Tag Archives: power metal

Album Review – Old Machines / The Cycles of Extinction (2025)

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This Symphonic Black Metal entity from Portland will attack with their concept debut album, a monolithic fusion of bombastic brutality and cosmic dread.

Astral warlords and celestial leviathans, Portland, Oregon-based  Symphonic Black Metal entity Old Machines emerge from the void with their cataclysmic concept debut album, titled The Cycles of Extinction, a monolithic fusion of bombastic brutality and cosmic dread. Recorded and mixed by the band’s own guitarist Brian Rush, mastered by Stephen Hoffman at Acid Dump Studios, and displaying a futuristic, dystopian cover art by Alexander Preuss, the debut offering by Gary Reavis on vocals, Brian Rush on the guitar and bass (the band was joined by Joel Henigson on bass shortly after the album was recorded), Devon Miller also on the guitar, Jason Stares on keyboards, and Chris Craven on drums heralds a new chapter in Extreme Metal where ancient engines of annihilation awaken once more.

You know a band is always aiming at pushing their boundaries when they kick off an album with an 11-minute song like Twilight of the Old Gods, and the Dawning of the First, sounding utterly atmospheric and whimsical, evolving into a Progressive Death Metal beast led by Gary’s striking vocals; and their symphonic wall of sounds goes on in full force in Cycles of Extinction, with the keys by Jason elevating the song’s epicness to a whole new level. Those guys definitely know how to name their songs, like in Extinguishing the Light of the Preludian Empire (Upon the Apex of their Glory), where Brian and Devon deliver an imposing riff attack accompanied by the massive beats and fills by Chris in a complex and vibrant blend of Symphonic and Progressive Black Metal; whereas Dark Space and Beyond – The Continuing of the Evolution of the Final Cycle is a beyond ethereal, enfolding composition, almost venturing through the lands of Shoegaze.

Crescendo of Carnage – Warsong of the Singing Swarm (Swarm Wars I) takes the band back to a more metallic and piercing mode, where Chris hammers his drums supported by the always electrifying keys by Jason, offering Gary exactly what he needs to shine on vocals. And it’s pedal to the metal in the infuriated The Sundering of the Irradiated Suns, and the Rebellion Sparked by the Gene-Plague, with the guitars by Brian and Devon penetrating deep inside our rotten minds. Then a cinematic intro explodes into sheer madness, rage and first-class Symphonic Black Metal in They are Legion – The Tragic Exodus of the Veiled Creators, where their guitar lines are absolutely insane and demented. And finally, we face their last metal attack entitled Glory to the Terrans of the First Contact War, even more symphonic than its predecessors while Chris sounds ruthless behind his drums.

In a nutshell, the tales of horror, war, and genocide found in The Cycles of Extinction, spanning eight tracks for one hour of music which can be described as Extreme Cosmic Metal, combining elements of Thrash, Death, Black, and Power Metal, will certainly appeal to fans of heavy music with a strong background storyline, and you can get to know more about Old Machines, their music, tour dates and other details on Facebook and on Instagram, and grab a copy of the album from their own BandCamp, from the Pale Magus Productions webstore, or by clicking HERE. From the darkest depths of the oceans of time and space comes a legend over two billion years old, which has spawned a multitude of harrowing galactic sagas, with The Cycles of Extinction being just the first in a series of concept albums by the band. There will be more of such epics in this fashion because, as you know, extinction is only the beginning.

Best moments of the album: Twilight of the Old Gods, and the Dawning of the First, Crescendo of Carnage – Warsong of the Singing Swarm (Swarm Wars I) and The Sundering of the Irradiated Suns, and the Rebellion Sparked by the Gene-Plague.

Worst moments of the album: Dark Space and Beyond – The Continuing of the Evolution of the Final Cycle.

Released in 2025 Pale Magus Productions

Track listing
1. Twilight of the Old Gods, and the Dawning of the First 11:14
2. Cycles of Extinction 6:41
3. Extinguishing the Light of the Preludian Empire (Upon the Apex of their Glory) 6:18
4. Dark Space and Beyond – The Continuing of the Evolution of the Final Cycle 8:39
5. Crescendo of Carnage – Warsong of the Singing Swarm (Swarm Wars I) 6:51
6. The Sundering of the Irradiated Suns, and the Rebellion Sparked by the Gene-Plague 7:15
7. They are Legion – The Tragic Exodus of the Veiled Creators 6:03
8. Glory to the Terrans of the First Contact War 7:25

Band members
Gary Reavis – vocals
Brian Rush – guitar, bass
Devon Miller – guitar
Jason Stares – keyboards
Chris Craven – drums

Album Review – Crimson Shadows / Whispers of War (2025)

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Bringing fast and thrilling songs of battle and victory to our metal hearts since 2006, Toronto’s own metal warriors are finally back into the battlefield with their breathtaking third studio album.

Bringing fast and thrilling songs of battle and victory to our metal hearts since the already distant year of 2006, Toronto, Canada’s own Epic/Melodic Death/Power Metal warriors Crimson Shadows are finally back into the battlefield with their fusion of the guttural screams and blast beats of Death Metal with the epic up-tempo guitar harmonies and choruses of Power Metal in their brand new album, the magnificent Whispers of War. Mixed and mastered by Christian Donaldson, and displaying a classy artwork by Péter Sallai of Mortpaintgraphics, showcasing a brave, dauntless warrior that perfectly depicts the sound of the band, the new album by frontman Jimi Maltais, guitarists Greg Rounding and Ryan Hofing, bassist Alex Snape, and drummer Cory Hofing is a worthy follow-up to their 2014 beast Kings Among Men, offering our avid ears an overdose of the band’s characteristic sound while also pointing to an even brighter future ahead of them.

Those Toronto warriors waste no time and kick off their metal music played at the speed of light party in Dawn of an Age, with Cory taking the lead with his crushing beats, and Jimi and Greg make a phenomenal vocal duo in Guardians, with it’s catchy-as-hell lyrics (“Guardians / We stand in a time of blood and fire / Ancient tales become our legacy / Skies ablaze, spirits of evil surrounding me / The prophecy remains our destiny”) inspiring us all to raise our fists and join them in a lecture in Melodic Death and Power Metal. Defenders of the Crown offers our avid ears more of their epic lyrics (“Here we stand to hold our ground / We defenders of the crown / Hold your steel and clench it tight / Or we all will die tonight”) in another classic battle hymn; and featuring the unparalleled Canadian growler Matt McGachy of Cryptopsy, Whispers of War is a fulminating metal attack by the boys sounding as fast as it is epic and aggressive, with Greg and Ryan firing truly piercing riffs nonstop, followed by Embrace the Fire, a little bit below the rest of the album but still fast, furious and presenting the band’s trademark sonority.

Then a smooth piano-driven intro quickly evolves into another shredding extravaganza by Greg and Ryan titled Battle Hard II: Battle Harder (the sequel to their 2012 song “Battle Hard”), while Jimi roars and growls with all of his strength and passion for heavy music. And featuring the indomitable Brittney Slayes (frontwoman for Canadian metal masters Unleash The Archers), who brings balance to the vocals together with Greg, we have Secrets of Our Time, not to mention Cory demolishes his drums in great fashion until the very last second. Jimi then sounds out of control, roaring manically in The Legacy of Steel, another headbanging beast where their riffs and solos exhale pure Heavy Metal magic, whereas lastly, the band will head into their final battle entitled Rise of the Fallen Soul, with Greg stealing the show with his awesome clean vocals while their Dragonforce-like guitar solos bring an extra onrush of electricity to their sound.

Crimson Shadows might have competed in and won the 2013 edition of Wacken Metal Battle Canada, and they absolutely deserved it, but in my humble opinion it’s now with Whispers of War that their trademark metallic, roaring sounds are ready to spread all over the world, positioning them as one of the forces to be reckoned with in the current Heavy Metal scene. Furthermore, those brave metallers are ready to take on the stages of the world by storm, and you can keep an eye on their tour dates by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, as well as by clicking HERE. Don’t forget to also stream their striking creations on YouTube and on Spotify, and of course to grab a copy of the incendiary Whispers of War from BandCamp or from Big Cartel. War is upon us, and it’s time to fight side by side with Crimson Shadows to the sound of their superb new album, one of the best of the year, and a lecture in Canadian metal.

Best moments of the album: Guardians, Whispers of War, Battle Hard II: Battle Harder and The Legacy of Steel.

Worst moments of the album: Embrace the Fire.

Released in 2025 Independent

Track listing
1. Dawn of an Age 4:46
2. Guardians 4:20
3. Defenders of the Crown 5:09
4. Whispers of War 5:18
5. Embrace the Fire 4:07
6. Battle Hard II: Battle Harder 5:57
7. Secrets of Our Time 4:48
8. The Legacy of Steel 5:39
9. Rise of the Fallen Soul 5:51

Band members
Jimi Maltais – vocals
Greg Rounding – guitars, clean vocals
Ryan Hofing – guitars
Alex Snape – bass
Cory Hofing – drums

Guest musicians
Matt McGachy – vocals on “Whispers of War”
Brittney Slayes – vocals on “Secrets of Our Time”

Album Review – Verdalack / Force from the Grave (2025)

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Tokyo, Japan’s own Speed Metal Forces are on the attack to the sound of their debut album, ready to take over the underground with violence and force.

Hailing from the always exciting city of Tokyo, Japan, Speed Metal warriors Verdalack are ready to take over the underground with violence and force armed with their debut full-length opus, entitled Force From the Grave, the follow-up to their 2022 demo Rites of Hell. Comprising eight hard-charging songs across a fun and frantic half-hour, Force From the Grave approximates its namesake through a laser-focused mindset and soundfield, with influences ranging from mid 80’s Speed Metal, ancient American Power Metal, and classic Japanese Hardcore-Punk, all masterfully crafted by the “Five Japanese V’s of the Apocalypse,” those being Villain on vocals, Vandal and Vortex on the guitars, Void on bass, and Vigor on drums.

The album starts in full force with the frantic and electrifying Axehead, where the band’s ruthless guitar duo fires some amazing Heavy Metal-infused thrashing riffs, and get ready for total war inside the pit to the sound of Heretic Flights, a fantastic hybrid of Thrash and Speed Metal with Villian’s vocals being flawlessly supported by the hammering beats by Vigor. In Desecrater the name of the song says it all, an avalanche of demented riffs and blast beats in the best 80’s Thrash Metal style, whereas Villain shows no mercy for our souls with his deranged vociferations in Blood Eagle, while Vandal and Vortex extract sheer adrenaline form their axes, resulting in the perfect soundtrack for slamming into the circle pit.

There’s still a lot more of the undisputed Speed Metal by Verdalack in the album, starting with Final Assault, where Vigor accelerates the song’s pace considerably, inviting us all to slam like true headbanging bastards. Then we face the title-track Force from the Grave, starting with melodious, piercing guitars by Vandal and Vortex before all hell breaks loose in the name of speed and aggression. Into the Flames offers our putrid ears another overdose of thrashing sounds in less than three minutes, with their early Megadeth approach working really well thanks to the unstoppable beats by Vigor; and the album ends with the absolutely mental Speed Metal tune Rites of Hell, leaving us all disoriented and absolutely satisfied with the band’s fast and furious feast of thrashing sounds.

Classics-minded but exuding an authentically fresh approach, Force From the Grave will throttle maniacs of Jag Panzer to Japan’s Bastard, Exciter to GISM, and Piledriver to Deathside. Put differently, the Tokyo Speed Metal Forces are on the attack, and you can fight side by side with Verdalack in the battlefield by following them on Instagram, staying up to date with their news, tour dates and other nice-to-know details about the band, and above all that, by purchasing their frantic, no shenanigans new album from BandCamp or from the Hells Headbangers’ webstore. Verdalack are undoubtedly making a name for themselves in the beyond exciting Japanese underground, with Force from the Grave representing just the first (and awesome) step in their promising journey.

Best moments of the album: Heretic Flights, Into the Flames and Rites of Hell.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Hells Headbangers

Track listing
1. Axehead 3:36
2. Heretic Flights 3:09
3. Desecrater 3:19
4. Blood Eagle 3:58
5. Final Assault 4:21
6. Force from the Grave 4:48
7. Into the Flames 2:57
8. Rites of Hell 3:24

Band members
Villain – vocals
Vandal – guitars
Vortex – guitars
Void – bass
Vigor – drums

Album Review – Reflection / The Battles I Have Won (2025)

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These Greek warriors will shatter the silence once again by the sound of thunder as their fifth studio album comes galloping out of the darkness, a paradise for those whose hearts still burn with the flame of Heavy Metal.

Eight years after the release of Bleed Babylon Bleed, Athens, Greece-based Epic Heavy Metal veterans Reflection will shatter the silence once again by the sound of thunder as The Battles I Have Won, their fifth studio album, comes galloping out of the darkness. Recorded, mixed and mastered at Dark Water Audio, produced by Stathis Pavlantis at Music House Studio, and showcasing a ruthless and fierce warrior in the artwork by Alexander Vasilopoulos, the new opus by vocalist Kostas Tokas, guitarist Stathis Pavlantis, bassist John Litinakis, and drummer Giorgos Pavlantis, with additional orchestrations by guest Kostas Rekleitis, is a must-listen for  fans of Iron Maiden, Manowar, Doomsword, and Omen, where every song is a highlight in its own right. Put differently, The Battles I Have Won is a paradise for those whose hearts still burn with the flame of Heavy Metal.

Stathis begins shredding his axe in the name of Epic Heavy Metal in Only the Swords Survive, a fast and furious tune where Kostas leads his horde with his soaring vocals; and Giogos hammers his drums in the best Manowar style in The Battles I Have Won, consequently inspiring us all to head into the battlefield alongside those Greek warriors. Lord of the Wind is another song with a strong Manowar vibe, with John and Giorgos building a striking galloping rhythm, offering Kostas all he needs to shine on vocals, whereas Sirens’ Song is an even more cinematic and imposing creation by the quartet where the additional orchestrations by guest Kostas Rekleitis bring an extra dosage of epicness to their already powerful Heavy Metal, followed by Once Again (Crime in the Valley of Death), carrying a poetic name for a thrilling fusion of Heavy and Power Metal led by Stathis’ piercing riffs.

Celestial War sounds and feels a bit generic compared to the rest of the album, although Kostas still showcases a solid performance on vocals supported by the hammering drums by Giorgos; and back to a more exciting and visceral mode, March of the Argonauts is a lecture in Power Metal where all bands members are on absolute fire, in special Stathis armed with his scorching riffs. Then offering their most melodious side, the band fires the Melodic Heavy Metal feast entitled Lady in the Water, with Stathis once again delivering sheer electricity through his axe accompanied by the rumbling bass by John. And last but not least, it’s time for the epic City Walls of Malta – The Great Siege to conclude the album on a thunderous mode, with Kostas declaiming the song’s dark words in great fashion.

True legends of the Greek Heavy Metal scene, Reflection carefully added tons of depth and atmosphere to each tale as The Battles I Have Won unfolds, sounding absolutely warm and richly textured, vibrant, vital and alive. Needless to say, The Battles I Have Won will surely come to be regarded as Reflection’s finest album to date, and you can become part of their history by purchasing a copy of the album from the Pitch Black Records’ BandCamp or webstore (as a CD, an LP, or a CD + LP bundle), as well as from Vinylstore.gr (also as a CD or an LP). Don’t forget to also give those Greek warriors a shout on Facebook, fighting side by side with them in the battlefield in the name of our beloved Heavy Metal, because they might have won many battles, but they’re ready for more armed with their undisputed new album.

Best moments of the album: The Battles I Have Won, Sirens’ Song and March of the Argonauts.

Worst moments of the album: Celestial War.

Released in 2025 Pitch Black Records

Track listing
1. Only the Swords Survive 3:56
2. The Battles I Have Won 4:17
3. Lord of the Wind 4:51
4. Sirens’ Song 4:42
5. Once Again (Crime in the Valley of Death) 5:30
6. Celestial War 4:45
7. March of the Argonauts 5:05
8. Lady in the Water 5:16
9. City Walls of Malta – The Great Siege 4:44

Band members
Kostas Tokas – vocals
Stathis Pavlantis – guitars
John Litinakis – bass
Giorgos Pavlantis – drums

Guest musician
Kostas Rekleitis – additional orchestrations, string and choir arrangements

Album Review – Behölder / In The Temple Of The Tyrant (2025)

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This American horde will attack our senses with their debut opus, a true love letter to Epic Doom Metal inspired by classic Dungeons & Dragons.

Hailing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States, Behölder are an Epic Doom/Dark/Power Metal band inspired by classic Dungeons & Dragons, formed in late 2021 by guitarist Carlos Alvarez. Produced by the same Carlos Alvarez, mixed and mastered by Ronnie Björnström at Björnström Ljud & Produktion, and displaying a stunning artwork by Zsofia Dankova, their debut opus, titled In The Temple Of The Tyrant, features eight tracks of monstrous proportions, a true love letter to Epic Doom Metal weaving cautionary tales from the more grim, foreboding realms of fantasy against a backdrop of colossal riffs with elegant yet powerful melodies, all carefully crafted by vocalist John Yelland, guitarists Carlos Alvarez and Matt Hodsdon, bassist Michael Sanchez, and drummer Andrew Julkowski.

A Pale Blood Sky begins in a strong doomed vibe thanks to the heavy riffs by Carlos and Matt, supported by the always thunderous bass by Michael, and let’s all headbang like beasts to the epic vocals by John because those are awesome. Then their melodious, penetrating guitar lines set the tone in Dungeon Crawl, another feast of Epic and Doom Metal with a thrilling galloping pace; and it’s time for an even heavier tune titled Into the Underdark, with the pounding drums by Andrew walking hand in hand with the deep vocals by John, not to mention how powerful the bass by Michael sounds. After that we face Eyes of the Deep (featuring guest vocalist Tomi Joutsen of Amorphis), which reminds me of some of the darkest creations by Black Sabbath with Dio, in special from when they were called Heaven & Hell, with the entire band sounding tight, epic and fierce until the very last second.

The band then fires a more introspective composition entitled For Those Who Fell, offering seven minutes of dark, sluggish passages rooted in classic Doom Metal, or in other words, it’s a beautiful dark ballad by the band. Then investing in a primeval, tribalistic sound we have Draconian (Slave or Master), as if it was part of a somber, obscure ritual, with the riffage by Carlos and Matt penetrating deep inside our skin in great fashion, followed by Summoned & Bound, which lacks the same energy and punch from the previous songs. John still delivers his share of epicness through his vocals, though. And lastly we’re treated to I Magus, an amazing blast of Epic Doom Metal led by the thunderous vocals by John while his bandmates not only craft a powerful sound, but their backing vocals are also spot-on, putting a phenomenal and obviously epic ending to the album.

As the band itself likes to say, their debut album offers us all avid listeners “magic, mayhem and riffs heavier than a storm giant’s ass,” being therefore highly recommended for fans of Candlemass, Solitude Aeturnus, Sorcerer, and Memento Mori, among others. Hence, you can join the band in their magic metal quest by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, and of course by purchasing a copy of In The Temple Of The Tyrant from the Black Lion Records’ BandCamp or webstore, from Indiemerchstore, from Season of Mist, or simply by clicking HERE or HERE. In the end, Behölder are definitely going to make a lot of noise armed with their first ever album, adding an extra dosage of sheer doom to the already heavy and thunderous world of Dungeons & Dragons.

Best moments of the album: A Pale Blood Sky, Draconian (Slave or Master) and I Magus.

Worst moments of the album: Summoned & Bound.

Released in 2025 Black Lion Records

Track listing
1. A Pale Blood Sky 6:34
2. Dungeon Crawl 5:39
3. Into the Underdark 5:20
4. Eyes of the Deep 6:25
5. For Those Who Fell 6:58
6. Draconian (Slave or Master) 5:52
7. Summoned & Bound 5:34
8. I Magus 6:44

Band members
John Yelland – lead vocals
Carlos Alvarez – guitars, backing vocals
Matt Hodsdon – guitars, backing vocals
Michael Sanchez – bass, backing vocals
Andrew Julkowski – drums, backing vocals

Guest musician
Tomi Joutsen – vocals on “Eyes of the Deep”

Album Review – Lady Beast / The Inner Alchemist (2025)

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Let’s ride into the battlefield to the sound of this true locomotive of old school Heavy Metal masterfully crafted by one of the most electrifying names of the current scene.

Flying the flag for refined Heavy Metal since their inception back in 2009, always influenced by metal titans the likes of Motörhead, Dio, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Mercyful Fate, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s own unstoppable force Lady Beast returns to action five years after their latest full-length opus The Vulture’s Amulet, and four years after their striking EP Omens, with a brand new album entitled The Inner Alchemist, continuing to melt our faces with their sturdy aesthetic, authentically 80’s-entrenched Heavy Metal that struts and gallops with equal aplomb. Recorded by Jason Jouver, mastered by Yavé “Rust” Rodriguez, and displaying an ass-kicking, evocative artwork by Adam Burke of Nightjar Illustration, The Inner Alchemist is a true locomotive of old school metal music masterfully crafted by frontwoman Deborah Levine, guitarists Andy Ramage and Chris Tritschler, bassist Amy Bianco, and Adam Ramage, offering more of their high-octane music infused with swords and sorcery.

The scorching riffs by Andy and Chris rev up the band’s metallic engine in Oracle’s Omen, a true banger where Deborah already distills her soaring vocals for our total delight; whereas their Power Metal vein pulses stronger than ever in Through the Eyes of War, with Adam dictating the song’s electrifying pace supported by the classic bass lines by Amy, being therefore recommended for some fun inside the mosh pit. The band then delivers an overdose of Heavy Metal magic in the title-track Inner Alchemist, a headbanging hymn where the rumbling kitchen by Amy and Adam is perfect for Deborah’s piercing vocal lines, morphing into Starborn, which offers our avid ears a serene, melancholic start in the best Iron Maiden way possible, then evolving into a more Judas Priest-inspired sound until the end.

Their feast of old school, no shenanigans sounds goes on in full force in Crone’s Crossroads, a frantic, in-your-face display of Heavy Metal where Adam hammers his drums nonstop while the riffage by Andy and Chris exhale fire and power; and their NWOBHM side explodes majestically in Feed Your Fire, where their caustic riffage and solos, as well as their fast-paced beats, match flawlessly with Deborah’s epic roars. Witch Light is an instrumental tune that sounds fairly decent, although I still prefer any song with Deborah’s vocals like what happens in The Wild Hunt, where she declaims the song’s lyrics beautifully supported by the galloping sounds blasted by her bandmates. Last but definitely not least, it’s pedal to the metal in the thrilling Off with Their Heads, sounding thrashy at times thanks to the infuriated riffs by Andy and Chris, therefore putting a wild conclusion to such a breathtaking album.

After all is said and done, you’ll notice that not only The Inner Alchemist is a pure Lady Beast album, but also that the production on the album beautifully highlights their heaviness, turning it into a special milestone in their already solid career. Having said that, Deborah and her henchmen are waiting for you to join them in the battlefield by following them on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, by streaming their epic creations on Spotify, and of course by grabbing a copy of the breathtaking The Inner Alchemist from the Dying Victims Productions’ BandCamp or by clicking HERE. It’s time to ride through the vast realm of heavy music alongside Lady Beast to the sound of their newborn opus, keeping the flames of classic Heavy Metal burning for all eternity and, therefore, fueling the band to keep blasting our ears with more albums like The Inner Alchemist in the foreseeable future.

Best moments of the album: Through the Eyes of War, Crone’s Crossroads, Feed Your Fire and Off with Their Heads.

Worst moments of the album: Witch Light.

Released in 2025 Dying Victims Productions

Track listing
1. Oracle’s Omen 4:08
2. Through the Eyes of War 3:47
3. Inner Alchemist 3:48
4. Starborn 6:56
5. Crone’s Crossroads 3:27
6. Feed Your Fire 4:37
7. Witch Light 2:19
8. The Wild Hunt 3:28
9. Off with Their Heads 3:09

Band members
Deborah Levine – vocals
Andy Ramage – lead guitar
Chris Tritschler – rhythm guitar
Amy Bianco – bass
Adam Ramage – drums

Album Review – Arch Enemy / Blood Dynasty (2025)

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The global legends of pure fucking metal return with their twelfth studio album, capturing the essence of the band in its collection of vicious, high-energy rippers.

Legends of pure fucking metal for nearly 30 years, Melodic Death Metal outfit Arch Enemy returns to the battlefield with their twelfth studio album, entitled Blood Dynasty, the follow-up to their 2022 beast Deceivers. Recorded and mixed by Jens Bogren and mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios, produced by the band’s own Michael Amott and Daniel Erlandsson, and featuring a creepy artwork by Alex Reisfar, Blood Dynasty captures the essence of Arch Enemy in its collection of vicious, high-energy rippers without sounding outdated, always looking forward, therefore showcasing all the talent and passion for heavy music by frontwoman Alissa White-Gluz, guitarists Michael Amott and Joey Concepcion, bassist Sharlee D’Angelo, and drummer Daniel Erlandsson.

An imposing, epic intro suddenly explodes into Dream Stealer, with Michael and Joey sounding venomous armed with their axes while Alissa fires some of her deepest guttural roars ever. Needless to say, I would love to see and hear more of this more violent side of Arch Enemy. Then Daniel keeps pounding his drums in Illuminate the Path, sounding modern yet loyal to the band’s Melodic Death Metal roots; followed by March of the Miscreants, another violent and visceral display of heavy music by the band led by the blistering riffs by Michael and Joey, and A Million Suns, a solid composition by the band showcasing the trademark riffs and solos by Mr. Michael Amott. And it looks like the band wanted to get back to their most aggressive vibe in the album, with Don’t Look Down being the perfect example of that.

The second part of the album starts with the sinister interlude Presage, getting us pumped for Blood Dynasty, with Alissa barking the song’s  lyrics (“Cracks in the ice below our feet / Our own worst enemy on all fronts / A strategy of self-deceit? / A hornets nest, about to be released”) amidst an overdose of classic Arch Enemy. Paper Tiger also sounds ruthless, from its in-your-face intro declaimed by Alissa (“See no, hear no / Speak no evil / We are each our own devil / And we make this world our hell”) to its galloping pace led by Sharlee and Daniel, reeking of old school Melodic Death Metal for our total delight. I personally think there was no need for a ballad like Vivre Libre in the album, and although Alissa does a decent job with her potent clean vocals, the song sounds generic and out of place; whereas The Pendulum alternates between more cadenced moments and a fast-paced rhythm with elements of the Heavy Metal by Iron Maiden (and even some nuances of Power Metal). And lastly, there’s nothing better than a true banger to end the album like Liars & Thieves, with Daniel hammering his drums frantically while we all slam into the pit like true metalheads.

“This is our 12th studio album, and the rule of metal is that you’ve got to keep trying to say the same thing, but in slightly different ways!” says Michael Amott. “There’s a degree of familiarity in our sound, which I don’t see as a problem because we’re playing the music we love. But obviously we’ve got to throw a couple of curveballs in there each time, a few new interesting things to spice it up a little bit. How do you get people talking about your record when it’s the 12th one, you know?” Well, Mr. Amott is absolutely right, as all bands need to reinvent themselves once in a while to avoid getting repetitive or dull, and let’s say Arch Enemy have more than succeeded in doing that so far, with Blood Dynasty sounding strong from start to finish. You can find more information about the band and their tour dates on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, get ready to rock to their new album on Spotify, and of course purchase it by clicking HERE, helping Arch Enemy stay atop of the world as the leaders of the Melodic Death Metal movement since their inception.

Best moments of the album: Dream Stealer, March of the Miscreants, Paper Tiger and Liars & Thieves.

Worst moments of the album: Vivre Libre.

Released in 2025 Century Media

Track listing
1. Dream Stealer 4:29
2. Illuminate the Path 4:48
3. March of the Miscreants 4:49
4. A Million Suns 3:45
5. Don’t Look Down 4:07
6. Presage 0:47
7. Blood Dynasty 3:51
8. Paper Tiger 3:56
9. Vivre Libre 4:07
10. The Pendulum 3:42
11. Liars & Thieves 4:20

Band members
Alissa White-Gluz – vocals
Michael Amott – lead guitars, backing vocals
Joey Concepcion – lead guitars, backing vocals
Sharlee D’Angelo – bass
Daniel Erlandsson – drums

Album Review – WarWolf / The Final Battle (2025)

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Let the battle commence to the sound of the striking third studio album by this German Heavy Metal brigade.

Having emerged from the ashes of a band named Wolven back in 2021, Cologne, Germany-based Heavy Metal brigade WarWolf is back for the attack with their third studio album, titled The Final Battle, the follow-up to their 2023 opus The Apocalyptic Waltz. Produced, mixed and mastered once again by Grave Digger’s own  mastermind Chris Boltendahl at Graveyard Studio, the new album by frontman Andreas von Lipinski, guitarists Frank Noras and Peter Müller, bassist Florian Abegg and drummer Holger Bloempott offers exactly what a fan would expect from the band and even more, showcasing “Maiden-esque” influences with a slight Teutonic Metal touch, but this time rawer and more honest then ever.

The opener Eye of the Storm is simply fast, furious, striking, and showcases metallic lyrics for our total delight (“In the heart of chaos / Where tempests collide / Beneath the shadowed clouds / Where fears reside / An eye of the storm / A glimpse into the night / Where wars unfold / And souls take flight”), followed by Burning Skies, another slab of old school Heavy Metal where Frank’s soaring vocals are nicely boosted by all backing vocals. In The Lycan Empire, the title of the song matches perfectly with not only the band’s name but also with their traditional Heavy and Power Metal sound, whereas Fight the Invaders is not a very exciting song, not to mention it’s a long one too, despite the solid job done by Frank and Peter on the guitars. A New Hope presents a much more exciting sonority led by the galloping bass and drums by Florian and Holger, sounding very Iron Maiden-ish in the end.

Andreas continues to lead his bandmates with his soaring vocals in Time Stands Still, offering more of the band’s classic Teutonic Heavy Metal, with their riffs sounding sharp and vibrant; whereas serene guitar lines kick off the seven-minute aria The Dark Emperor, an ode to the NWOBHM with a German twist, led by the classic drumming by Holger, flowing into the headbanging tune Blood & Ice, a beautiful fusion of Heavy Metal and Hard Rock where the guitars by Frank and Peter are spitting fire. The second to last track of the album is a full-bodied, detailed nine-minute tune titled The Final Battle, starting in a serene acoustic manner, and alternating between heavier moments and deep introspective passages; and as the battle seems to be finally reaching its end, the band offers a soothing ballad titled The War Is Over, overflowing melancholy and grief.

In addition to all that, all songs have a continuous story so The Final Battle can be called a concept album, though each song can also stand on its own, and you can experience that metallic adventure by WarWolf by purchasing a copy of the album or streaming it as many times as you want by clicking HERE or HERE. You can also start following the band on Facebook and on Instagram, staying up to date with all things WarWolf (including their tour dates, like their upcoming European tour alongside the mighty Grave Digger), and stream their awesome music on any streaming platform like Spotify. Because the battle rages on, and the Teutonic beast WarWolf is definitely ready to fight by our side armed with their new album of undisputed, classic Heavy Metal.

Best moments of the album: Eye of the Storm, A New Hope and Blood & Ice.

Worst moments of the album: Fight the Invaders.

Released in 2025 Metalapolis Records

Track listing
1. Eye of the Storm 5:37
2. Burning Skies 5:04
3. The Lycan Empire 5:36
4. Fight the Invaders 8:23
5. A New Hope 5:41
6. Time Stands Still 4:05
7. The Dark Emperor 7:04
8. Blood & Ice 4:02
9. The Final Battle 8:52
10. The War Is Over 5:06

Band members
Andreas von Lipinski – vocals
Frank Noras – guitars
Peter Müller – guitars
Florian Abegg – bass
Holger Bloempott – drums

Album Review – Grave Digger / Bone Collector (2025)

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A manifesto of pure, unfiltered old school German Heavy Metal masterfully brought into being by one of the most important bands in the history of the genre, going back to their raw and energetic roots.

Back to the roots or back to the future? No matter how you call it, Teutonic Heavy Metal masters Grave Digger have recorded the first album of their undisputed career completely without keyboard passages, entitled Bone Collector. Produced, mixed and mastered at Graveyard Studio, displaying a killer AI-generated artwork, and featuring for the first time ever guitarist Tobias Kersting, the follow-up to their 2022 album Symbol of Eternity finds its way back to long forgotten trademarks, showcasing all the passion for heavy music by the iconic frontman Chris Boltendahl alongside the aforementioned Tobias Kersting on the guitar, Jens Becker on bass, and Marcus Kniep on drums.

A dark, somber intro suddenly morphs into a high-octane Heavy Metal beast titled Bone Collector, with Marcus hammering his drums manically supported by the slashing riffs by Tobias while Chris’ vocals exhale pure metal as usual. The breathtaking The Rich, the Poor, the Dying is even faster and more infuriated than the opener, with Tobias and Marcus once again sounding inhumane with their respective riffs and beats, not to mention the song’s amazing Thrash Metal vibe; and the rumbling bass by Jens kicks off the also heavy-as-hell Kingdom of Skulls, transpiring old school Grave Digger for our total delight. The Devil’s Serenade is the perfect soundtrack for a wild road trip, with Tobias and Jens slamming their stringed axes in the name of our good old Rock N’ Roll, followed by Killing Is My Pleasure, another one of the previously released songs, offering a blast of first-class pure, unfiltered Heavy Metal recommended for some action inside the pit; whereas the riffs by Tobias continue to pierce our minds in Mirror of Hate, maybe the weakest (or perhaps I should say “the least strong”) song of the album.

In Riders of Doom we can easily notice that the name of the song is not in vain, as there’s a huge dosage of cryptic doom flowing from all instruments, in special from Jens’ massive, metallic bass lines, resulting in a true headbanging, horns raising metal extravaganza; and get ready to head into the battlefield (aka the mosh pit) together with Chris & Co. to the sound of the furious Made of Madness, a lecture in Heavy Metal with a strong thrashing base where Chris once again sounds superb on vocals, all spiced up by an ass-kicking solo by Tobias. Graveyard Kings brings forward more of their thrilling fusion of Heavy and Power Metal, keeping the album at a high level of heaviness and rage, and the quartet still has a lot of fuel to burn in the incendiary Forever Evil and Buried Alive, a flawless depiction of the power and importance of the music by Grave Digger to the history of Heavy Metal. Lastly, the album ends with the six-minute doomed tune Whispers of the Damned, with Marcus pounding his drums in the name of absolute darkness.

Raw, brutal, honest and yet catchy, Bone Collector is a manifesto of German Heavy Metal, old school at its best, without rust and patina, no self-copying and always authentic. This is how the band’s new work can be described, going back to their roots, but still sounding energetic, fresh and multifaceted, and you can get in touch with the band and stay up to date with all things Grave Digger, including their upcoming 45th anniversary tour, by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, and of course be part of their metallic legacy by purchasing Bone Collector by clicking HERE or HERE. Those veterans are more than ready to dig your grave and collect your bones to the sound of their new album, keeping the fires of their undisputed Heavy Metal burning for many decades to come.

Best moments of the album: Bone Collector, The Rich, the Poor, the Dying, Made of Madness and Forever Evil and Buried Alive.

Worst moments of the album: Mirror of Hate.

Released in 2025 Reigning Phoenix Music/ROAR! Rock Of Angels Records

Track listing
1. Bone Collector 4:19
2. The Rich, the Poor, the Dying 3:25
3. Kingdom of Skulls 3:45
4. The Devil’s Serenade 4:01
5. Killing Is My Pleasure 3:29
6. Mirror of Hate 4:43
7. Riders of Doom 4:55
8. Made of Madness 3:59
9. Graveyard Kings 4:13
10. Forever Evil and Buried Alive 3:34
11. Whispers of the Damned 6:16

Band members
Chris Boltendahl – vocals
Tobias Kersting – guitar
Jens Becker – bass
Marcus Kniep – drums

Album Review – The Halo Effect / March Of The Unheard (2025)

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Let’s join this Swedish melodeath juggernaut in their march of the unheard to the sound of their incendiary sophomore album.

Gothenburg, Sweden’s own Melodic Death Metal outfit The Halo Effect may have begun as five old friends just making music for fun, but they’re now one of the most beloved new bands in Heavy Metal. Now in 2025 fans of bands like Dark Tranquility, Insomnium and Soilwork have a lot to celebrate with March Of The Unheard, a triumphant successor brimming with everything that made their 2022 debut Days of the Lost an instant breakthrough, showcasing all the talent and passion for heavy music by frontman Mikael Stanne (Dark Tranquillity, Grand Cadaver, Cemetery Skyline), guitarists Jesper Strömblad (Ceremonial Oath, Cyhra, Dimension Zero) and Niclas Engelin (We Sell The Dead, In Flames), bassist Peter Iwers (Fleetburner, In Flames), and drummer Daniel Svensson (In Flames, Diabolique).

Their Swedish melodeath vein pulses harder than ever in the opener Conspire To Deceive, with Jesper and Niclas slashing their axes in the best Scandinavian style, followed by Detonate, which will work majestically if played live, a pedal-to-the-metal creation by the band where Mikael’s roars and Daniel’s beats match flawlessly; and there’s no sign of slowing down at all, as the quintet continues to distill their Melodic Death Metal attack in great fashion in Our Channel To The Darkness. Then investing in a more cadenced, traditional sound, it’s time for Cruel Perception, led by the classic drums by Daniel, followed by What We Become, one of those songs perfect for some sick headbanging thanks to the pounding drums by Daniel, supported by the metallic bass lines by Peter.

After that, we face the epic, imposing interlude This Curse Of Silence, working as an intro to the title-track March Of The Unheard, offering our avid years an overdose of first-class Melodic Death Metal with nuances of classic Heavy and Power Metal. Needless to say, Mikael is once again bestial on vocals, which is also the case in Forever Astray, another great option for banging our heads while the band’s guitar duo continues to deliver sheer electricity form their sonic weapons. A grim start then evolves into another massive feast of hammering drums and sharp riffs in Between Directions, albeit not as powerful as the other songs; whereas in A Death That Becomes Us the band gets back to a more ferocious yet very melodic sonority, with Mikael leading his horde in another strong candidate for their live performances. There’s more classic Swedish metal music for the masses with Mikael roaring to the riffage by Jesper and Niclas in The Burning Point, before the album ends with the stunning Coda, an atmospheric and epic outro that puts a climatic conclusion to the entire record.

After all is said and done, March Of The Unheard isn’t just another opus of Gothenburg melodeath; it announces that The Halo Effect still have fresh ideas for the genre, 30 years after their members helped catapult it to international acclaim. Now united under one banner, they are gunning for global success once again, and you can know more about the band and enjoy their classy 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 by clicking HERE, joining The Halo Effect on their exciting and metallic march of the unheard.

Best moments of the album: Detonate, What We Become, March Of The Unheard and A Death That Becomes Us.

Worst moments of the album: Cruel Perception and Between Directions.

Released in 2025 Nuclear Blast

Track listing
1. Conspire To Deceive 3:57
2. Detonate 3:58
3. Our Channel To The Darkness 3:29
4. Cruel Perception 4:04
5. What We Become 3:47
6. This Curse Of Silence 2:01
7. March Of The Unheard 2:59
8. Forever Astray 3:41
9. Between Directions 4:29
10. A Death That Becomes Us 4:07
11. The Burning Point 3:48
12. Coda 3:54

Band members
Mikael Stanne – vocals
Jesper Strömblad – guitars
Niclas Engelin – guitars
Peter Iwers – bass
Daniel Svensson – drums