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Concert Review – Battle Beast (The Opera House, Toronto, ON, 05/11/2024)

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The indomitable Battle Beast returned to Toronto during their first ever headlining tour in North America with one of the most vibrant and entertaining shows of the year so far.

OPENING ACT: Blackbriar

Two days after the bards took the city of Toronto by storm with a flawless performance, it was time for another European band to show us everything they got at the always amazing The Opera House. I’m talking about the indomitable BATTLE BEAST, who are headlining a tour in North America for the first time ever after having opened for several bands in the past few years (like for example their show with Kamelot and Xandria last August). Supported by the up-and-coming band BLACKBRIAR, Battle Beast brought endless electricity to the stage in Toronto with their Circus of Doom Over North America 2024, another excellent event hosted by  Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment, and another amazing opportunity for both Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I to enjoy some high quality heavy music on a pleasant Saturday night.

The fact the doors opened at 7pm but Assen, Netherlands-based Alternative/Symphonic Metal band BLACKBRIAR only began their concert at 8pn was great, as it gave everyone time enough to buy merch, enjoy some time with their friends, and even get to the venue in time just like what happened to me, as I made it to The Opera House only five minutes before the show due to the insane traffic to get to Toronto. Well, I gotta say I’m very happy I could make it this time, as the band kicked some ass on stage, and I’m sure they’ll get bigger and bigger and return to Toronto sooner than later. Still promoting their 2023 album A Dark Euphony, the band spearheaded by the charming and talented frontwoman Zora Cock was phenomenal throughout their entire set, and the warm reaction of the crowd was visible in the huge smiles on the band’s faces. Their frantic bassist Siebe Sol Sijpkens was on absolute fire the entire time, even having a GoPro attached to his bass during one of the songs, so I guess we’ll see some wild footage of the Toronto show in their social media in the coming days or weeks. Blackbriar are definitely going places, and if you want to know more about one of the rising forces of the Dutch scene, go check their gentle but heavy creations on Spotify as I’m sure you’ll love their music.

Setlist
Crimson Faces
I’d Rather Burn
Far Distant Land
Forever And A Day
Arms of the Ocean
Selkie
Deadly Diminuendo
Lilith Be Gone
Cicada
Until Eternity

Band members
Zora Cock – vocals
Bart Winters – lead guitar
Robin Koezen – rhythm guitar
Siebe Sol Sijpkens – bass
Ruben Wijga – keyboards
René Boxem – drums

BATTLE BEAST

It was close to 9:30pm when Helsinki, Finland’s own Heavy/Power Metal/Hard Rock machine BATTLE BEAST ignited one of the most energetic and fun performances of the city this year, proving why they’re finally headlining a tour in North America. My only complaint as usual is that they didn’t (or maybe I should say can’t) play anything form their older albums, but fortunately the material found in Bringer of Pain, No More Hollywood Endings, and Circus of Doom is awesome enough to guarantee a night of top-notch heavy music for all attendees. In addition, I need to say that their merch is a thing of beauty, offering a variety of items including patches (like the one I got with the band’s logo) and stunning shirts, all for a very reasonable price. That shows how much they care about their fans, and of course if you’re able to afford anything from a band, you become an even stronger fan of that band, right?

As mentioned, their setlist was pretty much a “best of” from their last three albums, with only the Power Metal hurricane Bringer of Pain missing to make it perfect, but of course songs like Straight to the Heart, Eye of the Storm, Bastard Son of Odin (born to kick your ass!) and Wings of Light were more than enough to keep the energy level truly high, resulting in some frantic mosh pits in the floor section, something kind of unexpected for a Battle Beast concert. Of course, all that was only possible due to another breathtaking, undisputed performance by one of the best vocalists of the current metal scene, the incendiary she-wolf Noora Louhimo, who had the entire crowd on the palm of her hands the entire time due to her undeniable charisma, onstage presence and soaring vocals. Moreover, she doesn’t stop dancing not even for a single second, leaving some of us fans breathless just by watching her moving around nonstop.

Also, it’s important to say that as now headliners, Battle Beast made sure they brought the big guns to North America, adding some wild and entertaining elements to their performance. For instance, there was a moment of whiskey drinking where they even shared some cups with the crowd, a more-than-colorful keys-drum-whatever machine guided by keyboardist Janne Björkroth, a cover version for Badfinger’s Without You sung by the band’s electrifying bassist Eero Sipilä, and a guitar-driven version of The Imperial March. And as the icing on the cake, right after that we were treated to a thrilling, pulverizing triumvirate of pure heavy music during the encore with Master of Illusion, King for a Day and Beyond the Burning Skies, putting a brilliant ending to a very successful night for the band, and leaving them more-than-eager to return to Toronto soon, as the city has become one of their favorite places in the world to play. Well, in my humble opinion, they should always return to Toronto as headliners, because they kick ass. PALJON KIITOKSIA, BATTLE BEAST!

Setlist
Circus of Doom
Straight to the Heart
Familiar Hell
Armageddon
Place That We Call Home
No More Hollywood Endings
Eye of the Storm
Without You (Badfinger cover)
Where Angels Fear to Fly
Bastard Son of Odin
Russian Roulette
Wings of Light
Eden

Encore:
The Force Theme / The Imperial March (John Williams cover)
Master of Illusion
King for a Day
Beyond the Burning Skies
Top Gun Anthem (Harold Faltermeyer song)

Band members
Noora Louhimo – vocals
Joona Björkroth – guitars, backing vocals
Juuso Soinio – guitars
Eero Sipilä – bass, backing vocals
Janne Björkroth – keyboards, orchestrations, backing vocals
Pyry Vikki – drums

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Concert Review – Brother Firetribe (Logomo, Turku, Finland, 04/06/2024)

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The Headbanging Moose goes to Finland! A night of party and amazing hard rock anthems with Brother Firetribe in the lovely city of Turku kicked off the Spring season in the Land of Ice and Snow.

OPENING ACT: Trust No One

That’s right! The Headbanging Moose is now partially in Finland. Many moons ago, I, Renata Santos, helped Gustavo with some concerts and albums reviews all the way from Brazil. Now living in Finland, I get the chance to see great bands every now and then and I’ll try my best to bring these reviews to you, The Headbanging Moose audience. And to celebrate this restart here, nothing better than an evening with BROTHER FIRETRIBE, one of the most admired hard rock bands of the country. In the vibrant city of Turku, the concert room of Logomo was ignited by their electrifying performance as part of the Band on a Mission tour.

To start the evening, the crowd was treated to a great performance by TRUST NO ONE, an Electronic Rock/New Romantic Finnish duo formed by Samuli Erkkilä and Joni Suhonen. They combine elements of 80s-influenced synth-pop and vibrant guitar rock, captivating with their charisma. The band took the audience on a journey to the rhythm of virtuosic synth riffs and guitar solos. Among their original compositions, they played a new song called Let Them Fall and also delighted the audience with a mesmerizing cover of Enjoy the Silence by Depeche Mode, showcasing their versatility and musical prowess. It was the first time I saw this band and I am really sorry I don’t know the songs, but Trust No One’s performance provided a perfect prelude to the night’s festivities. You can listen to their songs on Spotify and check on their updates on Instagram.

Band members
Samuli Erkkilä – vocals, guitars
Joni Suhonen – keyboards and synthesizers
Jaro Väisänen – touring drummer

BROTHER FIRETRIBE

After a break to prepare the stage, BROTHER FIRETRIBE emerged under the spotlight. Frontman Pekka Heino commanded the stage with his captivating vocals, while Jason Flinck, Tommi Nikulainen, Hannes Pirilä and Roope Riihijärvi complete a formidable musical force. The setlist was a journey through the band’s illustrious career, showcasing their signature blend of hard rock and melodic hooks. Kicking off with the adrenaline-fueled Break Out, they seamlessly transitioned into songs I Am Rock and Man on a Mission, igniting a frenzy among the crowd.

Hard Rock anthems like Chariot of Fire and Indelible Heroes showcased the band’s full potential, just like the new single Are You Ready?, an instant success. Pekka said a couple of times that that was a “juhlapäivä” (a party day, in Finnish) and the fans definitely partied with them. Brother Firetribe’s ability to engage and connect with their audience was evident throughout the night, especially with the charisma of the vocalist that sings looking into the fans’ eyes and ask them to sing along in every song, creating an atmosphere of unity and celebration. As the main set drew to a close, the band hit the stage with For Better or for Worse and Heart Full of Fire.

Brother Firetribe’s performance at Logomo was nothing short of spectacular, cementing their status as one of Finland’s premier rock acts. They delivered a show filled with passion, energy, and infectious melodies, leaving fans exhilarated and wanting more. As the Band on a Mission tour continues to captivate audiences in Finland, they proved once again why they are a force to be reckoned with in the world of rock music.

Setlist
Break Out
I Am Rock
Man on a Mission
Chariot of Fire
Indelible Heroes
Are You Ready?
Arianne
Shock
Bring on the Rain
Rock in the City
Taste of a Champion
Battle Ground
I Salute You
Night Drive
Just Another Night
For Better or for Worse
Heart Full of Fire

Band members
Pekka A. Heino – vocals
Roope Riihijärvi – guitars
Tomi Nikulainen – keyboards
Jason Flinck – bass
Hannes Pirilä – drums

Concert Review – Anvil (El Mocambo, Toronto, ON, 04/06/2024)

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And Toronto had a night of incendiary old school Heavy Metal and Rock N’ Roll, courtesy of the most iconic metal band in the history of Canada.

OPENING ACTS: Devilwitch and Buffalo Bill

On a chilly but very pleasant Saturday night in Toronto, the city’s own Heavy Metal legends ANVIL returned for a night of classic heavy music at the old school venue El Mocambo, with supporting acts DEVILWITCH and BUFFALO BILL, inside their excellent main room curiously named “Under the Neon Palms”. Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I were there as usual to cover the whole night, and I gotta say that even after 40 years on the road the most iconic Canadian metal band of all time still sounds sharp, heavy and melodic, proving why they are a must-listen for anyone worldwide who considers him or herself a true metalhead.

Although due to traffic I had to miss the first couple of songs by the opener of the night, Toronto-based Heavy Metal/Hard Rock act DEVILWITCH, as soon as I stepped into the venue they started playing the very first notes from Iron Maiden’s all-time classic Hallowed Be Thy Name, which of course won my heart instantly. Born and raised in Toronto, Mike Carbone (aka Ceebz) is an independent artist with a deep love for all things creative, especially musical composition and live Rock N’ Roll performances, and that passion was definitely translated to the stage Saturday night with a tight and inspired band supporting Ceebz (and I’m sorry, but I have no idea who those fantastic musicians are*), properly warming up a very good crowd for the upcoming bands. There’s some original stuff by Devilwitch on BandCamp and on Spotify; however, when Ceebz and his henchmen play live, they surely add some amazing covers to their setlist, including the aforementioned Hallowed Be Thy Name, Deep Purple’s Highway Star and, closing their show, a beautiful version for Ozzy Osbourne’s Mama, I’m Coming Home, dedicated to the memory of the undisputed, most badass, biggest metal fan in the history of Toronto, Walter Froeberich (RIP), with the back screen showing a sweet photo of Ceebz together with Walter. Simply amazing, and I’m sure if one day you have the chance to see Devilwitch live, you’ll love it.

Band members
Mike Carbone – vocals, guitars
Evil Tim – 7-string bass
Anthony Pannozzo – keyboards
Aaronik – drums

*Edit: Thanks to Keith and to Ceebz himself, I was able to get the band’s full lineup. Next time I promise I’ll do an even deeper research before publishing the reviews.

After a short break where everyone at El Mocambo (and I literally mean everyone) went for some drinks, another Torontonian attraction, Hard Rock trio BUFFALO BILL, began blasting our ears with an overdose of classic beer drinking, hell raising, Blues-infused Rock N’ Roll. Formed of Jorge Sousa on vocals and guitars, Will Shannon on bass, and Jeff Mastronardi on drums, the trio didn’t waste a single second and delivered the sheer power of the riff on stage, playing some amazing songs which, despite not knowing the name of any, sounded killer live, plus the fact they played everything at top volume. Well, as Manowar said one day, all men play on ten, right? You can listen to some of their creations on BandCamp and on Spotify, and keep an eye on their live concerts because they’re certainly a band that drives the energy of any venue up through the roof, always in the name of our good old Rock N’ Roll. And after Devilwitch and Buffalo Bill finalized their incendiary warmup, we were all more than ready for some “metal on metal”.

Band members
Jorge Sousa – vocals, guitars
Will Shannon – bass
Jeff Mastronardi – drums

ANVIL

As the stage was ready to be hammered by the one and only Canadian Heavy Metal institution ANVIL, you could sense a different feeling in the air, something absolutely old school, fun and vibrant, taking us back in time to the glory of the 80’s. And the whole concert by the iconic Steve “Lips” Kudlow on vocals and guitars, Chris “Chirst” Robertson on bass, and Robb Reiner on drums was majestic, playing songs from their early days like Oooh Baby, from their 1981 debut Hard ‘n’ Heavy, and 666, from their 1982 masterpiece Metal on Metal, to present day tunes like Take a Lesson, from their 2022 opus Impact Is Imminent, all available on Spotify, by the way. Well, they kicked off the show with Lips getting down from the stage into the floor section during March of the Crabs, playing his guitar in the middle of the crowd (and right by my side, which was awesome), a very cool touch to their show proving how much they love playing live to their fans.

A few other songs stood out among their ass-kicking setlist, inspiring all concert goers for some vigorous headbanging and horns raising. For instance, before playing Legal at Last, Lips talked about the legalization of marijuana being the only good thing Justin Trudeau did for Canada. Do you agree with that? There was also a very nice story about one of his interactions with the unparalleled Lemmy Kilmister (RIP) during a Motörhead and Anvil tour back in the 80’s, and while Lips was telling the whole story (and sorry, you’ll have to see Anvil live if you want to know all details), I kept thinking how cool it must have been to tour with a brilliant gentleman like Lemmy. Also, during the amazing Mothra, Lips got a vibrator out of his back pocket and used it to play his guitar in three different ways, something only a band like Anvil can provide us with in Christ’s own words. And what can I say about the breathtaking On Fire? By far one of the best songs of the night, I must say.

In addition to the mesmerizing performance by Lips, I must say their bassist Christ was also insane on stage, with his crazy looks and wicked facial expressions, plus of course his first-class bass playing technique, putting a huge smile on everyone’s faces. And let’s not forget the stone crusher Robb Reiner on drums, who delivered a soulful, powerful drum solo for our total delight, also pounding his drums nonstop during all songs, of course. The trio’s undeniable talent and energy made my favorite Anvil song, Badass Rock ‘n’ Roll, sound even more electrifying live, not to mention I think Lips should have renamed it “Bad-Ass Rock N’ Roll” and dedicated it to an unknown piece of shit who was farting his rotten soul out of his body during the entire night. Seriously, that guy or girl must have eaten an explosive burrito full of tainted refried beans and overloaded with rancid bell peppers, because his or her ass was definitely putrid. I told Keith I was about to call 911 because that person needed to go to ER to check if he or she was still alive. Anyway, back to the concert, of course an Anvil party is not complete without their all-time hit Metal on Metal, which again ended with Lips on the floor section (and again by my side) playing his guitar to his loyal fans, and after that he stayed among us to sing Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” together with us while the house DJ played it. Really, Lips is one of the coolest dudes in heavy music, period. And whenever Anvil take your city by storm, you know what to do.

Setlist
March of the Crabs
666
Oooh Baby
Legal at Last
Take a Lesson
Badass Rock ‘n’ Roll
Winged Assassins
Free as the Wind
On Fire
Forged in Fire
Mothra
Bitch in the Box
Swing Thing
Ghost Shadow
Metal on Metal

Band members
Steve “Lips” Kudlow – vocals, guitars
Chris “Chirst” Robertson – bass
Robb Reiner – drums

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Album Review – Judas Priest / Invincible Shield (2024)

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Nothing can stand in the way of the Metal Gods as they raise the invincible shield of Heavy Metal.

Faster than a bullet, the unstoppable Judas Priest are back in action stronger than ever, raising the invincible shield in the name of Heavy Metal in their nineteenth studio opus, the masterpiece titled Invincible Shield, the follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2018 album Firepower. Produced by Andy Sneap at Backstage Recording Studios, and displaying an incendiary artwork by Mark Wilkinson (Marillion, Fish, Iron Maiden), Invincible Shield offers the listener 11 breathtaking tracks of pure, unfiltered Heavy Metal (or 14 if you go for the deluxe edition of the album) masterfully brought into being by the Metal God Rob Halford on vocals, Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner on the guitars, Ian Hill on bass, and Scott Travis on drums, positioning it as a must-listen for any fan of heavy music, and as the most serious contender for album of the year. Well, to be honest, it will be the album of the year, and yes, Invincible Shield is THAT good.

Panic Attack, the first single released back in October, kicks off the album on a high and metallic note, with Halford sounding tight as ever with his high-pitched, soaring screams while always supported by the crisp and incendiary instrumental pieces from his bandmates. Then we have the pulverizing The Serpent and the King, and I honestly don’t know how a 72-year-old vocalist can still deliver these pure metal lyrics with such a high level of power (“Idols to their worlds / Manifesting anger, / Conjurers of evil times! / We can sense the danger! / They claim every soul, / Show you who’s the leader! / Bow before iconoclasts, / Creators of disaster!”), resulting in a lecture in classic Judas Priest offering us all endless heaviness, fire, epicness, speed and fury; whereas the title-track Invincible Shield takes us back to their Ram It Down, Painkiller and Defenders of the Faith times, or in other words, it’s another flawless blast of razor-edged riffs and solos by Glenn and Richie, while Scott hammers his drums as usual for our total delight. Devil in Disguise is an imposing, heavy-as-hell metal hymn where Halford keeps distilling his unparalleled vocals while Ian and Scott make sure the earth trembles with their massive bass and drums, respectively; and the party has no time to end as their rockin’ vein pulses harder than ever in Gates of Hell, where Richie sounds majestic on the guitars as usual (as well as throughout the entire album), followed by Crown of Horns, another one of the singles released prior to the album launch, a more cadenced Hard Rock composition focusing on the melodic vocals by Rob.

Their metallic engine keeps roaring loud in As God Is My Witness, where Scott takes the lead with his classic beats accompanied by the slashing riffage by Glenn and Richie, and I would definitely love to see them playing this one live, whereas in Trial by Fire the band offers more of their darkly poetic lyrics (“Burden of guilt / Branded a liar / Falsely accused / Trial by firе / Committed no crime / In my innocence / I have endured / Trial by fire”) amidst a somber, headbanging sound perfect for their live performances. It’s then time for Ian to smash his bass in Escape from Reality, generating a reverberating atmosphere before Rob comes ripping in a song that reminds me of his time with the awesome Fight. In Sons of Thunder the name of the song says it all, blasting our ears with a Heavy Metal extravaganza led by Richie and Glenn’s blazing riffs while Rob continues to hypnotize us all with his purely metal vocals, sounding like a song taken directly from the 80’s; and closing the regular version of the album we have the horn-raising tune Giants in the Sky, again presenting their trademark riffs and beats, therefore providing Rob with everything he needs to shine on vocals. And if you’re a true metalmaniac and go for the deluxe edition of the album you’ll be treated to three amazing bonus tracks (also released on a bonus 7″ EP sold separately and included in promotional bundles), with all three songs being great and making the extra investment in the special edition totally worth it, with an honorable mention to Fight of Your Life for being the most emotional of those.

Judas Priest Invincible Shield The Complete Bundle

This flawless hurricane of Heavy Metal is available in full on YouTube and on Spotify, but of course you can purchase your favorite copy of it and put a huge smile on the faces of the Metal Gods by clicking HERE (including the insane Invisible Shield The Complete Bundle). Also, don’t forget to follow the Metal Gods on Facebook and on Instagram for all things Judas Priest, including their unmatched live concerts, which is something every decent person on earth should experience at least once in their lives. Nothing can stand in the way of Judas Priest as they raise the invincible shield of Heavy Metal in their brilliant new album, a masterpiece that in my humble opinion is their best effort since Painkiller, and an album that will surely reverberate to all four corners of the earth, spreading some Heavy Metal magic for the absolute delight of us all, mere mortal metalheads, as we praise the Metal Gods for all eternity.

Best moments of the album: The Serpent and the King, Invincible Shield, Gates of Hell, As God Is My Witness and Sons of Thunder.

Worst moments of the album: None, of course.

Released in 2024 Sony Music

Track listing
1. Panic Attack 5:25
2. The Serpent and the King 4:19
3. Invincible Shield 6:21
4. Devil in Disguise 4:44
5. Gates of Hell 4:37
6. Crown of Horns 5:45
7. As God Is My Witness 4:35
8. Trial by Fire 4:21
9. Escape from Reality 4:24
10. Sons of Thunder 2:58
11. Giants in the Sky 5:03

Deluxe Edition / 7” bonus tracks
12.Fight of Your Life 4:15
13.Vicious Circle 3:00
14.The Lodger 3:46

Band members
Rob Halford – vocals
Glenn Tipton – guitar
Richie Faulkner – guitar
Ian Hill – bass guitar
Scott Travis – drums

Concert Review – Rage (Lee’s Palace, Toronto, ON, 03/04/2024)

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One of the pillars of German Power Metal took the city of Toronto by storm for the first time ever to celebrate their headbanging, hellraising 40 years of career.

OPENING ACT: C.O.P. UK

Monday night was simply perfect in Toronto, with no snow or rain, lots of sunshine with temperatures above +10oC, very little traffic, and of course a lecture in Heavy and Power Metal at Lee’s Palace as C.O.P. UK and RAGE kicked off the Canadian leg of their 40 Years in RAGE – 4 Decades of Heavy Metal Tour 2024, celebrating four decades of one of the most important bands to ever arise from the German Power Metal scene. Brought to Canada by Lucky Bob Music Agency, it’s somehow weird that Rage are only playing in Canada and not in the US (which is why there was even a guy from Michigan who drove eight hours to see the show here in Toronto), and I don’t know exactly how the promotion of the tour was done because the crowd was much smaller than expected. Maybe because it was a Monday, the worst day in the world for anything as Garfield would say, or maybe tons of fans had zero idea Rage was playing in the city for the first time ever (and I saw some comments online from fans in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec complaining about the lack of information about the tour). Anyway, the concert was fantastic, as well as the sick photos taken this time by my friend Ryan Miles Leblanc.

After a HUGE delay for the doors to open due to some technical difficulties, as apparently they didn’t have an adapter to convert something from EU to Canada, Sheffield, England-based Heavy Metal/Hard Rock act C.O.P. UK, or Crimes Of Passion if you prefer, hit the stage at around 9:30pm for a solid performance to warm up the fans at the venue for Rage. Formed in 2005, the band led by the charismatic vocalist Dale Radcliffe distilled a traditional blend of Heavy Metal and Hard Rock with hints of Glam and Hair Metal, with songs like Love Is To Die For and Catch Me If You Can sounding amazing live, plus their electrifying cover version for Journey’s classic Separate Ways (Worlds Apart), which in Dale’s words, it doesn’t matter if you don’t know them, everyone loves a little bit of Journey. I was impressed with the band and just wish they had more releases available for streaming everywhere, because for example on Spotify you can only find their 2018 EP Keep on Moving. Their music is awesome and they deserve more attention from all of us metalheads not only in Canada, but anywhere where good music is appreciated.

Setlist
The Core
My Blood
Love Is To Die For
Body & Soul
Stranger Than Fiction
Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) (Journey cover)
Catch Me If You Can
God Made Me Your Angel

Band members
Dale Radcliffe – vocals
Jean Bormann – guitars
Henning Wanner – keyboards
Scott Jordan – bass
Kev Tonge – drums

RAGE

It was already 10:30pm, which is really late for any show to start in Toronto by the way, when German Power Metal titans RAGE kicked off their flawless performance on stage, obviously led by the iconic Peter “Peavy” Wagner on vocals and bass, supported by Jean Bormann on the guitars (and yes, he’s the same guitarist from C.O.P. UK, but I think he was just supporting C.O.P. UK as his main band is Rage), and Vassilios “Lucky” Maniatopoulos on drums. And let me say it was a dream come true for all Torontonian fans of the band who attended the concert because their celebration of 40 years indeed included songs from their entire and vast career, kicking things of with the excellent Resurrection Day and going through all of their albums, with songs like Solitary Man, Black in Mind, Back in Time and My Way inspiring everyone for some good headbanging and fist raising. I personally think Peavy’s microphone was a bit low, but even so it was amazing to see his raspy, loud vocals permeating the air at Lee’s Palace Monday night.

One of my favorite songs of the night, and probably also of most fans at the venue, was undoubtedly End of All Days, and it was visible how some dudes in the crowd were having the time of their lives while the trio kept kicking some serious ass on stage during such masterpiece. My only “complaint” about their setlist was not seeing the darkly beautiful “From the Cradle to the Grave” live, as it was replaced with their new song Under a Black Crown (from their upcoming album Afterlifelines, to be released on March 29 this year), but the new song is also amazing, you know what I mean? Well, Peavy even mentioned during the show that they had over 100 songs to create their setlist (all available on Spotify, by the way), a tough job for them, but a pleasure for all of us when the setlist comes together. An when you end a concert with the pulverizing Don’t Fear the Winter and the all-time classic Higher Than the Sky, you know how happy your fans will be. Hopefully the lower-than-expected attendance won’t stop Rage form coming back to Toronto in the near future, because after seeing what Peavy and the boys are capable of Monday night, I must say the city of Toronto needs another blast of their Teutonic Power Metal.

Setlist
Memento Vitae (Overture)
Resurrection Day
Great Old Ones
Solitary Man
Nevermore
Black in Mind
Refuge
Back in Time
Shadow Out of Time
My Way
End of All Days
A New Land

Encore:
Under a Black Crown
Don’t Fear the Winter
Higher Than the Sky
Tomorrow’s Yesterday (Instrumental)

Band members
Peter “Peavy” Wagner – vocals, bass
Jean Bormann – guitars
Vassilios “Lucky” Maniatopoulos – drums

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Album Review – Arkado / Open Sea (2024)

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This Swedish Melodic Rock band invites us all to navigate the boundless expanse of the their sophomore album, where melody meets symphony in a harmonious fusion.

From the ashes of a band called BB2 (Better Be Together) founded in the early 80’s in Helsingborg, Sweden, comes a Melodic Hard Rock/AOR band named Arkado, inviting us all to navigate the boundless expanse of the their sophomore album, entitled Open Sea, where melody meets symphony in a harmonious fusion. Recorded, produced and mixed by Mikael Svensson at LdM Studios, mastered by Thomas ‘Plec’ Johansson at The Panic Room Studio, and displaying a stunning artwork by Nello Dell’Omo (Mecca, Jim Peterik, Silent Tiger, Stan Bush), the new album by vocalist and guitarist Philip Lindstrand, guitarists Patrik Svärd and Tony Rothla, bassist Bernt Lundgren (who has recently left the band, being replaced by Christer Engholm), keyboardist Mikael Svensson, and drummer Mikael Skafar is the perfect follow-up to their 2020 debut Never Say Never, introducing a slightly symphonic and heavier dimension to their signature sound and, therefore, being highly recommended for fans of Silent Tiger, Drive At Night, Streetlore, Sapphire Eyes, and Strangerland.

It’s time to embark on a musical journey through the seas of Melodic Rock with Arkado, with the cinematic intro Voyage setting the tone for the title-track Open Sea, a very melodic, powerful tune led by the striking vocals by Philip while his bandmates deliver a mix of AOR with 80’s Hair Metal the likes of Bon Jovi and Cinderella, providing us all with an exciting start to the album. The guitars by Philip, Patrik and Tony continue to embellish the airwaves in Running Through The Night, while Bernt and Mikael Skafar generate a solid base with their classy kitchen; and their Rock N’ Roll party has no time to end to the sound of I Gave My Heart, again showcasing their trademark melodious riffs, classic beats, and the whimsical keys by Mikael Svensson. The band then invests in a more harmonious, smoother sonority with the power ballad You Make Me Feel, where Philip steals the spotlight with his passionate vocals, whereas their guitars sound incendiary in the rockin’ tune Rising High, a Hard Rock feast perfect for hitting the road to the sound of the headbanging beats by Mikael Skafar.

The stylish keys by Bernt ignite the AOR extravaganza Her Mothers Lullaby, where their riffs bring an extra touch of heaviness to the overall result. It’s a good song, albeit a bit generic, though. The band gets back on track and their Melodic Rock vein gets even stronger in Long Way To Go, with the band’s guitar triumvirate filling every single space in the air with their endless energy and harmony, also presenting spot-on backing vocals in support of Philip; and Bernt keeps extracting magic and epicness from his keys in the 80’s Hard Rock tune Unchain The Night,  a lesson in rock music by Arkado where Philip is once again fantastic with his striking vocals, or in other words, it’s a must-listen for fans of the genre. There are two more songs to go and their rockin’ aura stays strong and exciting in Like Something Heaven Sent, where their guitars exhale electricity in the name of Melodic Rock, before all comes to an end with another ballad titled Show Me The Light Again, putting a charming ending to the album, overflowing endless passion thanks to the always stylish keys and piano by Bernt.

Those amazing Swedish rockers are waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram to rock your world with news, tour dates, more of their music and so on, and you can also stream their classy creations on Spotify and, above all that, purchase your favorite copy of Open Sea by clicking HERE. If you’re an admirer of the world of Melodic Rock, Hard Rock and AOR, then it’s time to navigate across the seas of Rock N’ Roll together with the Swedish rockers of Arkado, letting their gentle yet electrifying sounds guide you like the wind always guides a sailor to safety even on unruly waters.

Best moments of the album: Open Sea, Rising High and Unchain The Night.

Worst moments of the album: Her Mothers Lullaby.

Released in 2024 Pride & Joy Music

Track listing
1. Voyage 1:33
2. Open Sea 4:28
3. Running Through The Night 3:08
4. I Gave My Heart 4:00
5. You Make Me Feel 4:25
6. Rising High 4:16
7. Her Mothers Lullaby 3:50
8. Long Way To Go 3:38
9. Unchain The Night 3:18
10. Like Something Heaven Sent 4:18
11. Show Me The Light Again 4:10

Band members
Philip Lindstrand – vocals, lead guitar
Patrik Svärd – lead & rhythm guitar
Tony Rothla – lead & rhythm guitar
Bernt Lundgren – bass
Mikael Svensson – keyboards, synths, backing vocals
Mikael Skafar – drums, backing vocals

Album Review – Striker / Ultrapower (2024)

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These Canadian metallers are made of metal, their circuits gleam, and they’re ready to show us all the endless power of heavy music to the sound of their striking seventh studio album.

Blending classic Heavy Metal, Hard Rock, and 80’s Hair Metal, Power Metal and so on, Edmonton, Canada’s own powerhouse Striker has been making “shredtacular” anthems since their inception back in 2007, which is also the case with their seventh studio album, titled Ultrapower. Produced, mixed and mastered by Josh Schroeder, and displaying a stylish, metallic cover art by Al Perez of Ramone Sketch, Ultrapower is a strong and solid follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2017 self-titled album and their Juno Award-winning 2018 effort Play To Win, showcasing a collection of the band’s tinkering and exploring new avenues, all brought into being with tons of energy and passion by frontman Dan Cleary, guitarists Tim Brown and John Simon Fallon, bassist Pete Klassen, and session drummer Jono Webster.

The maniacal laugh by Dan ignites the thrilling, metallic Power Metal hymn Circle of Evil, one of the heaviest songs from their past few albums, with Tim and John taking the song’s punch and electricity to a whole new level with their wicked riffs and solos. Then venturing through the realms of Hard Rock and Glam Metal it’s time for BEST of the BEST of the BEST, with its inspiring lyrics flawlessly declaimed by Dan (“If I could show you the top of the world / All of the things I’ve seen / Every long and winding road / All that I gave up to get what I’ve got / Maybe you’d understand / Why I’m never gonna stop”); and the sound of the saxophone brings a “Michael Bolton” vibe to Give it All, an 80’s-inspired, mellow rockin’ tune where Pete and Jono dictate the pace with their classic kitchen. It’s pedal to the metal as Striker will kick you in the head in Blood Magic, again showcasing their always catchy choruses and the beautiful heaviness of their guitars and drums, whereas Sucks to Suck keeps the adrenaline flowing in the album, a nice tune with a chorus that is as cheesy as hell (but that should work really well if played live).

Back to a more direct Heavy Metal sonority form their early records we have Ready for Anything, where Dan kicks some ass on vocals as usual supported by his bandmates’ classic backing vocals, making it impossible not to headbang nonstop to such electrifying tune. Once again paying a visit to the Sunset Strip in California, the band fires City Calling, proving how versatile their music can be, with Pete sounding ruthless armed with his thunderous, metallic bass; and let’s keep this Rock N’ Roll party going in Turn the Lights Out, where the guitars by Tim and John exhale heaviness and melody while Jono keeps hammering his drums in great fashion. Then we’re treated to Thunderdome, their personal tribute to the 1985 cult movie Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, presenting a pounding rhythm led by the crushing beats by Jono, while Dan and his henchmen keep roaring the famous movie line “two men enter, one man leaves”, whereas Live to Fight Another Day is another AOR/Melodic Rock-infused creation by the band, sounding as if it was taken from one of those teen movies from the 80’s, with Dan delivering the goods with his powerful vocals. Finally, closing the horn-raising Ultrapower we’re treated to Brawl at the Pub, a no shenanigans, classic Striker hymn where the heaviness of their riffs and beats matches perfectly with the soaring vocals by Dan, all complemented by a beyond powerful guitar solo.

“Ultrapower is the amalgamation of 5 years of writing and exploring music. With influences from AOR to Speed Metal, Hardcore to Hair Metal, Steely Dan to Deathcore, you name it, it made its way into the album. In the end with the help of Josh Schroeder’s guiding hand, we melted it all together to present something uniquely Striker. Lyrically we’ve stuck to the Striker tradition of writing montage songs for movies that don’t exist, songs about our spiraling serfdom, and lyrics about the evils that lurk in the shadows,” commented the band about their new album, also saying that “we wanted the album artwork to represent how we feel as a band right now. We are an engine that is fired up and ready to roll. We’re made of metal and our circuits gleam.” Hence, in order to join Striker in their quest for Heavy Metal, you can start following the band on Facebook and on Instagram, subscribe to their YouTube channel, stream their music on Spotify, and purchase a copy of the hard-hitting Ultrapower by clicking HERE. Striker are more-than-ready to show us all the power of heavy music with Ultrapower, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy the ride with one of the best (of the best of the best) bands of the current Canadian landscape.

Best moments of the album: Circle of Evil, BEST of the BEST of the BEST, Ready for Anything and Brawl at the Pub.

Worst moments of the album: Sucks to Suck.

Released in 2024 Record Breaking Records

Track listing
1. Circle of Evil 3:44
2. BEST of the BEST of the BEST 3:19
3. Give it All 4:14
4. Blood Magic 4:35
5. Sucks to Suck 3:15
6. Ready for Anything 3:56
7. City Calling 3:45
8. Turn the Lights Out 2:49
9. Thunderdome 4:01
10. Live to Fight Another Day 4:00
11. Brawl at the Pub 3:47

Band members
Dan Cleary – vocals
Tim Brown – guitar
John Simon Fallon – guitar
Pete Klassen – bass

Guest musician
Jono Webster – drums (session)

The Year In Review – Top 10 Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Albums of 2023

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“Whatever your age may be, when you go to a heavy metal gig, you’re a teenager again.” – Rob Halford

I believe that quote from the Metal God himself perfectly represents the year of 2023 for most of us metalheads, including of course myself and my buddy Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi as we’ve been to countless metal gigs this year (and you can see detailed reviews with amazing professional photos for each one of them HERE), keeping our inner fires burning during such difficult times for the entire world. A never-ending economic crisis that’s dragging tons and tons of people to poverty everywhere, the Russo-Ukrainian War that persists for almost two years now, the extremely sad and inhumane Gaza–Israel conflict, all environmental disasters that in the end are all mankind’s fault, and so on. On the heavy music side, we witnessed the final concert ever by KISS, the end of great bands like The Agonist and Betraying the Martyrs, and the deaths of Sebastian Marino (former guitarist of Overkill and Anvil), Michael “Majk Moti” Kupper (former guitarist of Running Wild), Jon Kennedy (former bassist of Cradle of Filth and former vocalist of Hecate Enthroned), Hiroshi “Heath” Morie (bassist of X Japan), Charlie Dominici (former vocalist of Dream Theater), and several other talented musicians.

Despite all those losses, it was a very good year for heavy music, as bands kept fighting for rock and metal no matter what, putting on fantastic albums and memorable tours for us fans, with some already voicing their dissatisfaction against Live Nation and Ticketmaster for their sky-rocketing ticket prices, shady fees, and an obscure ticket reselling “mafia” running in the background that inflates those prices even more. In 2024 we’ll surely (and hopefully) see more of this insurgence against their ticket monopoly, and while we wait for that let’s enjoy The Headbanging Moose’s Top 10 Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Albums of 2023, excluding EP’s, best of’s and live albums, offering our avid ears the perfect soundtrack to every single moment in our lives, even if that moment is the apocalypse.

1. UADA – Crepuscule Natura (REVIEW)
One of the rising stars of the current Melodic Black Metal scene returns with their majestic fourth album, unleashing upon us five sonic vessels.
Best song of the album: Retraversing the Void

2. Cattle Decapitation – Terrasite (REVIEW)
Fear the devourer of earth in the form of the brand new and absolutely majestic album by California’s own Deathgrind masters.
Best song of the album: We Eat Our Young

3. Overkill – Scorched (REVIEW)
One of the pillars of old school Thrash Metal will scorch the earth to the sound of their breathtaking new album.
Best song of the album: The Surgeon

4. Hellripper – Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags (REVIEW)
Behold this infernal storm of Blackened Thrash Metal by a one-man army deeply rooted in his Scottish origins.
Best song of the album: Goat Vomit Nightmare

5. Viscera – Carcinogenesis (REVIEW)
UK’s own Technical Death Metal/Deathcore monster returns with their striking sophomore album.
Best song of the album: Sungazer

6. Cannibal Corpse – Chaos Horrific (REVIEW)
The mighty Corpse is back with another pulverizing album of old school, undisputed Death Metal, blasting gore, blood and violence.
Best song of the album: Chaos Horrific

7. Primal Fear – Code Red (REVIEW)
German Power Metal masters are back with their thirteenth opus, a hard-hitting metal lesson and living proof of the healing power of music.
Best song of the album: Play a Song

8. Werewolves – My Enemies Look and Sound like Me (REVIEW)
The most savage Blackened Death Metal band from Australia returns to the battlefield in full force with an even more demented offering.
Best song of the album: I Hate Therefore I Am

9. Vomitory – All Heads Are Gonna Roll (REVIEW)
All heads are gonna roll to the sound of the infuriated new album by one of the most important bands in the history of Death Metal.
Best song of the album: Raped, Strangled, Sodomized, Dead

10. Marduk – Memento Mori (REVIEW)
One of the pillars of Swedish Black Metal is back with a devilish new album, reminding us that we all must die.
Best song of the album: Blood of the Funeral

And here we have the runner-ups, completing the top 20 for the year:

11. Angelus Apatrida – Aftermath (REVIEW)
12. Immortal – War Against All (REVIEW)
13. Blackbraid – Blackbraid II (REVIEW)
14. 4ARM – Pathway to Oblivion (REVIEW)
15. When Plagues Collide – An Unbiblical Paradigm (REVIEW)
16. Hrothgar – Rise of Ragnarök (REVIEW)
17. Mystic Prophecy – Hellriot  (REVIEW)
18. Tsjuder – Helvegr (REVIEW)
19. Hyperia – The Serpent’s Cycle (REVIEW)
20. Sarcoptes – Prayers to Oblivion (REVIEW)

In addition to all that, let’s bang our heads with our Top 10 EP’s of 2023 to prove once and for all that not all great albums of the year have to be so long. The EP’s from this list are simply awesome, showcasing the band’s talent and their ability to sound epic even if the music lasts for only a few minutes.

1. Imperial Demonic – Beneath the Crimson Eclipse (REVIEW)
2. Spectral Lore – 11 Days (REVIEW)
3. Admire the Grim – Rogue Five (REVIEW)
4. Saint Vermin – Together as None (REVIEW)
5. Lost Brethren – Dimensional Rift (REVIEW)
6. Cryptosis – The Silent Call (REVIEW)
7. Nemesism – Nemesism (REVIEW)
8. Decompose To Ashes – In The Eternal Silence (REVIEW)
9. Dysease – Era of Decay (REVIEW)
10. Throat Locust – Dragged Through Glass (REVIEW)

Do you agree with our list? What are your top 10 albums of 2023? Also, don’t forget to tune in every Tuesday at 10pm BRT on Rádio Coringão to enjoy the best of classic and underground metal with Jorge Diaz and his Timão Metal, and every Thursday at 8pm UTC+2 on Midnight Madness Metal e-Radio for the best of underground metal with The Headbanging Moose Show! And if you lost some of our latest special editions of The Headbanging Moose Show, including our Top 20 Underground Albums of 2023 – Parts I and II, go to our Mixcloud page and there you have hours and hours of the best of the independent scene, sounds good?

Metal Xmas and a Headbanging New Year! See you in 2024!

And before I go, I need to talk once again about Savage Lands, a nonprofit featuring members of Megadeth, Sepultura, Obituary and other legends of metal to support forests in Costa Rica, who released an amazing single titled The Last Howl back in November. The Last Howl is a howling tribute to the howler monkey, which are endangered in Costa Rica. The song features Savage Lands co-founders Sylvain Demercastel and Dirk Verbeuren (Megadeth), as well as support from John Tardy (Obituary), Andreas Kisser (Sepultura), Poun (Black Bomb A) and Etienne Treton (Black Bomb A). 100% of the song royalties will help fund nature sanctuaries, establish green zones and other land preservation projects in Costa Rica. Having said that, why don’t you go and make a nice donation to the cause, and learn more about Savage Lands on their official website? I’m sure Sylvain and Dirk, plus everyone else involved in this magnificent project, will love to receive that Christmas gift from you!

Album Review – Danko Jones / Electric Sounds (2023)

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Toronto, Canada-based undisputed kings of balls-out Hard Rock and Rock N’ Roll are back to provide maximum satisfaction with their electrifying eleventh studio album.

Are you ready to rock? Do you want a good time? Do you want to get high? If the answer to any of those questions is yes (and it really should be), then Toronto, Canada-based undisputed kings of balls-out Hard Rock and Rock N’ Roll, collectively known as Danko Jones, are back to provide maximum satisfaction with their new album titled Electric Sounds, the eleventh studio effort in their career. Produced and mixed by Eric Ratz, mastered by Harry Hess at HBomb Mastering, and displaying a classy artwork by Martin Ander, Electric Sounds will slap you in the face with its endless electricity and power, all carefully brought into being by vocalist and guitarist Danko Jones (aka Rishi James Ganjoo), bassist John “JC” Calabrese, and drummer Rich Knox.

As already asked, are you ready for a Rock N’ Roll party together with Danko and his crew? That’s what you’ll get in the groovy Guess Who’s Back, with Danko declaiming the song’s acid lyrics while Rich dictate the song’s pace with his classic beats, followed by Good Time, another exciting, rockin’ extravaganza by the trio, with the bass by JC sounding thunderous while Danko keeps roaring the song’s fun chorus with tons of energy (“I came here to fuck shit up and have a good time”). Then the title-track Electric Sounds, featuring guest guitarist Daniel Dekay (from Canadian thrash legends Exciter), will take you on a wild musical ride together with the band, with Danko kicking some ass on vocals supported by the pounding drums by Rich. Then we have Get High?, featuring guest vocals by Damian Abraham (from Fucked Up), a song about the the legalization of marijuana in Canada that ends up being some sort of Rock N’ Roll anthem for potheads, showcasing solid riffs and strong bass lines; and let’s keep banging our heads with Danko Jones in Stiff Competition, bringing more of the band’s pounding but very melodic sounds, albeit not as thrilling as the rest of the album.

The band speeds things up and invite us all to slam into the pit to the sound of She’s My Baby, featuring guest vocals by Tyler Stewart (from Barenaked Ladies), a lesson in modern-day Rock N’ Roll and Hard Rock; whereas Eye For An Eye reminds me of some of the most recent songs by Danish rock titans Volbeat, which is obviously a good thing, with the guitars by Danko sounding amazing from start to finish. And adding an extra dosage of groove to their music it’s time for I Like It, a strip tease-fueled rock song where the beats by Rich will inspire you to bang your head like a maniac. The party has no time to stop, as the vibrant Let’s Make Out keeps the adrenaline level as high as it can be, with Danko once again kicking ass on vocals and with his classy riffs, while What Goes Around offers us all pure Rock N’ Roll flowing from all instruments, with the vocals by Danko matching perfectly with the rumbling kitchen by JC and Rich. Lastly, the trio will shake your city with their rockin’ sounds in Shake Your City, bringing forward one final round of their classic riffs, bass lines and beats and fills.

Electric Sounds is available for a full listen on YouTube and on Spotify, but of course if you want to show your utmost support to Danko Jones you can grab a copy of the album from their own website or by clicking HERE, and don’t forget to also follow this amazing Hard Rock crew from Toronto on Facebook and on Instagram for news, tour dates, and so on. Danko Jones and his henchmen are ready to rock your world armed with the electric sounds found in their new album, and if I were you I wouldn’t waste a single second and join them because, as you might know, their Rock N’ Roll party has no time to end.

Best moments of the album: Electric Sounds, She’s My Baby and Eye For An Eye.

Worst moments of the album: Stiff Competition.

Released in 2023 AFM Records

Track listing
1. Guess Who’s Back 2:41
2. Good Time 3:57
3. Electric Sounds 3:13
4. Get High? 3:37
5. Stiff Competition 3:27
6. She’s My Baby 3:17
7. Eye For An Eye 2:58
8. I Like It 3:09
9. Let’s Make Out 3:26
10. What Goes Around 3:32
11. Shake Your City 3:30

Band members
Danko Jones – lead vocals, guitars
John “JC” Calabrese – bass
Rich Knox – drums

Guest musicians
Tyler Stewart – vocals on “She’s My Baby”, backing vocals
Damian Abraham – vocals on “Get High?”, backing vocals
Daniel Dekay – guitars on “Electric Sounds”, backing vocals
Eric Ratz, Harry Hess, Zach Pepe – backing vocals

Album Review – Mystic Prophecy / Hellriot (2023)

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German’s own Heavy and Power Metal division is ready to unleash hell with their incendiary twelfth studio album.

Formed initially as a side project in the already distant year of 2000 in Bad Grönenbach, Germany by Progressive Metal band Valley’s Eve bandmates R.D. Liapakis and Martin Albrecht, the unrelenting Heavy and Power Metal outfit Mystic Prophecy has been on a roll since their inception, having released already 12 studio albums (plus their 2021 EP Hail to the King), including their newborn spawn titled Hellriot, following up on their highly acclaimed effort Metal Division. Produced by the band’s own frontman R.D. Liapakis (aka Roberto Dimitri Liapakis, who’s by the way the band’s only remaining founding member), mixed and mastered by Henrik Udd at Studio Fredman, and displaying a beyond metalized artwork by Dušan Marković, Hellriot is an ode to all things metal masterfully brought into being by the aforementioned R.D. Liapakis together with guitarists Evan K and Markus Pohl, bassist Joey Roxx, and drummer Hanno Kerstan, positioning it as one of the top Heavy and Powerl Metal albums of 2023 without a shadow of a doubt.

The incendiary riffs by Evan and Markus will put you to bang your head like a true metalhead in the breathtaking title-track Hellriot, while R.D. beautifully declaims the song’s tribute-to-the-legends lyrics (“We are the legion of the damned / We let the dragons fly together till the end / Screaming for vengeance, the number of the beast / With the devil by our side the dogs of hell unleashed”) in a lecture in classic Heavy Metal with Thrash and Speed Metal nuances, followed by Unholy Hell, darker and heavier than its predecessor, with Joey shining armed with her bass while Hanno pounds his drums nonstop in the name of darkness. Then we have Demons Of The Night, bringing forward a galloping rhythm inspired by the music by Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, sounding absolutely solid and entertaining, and led by the scorching guitars by Evan and Markus. In Metal Attack the name of the song says it all, offering us all a vibrant onrush of Power Metal full of metallic bass punches, fierce riffs and hammering drums, whereas Paranoia is slightly below the rest of the album in terms of energy (not to mention all background effects sound out of place) despite its decent backing vocals and drums. And back to their more traditional Heavy and Power Metal mode we face Revenge And Fire, a headbanging feast where R.D. once again kicks some serious ass on vocals supported by the fiery music blasted by his bandmates.

After that, the low-tuned, menacing bass by Joey kicks off the beyond exciting Rising With The Storm, a lesson in old school Heavy Metal that will certainly put you to dance, with R.D.’s vocals being nicely complemented by the song’s spot-on backing vocals. In Road To Babylon the band presents poetic words are declaimed by R.D. (“One man is born to conquer the world / The signs of his faith are falling / One man in the name of gods / Hail to the king all nations are calling / With fire and steel he sends his warning / The Persian king Darius is falling”) while the rest of the band crafts a dark yet very melodious sound, resulting in an amazing creation by those Teutonic metallers, and things get even better in Azrael, one of the best songs of the album, paying homage to the angel of death with Joey being on fire not only armed with her rumbling bass but also with her powerful backing vocals. In other words, it’s impossible to stand still to this horn-raising hymn, which is also the case in Cross The Line, a beautiful fusion of Heavy and Power Metal with modern-day Hard Rock by Mystic Prophecy presenting some striking solos by Evan and the hammering drums by Hanno, while R.D. invites us all to sing along the song’s stylish lyrics together with the band. Finally, closing this flammable album of heavy music we have World On Fire, where once again we’ll feel the urge to start dancing, banging our heads and raising our fists in the air nonstop. The world might be coming to an end, but at least it will be to the sound of this stylish metal tune.

This fantastic explosion of classic German Power Metal can be appreciated in all of its glory on YouTube and on Spotify, but of course in order to support such amazing band from the European scene you can purchase a copy of Hellriot by clicking HERE, and catch the band live in your city by clicking HERE. Furthermore, R.D. Liapakis and his crew are also waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram with news, more of their music and other nice-to-know details about them, inviting you to join their metallic army in their quest for heavy music. Mystic Prophecy are unleashing hell with their new album, and may their inner fire keep burning bright for decades to come with more superb releases like this one.

Best moments of the album: Hellriot, Rising With The Storm, Azrael and Cross The Line.

Worst moments of the album: Paranoia.

Released in 2023 ROAR! Rock Of Angels Records

Track listing
1. Hellriot 3:21
2. Unholy Hell 3:32
3. Demons Of The Night 3:15
4. Metal Attack 4:13
5. Paranoia 3:45
6. Revenge And Fire 3:31
7. Rising With The Storm 4:13
8. Road To Babylon 4:09
9. Azrael 3:30
10. Cross The Line 4:00
11. World On Fire 4:04

Band members
R.D. Liapakis – vocals
Evan K – lead guitars
Markus Pohl – rhythm guitars
Joey Roxx – bass
Hanno Kerstan – drums