Oubliette – Eternity Whispers (The Artisan Era)
The cliché of claiming a band’s latest work is “the best thing they’ve ever done” has doubtlessly been an overused statement. Hell, yours truly has certainly been guilty of it, and it’s admittedly difficult...
Mana Diagram – Light of the Destiny (Self-Released)
Featuring two former members of Hagane (vocalist Uyu and guitarist Mayto), Mana Diagram formed last year and released their debut single "Glitter Wind" towards the end of that year. Light of the Destiny serves...
200 Stab Wounds – Slicing Through the Pack
Photo: Bailey Olinger
There’s a new generation of death metal bands garnering appeal on a younger audience bursting with energy to support musicians they can relate to. Ohio’s 200 Stab Wounds fit that mold –...
Adelon – Resurgence (Self-Released)
The parameters of progressive, technical death metal have been pushed to the limits since the evolution of acts like Gorguts and Nile into artists such as Beyond Creation or Obscura. Refinement of ideas into...
Sunburst – Manifesto (Inner Wound Recordings)
Almost a decade ago is when I first checked out Sunburst, a Greek power/progressive metal outfit that started in 2010. Everything about this band and their debut album Fragments of Creation hit me like...
PaleNeØ – ØCTAVE (Self-Released)
Formed in 2022, PaleNeØ is a Japanese modern metal act that has to date only released a number of shorter singles over the last two years. ØCTAVE marks the band's first EP release, and...
Withering Surface – A Scathing Exit Plan
Photo: Lena Angioni
If melodic death metal is one of your favorite genres in this scene, there’s been plenty of records as of late worthy of your attention. It’s almost as if musicians are aiming...
Release the Titans – Odyssey (Self-Released)
Often the seeds of a band plant themselves small to blossom over time. Release the Titans as a Norwegian power metal outfit began as a one-man project from guitarist Paul Olsen – formerly involved...
Raise a Suilen – Savage (Bushiroad)
Having featured the Bang Dream act in some previous end of year articles, it seemed the right time to give them a bit more spotlight with the release of their second full-length album, Savage....
Sumac – The Healer (Thrill Jockey)
It is rare within music to find an artist who personifies "integrity". An artist who is willing to eschew commercial success in order to follow their muse, their true North. They're a dime a...