Name:  Nick Caldwell (AKA Gnarlyhessian)
Location:  Portland, Oregon, USA
Date Of Birth:  November 29, 1979
Contact Info:  *nickcaldwell at metalcoven dot com *
Position:  Full Time Reviewer

About Nick:  My first baby photo had me in a pair of Bathory p.j.'s with the little "footsies" on the bottom. I think ever since then I have been metal at heart. Ok Bathory wasn't even around yet, but let's just say I was born to be a hessian. Music has always been a part of my life. I played clarinet in grades 3-7 and oboe from 7th grade through present day. And now I play pretty much every instrument to at least a basic level, as I got a master's degree in music education. Hopefully I will become a high school band teacher this year. The first album I purchased with my own money was Guns N Roses' 'Use Your Illusion II' when it came out in 1992. It was not the epitome of metal, but still, it was a proven gateway to my understanding of heavy metal music and the rock and roll attitude. After getting the rest of the G N R catalogue and memorizing every solo and lyric to the albums I somehow took a different veered left on the path for bands I obsessed over with Primus. I think that Primus was such a unique and eclectic band, they caught my interest because of their ability to write really catchy songs that make you say "what the hell is gong on here" at the same time. Plus, being a classically trained musician myself, their ability to play their instruments the way they do just blew me away. To this day musicianship is just as important to me as the quality of the music itself.

My final not-quite metal-phase was in my mid high school years when I got into straight edge, vegan hardcore music from L.A. and N.Y. and also grindcore. I was even in a hardcore band, Carry On, who released a handful of 7 inches. Bands like Gorilla Biscuits, Strife, Earth Crisis, Antischism, Drop Dead, His Hero Is Gone, Spazz and Youth of Today all influenced me musically and warmed me up to those "Rawr Rawr" vocals that seem to turn everyone with a closed mind off from extreme music. These bands were more or less metal, with the exception being the songs were structured differently and only lasted between 30 seconds and 3 minutes.

Then, finally came the day when Iron Maiden came into this life. I first heard them on a road trip with my family to Tennessee when my brother was listening to 'Live After Death'. Although I liked it, I didn't explore that amazing band on my own until a year later, my junior year in high school. Then the flood gates of true metal opened and I have been drowning in their waters since. More mainstream bands came first like Cradle of Filth, Opeth, Old Man's Child, etc.., and I still love those bands to this day.

Nowadays I am obsessed with all that is metal. Metal consumes roughly 80-85% of my free thoughts throughout the day. I pretty much like it all. I would have to say death metal is my least favorite genre, but I still give it a chance when a new band is talked about. Viking, power, folk, black and traditional are my favorites. As long as it's metal or classical, it is better than anything else out there and I will feel that way till the Valkyries take my spirit to the golden hall.

Essential Albums Every Metal Head Should Own:  
Iron Maiden-Any/All
Sonata Arcitca-Winterheart's Guild
Manowar-Louder Than Hell
Windir-1184
Bathory-Blood On Ice
Moonsorrow-Voimasta ja Kunniasta
Falkenbach-Ok Nefna Tysvar Ty
Vintersorg-Visions From the Spiral Generator
Gamma Ray-Powerplant
Wintersun-Wintersun
My Dying Bride-Like Gods of the Sun
Arknoa-Lepta
Limbonic Art-In Abhorrence Dementia
Blind Guardian-Nightfall in middle Earth
Bruce Dickinson-The Chemical Wedding
Therion-Secret of the Runes
Dark Moor-The Gates of Oblivion
Satyricon-The Shadowthrone
Jag Panzer-Thane to the Throne
Enslaved-Frost
Dio-Holy Diver
Curachan-Folk Lore
Asmegin-Hin Vordende Sod & So
Death-The Sound of Perseverance
Emperor-Anthems to the Welkin At Dusk
King Diamond-Abigail
Megadeth-Rust In Piece
Dream Theater-Scenes From a Memory

Favorite Bands:
Iron Maiden, Sonata Arctica, Windir, Moonsorrow, Manowar, Bathory, Falkenbach, Vintersorg, Gamma Ray, Enslaved, Nokturnal mortum, Limbonic art, Therion, Blind Guardian, Iced Earth, Rhapsody, Summoning, Antischism, Primordial, Thyrfing, Wintersun, Pagan Reign, Opeth, Otyg, Nightwish, Lumsk, Korpiklaani, Immortal, Jag Panzer, Drudkh, Temnozor, Peter Paul and Mary, Menhir, Agalloch, Drop Dead, Taake, Dio, Death, Asmegin, Rotting Christ, Battlelore, Dragonforce, Edguy, Strife, Finntroll, Dream Theater, Einherjer, King Diamond, Satyricon, Ensiferum, Amon Amarth, Emperor, My Dying Bride, Dark Moor, Graveland, His Hero Is Gone, Helloween,Arkona, Cruachan, Freedom Call, Naglfar, Taunusheim, The Cranberries, Menhir, Borknagar, Vrata T'my, Burzum, Darkthrone, Diamond Eyed Princess, Hantaoma
And of course: Mozart, Mahler, Dvorak, Handel, Cimarosa, Vivaldi, Bach, Beehoven, Telemann.

Favorite Movies:
Deathstalker 1-4, Barbarian Queen 1&2, Conan the Barbarian, Lord of the Rings, Empire Strikes Back

Favorite Books:
A Song of Ice and Fire-George R.R. Martin, Lord of the Rings-Tolkien, A History of Western Music-Grout/Pasillica, Wheel of Time- Robert Jordan

Favorite TV Programs:
Simpsons and Family Guy

Hobbies:
Heavy metal, mead, my tobacco pipe, cheap ass vodka, developing my allegiance with Odin, fantasy novels and movies, the strength and power of steel, destroying all those who support false metal, oboe, english horn, accordion, metalcoven.com, and last but not least a girl named Justa.