Fantasy loving cinematic atmospheric melodic black metal from Australia! Imagine lyrics deeply based in the world of fantasy, heavily influenced by J.R.R. Tolkien (Lord of the Rings) or George R.R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire). Add in inspiration from the fantasy video game world of Diablo. Melodies are abundant and inspire a world […]
Darklore – The Great Elven War – Album Review Read More »
An incredible and defining progressive metal dystopian concept album! I love a great concept album. Add some dystopia and sci-fi, and I can be easily hooked. But much like writing a great novel, great concept albums don’t just happen, and I have listened to a handful released in 2026 that I really wanted to love
Voidchaser – Interstellar I – Album Review Read More »
Moody and at times unsettling atmospheric post black metal! I am definitely listening to more post metal these days, and it never ceases to amaze me just how broad the genre can be. I guess this is true of any subgenre of metal, but even the bands I have reviewed in the genre this year
Nullingroots – Fourth Dimensional Dreamscape – Album Review Read More »
Amazing theatrical and epic symphonic metal from The Netherlands! Dutch symphonic metal band Epinikion is a newer band on the scene, forming in 2020 and releasing their debut album, “Inquisition,” in 2022. The band started as the vision of two people, keyboardist Renate de Boer and guitarist Robert Tangerman, and the debut album was written
Epinikion – The Force of Nature – Album Review Read More »
Killer progressive black / post metal from Lithuania! If you have read my reviews, you know that lyrics are important to me and are something I often connect with when listening to an album. Even a few releases this year, such as the latest from Marianas Rest, have become even more deeply meaningful to me
Juodvarnis – Tékmés – Album Review Read More »
HEAVY modern symphonic metal with killer melodies and fabulous song writing! I didn’t know who Flowerleaf was until late last year when they released a single called “Silksong” that came to my attention via an Instagram ad. If you are a video game aficionado or just happen to be familiar with the Hollow Knight series,
FlowerLeaf / Dreamerie – Album Review Read More »
Guitars and keys for the win as traditional and power metal collide! I always enjoy discovering new bands, particularly ones that are not on my radar. I listen to a lot of music but can’t review everything, whether due to lack of time or simply following my rule of not reviewing things I dislike. Sadly,
Unchosen Ones – Divine Power Flowing – Album Review Read More »
A progressive metal opus spanning varied influences with a strong melodic and heavy delivery! I stumbled upon Swedish progressive metal band Servitude and their brand new full length “Smoke & Mirrors,” independently released earlier in January. I was not familiar with the band at all, but they apparently released 5 singles in 2020 and 2021,
Servitude / Smoke & Mirrors – Album Review Read More »
Frosty post metal from the frozen tundra of…Rochester, NY! Pâro hails from Rochester, New York, but I would have thought they were from the frozen lands of Scandinavia after an initial listen. Post metal is a genre that always intrigues me but, like many genres these days, isn’t necessarily prescriptive enough on what to actually
Pâro – Sketches of an Unseen Realm – Album Review Read More »
Symphonic technical blackened death metal that will crush and immerse you! I am kicking off my 2026 reviews with something quite a bit heavier than I usually review, but this album caught me by surprise and wouldn’t let me go. I wasn’t familiar with US-based Null Existence prior to an Instagram ad letting me know
Null Existence / Cryptic Monolith – Album Review Read More »
