DEAFCON5 – Exit to Insight

RELEASE YEAR: 2024BAND URL: https://www.facebook.com/deafcon.de/ The German act named Deafcon5 dabbles in an eclectic mixture of hard rock and metal with a notably progressive touch to it, and this fourth full-length opus of theirs tackles some rather interesting philosophical questions relating to the human condition. What immediately stands out is how varied the song material…

HUMAN ZOO – Echoes Beyond

RELEASE YEAR: 2024BAND URL: https://www.facebook.com/HumanZooOfficial This is my first encounter with the German hard rockers known as Human Zoo and let me tell you right off the bat that I am wildly impressed with these guys and what they offer. We are off to a cracking good start with the bombastic and punchy album opener…

BOWMEN – Mission IV

RELEASE YEAR: 2024BAND URL: https://www.facebook.com/bowmenband/ The German hard rockers known as Bowmen are back with their third full-length album and one that sees them marrying varying influences from 60s blues rock, 70s hard rock, early 90s grunge, and even a bit of alt. rock to good effect. Rooted in the sounds of old yet putting…

INNER AXIS – Midnight Forces

RELEASE YEAR: 2024BAND URL: https://www.facebook.com/InnerAxis/ The German heavy metal outfit known as Inner Axis recently unleashed this ten-track affair of theirs via Fastball Music, and just like the single releases and full-length LPs that preceded Midnight Forces it very much leans towards the classic variety of the genre, which is to say that your appetite…

WOLFEN RELOADED – The Ghost from Within

RELEASE YEAR: 2024BAND URL: https://www.facebook.com/wolfenreloaded/ This is my first encounter with the German rockers known as Wolfen Reloaded and I must say that I find this sophomore effort of theirs titled The Ghost From Within an engaging and delightful listen. Containing bucketloads of muscular riffs, magnificent vocal hooks, and interesting arrangements, the LP immediately stands…

BAD RAIN – Room to Breathe

RELEASE YEAR: 2023  BAND URL: https://badrainmusic.bandcamp.com/album/room-to-breathe-ep-pre-order The German/British outfit Bad Rain turned out to be a mighty fine surprise and a most welcome listen to these ears in that this skilled constellation of musicians dabbles in melodically strong and potent hard rock that sounds current while simultaneously paying respect to some of the greatest bands of…

GREEN LABYRINTH – Sequences

RELEASE YEAR: 2023  BAND URL: https://greenlabyrinth.net/ The Swiss outfit known as Green Labyrinth was a completely new discovery but a welcome one for me as their eclectic take on highly dramatic and epic prog metal suits my mood these days. As I stated before, this primarily falls within the progressive metal sphere, but one could make…

THE GROUND SHAKER – Rogue Asylum

RELEASE YEAR: 2023  BAND URL: https://thegroundshaker.com/ Swiss rockers The Ground Shaker are about to unleash this explosive and energetic offering of theirs in May via Fastball Music, and if alternative rock with punchy choruses and crunchy riffs is your cup of tea then you need to check this uplifting opus out. I have yet to listen…

DIRTY VELVET – Far Beyond the Moon

RELEASE YEAR: 2023BAND URL: https://www.facebook.com/people/Dirty-Velvet-Rock/100076167258796/ The Swiss alternative rock act Dirty Velvet was formed roughly four years ago and have been gigging quite a bit on their home turf since then, but their debut offering will soon see the light of day via Fastball Music, so let us take a closer look at that output,…

BLACK HAWK – Soulkeeper

RELEASE YEAR: 2023BAND URL: https://www.black-hawk-music.de/2014/index.php Black Hawk hail from the northern part of Germany and deliver classic old-school heavy metal that recalls Saxon and Accept, and after having listened to it a number of times I must say that I find this output of theirs rather charming, catchy, and entertaining. The production is loud and…

ASKARA – Lights of Night

RELEASE YEAR: 2022BAND URL: https://www.facebook.com/Askaraband/ This sophomore full-length album by Swiss dark metallers Askara is about to see the light of day via Fastball Music, and I must say that this one turned out to be a rather interesting musical encounter in that their brand of morose metal possesses a strangely romantic aura that I…