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Review: Originally released at the turn of the new millennium, America's Volume Dealer marked the sixth full-length from North Carolina sludging southern metal legends Corrosion Of Conformity, and would be the last to feature longtime drummer Reed Mullin before his return a decade later in 2010. Noted for being the band's most accessible or "radio-friendly" project due to the more polished production and increased reliance on melody, there's no denying that while the dank stoner-heft grooves of old are largely absent, the more alternative rock-leaning approach to their signature brand of metallic, southern blues, in hindsight, was a remarkable breath of fresh air within their back catalogue.

Review: Following on from 1989's majorly successful and admittedly more commercial sounding fourth full-length Intuition, Trondheim glam metal-tinged hard rock heroes TNT would find themselves on the radar and eventual roster of Atlantic Records, who in 1992, would distribute the band's fifth album and first on the major label, Realized Fantasies. Praised by fans for its exceptional production with ludicrously bombastic percussion the whole way through, the project saw a sonic retracing of their more hardened edges, so as not to lose sight of their creative prowess. That being said, cuts such as the cheerful 'Easy Street' and epic ballad 'Lionheart' seem like they were purposefully designed to keep snooting record label execs off their proverbial backs. Never mind what glassy eyed nostalgia-baters say, Realized Fantasies goes hard as hell while delivering barrages of riffage, melody and playfully epic grandeur.

Review: Originally released in 1995, Dogs Of War served as the 12th full-length from Barnsley metal legends Saxon, and not only marked a pivotal sonic turn towards embracing a more anthemic hard rock-tinged approach than ever previously heard, but also a major line-up shift. Cutting founding member Graham Oliver's almost two decade tenure short by one year, the LP would be the guitarist's last with his bandmates after it was discovered that he had overseen the sale of a 1980 live bootleg to which he kept all profits. Not very cool, and not very metal, but thankfully his last licks across this record are very much both.

Review: British rock band Atomic Rooster - made up from members of The Crazy World of Arthur Brown aka organ player Vincent Crane and sticks man Carl Palmer - had success in the 70s and 80s. They went through some mad stylistic changes in that time but remain best known for their hit singles 'Tomorrow Night' which hit number 11 in the UK charts and number four gem 'Devil's Answer', which both came in 1971. Neither of them feature on their self-titled album and debut from 1970 which itself made the Top 50 of the UK album charts, but it still packs a real punch with a prog rock feel.

Review: English heavy-metal band Diamond Head was formed in Stourbridge by guitarist Brian Tatler and drummer Duncan Scott in 1976. Part of the new wave of British heavy metal, even the most famous bands in the category - Metallica, Megadeth, etc. - acknowledge Diamond Head as among the few pioneers to popularise the sound after a long nascence, not to mention their creditors. On Borrowed Time, one can hear that Diamond Head are still informed by ballad rock, highlighting the mid-heyday developments of the sound in the 1970s. Now reissued by Music On Vinyl, this edition is faithful to later versions, adding their signature song 'Am I Evil?' into the mix; the cherry on top to an already amazing, formative heavy metal album.

Review: Swiss hard rock and heavy metal band Krokus are one of the outfits with a cult following who worship their every move. As such this Best Of might not be for them but instead serves as a great overview for newly curious fans. Stayed Awake All Night / The Best Of Krokus compiles their greatest hits and most lively rock riffs from tunes they made between 1982 and 1986 and it originally came in 1989. It shows them to be a band who know how to write a hook and thrash out a rhythm and sits them up there alongside the likes of Judas Priest and Iron Maiden.

Review: Not including the 2000 Diamonds & Nuggets compilation, 2001's Killing Ground would mark the first album of the 21st century, and 15th overall full-length from Barnsley metal titans Saxon. Distancing themselves sonically from the more hard rock-oriented approach taken on Dogs Of War or Unleash The Beast, the material here felt like a purposeful re-shift towards classic metallic song structure, complete with frenetic riffage and epic compositions. Most notable for offering easily the best latter day cut from the legends with 'The Court of the Crimson King', as well as serving as the last entry from drummer Firtz Randow, Killing Ground triumphed where so many seasoned metal veterans falter, by marrying their long-established sonic ethos to modern techniques whilst retaining their identity.

Review: Barnsley heavy metal legends Saxon originally released their 11th studio album Forever Free in 1992, though it would be quickly reissued in the UK with an alternate Warhammer 40,000 inspired cover including a biker Space Marine. Reissued by Demon over a decade ago on CD, a vinyl repress is long since overdue and now the beautiful people over at Music On Vinyl have opted to re-distribute the underrated seasoned gem on translucent blue vinyl with the 180 gram numbered audiophile treatment. Reliably mammoth riffs and soaring hooks abound, though the project is most noted for featuring an eclectic reimagining of Willie Dixon's blues classic 'Just Wanna Make Love to You', popularised by the incomparable Muddy Waters.