For a few years after his passing in 2003, the market was flooded with everything Johnny Cash. In hindsight, it is even somewhat surprising how little Rick Rubin and his American Recordings utilized this situation. They could have put out … Continue reading From the Vaults #19: American VI: Ain’t No Grave
This Hank Williams box set is absolutely one of the most extravagant items in our music collection. It’s a rather massive set containing 15 CD’s, one DVD, a hardcover book, a poster and a puzzle. Everything except the puzzle is … Continue reading From the Vaults #18: The Complete Mother’s Best Recordings Plus!
The story of Beltane Fire is an odd one. Way back in the late 70’s, in the UK, a rockabilly band called The Blue Cat Trio were formed. By 1979, original vocalist Dave Edmunds left (to launch a not-unsuccessful solo … Continue reading From the Vaults #17: Different Breed
The concept album is a notoriously risky thing. The prospect of telling a story over the arch of an entire album, tying together all tracks into a conceptual, thematic and/or narrative whole has proven to be a surprisingly tricky thing … Continue reading From the Vaults #16: Tougher Than Leather
It’s pretty amazing when you think about it. Three years into their recording career, British heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath released their fourth album. Which at the same time is their fourth consecutive iconic album. In those early years, Black … Continue reading From the Vaults #15: Vol 4
Something a bit different in our series of gems from the archives – but no less deserving of an entry: the first book attempting to give an overview of the phenomenon called black metal. The book by Michael Moynihan (of … Continue reading From the Vaults #14: Lords of Chaos
I remember how, back when this, Finnish Satanic Warmaster’s debut was released, the reactions in Finland among friends and on message boards were almost unequivocally positive and enthusiastic. In retrospect, there was a feeling as of standing at the precipice … Continue reading From the Vaults #13: Strength & Honour
If you’re from Finland or Sweden and paid attention to what was going on in popular music in the mid-90’s, you couldn’t escape Swedish folk pop duo Nordman. During the era of grunge, eurodance and gangsta rap, they were probably … Continue reading From the Vaults #12: Nordman
David Allan Coe is without doubt one of the most controversial characters within country music. There’s no shortage of reasons for this. Some of them humorous, such as the legendary story of him riding to Nashville in a hearse; some … Continue reading From the Vaults #11: Longhaired Redneck/Rides Again
It must have been 25 years ago to the month that I first heard US death/doom icons Winter for the first time. I remember it clearly: spring was already turning warm, the end of school was just a few weeks … Continue reading From the Vaults #10: Into Darkness/Eternal Frost
Only Death Is Real 