People who have lost someone close will tell you that no matter how much we prepare for the end, it’s still a shock. Ozzy was purportedly telling… Read more “Goodbye Ozzy Osbourne of Birmingham, a square peg in a world full of round holes!”
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SKARDUS on new release STORMRIEK and always looking to the north.
SKARDUS hail from Schleswig-Holstein and play heavy black death with catchy, angular riffs and an organic but very clear production. Where, you say? You’ve heard of ‘Holsten… Read more “SKARDUS on new release STORMRIEK and always looking to the north.”
Tree Stewart of prog rockers The Emerald Dawn talks new album ‘In Time…’, painting, staying positive, keyboards, and why everyone should try the trapeze.
Harking from deepest Cornwall, The Emerald Dawn could just be the prog band that will convert any of the remaining resistance with their timeless keyboard-driven music. We… Read more “Tree Stewart of prog rockers The Emerald Dawn talks new album ‘In Time…’, painting, staying positive, keyboards, and why everyone should try the trapeze.”
Rob ‘Mid’ Middleton ( DEVIATED INSTINCT, BAIT, SPINEWRENCH, HAAVAT ) talks illustration, Norse mythology, 1980s recording studios, Norwegian Black Metal, budget distortion pedals, and cats.
Were you about in the mid-to-late ’80s punk scene, supergluing patches on your tattered trousers, tramping the streets in para-boots to the soundtrack of underproduced cassette demos… Read more “Rob ‘Mid’ Middleton ( DEVIATED INSTINCT, BAIT, SPINEWRENCH, HAAVAT ) talks illustration, Norse mythology, 1980s recording studios, Norwegian Black Metal, budget distortion pedals, and cats.”
Benjamin König of LUNAR AURORA and BALD ANDERS on the inspiration for his new art book from SPERBER ILLUSTRATIONEN.
What next, once you’ve an accomplished suite of forest-black-metal releases under your belt, resplendent with transcendental artwork, deeply atmospheric lush orchestration that embraces both the old-style music… Read more “Benjamin König of LUNAR AURORA and BALD ANDERS on the inspiration for his new art book from SPERBER ILLUSTRATIONEN.”
Katri Chapman of crust-punk bands HAAVAT and RAKKAUS talks moving from Finland to the UK, pregnant gigs, freedom, ADHD, and upcycling.
We thrive on inspirational tales, and who doesn’t like a good old D-beat love story? Katri Chapman ( née Kankkunen! ) of the superb crust punk outfit HAAVAT… Read more “Katri Chapman of crust-punk bands HAAVAT and RAKKAUS talks moving from Finland to the UK, pregnant gigs, freedom, ADHD, and upcycling.”
kariti on dark-folk release ‘Covered Mirrors’, words and music, the first person in lower case, Soviet composers, modern tragedies, and cats.
kariti released the dark-folk LP ‘Covered Mirrors’ a while back and we really liked it: nine tracks that are slow, deliberate – perhaps you could even say… Read more “kariti on dark-folk release ‘Covered Mirrors’, words and music, the first person in lower case, Soviet composers, modern tragedies, and cats.”
TOBIAS of GRENDEL’S SŸSTER on Jungian archetypes, New World culinary schisms, placing ‘Myrtle Wreath’ EP in the heavy metal canon, and why it’s never too late to be what you are, or to do what you love.
Grendel’s Sÿster released Myrtle Wreath only a couple of years back – yes, just before everything started to go wrong – here at OMM we heard it… Read more “TOBIAS of GRENDEL’S SŸSTER on Jungian archetypes, New World culinary schisms, placing ‘Myrtle Wreath’ EP in the heavy metal canon, and why it’s never too late to be what you are, or to do what you love.”
MATT HOWDEN of SIEBEN talks loop pedals, the power of nature, and the power of the live stream…
Autumn, or the Fall, is here, and for those particularly connected with nature then you’ll no doubt be relishing the melancholia that the darker seasons foist upon… Read more “MATT HOWDEN of SIEBEN talks loop pedals, the power of nature, and the power of the live stream…”
Kjetil Mannheim talks his time in 80s Black Metal band MAYHEM, avant-garde composing, new ORDER release ‘The Gospel’, and how everything turns out alright in the end…
Kjetil ‘Mannheim’ was the original drummer of MAYHEM during the phase that culminated in the legendary Deathcrush EP of 1987. Now, that release was a real beast… Read more “Kjetil Mannheim talks his time in 80s Black Metal band MAYHEM, avant-garde composing, new ORDER release ‘The Gospel’, and how everything turns out alright in the end…”
Kaos of CHAOS UK, THE WAZZUKS and FEAR OF THE KNOWN on; punk rock, hot sauce, the WURZELS, drugs, Br*x*t, Bristol now and then, his upcoming book, and Clive, his cat.
Chaos UK were / are a rather noisy punk band from Bristol who, alongside Disorder and perhaps Amebix, were proponents of the now world-famous ‘crust punk’ scene,… Read more “Kaos of CHAOS UK, THE WAZZUKS and FEAR OF THE KNOWN on; punk rock, hot sauce, the WURZELS, drugs, Br*x*t, Bristol now and then, his upcoming book, and Clive, his cat.”
Jim Barraza of CIRITH UNGOL talks skydiving, heroes, hauling concrete, fist-fighting fans and the person who persuaded him to learn guitar….
Jim Barraza has played guitar for cult epic heavy metal outfit CIRITH UNGOL since the late ’80s, and as lives go, that’s probably achievement enough for most… Read more “Jim Barraza of CIRITH UNGOL talks skydiving, heroes, hauling concrete, fist-fighting fans and the person who persuaded him to learn guitar….”
Midgaars of LUGUBRUM TRIO on home-brew carrot beer, maintaining artistic naivety, outsider-ism, clawhammer banjo, monumental toilet rituals, and recording new album ‘BRUYNE KROON’.
If you like the work of artists who have either a healthy disdain for their instruments, or wade into them in the same way as would an… Read more “Midgaars of LUGUBRUM TRIO on home-brew carrot beer, maintaining artistic naivety, outsider-ism, clawhammer banjo, monumental toilet rituals, and recording new album ‘BRUYNE KROON’.”
Tainá Bergamaschi of CRYPTA on new single ‘From the Ashes’, upcoming album ‘Echoes of the Soul’ and the best person in the band to get drunk with….
CRYPTA dropped something pretty jaw-dropping on the world a few days ago in the shape of new track ‘From The Ashes‘. You were probably all wondering what… Read more “Tainá Bergamaschi of CRYPTA on new single ‘From the Ashes’, upcoming album ‘Echoes of the Soul’ and the best person in the band to get drunk with….”
Jim Brooks of UK’82 punk band THE EJECTED on the old days, the Young Tribes of England, his new book ‘WHEN I’M DEAD AND GONE’, and what his parents really think of his band….
‘Big Jim’ Brooks formed the Ejected in 1980, and the band released three great EPs, and two albums, the first of which, A Touch Of Class, I… Read more “Jim Brooks of UK’82 punk band THE EJECTED on the old days, the Young Tribes of England, his new book ‘WHEN I’M DEAD AND GONE’, and what his parents really think of his band….”
RICK FISHER of MANILLA ROAD on recording those early albums, huge tom-toms, life outside music, RIDDLEMASTER and the Mark Shelton Tribute show, Bluegrass, Outlaw-Country, and why the hippies were right after all….
Rick Fisher is the Manilla Road drummer on the first three albums – Invasion, Metal and Crystal Logic ( as well as the later-released Dreams of Eschaton… Read more “RICK FISHER of MANILLA ROAD on recording those early albums, huge tom-toms, life outside music, RIDDLEMASTER and the Mark Shelton Tribute show, Bluegrass, Outlaw-Country, and why the hippies were right after all….”
Jürgen Bartsch of BETHLEHEM on the re-release of 1998’s classic S.U.i.Z.i.D, new songwriting secrets, healthy living…and his favourite CHARGED G.B.H song.
Are you feeling depressed during lockdown 2021? Missing human interaction at all? Wait….no? Maybe you are even starting to enjoy it? And perhaps even hoping it lasts… Read more “Jürgen Bartsch of BETHLEHEM on the re-release of 1998’s classic S.U.i.Z.i.D, new songwriting secrets, healthy living…and his favourite CHARGED G.B.H song.”
GEORGE FLETCHER and STIG MILLER talk post-AMEBIX band ZYGOTE
Continuing our exploration of the 1980s English West Country punk scene we are honoured to have both Stig Miller and George Fletcher here for a chat about… Read more “GEORGE FLETCHER and STIG MILLER talk post-AMEBIX band ZYGOTE”
BRIDGET WISHART ( HAWKWIND ) talks iconic 80s festival punk band THE HIPPY SLAGS!
Bridget Wishart sang for the Hippy Slags from 1987-1990, before joining Hawkwind. ‘Who…’, you say? Yes the Hippy Slags, a group of youths from Bath in Somerset… Read more “BRIDGET WISHART ( HAWKWIND ) talks iconic 80s festival punk band THE HIPPY SLAGS!”
DIVA SATANICA of NERVOSA talks the new line up, recording album PERPETUAL CHAOS, and why you should never challenge a Spaniard to an eating contest…
Well-respected all-female super hard-working thrash act NERVOSA have fought their corner, touring and staring down audiences for ten years, and as if 2020 wasn’t already a complete… Read more “DIVA SATANICA of NERVOSA talks the new line up, recording album PERPETUAL CHAOS, and why you should never challenge a Spaniard to an eating contest…”
TONY WAKEFORD of CRISIS and SOL INVICTUS sticks the boot into 2020.
Neofolk, the European musical genre of dark, romantic melancholic folk, has been around since the 80s, and Tony Wakeford is prolific across many of its interconnected bands… Read more “TONY WAKEFORD of CRISIS and SOL INVICTUS sticks the boot into 2020.”
NICK SALOMAN of BEVIS FROND talks lockdown, songwriting, QPR and Br*x*t
Cult psyche / spacerock / folk / acoustic songwriting genius Nick Saloman talks to lifelong fan Swag about his very English lockdown, some of his favourite bands,… Read more “NICK SALOMAN of BEVIS FROND talks lockdown, songwriting, QPR and Br*x*t”
ANTIGEN on the Central European crust punk scene, vocal melodies, and latest album ‘Dust and Ashes’.
Who doesn’t love a bit of d-beat? Boom cha, …ba cha! boom cha,….ba cha! German / Czech Republic act ANTIGEN have been going for nearly two decades,… Read more “ANTIGEN on the Central European crust punk scene, vocal melodies, and latest album ‘Dust and Ashes’.”
‘BLACK STRING’ of VAMPIRE talks recording new album REX, collecting obscure Eastern Bloc heavy metal, and how much you really earn being in a band…
If you dipped the first two Entombed albums in liquid nitrogen, smashed the resulting lump with a hammer whilst listening to Somberlain by Dissection, the third and… Read more “‘BLACK STRING’ of VAMPIRE talks recording new album REX, collecting obscure Eastern Bloc heavy metal, and how much you really earn being in a band…”
Gabriel Franco of IDLE HANDS / UNTO OTHERS, quick-fire interview.
Portland’s Idle Hands seem to be one of those bands who have landed in the right place at the right time, a place where lots of us… Read more “Gabriel Franco of IDLE HANDS / UNTO OTHERS, quick-fire interview.”
Steve Allen of UK punk band DISORDER on the old days, the years between, and his new band FEAR OF THE KNOWN.
Steve Allen was the driving force behind Bristol 80s punk legends DISORDER, a band he played guitar in for a little over a decade, culminating in a… Read more “Steve Allen of UK punk band DISORDER on the old days, the years between, and his new band FEAR OF THE KNOWN.”
Colin Hendra of WYTCH HAZEL on Christian (dis)content, Robin Hood outfits, and valve amps.
Knights on horseback, medieval garb, English folklore tropes and twin guitar heavy metal – what’s not to like? Well, Lancaster’s Wytch Hazel caught my eye a while… Read more “Colin Hendra of WYTCH HAZEL on Christian (dis)content, Robin Hood outfits, and valve amps.”
PETE NASH ( DOOM, EXTREME NOISE TERROR ) talks Crust Punk, three stringed basses, his secret eco-project CORVUS, haunted battlefields, and the hermit life.
What do crust punk superstars do when they are done with it all? They tramp off to the southwest and become a hermit, that’s what. Pete Nash,… Read more “PETE NASH ( DOOM, EXTREME NOISE TERROR ) talks Crust Punk, three stringed basses, his secret eco-project CORVUS, haunted battlefields, and the hermit life.”
THOMAS BERGLI of SARKE, TULUS and KHOLD talks recording black metal of great awesomeness.
After reviewing 2019’s excellent Gastwerso by SARKE, I got hold of Thomas Bergli, mastermind behind the act, and asked him as many questions as I could about… Read more “THOMAS BERGLI of SARKE, TULUS and KHOLD talks recording black metal of great awesomeness.”
SENTRY – ‘Sentry’ review.
SENTRY is three-quarters of the final line up of Manilla Road starting anew, and their debut album ‘Sentry’ is something quite unique, sounding like said band –… Read more “SENTRY – ‘Sentry’ review.”
Saturnalia Temple ‘Paradigm Call’ review
If one had to describe the sound of SATURNALIA TEMPLE, it would be like a blend of the songs Dopethrone, Sacrificial Suicide, The Dance Of Eternal Shadows,… Read more “Saturnalia Temple ‘Paradigm Call’ review”
Kay Stevenson of ‘Punk Rock Metal Detectorists Club’ on rekindling the past, illuminating the present, and the discovery of the oldest Bronze Age axe-heads in England.
Would you believe it if we told you there is a group of amateur archaeologists and ex-musicians called the ‘Punk Rock Metal Detectorists Club’ operating across the… Read more “Kay Stevenson of ‘Punk Rock Metal Detectorists Club’ on rekindling the past, illuminating the present, and the discovery of the oldest Bronze Age axe-heads in England.”
Matt of VOID talks new album JADJOW, distortion of reality, birthing alien musical forms, and how (Hair) Metal cut its Fringe.
New for 2024, with a lineup assembled of members and session players associated with the acts of the more artistic side of the original Norwegian BM scene… Read more “Matt of VOID talks new album JADJOW, distortion of reality, birthing alien musical forms, and how (Hair) Metal cut its Fringe.”
The English Folding Sheepsfoot Knife solves one first-world problem
Penknives, pocket-knives, folding-knives – there was a time when every man would carry one, and indeed lots of kids. “Quelle horreur!”, you gasp. Kids, with knives? Yes,… Read more “The English Folding Sheepsfoot Knife solves one first-world problem”
Farewell Geordie Walker of Killing Joke.
Very sad to hear that the big man with the big sound Kevin ‘Geordie’ Walker has gone…my condolences to his family, friends and fellow artists. He was… Read more “Farewell Geordie Walker of Killing Joke.”
BRETWALDAS – ‘Summoning the Gatekeepers’ released May 2023.
BRETWALDAS ‘Summoning the Gatekeepers’ full-length available now on OldMansMettle records. 2023 brings seven more songs of doom, traditional heavy metal, post-punk, black metal and crust from this… Read more “BRETWALDAS – ‘Summoning the Gatekeepers’ released May 2023.”
The sloppiest Punk Rock bands ever committed to vinyl 1980-1983.
We interview a lot of technically good bands on OMM, but there’s always a space in our heart for the more chaotic ones. However not everyone is… Read more “The sloppiest Punk Rock bands ever committed to vinyl 1980-1983.”
Jonny Maudling of KULL and BAL-SAGOTH on composing ‘Exile’, Epic Fantasy Metal escapism, long-standing fans, and new shows.
KULL, the present incarnation of Sheffield’s long-standing Epic Fantasy Metal outfit BAL-SAGOTH, released ‘Exile‘ just before the pandemic. With 2006’ ‘Chthonic Chronicles‘ being the last full length… Read more “Jonny Maudling of KULL and BAL-SAGOTH on composing ‘Exile’, Epic Fantasy Metal escapism, long-standing fans, and new shows.”
Timm Endstille-Tauthr talks learning the drums, favourite cymbals, touring, the follies of war, identity, and recording the new 2022 ENDSTILLE album.
It is our pleasure to catch up with Timm aka Mayhemic Destructor of the relentlessly pummelling black war-metal act ENDSTILLE, a band who everyone should see live… Read more “Timm Endstille-Tauthr talks learning the drums, favourite cymbals, touring, the follies of war, identity, and recording the new 2022 ENDSTILLE album.”
Tregor Russo of DIONISYAN on new album ‘The Last Millenium’, the Ars Antiqua, Sicilian villages, Italian Traditionalism, and what’s wrong with the modern world.
If you like your doom to be neoclassical, dark, romantic, yet with vocals like rumbling thunder, then Tregor Russo is your man. Releasing three ornate, multi-textured albums… Read more “Tregor Russo of DIONISYAN on new album ‘The Last Millenium’, the Ars Antiqua, Sicilian villages, Italian Traditionalism, and what’s wrong with the modern world.”
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