Aenemica – Secret Lines (Review)

Aenemica - Secret LinesThis is the second album from Aenemica, a German progressive rock band.

This is the follow up to 2014’s Empty Inside,

These songs feature a mix of progressive, melodic, and alternative rock, nicely-written and neatly-presented. Aenemica understand the style that they play, meaning that these songs have plenty of hooks and memorable moments, while Continue reading “Aenemica – Secret Lines (Review)”

Pain of Salvation – Panther (Review)

Pain of Salvation - PantherThis is the tenth album from Swedish progressive rock band Pain of Salvation.

Here we have 54 minutes of progressive rock that’s laced prominently with electronica. For such a well-known and long-serving band, I’m not really that familiar with Pain of Salvation, and I have to say that Panther makes me regret this, as it’s a very strong record indeed. Continue reading “Pain of Salvation – Panther (Review)”

Brimstone Coven – The Woes of a Mortal Earth (Review)

Brimstone Coven - The Woes of a Mortal EarthThis is the fourth album from Brimstone Coven, a rock band from the US.

Here we have 35 minutes of endearing rock that mixes together elements of proto-metal and doom rock to produce music that has a 70s feel, while not being overly beholden to it. Bands like Black Sabbath, Pentagram, and Deep Continue reading “Brimstone Coven – The Woes of a Mortal Earth (Review)”

JG Thirlwell & Simon Steensland – Oscillospira (Review)

JG Thirlwell & Simon Steensland - OscillospiraThis is a collaborative work between US-based composer/producer/artist JG Thirlwell and Swedish multi-instrumentalist and composer Simon Steensland.

This album contains 73 minutes of layered and involved material. This is the sort of release that you could easily get away with describing as Continue reading “JG Thirlwell & Simon Steensland – Oscillospira (Review)”

Paul Catten – The Beauty of Decay (Review)

Paul Catten - The Beauty of DecayPaul Catten is a prolific UK extreme metal artist and this is his latest album.

We’ve met Paul Catten before, (here, here and here), and you never know what you’re going to get from the man. His latest release is far more accessible and pop-influenced than I was expecting, and it Continue reading “Paul Catten – The Beauty of Decay (Review)”

The Night Flight Orchestra – Aeromantic (Review)

The Night Flight Orchestra - AeromanticThis is the fifth album from The Night Flight Orchestra, a Swedish hard rock band.

I loved Amber Galactic and Sometimes the World Ain’t Enough, and now I love Aeromantic. It’s quite simple really; The Night Flight Orchestra have never released a bad album, and just seem to be getting better and better over time, growing into themselves with increasing confidence. Continue reading “The Night Flight Orchestra – Aeromantic (Review)”

Abstruse – Submerge:Ritual (Review)

Abstruse - Submerge RitualThis is the fourth album from Abstruse, an experimental rock project from Greece.

Well, there’s a lot going on here. This is music that refuses to be just one thing, and exists as a constantly-shifting mass of musical styles and content. Amazingly, Submerge:Ritual works with this well, and doesn’t come across as disjointed or a failed science experiment. Continue reading “Abstruse – Submerge:Ritual (Review)”

Avatarium – The Fire I Long For (Review)

Avatarium - The Fire I Long ForThis is the fourth album from doom rockers Avatarium, who are from Sweden.

2017’s Hurricanes and Halos was a quality album that stood out from other ostensibly similar bands playing this sort of style. On The Fire I Long For, however, there’s the impression that the band have really come into their own. Continue reading “Avatarium – The Fire I Long For (Review)”