Notable metal albums from 2025 that are required listening I love seeing end of year lists and am always fascinated to see how different they are from person to person, molded by what they gravitate to and what resonates. I have definitely broadened the genres and bands I listen to, but I still bias toward […]
My Top Metal albums for 2025: Top 25 full lengths, Top 2 EPs, 16 more to check out Read More »
Seattle-based speed metal to kick off 2026! Seattle speed metal band Sölicitör headlined Friday, January 2, 2026, at The Kraken Bar & Lounge in Seattle. I literally had not even heard of the band until a couple weeks prior when metal show buddies Sara and Rob asked me if I wanted to go. I am
Sölicitör at The Kraken Bar & Lounge in Seattle, Jan 2, 2026 – Concert Review Read More »
My 2024 metal album of the year. Absolutely stunning symphonic metal that cannot be confined! I have been anticipating the new release from Boston area symphonic metal band Seven Spires for quite some time. “A Fortress Called Home” dropped this past Friday, and I wasn’t sure what to expect, even after reviewing the first 2
Seven Spires / A Fortress Called Home – Album Review Read More »
“Chill death metal” with killer melodies and great songs! Chill death metal. This is the moniker my son and I assigned to Finnish melodeath band Omnium Gatherum the first time we listened to them. They released their latest album, “May the Bridges We Burn Light the Way” last month, and it is the epitome of
Omnium Gatherum / May the Bridges We Burn Light the Way – Album Review Read More »
A modern folk metal offering with lots of atmosphere, heft, and killer melodies! I remember the first time I heard 2008 release Sagas by Germany’s Equilibrium, their second release (and first on Nuclear Blast). I was blown away by the melding of traditional folk melodies and instruments with the fury of black and death metal,
Equilibrium / Equinox – Album Review Read More »
Big melodies, crushing instruments, enrapturing progressive metal! UK prog metallers Ihlo released their sophomore album, “Legacy,” in August, 6 years after their very well-received debut “Union” (which also received a handsome remastering treatment in 2024). Imagine the big melodies and synth infused atmosphere of Vola melded with the melodic and crushing instrumental genius of Wheel,
Ihlo / Legacy – Album Review Read More »
Progressive thrash legends make their long awaited return! It seems like a lot of bands the past couple of years released albums after quite a wait following their previous release. I thought Crimson Shadows and Ancient Bards were going to hold the distinction of longest gap, but Coroner easily takes the prize with their first
Coroner / Dissonance Theory – Album Review Read More »
Amazing atmospheric progressive death metal with blackened edges! As connected as I think I am sometimes, I am constantly amazed at not only the number of bands that fly under the radar, but also the number of bands that I just don’t know about. Two months ago, I had never even heard of Sweden’s An
An Abstract Illusion / The Sleeping City – Album Review Read More »
Killer dystopian progressive melodeath from Italy! There are times when I hear about a band, add it to my “to be listened” list, and then accidentally forget about it. This is the case with Italy’s Obsidian Fall, who released their debut album, “Elegy from a Dying World,” back in March. I recently rediscovered it on
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Samurai symphonic death metal from Finland! I love finding new bands, particularly when they push genre boundaries and aren’t afraid of bombast and complexity. Such is the case with “Perdition,” the brand new release from Finland’s Karu. The most basic description would be symphonic death metal, but this is so much more, an orchestral cinematic
Karu / Perdition – Album Review Read More »
