麥琪麥琪 MakeMake – We Are One (Self-Released)
麥琪麥琪 MakeMake is a Taiwanese metal band that taking some nods from the rising Japanese scene in terms of combining heavy, metalcore-styled riffing and more melodic segments that aren't afraid of combining some modern...
Helloween – Live at Budokan (Reigning Phoenix Music)
Well-respected for their lengthy discography and contributions to the power/speed metal scene, Helloween in its current incarnation celebrates the various lineups over the years in a larger seven-piece outfit. Choosing to capture a Japanese...
Alkymist – Under Synergy
Photo: Roeluf Witmans
When it comes to fusing together music in a way that remains ear pleasing while also expansive, progressive, or atmospheric, the results can be mind-altering if done correctly. Such is the case...
Amber Creek – 9 Months of Winter
Baltic hard rock act Amber Creek have been releasing some singles as well as a 2020 EP in their catalog, but 9 Months of Winter marks the first full-length from this group. What makes...
After Lapse – Pathways (Frontiers Music)
Impressive out of the gate with their debut album from 2022 Face the Storm, After Lapse from Spain waste no time in releasing a sophomore outing with Pathways. Expanding to a sextet through the...
Selected Singles – Best-of 2024
I really kept an eye on singles this year, devoting this on-again off-again column to it when I could this year. With streaming working the way it does, more artists are noticing that full...
PaleNeØ – Score (VAA)
Quickly returning to the studio after releasing their first EP earlier this spring, PaleNeØ now brings forth their first full-length album to close out 2024. This time with almost all new tracks (thankfully bringing...
Injector – Endless Scorn (Art Gates Records)
Brandishing a furious display of aggressive thrash metal with classic accents, Injector returns with this fourth album Endless Scorn ready to scorch the earth once again. Already impressed through the previous discography like 2018’s...
Night In Gales – Watch Out For the Shadowreaper
Melodic death metal may have risen to global acclaim because of the Scandinavian scene in the 90s, but there were other quality bands from that movement beyond those countries. German act Night In Gales...
Night in Gales – Shadowreaper (Apostasy Records)
To many friends, and especially the wife, my ability to harp on something until it’s been smashed into a fine powder is well-known. Mostly bad puns, but in this instance, bands that don’t receive...