Category Archives: News

Towers, an essay by The Machinist!

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The Machinist - Towers - Album Cover

I know we brutally ignored them in 2025. The Machinist‘s sophomore album Contempt for Life kinda flickered about our peripheral vision last year. But it finally got nowhere near our review pipe. And we regret that. But, as always, hindsight is always 20/20.

But fear naught. Towers, the latest blurb from Manchester-based The Machinist, will nonetheless try to make its point. Sincerely so and with all due wiolence the RMR crew can stomach. And what’s up with this Northern English city? Methinks, it regurgitates brutality with abandon. Case in point, the RMR crew just enjoyed some bastardly encounters… [...] Click to raid more!

Video: Ulvgjeld & Blodsodel, rituals by Dimmu Borgir!

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Dimmu Borgir - Ulvgjeld & Blodsodel - Video Cover

I am fascinated. Dimmu Borgir was last heard of when Eonian hit our zine – in 2018. Since then, the RMR Record Detection Squad found no sign of these Norwegians on our mighty radar screen. And it’s not that they weren’t busy. Live albums, compilations, singles, it all continued to appear. Gotta make money for Nuclear Blast’s cavernous coffers. But then, that may just be an erroneous perception on our side. Who knows, right?

So, a few days ago, the RMR crew learned that a new record was in the offing out late May 2026, Grand Serpent Rising. That’s … [...] Click to raid more!

A Desert Ritual for Obey The Sun!

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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!

Velarium, special shade by Ashen Sun!

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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!