ROBLEDO – Broken Soul

RELEASE YEAR: 2023  BAND URL: https://www.facebook.com/JAMESROBLEDOOFICCIAL/ ROBLEDO – Broken Soul I was and still am quite fond of James Robledo’s previous album, the one named Wanted Man, and I am pleased to announce that his latest solo effort titled Broken Soul sounds like the natural successor and follow-up to the 2021 release. Broken Soul is very…

FOLLOWING THE SIGNS – Conflictions

RELEASE YEAR: 2023  BAND URL: https://www.facebook.com/FollowingTheSignsCork/ Cork natives Following the Signs released this groove-laden, pummeling offering of theirs just a few days ago, and it turned out to be a rather interesting and cool listen packed to the rafters with juicy riffs, crushing breakdowns, and some inspired vocals. Although it would be easy to compare the…

SMACKBOUND – Hostage

RELEASE YEAR: 2023  BAND URL: https://www.facebook.com/smackbound/ This Finnish act’s previous album from three years ago was a bit of a mixed bag to these ears, but I was looking forward to this new one of theirs titled Hostage as I was curious as to how they had developed their brand of modern-sounding hard rock/melodic metal. The…

WEBB – Deadly Sins and Virtues

RELEASE YEAR: 2023  BAND URL: https://www.webbofficial.com/ Melodic metal with progressive overtones and a huge amount of groove that works like a charm – how could I not love this well-written and inspired output by the British act named Webb?! The riffs are meaty and pack a lot of punch, there is finesse and sophistication to the…

AMBRIUS – Effigies of Time

RELEASE YEAR: 2022  BAND URL: https://www.facebook.com/AmbriusOfficial/ The hard-hitting British metal outfit Ambrius, which includes former members of Oakhaart and Tempestora in its ranks, is about to unleash this exciting 6-track debut of EP of theirs, and if modern melodic metal with a solid dose of aggression is your thing, then you could certainly do worse than…

DVL – Hush

RELEASE YEAR: 2022  BAND URL: https://www.dvlband.com/ Now this was a nice surprise. With the overall theme of this spirited record by the Scottish outfit DVL revolving around mental health and highlighting various issues relating to said issue, this is some explosive, high-octane stuff where classic heavy metal meets 80s-inspired US hard rock and then throws in…

SEMBLANT – Vermillion Eclipse

RELEASE YEAR: 2022  BAND URL: https://www.facebook.com/semblantband The Brazilian outfit known as Semblant, which was conceived back in 2006, have returned with their fourth full-length assault and what we are served here is a basically a mixture of modern melodic metal, power metal, gothic metal, and arguably also subtle hint of prog metal. That the six members…