Tag Archives: Symphonic Metal

Artist: Ihsahn Album Title: Ihsahn Label: Candlelight Records Date of Release: 16 February 2024 I have spent several hours of my life listening to this new self-titled album, or should I say ‘double album’, from Ihsahn. However, it’s possible that I’ve spent even more time thinking about it, the music that appears on it, and  Continue Reading »

Despite going AWOL for large chunks of the year and not reviewing all of the albums I wanted to, I never stopped listening to new music at any time. And so, by (not so) popular demand, I thought I’d still put together a post detailing my favourite albums of 2023. My usual Top 30 daily  Continue Reading »

Artist: Atavistia Album Title: Cosmic Warfare Label: Independent Release Date of Release: 21 April 2023 Sometimes, the name of an album is just perfect. I mean utterly perfect. It’s rare, but when it happens, it can be a cool thing. Like ‘Cosmic Warfare’, the new album from Atavistia. Listening to this record is literally like  Continue Reading »

Artist: Avaland Album Title: The Legend Of The Storyteller Label: Rockshots Records Date of Release: 31 March 2023 Warning: this album contains so much cheese that it is not suitable for those with a lactose intolerance. The opening track to Avaland’s sophomore full-length release is the kind of toe-curling experience that’ll have many of you,  Continue Reading »

Artist: Kamelot Album Title: The Awakening Label: Napalm Records Date of Release: 17 March 2023 My relationship with Kamelot has been a rocky one. My personal discovery of the band occurred around the release of ‘Karma’, thanks to the skills of the owner of the best record shop in East Anglia at the time. As  Continue Reading »

Artist: Twilight Force Album Title: At The Heart Of Wintervale Label: Nuclear Blast Date of Release: 20 January 2023 I hang my head in shame at the time it has taken to bring this review to fruition. However, I’ve finally mended the error of my ways and can offer my considered thoughts about ‘At The Heart  Continue Reading »

Artist: Delain Album Title: Dark Waters Label: Napalm Records Date of Release: 10 February 2023 In 2021, Delain disbanded, leaving fans wondering whether or not we’d seen the end of the Dutch symphonic metal band. I wasn’t one of them though, as I’d never been particularly enamoured by them, and the fact that they might  Continue Reading »

Artist: Therion Album Title: Leviathan II Label: Nuclear Blast Date of Release: 28 October 2022 With the release of ‘Leviathan’ last year, my interest in Swedish stalwarts Therion was reinvigorated somewhat. I hadn’t thought to listen to it, or review it based on the chequered past I’d experienced with the overblown, symphonic, operatic, metal that  Continue Reading »

Artist: Battlelore Album Title: The Return Of The Shadow Label: Napalm Records Date of Release: 3 June 2022 Am I the only one to get excited when a band returns from an extended hiatus? It is especially exciting when the hiatus began to feel like it might be more of a complete end, with hopes  Continue Reading »

Artist: Threads Of Fate Album Title: The Cold Embrace Of The Light Label: Layered Reality Productions Date of Release:  11 March 2022 Back in 2018, I reviewed the debut EP from an outfit called Threads Of Fate. Of that EP, I wrote the following: “This is, for my tastes, the perfect blend of nostalgia, modern  Continue Reading »