Spellcaster are a US heavy metal band and this is their third album.
This is traditional heavy metal with a good pinch of NWOBHM. Spellcaster have created a fiery and passionate modern take on the classic style, meaning that the band play music that’s instantly recognisable as what it is, but with an up-to-date production and youthful vigour.
This is high energy, enthuiastic stuff. There’s no Continue reading “Spellcaster – Night Hides the World (Review)”
This is the debut album from this Swedish thrash metal band.
Defiatory wear their Bay Area thrash influences on their collective sleeves, yet still manage to sound current and relevant despite this. They combine this classic sound with a strong production and elements of the more modern thrash styles. The resulting album is a clash of old and new, one which the band successfully resolve into some very enjoyable songs. Continue reading “Defiatory – Extinct (Review)”
Even the Dead Love a Parade are a groove metal band from the US. This is their début EP.
Featuring the bassist of Drowning Pool, this EP is 23 minutes of modern, rocking metal that has some thrash and hardcore influences – somewhat of a cross between Annihilator, Pantera and Vision of Disorder. Continue reading “Even the Dead Love a Parade – Even the Dead Love a Parade (Review)”
Elyria are a symphonic metal band from Germany. This is their début album.
With a Classically-trained female vocalist in the ranks, you already know that her singing is going to be first-rate. With her Classical training it’s clear from the off that she really knows what she’s doing. How well this works for you depends on your take on the style and how you feel about these kinds of vocals.
There are some really nice vocal melodies strewn about these tracks, reminding me sometimes of older Kamelot in their delivery, and her voice is very enjoyable.
The music is largely of the Gothic/symphonic variety, but interestingly Elyria spice Continue reading “Elyria – Reflection and Refraction (Review)”
This is the second album from Third Ion, a progressive metal band.
Third Ion’s début album 13/8bit was an atypical slice of progressive metal that took a lot of inspiration from video games and chiptune. It shouldn’t have worked, by all rights, but in the band’s skilful hands the album avoided becoming some nonsense novelty and instead they produced an enjoyable 55 minutes of music that offered the listener something a little different.
So what’s changed? Well, they now have a new singer – Dave Padden – Continue reading “Third Ion – Biolith (Review)”
Monument of a Memory are from the US and play modern metal. This is their second EP.
This is modern metalcore with plenty of aggression and heaviness. The foundation of NWOAHM is intact and added to by some heavier and faster parts, which is always nice to hear.
With a strong sound the band rip through Continue reading “Monument of a Memory – Catharsis (Review)”
Despite are from Sweden and play modern metal. This is their third album.
This makes a good impression very early on. Despite play a kind of modern metal that takes from the Swedish melodic death metal scene of yore, as well as more modern and even some progressive/djent elements. Synergi is my first exposure to the band, and to my ears comes across as a mix of Darkane, In Flames, Fear Factory and Whitechapel.
With three guitarists, the music is nicely heavy and treads the line Continue reading “Despite – Synergi (Review)”
Diamond Head are a metal band from the UK, this is their seventh album.
One of the original NWOBHM bands that formed way back in the late 70s, Diamond Head need little introduction to most people, although probably few have actually heard their music directly. Always poised for success, it has nevertheless Continue reading “Diamond Head – Diamond Head (Review)”
This is the début album from 3rd Machine, a modern/groove metal band from the Netherlands.
This is rhythmic groove metal with keyboard enhancements that takes influence from the cyber metal scene.
Despite the modern production though, it has somewhat of a 90s metal feel to it to me. This is not meant in any detrimental way. 3rd Machine seem Continue reading “3rd Machine – Quantified Self (Review)”
This is the début album from this US hardcore/metal band.
Hollow Bones play modern metalcore, but with a little bit of a twist. Essentially the band take the tried-and-true NWOAHM metalcore template and put their spin on it through force of passion, a heightened emotive melodicism, and captivating female vocals.
The songs are enjoyably heavy slabs of metal with lots of tasty riffs. The guitars have Continue reading “Hollow Bones – Lionheart (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 