RECENT ALBUM REVIEWS
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STRYPER – Fallen
A resurrection of sorts has helped Stryper gain a second career boost, proving that the yellow and black attack has the chops, skills, and songwriting to maintain a following in 2015. "Fallen" is their latest studio album, another 12 song odyssey into their traditional, melodic positive metal platform that has been their niche from the…
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DRAGONY – Shadowplay
The second full-length "Shadowplay" from Austria’s Dragony is an interesting, diverse collection of tracks in the melodic power metal mold, but given a definite keyboard/semi-symphonic slant. Influences abound from all angles of the European continent – Helloween, Sonata Arctica, Stratovarius, and Avantasia would probably be the big four when taking in the bombastic opener "Wolves…
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IVANHOE – 7 Days
In the early 1990’s I remember hearing about this band from a German pen pal friend who on a pilgrimage to visit some US bands brought their debut album for everyone to enjoy. Andy B. Franck (Brainstorm) was the singer at the time, and this progressive metal band has some impressive Dream Theater meets Queensrÿche…
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VARIOUS ARTIST – Sweet Leaf – A Stoner Rock Salute to Black Sabbath
How many tribute albums to the mighty Black Sabbath are in existence as of today? More than you can count on your bony and nicotine-stained fingers, that is for sure. Some are quite decent while others are simply horrible and a waste of time. Luckily, this brand new 2CD set tribute to the very gods…
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HATESPHERE – New Hell
A Danish modern thrash juggernaut, Hatesphere plow along through their ninth studio album "New Hell", not losing any momentum in their quest for aural domination. Do not fear commercial horizons here – Pepe, Jakob, Jimmy, Mike, and Esse will have none of that. Slicing and dicing through these 10 songs, there are subtle nods to…
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FIND ME – Dark Angel
The second album collaboration between multi-instrumentalist/ producer Daniel Flores (Murder of My Sweet) and Blanc Faces vocalist Robbie LaBlanc, "Dark Angel" by Find Me is another stunning example of the power of AOR if people are willing to accept it. Many consider the best era for this style is the 1980’s – and I won’t…
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HELHEIM – raunijaR
The legendary and uncompromising Norwegian viking metal entity that is Helheim is back with yet another brilliant slab of thought-provoking and highly evocative music that will grab a hold of your puny soul (and tiny mind) and take you on a musical journey you will never forget. One of the things that really fascinates me…
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HEADLESS CROWN – Time for Revolution
This is the debut album for Swiss heavy metal quintet Headless Crown – an 11 song record entitled "Time for Revolution". Taking approximately three years to assemble the right musicians, the sound is very street level and focused on easily identifiable hooks from both musical and vocal perspectives. It’s clear to hear that Saxon, Accept,…
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VILLAINY – Villainy II – Dim
Villainy’s debutalbum falt ikke helt i god jord her i gården, men siden de tydeligvis er blitt en snakkis i enkelte deler av metalmiljøet, måtte man gi bandet et nytt forsøk når deres oppfølger «Dim» dukket opp i mailboksen. Ved første lytt høres dette ut som en litt merkelig velprodusert mix av Voivod og Voivod.…
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CRYPTOPSY – The Book of Suffering – Tome 1
Kanadiske Cryptopsy har vært en liten favoritt her i heimen i ikke mindre enn 20 år, og selv om ikke bandets siste selvtitulerte fullengder fra 2012 ikke helt falt i smak, har man da fulgt med på hva som skjer der med bandet. Er blitt en liten snakkis innenfor death metal miljøet med sin selvutgitt…
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DARK MANAGARM – 2005-2015 A Decade of Terroreign
Dark Managarm is yet another French black metal band to cross my path lately, a band that I had never heard or read anything about previous to receiving a promo version of this compilation of theirs. Musically, I would argue that these guys have vomited forth that particular vile stew of black metal akin to…
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NEPTRECUS – Frères de Sang
The French black metal horde named Neptrecus has returned with a follow-up the 2013 debut album ("L’aube du déclin"), and this sophomore effort is entitled "Frères de Sang" and consists of 9 tracks. To be perfectly frank, the album is basically run-of-the-mill traditional black metal in the vein of some of the early Norwegian pioneers…
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AXEL RUDI PELL – Game of Sins
Resolute in a love for all things Dio-esque Rainbow or Ritchie Blackmore oriented hard rock (Blackmore’s Night excluded), German guitar hero Axel Rudi Pell churns out another studio album with "Game of Sins". His 16th full-length of original material, there’s a familiarity to his song craft- so know going in that you’ll have a mixture…
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GREG RENOFF – Van Halen Rising
Instead of trying to come up with some cool and mile-long introduction, let me just skip the bullshit and simply state that author Greg Renoff has written an awesome account of how the legendary big rockers Van Halen came into existence and how they took the world by storm when they released their first album,…
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DELUGE – Æther
Déluge is yet another interesting French outfit that, musically speaking, falls somewhere inbetween modern black metal and inhumanly furious post-hardcore. It is hard to believe that "Æther" is the band’s debut album, because it not only sounds very tight and well-executed, but also quite clever and well-thought-out in terms of the actual song arrangements and…
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VOODOO CIRCLE – Whisky Fingers
The fourth studio album from bluesy hard rock band Voodoo Circle, "Whisky Fingers" is all about pumping out those electric grooves, organ and guitar hooks, plus the powerhouse vocal delivery that made acts like Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Rainbow, and Whitesnake household names. Seasoned musicians make this album even better – because when you’ve been…
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BLOOD RED SAINTS – Speedway
Forming last year, the quintet Blood Red Saints has ties through other known melodic hard rock/ AOR entities like Eden’s Curse (drummer Pete Newdeck), In Faith (vocalist Pete Godfrey), and Gary Hughes (guitarist Lee Revill) – rounding out the lineup with bassist Rob Naylor and keyboardist Irvin Parratt. Rich harmonies, uplifting melodic choruses, effective musical…
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KAMPFAR – Profan
Kampfar er tilbake med sitt syende album, utgitt kun et år etter deres kritikerroste Djevelmakt. Med Profan tar Kampfar ytterligere et sted videre med sin smått episke tilnærming til black metal. Samtidig holdes det et fast grep om folk metal tonene, noe som gjør Kampfar til noe svært fengende og tilgjengelig blant mylderet av black…
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REGARDE LES HOMMES TOMBER – Exile
As the name of the band strongly suggests, Regarde Les Hommes Tomber is a French black metal outfit whose second album, "Exile", is out now. So, how do these guys fare in the ever-expanding world of post-black metal albums and releases? Truth be told, these guys have conjured up an interesting and dynamic 7-track album…
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MAIEUTISTE – Maïeutiste
The French six-piece horde named Maïeutiste recently released this debut album of theirs via the French label Les Acteurs de l’Ombre Productions, which has resulted in a fine slab of post-black metal mixed with doom metal elements all housed in a nice looking digipak. I am not familiar with the band’s 2007 demo release, but…
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DEF LEPPARD – Def Leppard
The popular hard rockers known as Def Leppard are back with a brand new album simply entitled "Def Leppard", and I dare say that many of us have anxiously and eagerly awaited a new proper studio release by these guys. The last one, "Songs From the Sparkle Lounge", came out way back in 2008, and…
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THRESHOLD – European Journey
UK progressive metal act Threshold has quite a potent discography over the decades, but probably is one of those bands that flies just under the radar. They may not be the most technically sophisticated or intricate outfit – instead preferring to offer versatility through their attention to dynamic songwriting and respectful musical interplay. So those…
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MOONREICH – Pillars of Detest
Moonreich is a French black metal outfit whose sound and aura is quite similar to what is generally referred to as orthodox black metal. These guys even had their album mixed and mastered at Endarker Studio by Magnus "Devo" Andersen (Marduk, Funeral Mist, Ofermod, etc.), but in case you were wondering that is a good…
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KHYMERA – The Grand Design
The latest album from Khymera comes seven years after their last effort "The Greatest Wonder" – as bassist/vocalist Dennis Ward decides to take the reign on songwriting and production side as Italian musician Daniele Liverani steps aside. Not really surprising that we have high quality, melodic rock tour de force work through these 12 cuts…
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77 – Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us
This Barcelona, Spain quartet on album number four elevate their profile to Century Media on their fourth studio record, appropriately entitled "Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us". Bon Scott-era AC/DC factors heavily into their three chord, blues based hard rock sound – right down to the sarcastic, personality filled melodies from rhythm guitarist Armand Valeta. You’ll be…
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QUEENSRYCHE – Condition Human
2013’s ‘Queensryche’ album marked the reinvention of a band that had been lost in the wilderness for many years. It signified a return to form – a revisiting of pastures metal, and it also served to unveil the incredible talents of vocalist Todd LaTorre. Of course many felt and still feel that Tate could never…