This is the second album by French symphonic metal band Lost Opera.
Lost Opera are a symphonic metal band specialising in a modern take on the genre, heavily accentuated with orchestral keyboards and with a side-order of extremity. This manifests via heavier-than-average guitars, (for this kind of thing), and the Continue reading “Lost Opera – Hidden Sides (Review)”
This is the debut album from US doom metal band Northern Crown.
I thoroughly enjoyed Northern Crown’s first EP In the Hands of the Betrayer, so when their debut album popped up, I was keen to give it a listen.
The band play traditional doom metal with a good smattering of heavy metal throughout, although it should also be noted that they have started to branch out from this, here and there, marking an increased confidence and comfortableness with how they approach their material. Continue reading “Northern Crown – The Others (Review)”
Unearthed Elf is a one man doom/heavy/power metal project from the US. This is his debut album.
Having a sightly unusual mix of doom, heavy and power metal, Into the Catacomb Abyss is an unexpected listen in a few different ways. Continue reading “Unearthed Elf – Into the Catacomb Abyss (Review)”
Tactus are a Canadian progressive metal band and this is their debut album.
Well it soon becomes obvious that this band know a thing or two about how to play their instruments. This is modern progressive heavy metal that has plenty of technicality and a djent influence.
As I always say; Continue reading “Tactus – Bending Light (Review)”
This is the second album from Russian groove metal band Shokran.
Shokran play modern groove metal with a hearty djent influence, as well as having neo-classical, progressive, technical and Egyptian-themed aspects to their sound. They have a lot going on across these 35 minutes, and it’s all Continue reading “Shokran – Exodus (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 third album from this Greek black/heavy metal band.
Now this is an interesting release. 14 years after their second album, Agatus return with even more of a progressive/heavy metal approach to their music.
70s progressive rock and NWOBHM influences collide head-on with the black metal background of the group, making for an album that sounds little like any of their contemporaries.
The closest I can come to compare with other bands would be a crazy fusion of Rotting Christ, Vintersorg and Countess, all given a workover by NWOBHM and 70s progressive rock. or something. All I know is it’s infectious, addictive, individual and bloody good.
The black metal aspects Continue reading “Agatus – The Eternalist (Review)”
Swampcult are a doom metal band from The Netherlands, this is their second album.
The Festival is a H. P. Lovecraft-themed release, completely built and fashioned around one of his stories of the same name.
This is heavily atmospheric doom metal and sees the band mixing elements of classic proto-black metal into their cauldron and Continue reading “Swampcult – The Festival (Review)”
This is Iron Fire’s eighth album. They are a power/heavy metal band from Denmark.
If 90s heavy/power metal is your thing, then you need to check out Among the Dead right away. Also – zombie-themed metal? Sign me up!
Iron Fire deal in song-oriented tunes that revel in catchy melodies with substantial guitars. I like Continue reading “Iron Fire – Among the Dead (Review)”
This is the fifteenth album from Countess, a black metal band from the Netherlands.
I enjoy Countess a lot. Both Sermons of the Infidel and Ancient Lies and Battle Cries have been featured on this site previously, and it’s with great pleasure that we now turn to this latest album.
With a slightly rougher sound this time around, these tracks Continue reading “Countess – Fires of Destiny (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 