Tag Archives: herbie langhans

Album Review – Burning Sun / Power To Survive (2026)

Posted on by
Reply

Behold the third opus by this rising force of the European Power Metal scene, featuring ten uplifting songs that are meant to help you get through hard times.

Founded in 2022 in Debrecen, Hungary by bassist Zoltán Papi, Burning Sun are a rising force in the underground Heavy, Power and Speed Metal scene. Delivering the kind of metal that is rare nowadays, the kind of music that is rooted in Helloween, Gamma Ray, Edguy, Hammerfall and 90’s Power Metal with no compromises, only pure dedication and passion, the band currently formed of Nicolas Peter on vocals and guitars, Pancho Ireland also on the guitars, Zoltán Papi on bass, and Edmond Kulcsár on drums returns with their third full-length opus, titled Power to Survive, following up on their critically acclaimed 2023 debut Wake of Ashes, and their 2025 sophomore Retribution. Adorned by a classy artwork by Artem Astaroth, showcasing the character of Emaly, who plays a major role in the band’s identity as she appears on all artworks, such a high-energy album features ten uplifting songs that are meant to help you get through hard times, just the way we like it in Heavy and Power Metal.

It’s pedal to the metal in the frantic Power Metal extravaganza titled Quest Divine, with the soaring vocals by Nicolas matching perfectly with the song’s riffs and beats; followed by Emaly’s Hymn, featuring Herbie Langhans of Steel Rhino and The Lightbringer of Sweden, offering more of that characteristic European Power Metal sound we all love so much. In other words, simply raise your fists and sing it along with those metal warriors. Nicolas and Pancho then bring forward an Iron Maiden-inspired twin guitar attack in Tale of Brothers, while Zoltán and Edmond take care of the song’s thunderous, galloping rhythm; and their striking guitars are screaming loud once again in Light of the World, offering us all a very good reason to headbang like there’s no tomorrow. And featuring the indomitable Alexandra Lioness (aka Aleksandra Stamenković) of Chaos Rising, Frozen Crown and Jenner, get ready to be caught in a Power Metal mosh to the sound of Over and Beyond, again presenting Nicolas’ trademark, electrifying vocals.

Come Home might be the most generic of all songs, sounding like a billion other songs recorded by several bands out there; whereas the thunderous bass by Zoltán and the classic beats by Edmond kick off the mid-tempo battle hymn Spirit Alive, presenting hints of classic Hard Rock added to their core sonority. It’s then time for a short but extremely fast Gamma Ray-inspired tune titled Prayer before we face Holy Light, a beautiful ballad led by the passionate vocals by Nicolas that brings peace to our hearts, flowing into the closing tune We Rise Again, a sword yielding anthem led by the unstoppable beats and fills by Edmond, inspiring us all to join Burning Sun in the battlefield until our last breath.

Inspired by the 90’s golden era of European Power Metal and taking their name from a phenomenal Helloween song, Burning Sun channel soaring melodies, driving rhythms, and heroic storytelling in their new album, and you can get in touch with those metal warriors via Facebook and Instagram, including their live performances, listen to their battle hymns on any streaming service like Spotify, and of course, buy their striking new album from BandCamp or by clicking HERE. We all need a lot of power to survive in our rotten and decaying world, and the power of true Heavy Metal like what Burning Sun have to offer in their newborn beast is undoubtedly the most effective one for such a demanding challenge.

Best moments of the album: Emaly’s Hymn, Over and Beyond and We Rise Again.

Worst moments of the album: Come Home.

Released in 2026 Pride & Joy Music

Track listing
1. Quest Divine 4:09
2. Emaly’s Hymn 4:18
3. Tale of Brothers 5:20
4. Light of the World 3:37
5. Over and Beyond 3:41
6. Come Home 3:55
7. Spirit Alive 4:50
8. Prayer 0:42
9. Holy Light 3:15
10. We Rise Again 5:05

Band members
Nicolas Peter – vocals, guitars
Pancho Ireland – guitars
Zoltán Papi – bass
Edmond Kulcsár – drums

Guest musicians
Herbie Langhans – vocals on “Emaly’s Hymn”
Alexandra Lioness – additional vocals on “Over and Beyond”
Alessio Perardi – additional vocals

Album Review – Knightsune / Fearless (2024)

Posted on by
Reply

These Spanish rockers attack again with their sophomore album, retaining the elements of melody and power from their previous work while also showcasing an evolution in both composition and production.

Retaining the elements of melody and power present in the band’s previous work while also showcasing an evolution in both composition and production, Fearless, the brand new album by Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain-based Heavy/Power/Speed Metal act Knightsune emerges with a harder, rawer, and more forceful approach, marking a significant progression for the band. Produced and mixed by Miguel A. Riutort at Psychosomatic Studio, with vocals produced by Israel Ramos at Dante Music Studios, mastered by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios, and displaying a classic artwork by Colombian artist Felipe Machado Franco, the new album by vocalist Victor Alcalá “Kendoru”, guitarists Victor V. Gairhald and Diego Alastruey “Alas”, bassist Carlos Vicente, and drummer Rubén Castrillo integrates elements of Groove, Progressive and Melodic Death Metal into their core sound rooted in Heavy, Power and Thrash Metal, turning it into a must-listen for fans of modern-day heavy music.

The riffs by Victor and Alas will take you to a world of pure Heavy Metal in the title-track Fearless, accompanied by the hammering drums by Rubén, while Kendoru’s vocals soar high just the way we like it in this type of music. A Sky Full Of Ghosts is another classic Power Metal tune made in Europe, with Rubén once again dictating the pace with his fierce and intricate beats, whereas a calm and serene start suddenly explodes into another powerful sonority in Twilight Of The Heroes, offering our ears fast-paced, no-shenanigans metal music led by the classic vocals by Kendoru. Rubén keeps hammering his drums in Under One Sound, an electrifying creation by the band showcasing endless stamina and the always classy riffs and solos by Victor and Alas; followed by The Pain I Leave, featuring guest Memphis Jiménez, starting in a serene manner to the melancholic vocals by Kendoru who makes an amazing vocal duet with Memphis in a charming ballad by the band.

Then featuring guest vocalist  Elisa C. Martín (Hamka, Dark Moor), Forever is a more straightforward Power Metal tune by those Spanish rockers, with the guitars by Victor and Alas being nicely supported by the rumbling kitchen by Carlos and Rubén, followed by Pistols At Dawn, a galloping composition that doesn’t add much to the album, although it still brings forward the band’s solid instrumental pieces and vocal lines. Back to a more vibrant, breathtaking sound it’s time for Purple & Green, where the riffage by the band’s guitar duo matches perfectly with the unstoppable beats by Rubén; and almost nine minutes of epic passages, thunderous bass lines, crushing drums and striking vocals are offered to us all in The Island, with Victor and Alas speeding things up with their ass-kicking riffs, blending all their influences the likes of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Stratovarius and so on. Last but not least, the band brings forward an avalanche of classic Power Metal with tons of Melodic Metal nuances in Not Over, featuring guest vocals by Herbie Langhans (Steel Rhino, The Lightbringer of Sweden), putting a beyond electrifying ending to the album.

Kightsune are on absolute fire in Fearless, and you can join them in their quest for heavy music by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, by subscribing to their YouTube channel, by streaming their music on Spotify, and of course by purchasing their new album from their BandCamp page or from Art Gates Records as a CD + shirt + signed postcard bundle, a CD + girlie shirt + signed postcard bundle, or as a CD + hoodie + mug + signed postcard bundle. Those Spanish rockers are not afraid of experimenting with different rock and metal elements in their new album, and let’s hope they keep on doing that in their upcoming releases as the final result in Fearless is definitely exciting.

Best moments of the album: Fearless, Under One Sound and Not Over.

Worst moments of the album: Pistols At Dawn.

Released in 2024 Art Gates Records

Track listing
1. Fearless 7:01
2. A Sky Full Of Ghosts 4:52
3. Twilight Of The Heroes 7:40
4. Under One Sound 4:48
5. The Pain I Leave 5:17
6. Forever 5:05
7. Pistols At Dawn 6:26
8. Purple & Green 5:29
9. The Island 8:53
10. Not Over 4:03

Band members
Victor Alcalá “Kendoru” – vocals
Victor V. Gairhald – guitar
Diego Alastruey “Alas” – guitar
Carlos Vicente – bass
Rubén Castrillo – drums

Guest musicians
Memphis Jiménez – vocals on “The Pain I Leave”
Elisa C. Martín – vocals on “Forever”
Herbie Langhans – vocals on “Not Over”