Tag Archives: Album review

Artist: In Flames Album Title: Battles Label: Nuclear Blast Date Of Release: 11 November 2016 In Flames. Where do I begin with my review of ‘Battles’, the Swedish juggernaut’s thirteenth album of their career? How about at the beginning, with a little personal context? In Flames were the very first band that I was exposed  Continue Reading »

Artist: The Neal Morse Band Album Title: The Similitude Of A Dream Label: Radiant Records Date Of Release: 11 November 2016 Is it just well-calculated hype or is it a genuine belief? That was my first thought when Mike Portnoy declared that the new Neal Morse Band album, ‘The Similitude Of A Dream’ to be  Continue Reading »

Artist: Enbound Album Title: The Blackened Heart Label: Inner Wound Recordings Date Of Release: 18 November 2016 If I’m honest, I thought Swedish melodic metallers Enbound were one of those bands that had been sadly consigned to the ‘one album wonders’ dustbin, having released the marvellous debut ‘And She Said Gold’ back in 2011 only  Continue Reading »

Artist: Dark Tranquillity Album Title: Atoma Label: Century Media Date Of Release: 4 November 2016 It seems fitting that I am releasing this review on the eighth anniversary of my late brother’s passing. It is a horrendously sad time of the year but it is made a little more comforting by being surrounded by an  Continue Reading »

Artist: Hammerfall Album Title: Built To Last Label: Napalm Records Date Of Release: 4 November 2016 Hammerfall were one of the first bands that I listened to during a period of power metal discovery around the turn of the millennium, when I simply couldn’t get enough of this genre. Alongside Gamma Ray, Sonata Arctica and  Continue Reading »

Artist: Testament Album Title: Brotherhood Of The Snake Label: Nuclear Blast Date Of Release: 28 October 2016 Despite my love of all things heavy, fast and aggressive, I’ve never been the biggest fan of thrash metal. Of course I like certain albums by the ‘Big Four’ and selected material from other notable protagonists. But that’s  Continue Reading »

Artist: Crippled Black Phoenix Album Title: Bronze Label: Season Of Mist Date Of Release: 4 November 2016 I love my blog. It gives me so much freedom to review what I want and, in the process, I can ‘discover’ a whole load of new music in the process. It also makes me realise, joyously, that  Continue Reading »

Artist: Riverside Album Title: Eye Of The Soundscape Label: InsideOut Music Date Of Release: 21 October 2016 How on Earth does one even begin to review an album like this? I have found this to be one of the most difficult reviews to write since I began the Blog Of Much Metal. Indeed, it is  Continue Reading »

Artist: Theocracy Album Title: Ghost Ship Label: Ulterium Records Date Of Release: 28 October 2016 I can only think of one reason why I have never previously dabbled in the world of Theocracy: religion. As many of you may know, my personal life has meant that religion and I are uncomfortable bedfellows, to put it  Continue Reading »

Artist: Arkona Album Title: Lunaris Label: Debemur Morti Productions Date Of Release: 4 November 2016 The focus of this review is the Polish black metal band Arkona. They are not to be confused with any other Arkona, of which there are many it seems, particularly from Russia. Anyway, I simply had to review this record  Continue Reading »