This is the fourth album from Russian blackened melodic death metal band Second to Sun.
Apparently this is a rerecording of the band’s 2016 release Blackbound, with added vocals, and other differences. I was totally unfamiliar with Second to Sun’s work prior to listening to The Black, so I can’t comment on how this relates to Blackbound, other than to say that it does. Continue reading
Entropy Coding is a one woman symphonic metal project from Italy, and this is her debut album.
This is sumptuous symphonic metal with power and progressive metal influences. The artist behind the band handles keyboards and composition duties, while many different guests fill the other necessary roles across the tracks. Continue reading
Therion are a Swedish symphonic/operatic metal band and this is their sixteenth album.
Holy crap. This is a three-CD album, with a total duration of over three hours. Dear me. Where do you even begin with a release like this? And in case you’re wondering; no, I have not listened to this in its entirety in just one sitting! Continue reading
Defecto are a Danish metal band and this is their second album.
Defecto play a hybrid modern metal style with symphonic components. The music combines power and symphonic metal with harder elements of modern metal and thrash; think a mix of the European and American styles. The Continue reading
This is the third album from Sonic Prophecy, a power metal band from the US.
I really enjoyed 2015’s Apocalyptic Promenade, so now that Savage Gods is ready to be unleashed, I’m very happy to reacquaint myself with their work. Continue reading
Dragonhammer are an Italian power metal band and this is their fourth album.
This is a band named Dragonhammer. I mean, how can you not want to listen to them? There’s more to Dragonhammer than just their enticing name, however. Continue reading
Isle of Avalon are a UK power/symphonic metal band and this is their second album.
This is power metal influenced by Arthurian legend, and the band certainly do this side of their sound justice by incorporating many medieval themes, sounds, and melodies into their songs. They’ve clearly immersed themselves in this aspect of their music, rather Continue reading
Epica are a symphonic metal band and this is their latest EP.
One of the things I like about Epica is that although they play Symphonic metal with luscious female vocals, early on in their career they managed to carve out their own path and identity in this well-worn genre. Continue reading
Ruins of Elysium are an international symphonic metal band and this is their debut album.
The music on this release is bold, bombastic, and grand, with many different feelings and emotions explored; all of them epic, over-the-top, and quite infectious. It’s an ambitious release that hits more than it misses.
If you think of the comprehensive and Continue reading
Scardust are a symphonic metal band from Israel and this is their debut album.
Scardust play sumptuous symphonic metal with some progressive elements added in to enhance proceedings.
Usually I find a lot of this kind of thing very generic and I usually lose interest quickly, but bloody Hell Scardust are an exception to this. Sands of Time is a very professional, accomplished, and well-realised release, with both catchy appeal and memorable depth. Continue reading
