Cave – Out of the Cave (Metalapolis Records)
A newer band consisting of seasoned musicians across Germany and the United States, Cave combines elements of melodic hard rock and dramatic heavy metal influences for this debut album Out of the Cave. Originator...
Defying – Wadera (These Hands Melt)
Always with an ear to the ground for the unusual, my musical explorations over the years have led down all kinds of wacky rabbit holes. Within those many discoveries, we’ve become more drawn to...
Dragonforce – Warp Speed Warriors (Napalm)
Hard to believe it's been five years since we've gotten new material from Dragonforce, the band that was unfortunately saddled with 'that band from Guitar Hero' tag that seemed to follow them everywhere for...
Illumishade – Lighting Up A New Side
Bursting onto the scene with some launching power due to vocalist Fabienne Erni and guitarist Jonas Wolf's presence in the band Eluveitie, Illumishade stayed in the public ear due to their ability to make...
Atrophy – Asylum (Massacre Records)
During the first wave of thrash in the 1980s to early 90s, acts from all over the globe clamored for a piece of the burgeoning appeal that had a fervent fanbase captivated by the...
Midas Fall – Cold Waves Divide Us (Monotreme Records)
Plain to see, a lot of the bands that this scribe is drawn to are on the heavier end of the spectrum, leaning towards death, black, and doom especially. Don’t let that fool you,...
Aborted – Vault of Horrors (Nuclear Blast)
Long-time death metal and gore champions, Aborted don't need much of an introduction anymore. Vault of Horrors is their 12th offering in almost 30 years of existence - the band has certainly paid their...
Firewind – Mindful When United
Photo: Tim Tronckoe
Glorious times for melodic power metal followers – especially when a new Firewind album hits the streets. Stand United as the tenth studio record sees these gentlemen continue to deliver stellar songwriting...
Alterium – Of War and Flames (AFM Records)
When Italian power metal band Kalidia called it quits in 2022, it was quite a bummer for anyone who had been following them. Their potent mix of classic and more modern influences, along with...
Saturnalia Temple – Paradigm Call (Listenable Records)
Doom metal has blossomed into this outward, expansive genre – incorporating all sorts of influences that can be dark, bluesy, gritty, and dismal all in the same outfit. Swedish band Saturnalia Temple embrace an...
Turbulence – Binary Dream (Frontiers Music)
Eager to enjoy artists from every part of the globe, Turbulence is a progressive metal/ rock outfit hailing from Lebanon – not exactly a country known for artists in this style. Since their inception...
Grey Skies Fallen – Mournful While Exuding Hope
New York’s Grey Skies Fallen has been a vital act to the US underground metal scene. Their fusion of influences across doom, death, and progressive lines ensures each recording contains some distinctive elements. Their...
Before the Dawn – Archaic Flame (Napalm Records)
After a decade-plus long absence from the scene, Before the Dawn came back with a vengeance through last year’s Stormbringers album. Latest vocalist Paavo Laapotti fits like a glove into this Finnish unit, who...
Vlad in Tears – Relapse (Metalville)
Hot on the heels of 2022’s Porpora, Vlad in Tears strikes while creatively on fire through this latest studio record Relapse. A year in the making, the trio would spend ten days together recording...
Sonata Arctica – Clear Cold Beyond (Atomic Fire Records)
Fresh off a two-part series where they reinterpreted electric versions of their songs into stripped-down renditions for the Acoustic Adventures Volume 1 and 2 releases in 2022, Sonata Arctica appears ready to approach this...