Tag Archives: review

Artist: Ages Album Title: Uncrown Label: Black Lodge Records Date of Release: 21 August 2020 If you think I’d be as obvious as to be swayed by words like ‘melodic black metal’ and ‘Sweden’, you’d be absolutely right. And why wouldn’t I be swayed by such words? Sweden is the home to many of my  Continue Reading »

Artist: Awake By Design Album Title: Awake By Design Label: Independent Release Date of Release: 14 August 2020 My question to you is this: were you a fan of Kamelot, but have become a little disillusioned by their output in recent years? If, like me, you find yourself answering ‘yes’, then might I suggest you  Continue Reading »

Artist: Black Crown Initiate Album Title: Violent Portraits of Doomed Escape Label: Century Media Records Date of Release: 7 August 2020 Another new ‘discovery’ for me today, in the shape of Black Crown Initiate, a progressive death metal outfit from the United States. I put the word discovery in quotation marks because this isn’t so  Continue Reading »

Artist: Gaerea Album Title: Limbo Label: Season Of Mist Date of Release: 24 July 2020 There has to be something in the water in Portugal. For a country that is probably most known as a holiday destination thanks to its warm Mediterranean climate, it seems to also be an expert in creating some pretty dark  Continue Reading »

Artist: Buried Realm Album Title: Embodiment Of The Divine Label: Independent Release Date of Release: 24 July 2020 When I was confronted with ‘The Ichor Carcinoma’, the debut release from Buried Realm, I was incredibly impressed. I was impressed by the music that confronted me, by the plethora of guest musicians that appeared, but mostly  Continue Reading »

Artist: Navian Album Title: Reset (EP) Label: Indie Recordings Date of Release: 14 August 2020 As you’ll know by now, instrumental music isn’t normally my ‘thing’. I have waxed lyrical about a few releases over the years, most recently, the new effort from Long Distance Calling. But they are a special band. So too are  Continue Reading »

Artist: Selenseas Album Title: The Outer Limits Label: Rockshots Records Date of Release: 7 August 2020 I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of Russian bands that I like. In fact, I’m pretty sure that Mechanical Poet are the only Russians I have in my collection at all. So, as it  Continue Reading »

Artist: Quantum Album Title: The Next Breath Of Air Label: Independent Release Date of Release: 12 June 2020 Progressive music fans, if you’re wanting to sink your teeth into a new band, then I have a recommendation for you. The band are called Quantum and they hail from that music backwater otherwise known as Sweden.  Continue Reading »

Artist: Ensiferum Album Title: Thalassic Label: Metal Blade Records Date of Release: 10 July 2020 If there was a time to go back to a band and try again, it’s now, when time is in great supply and I have a mind more open than at any time previously. Despite being around for two decades,  Continue Reading »

Artist: Battle Born Album Title: Battle Born Label: Independent Release Date of Release: 26 June 2020 There are times when you just have to embrace the silliness. I mean, who doesn’t enjoy it when all the stops are pulled out in the pursuit of entertainment? And when it comes to classic power metal, silliness is  Continue Reading »