Power and traditional metal collide with soaring melodies and a lot of speed and heft! Let’s face it, vocalist changes can easily be the hardest for a band to weather. A good vocalist generally functions as the face and identity of a band, and a change almost certainly means a different sound and dynamic. Seattle […]
Greyhawk / Warriors of Greyhawk – Album Review Read More »
Escape reality with Italian prog power goodness! Italy is synonomous with a lot of things, and one of those is power and progressive metal. It never ceases to amaze me the sheer number of quality bands and releases that have their roots in Italy. Such is the case with Italian progressive/power metal band Walls of
Walls of Babylon / Aeons Apart – Album Review Read More »
Symphonic power metal with amazing melodies and plenty of shred! Back in July (2024), I got an early preview of Florida power metallers Seven Kingdoms new EP “The Square,” which officially dropped a couple of weeks ago. I wrote an immediate response mini-review then, but here is an update now that I have both had
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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 »
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 »
Speedy melodic symphonic power metal with progressive fabric! I love discovering new bands, particularly smaller bands that should be more known. Such is the case with Madison, Wisconsin, symphonic power metal band Queen of Dreams, who released their latest full length, “Subnivium,” back in January of this year. Melodic, powerful, heavy, technical, and with some
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Dungeons & Dragons themed epic melodic doom infused with power! Behölder just released a new single today (which also includes an amazing ode to a Savatage classic), and I realize I am WAY overdue reviewing their debut album released back in April of this year. Have you ever had the experience where you discover a
Behölder / In the Temple of the Tyrant – Album Review Read More »
Speedy historical symphonic power metal with thrash sensibility! I love well done symphonic power metal. There is just something about the over the top feel, the big melodies and earworm choruses, and the stereotypical concept album tapestry. Germany’s WarKings released their latest album, “Armageddon,” in July, and it absolutely fits the bill. The focus on historical events
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Power metal meets melodeath in the Wild West! I was first introduced to Celestial Wizard in 2024, seeing them perform at Mad with Power and Mile High Power Fests, causing me to check out their 2022 release “Winds of the Cosmos”. I enjoyed their blend of power metal and melodeath and was curious to see
Celestial Wizard / Regenesis – Album Review Read More »
Ludicrous speed power metal marries melodeath in expert fashion! Imagine an alternate timeline where Dragonforce grew up in Gothenburg and decided to emphasize extreme vocals while still maintaining some cleans, particularly on the choruses, while reveling (and even amping up) the long drawn out guitar virtuoso solos, but then ultimately decided to move to Canada.
Crimson Shadows / Whispers of War – Album Review Read More »
