Black Orchid Empire – Tempus Veritas (Review)

Black Orchid Empire - Tempus VeritasThis is the fourth album from UK progressive metal band Black Orchid Empire.

Tempus Veritas showcases that talents of Black Orchid Empire across an easily enjoyable 38 minutes. The style is a contemporary blend of progressive, technical, and alternative/melodic rock/metal, one that is textured and vibrant. Continue reading “Black Orchid Empire – Tempus Veritas (Review)”

Sermon – Of Golden Verse (Review)

Sermon - Of Golden VerseThis is the second album from UK progressive metal band Sermon.

Of Golden Verse is a 49-minute tour de force of engaging progressive metal. Sermon’s new album immediately grabs your attention with its vibrant, feeling-focused personality, and holds it throughout the running time by the sheer quality and richness of its material. Continue reading “Sermon – Of Golden Verse (Review)”

Allfather – A Violent Truth (Review)

Allfather - A Violent TruthThis is the third album from UK sludge metal band Allfather.

A Violent Truth is a 27-minute kick to the head. This is ugly sludge metal played in the way that that it should be played; raw, honest, and brutal. Continue reading “Allfather – A Violent Truth (Review)”

Morass of Molasses – End All We Know (Review)

Morass of Molasses - End All We KnowThis is the third album from Morass of Molasses, a stoner rock/metal band from the UK.

Following on from 2019’s The Ties That Bind, End All We Know contains 38 minutes of fuzzed-out jams. Playing a stoner-inflected brand of heavy blues that benefits from metal and rock components, Morass of Molasses bring us an individual vision of a well-worn style. Continue reading “Morass of Molasses – End All We Know (Review)”

Frozen Crown – Call of the North (Review)

Frozen Crown - Call of the NorthFrozen Crown are an Italian power metal band and this is their fourth album.

With promo blurb that states Call of the North is for fans of Iron Maiden, Blind Guardian, Hammerfall, Dragonforce, and Unleash the Archers, it would be churlish not to check this out. I’m glad I did. Continue reading “Frozen Crown – Call of the North (Review)”

Ne Obliviscaris – Exul (Review)

Ne Obliviscaris - ExulNe Obliviscaris are an Australian extreme progressive metal band and this is their fourth album.

It seems like such a long time ago that 2017’s Urn came out – and it was – so it’s great to now have Ne Obliviscaris back with Exul. Containing 52 minutes of new material, Exul may just be Ne Obliviscaris’ best album yet. Continue reading “Ne Obliviscaris – Exul (Review)”

Redemption – I Am the Storm (Review)

Redemption - I Am the StormThis is the eighth album from Redemption, a progressive metal band from the US.

Following up 2016’s The Art of Loss and 2018’s Long Night’s Journey into Day, Redemption now return with 55 minutes of new material, (71 minutes including a remix and covers of Genesis and Peter Gabriel songs), on I Am the Storm. Continue reading “Redemption – I Am the Storm (Review)”

Håndgemeng – Ultraritual (Review)

Håndgemeng - UltraritualThis is the debut album from Norwegian stoner/sludge metal band Håndgemeng.

Ultraritual provides us with 42 minutes of stoner/sludge metal that has a hardcore edge. Taking a high energy approach to riff-focused heavy music, yet varied within this, Ultraritual is a melting pot of influences that come together well. Continue reading “Håndgemeng – Ultraritual (Review)”

Witch Ripper – The Flight After the Fall (Review)

Witch Ripper - The Flight After the FallThis is the second album from US stoner/sludge metal band Witch Ripper.

Witch Ripper play a brand of heavy music that exists somewhere between sludge metal and progressive rock. The Flight After the Fall is an ambitious and enjoyable slab of modern progressive sludge that takes the listener on a 47-minute journey into expressive and emotive waters. Continue reading “Witch Ripper – The Flight After the Fall (Review)”

Megaton Sword – Might & Power (Review)

Megaton Sword - Might & PowerMegaton Sword are a heavy metal band from Switzerland and this is their second album.

Containing a member of Forlet SiresMight & Power is a 39-minute romp into true heavy metal waters. Break out the weaponry, as it’s time to go rampaging. Continue reading “Megaton Sword – Might & Power (Review)”