Epica are a symphonic metal band from the Netherlands and this is their eighth album.
Epica are famous for their epic, (ahem), symphonic sound, all larger-than-life melodies, ostentatious orchestration and luscious, enticing vocals. And it works. They’ve made a career out of it and currently sit as one of the biggest bands in the style. Continue reading “Epica – The Holographic Principle (Review)”
Dorylus are a metal band from the UK. This is their debut EP.
Dorylus play groove metal influenced by all of the usual suspects of the style, (Lamb of God, Pantera, etc.).
For a first release this is a well-realised 21 minutes of aural Continue reading “Dorylus – The Rapture (Review)”
This is the debut album of Italian symphonic metal band Oniricide.
Oniricide ostensibly play Nightwish-inspired symphonic metal, but there’s more than just this going on here. The music here has a nice, earthy feel to it that reminds me of some doom metal bands as much as symphonic/melodic ones.
The Nightwish influence is only a starting point, as Continue reading “Oniricide – Revenge of Souls (Review)”
This is the debut album by Canadian progressive metal band Fractal Cypher.
I confess, I was drawn to this album by the cover artwork, which is the reason I decided to listen to it. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but in today’s digital age it’s worth noting that album artwork is still important, at least in my eyes.
So what of the music? Well, Fractal Cypher play modern progressive metal with ample keyboard enhancements and a Continue reading “Fractal Cypher – The Human Paradox (Review)”
This is the debut EP from Mindcult, a one-man doom metal band from the US.
This is fuzzy doom rock with an addictive edge that lures the listener in, seductively, with wily allure.
A large part of this is down to the singer’s voice, which Continue reading “Mindkult – Witch’s Oath (Review)”
Fetters are an industrial metal band and this is their debut release.
This is death industrial that firmly slants towards the industrial end of the spectrum. The music never lets up in its quest to spread utter darkness across the land. Continue reading “Fetters – Sicken (Review)”
Insomnium are a melodic death metal band from Finland and this is their Seventh album.
I do like it when a band gives free rein to their epic, exploratory side and decides to write a really, really long song. Welcome to Winter’s Gate. This album consists of one track that lasts a full 40 minutes in length.
With a concept that’s based around a short story, the band weave this tale into the fabric of the music, taking the listener on a textured journey into unexplored lands. Continue reading “Insomnium – Winter’s Gate (Review)”
Witchskull are from Australia and play heavy/stoner metal. This is their debut album.
With attitude and a confident swagger, Witchskull waste no time in firmly making their mark with their stoner-esque take on desert metal. Continue reading “Witchskull – The Vast Electric Dark (Review)”
This is the second album from Polish industrial metal band Kontagion.
Kontagion play industrial-tinged cybermetal, taking influence from the earlier of strains of the Fear Factory virus, and morphing itself into an altogether darker and more feral breed via some early Slipknot/Mushroomhead influences and a touch of Godflesh, (of which there’s a cover version here of Crush My Soul).
This really does have a late 90s/early 00s feel Continue reading “Kontagion – [R-!-E]lentless (Review)”
Delain are a symphonic metal band from The Netherlands and this is their fifth album.
Delain are one of those bands that I feel I should have heard a long time ago, but Moonbathers is actually my first encounter with the band’s material.
Within Temptation and Nightwish are the obvious reference points for a band like this, and Continue reading “Delain – Moonbathers (Review)”
