Progressive metal – Page 45

Seventh Station – Between Life and Dreams (Review)

This is the debut album from international progressive metal band Seventh Station.

The band clearly know what they’re doing with their instruments, and the high level of quality playing on this album is evident from the very start.

I love music that feels like it’s taking you on a journey, and this is very definitely one such album. Through a blistering display of virtuoso playing, the band navigate all manner of musical soundscapes in an attempt to get across their artistic vision. Continue reading “Seventh Station – Between Life and Dreams (Review)”

Inter Arma – Paradise Gallows (Review)

Inter Arma are a US post-metal band and this is their third album.

Well, here we have something that has a massive amount of expectation attached to it, at least from me. Their 2014 release The Cavern was a single 45 minute track that came close to attaining perfection. It was, quite simply, the best thing I heard that year, which is why it was my album of the year for 2014.

So, it’s with no pressure, (hehe), that I pressed play on their latest release, and let the band’s involved soundscapes take me away. Continue reading “Inter Arma – Paradise Gallows (Review)”

Shodan – Protocol of Dying (Review)

This is the début album by Shodan, a death metal band from Poland.

Shodan play modern death metal for the most part, but also incorporate a myriad of other influences and ideas into this atypical release.

The interesting thing about this band is how they develop their style for each song; it all revolves around a modern core of solid death metal, but each track uses this in its own way and incorporates different elements from Continue reading “Shodan – Protocol of Dying (Review)”

Jinjer – King of Everything (Review)

Jinjer are a metal band from the Ukraine, and this is their second album.

King of Everything mixes metalcore, hardcore, thrash metal, groove metal, melodic death metal and djent…Okay, that’s a lot of sub-genres. Let’s just say they cover a lot of bases.

That’s putting it too simply, though; in reality, Jinjer have managed to produce a complex and diverse album that has a whole lot more going on than you might expect for a band that’s labelled Continue reading “Jinjer – King of Everything (Review)”

Elyria – Reflection and Refraction (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)”

Third Ion – Biolith (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)”

Despite – Synergi (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)”

Vidian – A Piece of the End (Review)

Vidian are from Poland and play post-metal. This is their latest EP.

I enjoyed Vidian’s second album Transgressing the Horizon. On this release the band showcased their experimental blend of post-, progressive, modern and even death metal, coming across as a kind of post-death metal band that could be compared to a band like Gorguts if they really started to follow Cult of Luna down the post-metal path.

On this new EP Vidian continue Continue reading “Vidian – A Piece of the End (Review)”

Fallujah – Dreamless (Review)

Fallujah are from the US and this is their third album of progressive death metal.

Fallujah are one of the more interesting and individual bands out there. Their previous album The Flesh Prevails was an exceptional release that really showcased their blend of technical/progressive death metal, with bright melodies and soundscapes created with ease, all wrapped around a modern death metal core.

They have now returned with Continue reading “Fallujah – Dreamless (Review)”

Overtures – Artifacts (Review)

Overtures are an Italian melodic Heavy Metal band and this is their fourth album.

Overtures play melodic Heavy Metal with nods to both progressive and Power Metal in their style. They know how to rock out when they need to, as well as exploring wider pastures and grander climes as appropriate.

This is an album strong in Continue reading “Overtures – Artifacts (Review)”