Xandria are a symphonic metal band from Germany. This is their seventh album.
This is grand, orchestral, operatic metal with lofty ambitions and high aims. It’s been a while since I’ve caught up with Xandria, and it seems they’re hungrier than ever for big things. Continue reading “Xandria – Theater of Dimensions (Review)”
This is the latest EP from The Unguided, a Swedish melodic metal band.
The band’s 2016 album Lust and Loathing was one of those albums that just got better and better the more I listened to it. On the surface the band didn’t seem to be doing anything too different from Continue reading “The Unguided – Brotherhood (Review)”
Kreator are a legendary thrash metal band from Germany that I very much doubt will need any real introduction. This is their fourteenth album.
Full disclosure – Kreator are one of my favourite bands. They have been, (and remain), one of the most consistently enjoyable thrash metal bands out there. Even at their weakest, (probably Cause for Conflict I’d say), their material is still stronger than that of most similar bands. And of course, when they’re at the Continue reading “Kreator – Gods of Violence (Review)”
Legendary Brazilian metal band Sepultura return with their fourteenth album.
On Machine Messiah Sepultura continue their blend of thrash, modern metal, experimental metal and tribal percussion, and they do this in such a way on this release that they sound revitalised, energised and fresh.
The band’s albums are frequently exploratory and tentative in nature, with a mix of straightforward metal tracks and more experimental ones that see them pushing the envelope and trying new things. Continue reading “Sepultura – Machine Messiah (Review)”
Burn Damage are a Portuguese metal band and this is their debut album.
Age of Vultures is 32 minutes of stomping groove/thrash metal with some death metal influences thrown in for extra brutality. Continue reading “Burn Damage – Age of Vultures (Review)”
This is the debut album by post-metal band Nebulae Come Sweet from Belarus.
Although the band itself consists of three core members, on their debut album they’re joined by a wealth of additional musicians and vocalists, (programming, cello, saxophone, pipe, percussion, synthesizer, violin, choir), as well as guests from Minsk and Moloken. As you might imagine, this allows for a lot of scope and on It Is Not the Night That Covers You they take advantage of this to the fullest. Continue reading “Nebulae Come Sweet – It Is Not the Night That Covers You (Review)”
Zao are an American metalcore band and this is their eleventh album.
By this point Zao are pretty much a musical institution, despite this being their first album since 2009’s Awake?.
The Fear Is What Keeps Us Here is probably my favourite Zoe release. The utterly catchy chaotic savagery of it still blows me away to this day. The Well Intentioned Virus is Continue reading “Zao – The Well-Intentioned Virus (Review)”
Alkira are a thrash metal band from Australia and this is their second album.
You may recall Alkira from their 2014 debut album Juggernaut. This was a very enjoyable slab of aggressive thrash metal that I especially enjoyed as it seemed at the time that so much of thrash was doing the retro/ironic/humour/whatever version of the style, which is largely not for me; Alkira were, (and are), somewhat of a panacea for this. Continue reading “Alkira – Klotho (Review)”
Arcade Messiah is a one-man progressive metal project from Ireland. This is his third album.
Although there are some vocals on this release, it’s mainly instrumental, with the man behind the band making sure that the music has the starring role.
The songs are the kind of modern, progressive Continue reading “Arcade Messiah – III (Review)”
This is the debut album from German thrashers Raw Ensemble.
Raw Ensemble deliver a raw and vicious take on old-school thrash metal on Suffer Well. This immediately grabbed me upon first listen, as the combination of catchy riffs and blast beats that characterises the first song on the album, Enemy, suits me to the ground. Continue reading “Raw Ensemble – Suffer Well (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 