking at the band pic, the RMR crew thought these guys emerged from somewhere out of the scorched US South. Around the Tucson/Tombstone area, where the rocks are gritty and the cacti huge. Y’know, good ol’ Wyatt’s ancient hunting grounds, now turned tourist trap. Thereabouts.

But not so. Obey The Sun hail from Hungary, of all places. But I gotta admit, they play their part well. The way they chew craggy rock just like ’em parched good ‘uns straight out of those dusty arroyos down there draws us like a bear to honey. Saguaro country comfort right there. Or do … [...] Click to raid more!

In Ruins – We Are All to Perish (2026) – Review

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In Ruins - We Are All To Perish - Album Cover

Romania. A country rich in blood-drenched counts and dark tales, wafting over from the equally somber and mysterious mountain ranges that dominate the place. Full of ominous valleys and frightening figures, such as Vlad the Impaler, commonly called Dracula. The Transylvanian region is particularly noteworthy. But you knew all that already, didn’t you? This should actually generate a ton of abjectly blackened metal. But for some reason, this crew found an ocean of tears. Yet another reflection on the dead and dying. Seems to be the year for that.


If ever there was a funeral version of Rise to the

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Velarium, special shade by Ashen Sun!

Ashen Sun - Velarium - Album Cover

Does anybody remember Johnny Hagel? You know, the bassist who kept popping up here and there on this zine. Most notably on records sponsored by an ancient incarnation of Tiamat and – yes – more recent Sorcerer, too. But since then, he seemed to have taken a deep dive. Like them anal nuclear subs that disappear into nowhere.

Thus, the RMR crew was mighty surprised to see him emerging astride a Gothic Rock gig called Ashen Sun. One that wallows darkly in echoes of dystopian melancholy, electronica-driven Darkwave without the bodices, and soft-spoken messages of fire and … [...] Click to raid more!

Total Maniac – Love Overdrive (2026) – Review

Total Maniac - Love Overdrive - Album Cover

We said it before, a long time ago. Never judge anything by its appearance. When the old geezers at the RMR Review Desk saw the album cover, this went as follows: ‘By the almighty Gawds ov Heavy Metal, do we really want to descend into glam’s very special hellscape?’ But little did they know that the series of somewhat somnambulant Heavy Metal pieces and other malfunctions were about to end.

2026 already features a pretty sturdy Heavy Metal diet to date. But a lot of the fare the pipe caught was kinda mediocre. Not embarrassingly bad, but more of … [...] Click to raid more!