Footage Videos Photos Press

12.06.09 - "Insanity Bound" reviewed on Devolution Magazine

05.02.09 - "Insanity Bound" reviewed on GET READY TO ROCK

The reviews are still coming in for Insanity Bound, this one originally appeared on the Pure Metal section of GetReadyToRock.com. Visit www.puremetal.info for more metal reviews and interviews.

"Untamed were formed in September 2000, playing in and around the pub and club circuit collecting along the way a very strong following, starting out playing mostly covers but have since matured into a very tight outfit playing more of their own tracks than others. The band consists of Jon Sampson (Vocals), Colin James (Lead), Darren Macer (Lead), Graham Michael (Bass) & Paul Skinner (Drums).

"Insanity Bound" is the second outing for the boys after the much loved and self released debut album "Nature's Messiah" The album starts off in true Metallica style with guns, planes and bombs blazing with the awesome "Blood Soldiers" a true classic rock pounding anthem showing Jon's vocal talents to the full, the tight guitar licks would have even the shyest of us headbanging in the aisles.

"Broken Silence" is a breath of fresh air bringing excellent lyrics, guitar riffs and the true drumming skills together to produce a very good track. If you like the classic "Rush" then the start of "Fallin" will please you, as the track continues you can see that it is a true Untamed track with haunting vocals and that trademark guitar break.

The title track "Insanity Bound" continues the high standard already set with an excellent mixture of powerful drumming, vocals and true classic guitar riffs with an anthem like chorus. "No Compromise" is exactly that, a powerful no nonsense rock track.

The next track for me is a classic before its time "Dorian Gray" brings together all that is good about Untamed, excellent meaningful lyrics performed as though they mean every word. "Dance Of The Lycanthrope" and the haunting "A Million Miles" culminate what for me has been a truly excellent album to review.

I recently saw these guys live (for the umpteenth time) and can say that they sound just as good live as in the studio, they play their own stuff along with the classic tracks from the likes of Iron Maiden, Metallica, Ozzy etc and always bring the house down. Whether it's in the smallest pub or the larger venues they show true professionalism and give an awesome performance every time - these guys are a true British Metal band and with the right exposure should be at a festival near you very soon.

The Unforgiven he say - 5/5*
© Dave Morris
Rating ***** (5.0/5.0)"

14.01.09 - "Insanity Bound" reviewed on the SLEAZEGRINDER

"Another one in the breech following the recent(ish) resurgence of interest in the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal this Southern (UK) bunch pack enough rifferola equitable to the ceaseless number of rounds in a blockbuster action movie characters chamber. Savaging like Saxon, redeeming like Priest, they even pack in a Maiden style epic in Dorian Gray, a kind of combination of Remember Tomorrow and Phantom Of The Opera, the twin guitar thrust should allay, if not utterly alloy, any doubts at the occasionally too tame vocals and such adherence to stance and standards belying their roots as a NWOBHM covers band. However, along with the everything comes full circle every twenty to thirty years theory, maybe it's no coincidence that this brutal, finger-pointing, deceptively moralistic (ok, at times) style is again in focus what with the current economic calamities..." more

16.12.08 - "Insanity Bound" reviewed on Classic Rock Society Magazine

Bit taken from Alistair Flynn's "Grave Yard Shift"

04.12.08 - "Insanity Bound" reviewed on MTUK METAL 'ZINE

"Real British Metal is back, it has been for a few years now, whether it be a nostalgia trip, a younger generation appreciating it or the industry realising they should never have cast it aside in the first place. In any case, it is more than welcome by myself. 'Untamed' are from Peterborough in the East of England, from recent memory, this appears to be a hotbed of a town in terms of great British metal bands. Twin lead guitars and real vocals are in full force..." more

03.12.08 - "Insanity Bound" reviewed on Kerrang - oh well, can't win them all...

01.12.08 - "Insanity Bound" reviewed on PowerPlay Magazine

26.11.08 - "Insanity Bound" reviewed on Live 4 Metal Magazine

"... as often is the case [see the origins of Black Sabbath], from the least likely area, and in the face of adversity, good things can arrive. Enter stage left, Untamed. This is the third line-up of a band formed in 2000. Originally a covers band, they had the talent and ability to move on to their own compositions and continue in this vein with the eight track Insanity Bound CD, recorded at Pravda Studio, Leeds with Andy Hawkins, who is the bands producer of choice..." more

30.10.08 - "Insanity Bound" reviewed on Rock of Ages

"This albums brings back a number of memories, not just in the music they are so clearly influenced by and in the eight original tracks on this disc recreate superbly, but also of a trip out to Kettering one night many years ago..." more

20.10.08 - "Insanity Bound" reviewed on Blogcritics Magazine

"If you are of a certain age this lot immediately evoke a memory of Metallica's Lars Ulrich faves Diamond Head. Then one realizes the band learned their chops as a New Wave of British Heavy Metal covers band before striking out with their own material. This is their second release and shows a band that is sure of itself and knowing full well what they want to do..." more

Nov 2007 - Art n' Soul Magazine

Sep 2007 - Disclosure Records Press Release

UNTAMED have signed to DISCLOSURE RECORDS!!!!!

We are very proud to have signed with Disclosure, and what this means for us, is not only does someone have faith in us, but also, we will be given the chance to promote ourselves and our music to a much greater audience than ever before! Here is what Disclosure have to say on the news...

* * * *

UNTAMED

' The most famous band you have never heard of '

' In a natural state; not tamed or domesticated '

Ok, so let's do a press release, to announce that Disclosure records are thrilled to have added Untamed to the roster, but I tell you what, let's not bore you, dear reader with a pile of words about blah blah blah.

Instead, let me tell you a few things about the band, and rather than letting you make your own mind up, I will make it up for you.

This is classic British Metal, at its very best and it kicks like a furious donkey. It's classic in reference, but modern and contemporary in its delivery. Imagine the thrill of hearing your first ever NWOBHM track back all those years ago, listening to this album by Untamed will give you that self same rush of blood. The molten elements which make up the very core of this band come together to form pure solid British Metal and suddenly everything makes sense.

This is metal - 2008 style.

Disclosure won't really release this album, in the true traditional sense of the word, we plan to let it escape, and grow its own horns. The legions of Untamed fans who have already witnessed the shows, and begged for more, know it, anybody who has ever listened to the band know it, and very soon, the wider metal world will know it.

What will they know?

They will know that 'Untamed are the most famous band you have never heard of'.

* * * *

Jul 2007 - Art n' Soul Magazine

03.03.2007 - Live Show Review

by independent reviewer Gaby Abrahams
Gaby's Rock Reviews and Listings

"This was a band that I was looking forward to seeing for a long time but alas with so few live gigs planned (which is a great shame) they were proving elusive until this particular Saturday night in that packed den of all fun things - The King Billy in Northampton.

Needless to say I was not disappointed. Untamed play their own particular brand of Rock/Metal that stems from the harder side of rock from the likes of Iron Maiden, Metallica, Ozzy and Judas Priest to name but a few as well as a snippet here and there of their own really good stuff.

This was no run-of-the mill 80's hair metal covers band that just tried to imitate their musical heroes but rather a band that paid true homage to a time in rock/metal music history that simply poured out classic tunes by the bucket full and that even today in what often appears to be a bland decade of a musical desert it still has it's own unique influence as significant today as it was back then.

Untamed are one of those rare breed of creatures that refuses to let the music gather dust and they play it with true hard edged brilliance and imagination that is both infectious as well as a joy to listen to.

On vocals was the wonderful Jon Sampson who has a voice that I believe is a cross between Vince Neil of Motley Crue and Ozzy Osbourne and which perfectly complimented their wide, long and varied set.

On guitar was the exceptional Colin James who you could be forgiven for thinking had 4 arms playing on 2 separate guitars as he effortlessly inter-wove from rhythm and lead in a blink of an eye and gave the crowd a set of sounds that were as sweet as treacle and hot as chilli.

On bass was Graham Michael who gave what I thought was a brilliant performance of understated but highly effective low notes and lastly on drums was Paul Skinner who, be not mistaken, was no bespoke drum monkey but rather a male silverback gorilla of a drummer who thumped those heavy beats out with sheer skilful and talented abandon. This was a guy who loved to play and at times I really thought he was going to disappear inside his own drum kit with sheer dynamic enthusiasm!

In essence this was one hell of an exciting, fresh and talented band with class and style who never let attitude get in the way of what really matters - the music. They delivered a performance that was great to listen to and an absolute joy to watch.

My only complaint - more gigs please guys! You can't hide rock/metal treasure like this away. The rock world needs ya!"

Copyright 2009-2010 Untamed. All Rights Reserved.