Haunt – Mind Freeze (Review)

Haunt - Mind FreezeHaunt are a heavy metal band from the US and this is their third album.

Haunt clearly exist to worship at the altar of 80s heavy metal and NWOBHM, yet do so in a way that allows the band a contemporary edge all of their own. This new album delivers 37 minutes of anthemic tuneage, and does so with skill and aplomb. Continue reading “Haunt – Mind Freeze (Review)”

Horrified – Sentinel (Review)

Horrified - SentinelThis is the latest release by UK melodic death metallers Horrified.

We last met Horrified in 2017 with Allure of the Fallen, which was the band’s crowning achievement after the pleasing progression between the old-school nastiness of Descent into Putridity and the shinier, slicker Of Despair. Continue reading “Horrified – Sentinel (Review)”

Ram – The Throne Within (Review)

Ram - The Throne WithinThis is the sixth album from Swedish heavy metallers Ram.

Since 2015’s Svbversvm, and then 2017’s Rod, I have been a huge fan of Ram. Very few heavy metal bands from the last decade or so do it for me quite like Ram. They are, quite simply, just so damn good at what they do. Continue reading “Ram – The Throne Within (Review)”

Warcrab – Damned in Endless Night (Review)

Warcrab - Damned in Endless NightThis is the third album from UK death/sludge metal band Warcrab.

Scars of Aeons was a very enjoyable mix of sludge and death metal, so when I found out that this new album was on the horizon, I prepared myself accordingly. Damned in Endless Night is a bigger monster than Scars of Aeons was though, with double the tracks and a total duration of 52 minutes. Continue reading “Warcrab – Damned in Endless Night (Review)”

Frantic Amber – Bellatrix (Review)

Frantic Amber - BellatrixThis is the second album from Swedish melodic death metallers Frantic Amber.

Boasting ex-members of Insision and Ice Age in their ranks, Frantic Amber play death metal that combines melody and brutality into songs that are well-written and tight. Continue reading “Frantic Amber – Bellatrix (Review)”

Twilight Force – Dawn of the Dragonstar (Review)

Twilight Force - Dawn of the DragonstarTwilight Force are a power metal band from Sweden and this is their third album.

This is epic, symphonic power metal, the type that makes no apologies for its extravagance and sumptuous presence. These Euro-metal hymns are enhanced with all manner of additional instruments and symphonic keyboards. It’s the kind of music that embraces all of the clichés about this sort of thing, and does so willingly and with passion. Continue reading “Twilight Force – Dawn of the Dragonstar (Review)”

Druids – Monument (Review)

Druids - MonumentThis is the latest album from US stoner metal band Druids.

After enjoying 2016’s Cycles of Mobeum and 2017’s Spirit Compass, I’m glad to be able to catch up with Druids once more. Continue reading “Druids – Monument (Review)”

Forged in Black – Descent of the Serpent (Review)

Forged in Black - Descent of the SerpentForged in Black are a UK heavy metal band and this is their second album.

Featuring 48 minutes of material, Descent of the Serpent is well-crafted heavy metal with wide scope. Some elements of thrash are mixed in, for example. Also, occasionally the songs veer into classic doom metal territories in their more atmospheric moments, or sometimes adopt a power metal stance of epic force. Whatever they do this is pure heavy metal goodness all the way. Continue reading “Forged in Black – Descent of the Serpent (Review)”