Tag Archives: power metal

Concert Review – Blind Guardian (Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Toronto, ON, 11/29/2025)

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And the bards brought to Toronto another unforgettable night of first-class, undisputed Heavy Metal.

OPENING ACTS: Seven Kingdoms and Ensiferum

What an unforgettable night of first-class, undisputed Heavy Metal this Saturday in Toronto at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, courtesy of the most ass-kicking bards in history, the unstoppable BLIND GUARDIAN, supported by SEVEN KINGDOMS and ENSIFERUM, during their must-see Somewhere Far Beyond North American Tour 2025. I need to personally thank Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment for bringing the bards back to the city less than two years after their phenomenal concert at Rebel in 2024, and I must say this time the entire show was even better, more powerful, and more exciting. Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I were lucky enough the be there to cover such a metallic party, and judging by the reaction of the crowd during the entire night, all metalheads in Toronto will keep talking about the three bands for a long time, wishing they could go back in time to experience everything all over again, and again, and again.

Deland, Florida’s own Power Metal brigade SEVEN KINGDOMS kicked off the festivities around 7:20pm with a highly energetic performance led by frontwoman Sabrina Valentine, properly warming us up for the upcoming attractions of the night. Blending songs from their already solid discography, including their 2022 album Zenith (available on Spotify), the band whose name was taken from The Seven Kingdoms of Westeros in George R. R. Martin’s epic fantasy novel series A Song of Ice and Fire did exactly that during their short but sweet performance, setting fire to the atmosphere with their classic blend of Heavy and Power Metal (although I have no idea why they don’t have a bassist). Camden Cruz was absolutely phenomenal armed with his axe, kudos to Kevin Byrd for sporting a classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles shirt (and if you don’t like the TMNT, you’re not a good person), and as the icing on the cake, or maybe I should say on their cheeseburger, we got the indomitable Krista Shipperbottom, former frontwoman for Canadian melodeath band Lutharo, as the night’s cheeseburger. Yes, we definitely need more Seven Kingsdoms and more cheeseburgers in Toronto soon.

Setlist
Diamond Handed
A Silent Remedy
The Serpent and the Lotus
Valonqar
Wilted Pieces
Through These Waves
In the Walls

Band members
Sabrina Valentine – vocals
Kevin Byrd – guitars
Camden Cruz – guitars
Colton Zietler – drums

After a short break (and certainly not enough to brave the endless line for merch for all bands) it was time for Helsinki, Finland’s Epic Folk Metal warriors ENSIFERUM to bring a true winter storm to the stage with songs from all of their albums, including of course their latest one Winter Storm, released in 2024, all available on BandCamp and on Spotify. Petri Lindroos, Markus Toivonen, Sami Hinkka, Pekka Montin, and Janne Parviainen put on a fantastic show for an already packed venue, yielding their sonic weapons in great fashion for the delight of everyone inside the considerable circle pit that was moving frantically in the middle of the floor section. Their maniacal bassist Sami Hinkka didn’t stop screaming, running around the stage, jumping up and down, headbanging, and of course hammering his bass not even for a single second, and it was beautiful witnessing that extreme energy flowing from him into the hearts of all fans at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. What a great performer, my friends. And of course, with a name like that, which if you don’t know is Latin for “sword bearer,” the top moments of their concert were the fighting songs Guardians of Fate, Into Battle, and the classic In My Sword I Trust, turning the venue into a true battlefield. Please return to Toronto as soon as you can, Ensiferum, because you guys rock.

Setlist
Aurora
Winter Storm Vigilantes
Way of the Warrior
Andromeda
Fatherland
Heathen Horde
Guardians of Fate
Into Battle
In My Sword I Trust

Band members
Petri Lindroos – harsh vocals, guitars
Markus Toivonen – guitars, backing vocals
Sami Hinkka – bass, clean and backing vocals
Pekka Montin – keyboards, clean and backing vocals
Janne Parviainen – drums

BLIND GUARDIAN

I honestly have no idea why Teutonic Power Metal masters BLIND GUARDIAN decided to do this Somewhere Far Beyond North American Tour only in 2025, as they already celebrated 30 years of the album Somewhere Far Beyond back in 2022, having even released in 2024 a live album of that tour recorded at Rock Hard Festival in June 2022, but who am I to complain about that, right? Quite the opposite, it was a dream come true watching the iconic Hansi Kürsch & Co. deliver a flawless live rendition of one of their classic albums, plus of course a bunch of other superb songs. The first part of the set itself was already worth the price of the ticket, as Into the Storm, Blood of the Elves, Nightfall, and Violent Shadows are killer metal tunes, with all fans already losing their voices screaming those songs together with the bards.

Hansi was in an excellent mood, showing once again he’s not just a phenomenal vocalist, but also a great frontman and entertainer, keeping the audience engaged and hypnotized form start to finish. After they started playing Somewhere Far Beyond, with Time What Is Time and Journey Through the Dark sounding incredible, Hansi joked about the fact he was surprised that they said in 2024 they would return soon, and they actually did. The crowd was on cloud 9 with each and every word pronounced by Hansi, but it was of course when they played The Bard’s Song – In the Forest, and The Bard’s Song – The Hobbit, another majestic moment of the show, that the whole venue turned into a true celebration of heavy music and bards. One of those moments in the life of a person that confirms we all made the right choice in becoming metalheads.

And then came the encore. But it wasn’t just an encore. It was THE encore, one of the best I’ve ever experienced in my life. When the crowd started chanting “Majesty! Majesty!” I had on idea the band was actually going to answer our call. Hansi even joked about it saying that we were not allowed to ask for what we wanted to hear, but we were lucky that was exactly what they were going to play anyway. It was beyond orgasmic seeing them playing Majesty live. I pretty much lost my voice screaming. Then came the biggest surprise of the night for me, Lord of the Rings, and then I lost the rest of my voice. Simply incredible. I don’t know how I was still able to scream with the band during the epic Valhalla and Mirror Mirror, and when we all thought the show was over, the band fired upon us the also breathtaking Lost in the Twilight Hall. What an epic conclusion to a concert full of mosh pits, fists and horns in the air, ad the certainty that the bards will return to Toronto again, hopefully sooner than later for the “surprise” of Hansi and his henchmen themselves. Thank you once again, Blind Guardian. I’m a very happy man.

Setlist
War of Wrath
Into the Storm
Blood of the Elves
Nightfall
Violent Shadows

Somewhere Far Beyond
Time What Is Time
Journey Through the Dark
Black Chamber
Theatre of Pain
The Quest for Tanelorn
Ashes to Ashes
The Bard’s Song – In the Forest
The Bard’s Song – The Hobbit
The Piper’s Calling
Somewhere Far Beyond

Encore:
Majesty
Lord of the Rings
Valhalla
Mirror Mirror
Lost in the Twilight Hall
Sacred Worlds (Orchestral outro)

Band members
Hansi Kürsch – vocals
André Olbrich – lead, rhythm and acoustic guitars
Marcus Siepen – rhythm and acoustic guitars
Johan van Stratum – bass, backing vocals
Kenneth Berger – keyboards, backing vocals
Frederik Ehmke – drums

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Album Review – Bloodbound / Field of Swords (2025)

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Raise your swords up high, as these Swedish Power Metal warriors march into a powerful future armed with their new concept album, moving past the year 1066 and into the Middle Ages.

Raise your swords up high, as Swedish Heavy/Power Metal warriors  Bloodbound celebrate 20 years of existence and march into a powerful future with Field Of Swords, the follow-up to their 2023 opus Tales from the North, and the eleventh studio album in their undisputed career. Recorded by the band itself alongside Niklas Johansson of Tungsten, who was also responsible for the mixing and mastering of the album, and displaying a classic artwork by Péter Sallai of Mortpaintgraphics, the new offering by Patrik J. Selleby on vocals, Tomas Olsson and Henrik Olsson on the guitars, Anders Broman on bass, Fredrik Bergh on keyboards, and Daniel Hansfeldt on drums draws once again to the Viking era, turning the page to another chapter in history, moving past the year 1066 and into the Middle Ages. As warfare evolves and the significance of forging iron with carbon leads to superior swordsmen, the bloodstained battlefields show new, grim faces, leaving room for more of Bloodbound’s vivid storytelling that continues to thrill all metalheads worldwide.

The Olson Brothers shred their axes nonstop right from the start in Field Of Swords, a fast and thrilling Power Metal attack where Daniel dictates the pace with his classic beats and fills, followed by As Empires Fall, living up to the legacy of giants of the style such as Rhapsody ov Fire, led by the powerful, striking vocals by Patrik. Then leaning towards the sonority blasted by Hammerfall and Stratovarius it’s time for Defenders Of Jerusalem, perfect for hitting the road on a warm summer day; whereas in The Code Of Warriors special guest Vera Bieber comes armed with her flute to give the song a truly Folk Metal vibe, and the final result is absurdly catchy, with Daniel once again kicking some ass behind his drums. Land Of The Brave is another song with a strong title, and of course the music is just as exciting, with Fredrik and Daniel crafting that galloping rhythm we all love so much in Power Metal; and it’s then time to get heavy with Light The Sky, spearheaded by the soaring vocals by Patrik and the scorching riffs and solos by Tomas and Henrik.

Bloodbound might be Swedish, but they bring that famous German Power Metal electricity to Teutonic Knights, with the band’s guitar duo once again firing an overdose of metallic riffs for our total delight. Let’s all raise or fists in the air together with Bloodbound in Forged In Iron, offering more of their classic fusion of Heavy and Power Metal, followed by Pain And Glory, my type of Power Metal song, one that will inspire you to head into the battlefield (aka the mosh pit) like a true metal warrior while Daniel’s frantic drumming speeds things up in great fashion. The second to last blast of pure energy by those Sweds comes in the form of Born To Be King, presenting again a strong Rhapsody ov Fire vibe, although a bit repetitive; and lastly, featuring guest vocals by Brittney Slayes of powerhouse Canadian band Unleash the Archers, who makes a brilliant duet with Patrik, The Nine Crusades puts a beyond epic ending to the album.

Showcasing eleven captivating battle hymns, Field of Swords is a diverse record with an aggressive and fast sound, illustrating the importance of purpose and perseverance with heroic tales in shining Heavy Metal armor. You can join those relentless Swedish warriors in the battlefield by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, keeping an eye on their breathtaking live shows, stream their vast discography on Spotify, and of course purchase Field of Swords from BandCamp or from Napalm Records. Valiant, vigorous, and ultimately victorious, Field Of Swords has come to expand Bloodbound’s domination, and I’m sure you’ll have an absolute blast yielding your sword in the battlefield while listening to the new album by one of the most important names of the current Power Metal scene worldwide.

Best moments of the album: The Code Of Warriors, Light The Sky and Pain And Glory.

Worst moments of the album: Born To Be King.

Released in 2025 Napalm Records

Track listing
1. Field Of Swords 4:11
2. As Empires Fall 3:54
3. Defenders Of Jerusalem 4:03
4. The Code Of Warriors 3:52
5. Land Of The Brave 4:18
6. Light The Sky 4:13
7. Teutonic Knights 3:57
8. Forged In Iron 3:47
9. Pain And Glory 4:11
10. Born To Be King 4:19
11. The Nine Crusades 4:31

Band members
Patrik J. Selleby – vocals
Tomas Olsson – lead and rhythm guitars
Henrik Olsson – guitars
Anders Broman – bass
Fredrik Bergh – keyboards
Daniel Hansfeldt – drums

Guest musician
Brittney Slayes – vocals on “The Nine Crusades”
Vera Bieber – flute on “The Code Of Warriors”

Album Review – Havamal / Age Of The Gods (2025)

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Transcending their previous sound and rising with the full might of Asgard at their back, these Swedish Melodic Death Metal warriors are unleashing upon humanity their most ambitious work to date.

Transcending their previous sound and rising with the full might of Asgard at their back, Stockholm, Sweden-based Melodic Death Metal warriors Hamaval are set to unleash their most ambitious work to date, entitled Age of the Gods, following up on their 2021 sophomore opus The Shadow Chapter. More aggressive, forceful, and diverse than ever, Age of the Gods is a pinnacle in the band’s evolution, where symphonic grandeur collides with ferocious riffs, thunderous drums and growls echoing with the wrath of the Nine Worlds, all masterfully crafted by vocalist Björn Larsson, guitarists Lennie Spetze and Kjell Gilliusson, bassist Tino Vesanen, and drummer Stefan Peltonen.

The war of the gods is about to begin to the sound of The Pagan Path, with its imposing tribal sounds inviting us all to join the band in the battlefield before Stefan begins smashing his drums in the name of Melodic Death and Viking Metal, whereas Wolfraiders carries an excellent title for an even more excellent sound, with the guitars and keys by Lennie and Kjell transpiring of Amon Amarth while their guitar solos also sound utterly captivating. Stefan then dictates the pace in the ruthless The Day Of Reckoning, with all background elements giving it an extra touch of epicness led by Björn’s deep warrior roars, followed by Sigmund Fafnirsbane, a song about a legendary dragon slayer, with the band inviting us all to slam into the pit to their visceral riffs and harsh screams.

Then investing in an almost Symphonic Black Metal sound we’re treated to The Shaman, where once again Lennie’s keys bring sheer electricity to their music, being therefore perfect for prancing around the firepit while enjoying a pint of mead. The skies will get dark and the atmosphere pensive and somber in Hymns Of The Fallen, an inspiring chant dedicated to the ones who lost their lives in battle, sounding absolutely epic from start to finish; and the band blasts one of the fastest and heaviest of all songs, the thrilling Lokis Damnation, also presenting some welcome melodic passages and the always vibrant guttural by Björn. Finally, ending the album it’s time for absolute fury and violence in the form of Ashwalker, spearheaded by the crushing beats and fills by Stefan in a lesson in contemporary Melodic Death Metal.

Offering a distinctive musical identity characterized by powerful orchestration, elegant yet captivating riffs, and an eclectic fusion of Viking, Black, Power, and Death Metal influences, Age Of The Gods will undoubtedly carve Havamal’s place in Valhalla, and you can grab a copy of such an excellent album from the Art Gates Records’ webstore in three amazing bundles (pack I, pack II, and superpack). Don’t forget to also follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram, and to stream their music on Spotify, proving you’re also worthy of joining Havamal and the metal gods at the magnificent hall of the slain are you prepare for Ragnarök.

Best moments of the album: Wolfraiders, The Shaman and Ashwalker.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Art Gates Records

Track listing
1. The Pagan Path 6:01
2. Wolfraiders 4:59
3. The Day Of Reckoning 5:53
4. Sigmund Fafnirsbane 5:14
5. The Shaman 5:36
6. Hymns Of The Fallen 5:44
7. Lokis Damnation 5:33
8. Ashwalker 4:56

Band members
Björn Larsson – vocals
Lennie Spetze – guitars, keyboards
Kjell Gilliusson – guitars
Tino Vesanen – bass
Stefan Peltonen – drums

Album Review – Cemican / U k’u’uk’ankil Mayakaaj (2025)

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These unrelenting Mexican metal warriors are back with their breathtaking fourth studio album based on Mayan ideology, worldview, mysticism, and the universe.

Incorporating elements of the legends, mysticism and ideologies of ancient Mexican culture, being compared by Revolver to “Slipknot scoring Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto” by combining the modern instrumentation of a metal band with traditional pre-Hispanic instruments, Guadalajara, Mexico’s own Progressive Power/Thrash/Folk Metal tribe Cemican (or “The Duality of Life and Death” in the Mexican language Nahuatl) brings forth more of their unique music in their fourth studio opus entitled U k’u’uk’ankil Mayakaaj, translated as “the Mayan Resistance”, following up on their 2019 critically acclaimed album In Ohtli Teoyohtica In Miquiztli. Showcasing a stunning artwork by the band’s own Tlipoca (aka Alejandro Guzmán), depicting the great creation of the Mayan universe and the elements of life – water, fire, wind, and earth – by the great supreme Itzamnaaj, raising the great Temple of Kukulkan for the worship of the Mayan people, the new album by vocalist and guitarist Tecuhtli, bassist Ocelotl, drummer Tlipoca, and the tribalistic ensemble of Xaman Ek, Yei Tochtli, Mazatecpatl, and Itzcoatl is based on Mayan ideology, worldview, mysticism, and the universe. It contains various legends and stories of ancestral gods, the duality of life and death, as well as stories based on the band members, transformed with that touch that identifies us.

Kukulkán Wakah Chan (likely combining the Maya deity name Kukulkán, meaning “Plumed Serpent”, with the Nahuatl phrase Wakah Chan, meaning “Sacred Tree” or “Milky Way”) sounds utterly ritualistic and folk from its very first moments, with their wind instruments echoing through the air before exploding into an amalgamation of Thrash, Death and Groove Metal led by Tlipoca’s crushing beats and fills; whereas Tán tí le Xibalba, the second single of the album, speaks of the god of dead in the Mayan culture while keeping their heaviness clashing with the culture of their ancestors in a majestic way, being therefore an excellent choice for their live concerts. In El Niño Que Contemplaba A Las Estrellas (“the boy who gazed at the stars” from Spanish), the guitars by Tecuhtli lean towards classic Heavy Metal, as well as his vocals, followed by Viaje Astral Del Quetzal De Fuego (“astral journey of the fire quetzal”), sounding atmospheric and embracing from start to finish, with the bass by Ocelotl and the drums by Tlipoca being absolutely thunderous. Xaman Ek, Yei Tochtli and Mazatecpatl bring the glory of the past through their wind instruments in the tribal dance Horizonte De Almas (“horizon of souls”), exploding into an epic song that will inspire you to raise your horns for those beyond talented Mexicans, while El Castigo De Los Dioses (“the punishment of the gods”) is another song where the modern, electrified vibe of metal music makes a killer paradox with their cultural and folk sounds.

The howling wind invites us to another journey through Mayan lands in Tak Ti Ulaák Íin, one of the most ritualistic of all songs, where the band delivers their most primeval sounds of the album. Then the massive riffs by Tecuhtli ignite the imposing, multi-layered Los Guardianes De La Tierra (“guardians of the earth”), a lecture in Symphonic and Melodic Death and Black Metal that feels like it was taken from the most climatic moment of a period drama; and the band offers another blast of harsh and pounding sounds in Hun-Came, meaning “One Death”, the name of the senior of the two principal death gods in the Maya underworld Xibalba, with all vocals and backing vocals giving it an extra kick while Tlipoca hammers his drums mercilessly. ¿Donde Estas? (“where are you?) is some sort of power ballad entirely sung in Spanish by a mysterious guest female musician, a bit too generic compared to the other songs; while back to their trademark tribal sonority infused with the power of Heavy Metal we have Yóok’ ol Kaáb Maya, sounding and feeling epic and vibrant until the very end. Lastly, closing the album we’re invited to one final ritual by Cemican entitled Bolom Octé, a stunning sonic voyage back to the glory yet somber days of their ancestors.

Offering a sound that embodies that language of music with ancestral instruments that Cemican have achieved as its own unique and hallucinatory sound, fused with lyrics that blend Spanish with Yucatecan Mayan, U k’u’uk’ankil Mayakaaj is a tribute to their ancestral people, their stories and their customs, giving a valuable message of their language and their ancestral glory. Hence, you can enjoy the dark and aggressive atmosphere found in U k’u’uk’ankil Mayakaaj by purchasing the album from their own BandCamp, from the M-Theory Audio webstore, or by clicking HERE, and don’t forget to also follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram, subscribe to their YouTube channel, and stream their amazing albums on Spotify. Because U k’u’uk’ankil Mayakaaj is a way to revive what their warriors and their Mayan people were, honoring the great Mayan culture and representing the worldview and mysticism of their great ancestral empire.

Best moments of the album: Tán tí le Xibalba, Horizonte De Almas, Los Guardianes De La Tierra and Hun-Came.

Worst moments of the album: ¿Donde Estas?.

Released in 2025 M-Theory Audio

Track listing
1. Kukulkán Wakah Chan 5:45
2. Tán tí le Xibalba 4:01
3. El Niño Que Contemplaba A Las Estrellas 6:44
4. Viaje Astral Del Quetzal De Fuego 8:31
5. Horizonte De Almas 6:31
6. El Castigo De Los Dioses 5:26
7. Tak Ti Ulaák Íin 4:39
8. Los Guardianes De La Tierra 5:13
9. Hun-Came 5:29
10. ¿Donde Estas? 4:23
11. Yóok_ ol Kaáb Maya 5:45
12. Bolom Octé 4:30

Band members
Tecuhtli – vocals, guitars, wind instruments
Ocelotl – bass
Tlipoca – drums, percussion, wind instruments, backing vocals
Xaman Ek – wind instruments, backing vocals
Yei Tochtli – wind instruments, backing vocals
Mazatecpatl – wind instruments
Itzcoatl – choir vocals

Album Review – Battle Beast / Steelbound (2025)

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Finland’s own Heavy Metal powerhouse storms forward with unrelenting force armed with their seventh studio album, moving fluently between classic metal, superpowered synthesizers, and symphonic realms.

Three years after the critically acclaimed Circus of Doom, Finnish Heavy/Power Metal/Hard Rock powerhouse Battle Beast storms forward with unrelenting force, dropping their electrifying, highly anticipated seventh studio album, entitled Steelbound. Produced and mixed by Janne Björkroth at JKB Studios, and mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios, the new opus by the indomitable frontwoman Noora Louhimo, guitarists Joona Björkroth and Juuso Soinio, bassist Eero Sipilä, keyboardist Janne Björkroth, and drummer Pyry Vikki moves fluently between classic metal, superpowered synthesizers, and symphonic realms, even embracing ’80s-tinged Hard Rock, resulting in a musical palette that’s powerful, engaging, and, above all, extremely fun.

Those talented and unstoppable Finnish rockers kick off another thrilling metal party with The Burning Within, offering their incendiary blend of Heavy Metal with 80’s Hard rock always boosted by Noora’s undisputed soaring vocals, followed by Here We Are, one of the singles previously released by the band which sees Janne kicking ass as usual on keys, giving the song the band’s trademark dancing vibe; whereas the title-track Steelbound sounds absolutely upbeat, with Joona and Juuso’s riffs walking hand in hand with the whimsical keys by Janne. Twilight Cabaret is another song that reeks of Battle Beast, with Noora melting our faces as usual with her hypnotic vocals supported by Pyry’s classic beats; and let’s say Battle Beast are one of the very few bands that can make happy music sound so badass like Last Goodbye thanks to Noora’s powerful vocals, while their guitars sound as electrified as they can be supported by Eero’s thunderous bass.

The second half of the album begins with the cinematic interlude The Long Road, setting the stage for the band to crush us all with Blood Of Heroes, as epic as it is imposing, bringing elements from Viking and Power Metal to their core sound, with all background vocals supporting the battle-like screams by Noora in great fashion. Joona and Juuso rev up the band’s metal engine in Angel Of Midnight, also fully inspired by 80’s rock and metal music, a radio-friendly tune that will surely please all fans of the band; and let’s keep jumping up and down and dancing with Battle Beast in Riders Of The Storm, absolutely futuristic and fun, like if it was taken from an afternoon adventure movie from the 80’s. Finally, the band closes the album on a high note with Watch The Sky Fall, a strong contender to make it to their live performances, where their guitar solos and striking keys bring an extra headbanging touch to the music.

In a nutshell, with Steelbound the band opens an exciting new chapter that offers some very heavy tracks, flirts with pop, unapologetic party anthems, and the empowering title song, or in other words, it is a thunderous monument of defiance and resilience, an earnest battle cry for all who have ever been dismissed, diminished, or silenced and also a big slab of positivity and joy. Hence, you can stay in touch with those marvelous Finnish warriors via Facebook and Instagram, subscribe to their YouTube channel, stream their striking music on Spotify, and of course grab a copy of Steelbound by clicking HERE, throwing your worries into the next trash can during the album’s 38 minutes of duration, and sing, dance, headbang, or do whatever feels right to the sound of their undisputed heavy music.

Best moments of the album: The Burning Within, Last Goodbye and Watch The Sky Fall.

Worst moments of the album: Here We Are.

Released in 2025 Nuclear Blast Records

Track listing
1. The Burning Within 3:58
2. Here We Are 3:03
3. Steelbound 4:30
4. Twilight Cabaret 3:56
5. Last Goodbye 3:34
6. The Long Road 2:12
7. Blood Of Heroes 4:06
8. Angel Of Midnight 3:27
9. Riders Of The Storm 3:51
10. Watch The Sky Fall 4:31

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

Album Review – Alterium / Stormrage EP (2025)

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The new EP by this up-and-coming Italian band captures the essence of classic Power Metal while pushing their sound into exciting new territories.

Further cementing the band’s place among the most promising names in the new wave of European Power Metal, Stormrage is the brand new EP by Italian Symphonic/Melodic Power Metal warriors Alterium, a powerful chapter that bridges their acclaimed 2024 debut Of War And Flames and their upcoming full-length album. Formed of Nicoletta Rosellini on vocals, Paolo Campitelli on the guitars and keyboards, Alessandro Mammola also on the guitars, Luca Scalabrin on bass, and Dario Gozzi on drums, the band continues their tradition of blending agile riffs, epic atmospheres, and battle-hardened energy in Stormrage, capturing the essence of classic Power Metal while pushing the band’s sound into exciting new territories.

The whimsical, epic keys by Paolo will embellish the airwaves and invite you on a symphonic journey in the title-track Stormrage, accompanied by the classic drumming by Dario and the melodic and powerful vocals by Nicoletta; whereas Sui starts in a more melodic manner, sounding almost like a Folk Metal ballad, before Paolo and Alessandro strike us all with their scorching Heavy Metal riffs in a very detailed, imposing and electrifying feast of Symphonic and Melodic Power Metal. The CD version of the EP comes with two amazing bonus, the first one being their cover version for the classic by Symphony X titled Paradise Lost (check the original version from their 2007 album Paradise Lost), and Alterium’s version is just as magical and enfolding, with Nicoletta’s powerful vocal lines being flawlessly supported by Paolo’s keys and the low-tuned, groovy kitchen crafted by Luca and Dario. And closing the CD version of the EP we have the orchestral version of Of War and Flames, a cinematic rendition of the original version from their own 2024 album Of War and Flames, where all orchestrations walk hand in hand with Nicoletta’s epic, soaring vocals.

In summary, this new chapter sees the band sharpen their songwriting and deliver a fresh burst of adrenaline that both longtime fans and newcomers will appreciate, reaffirming their mission to carry the torch of European metal with pride and power. Hence, you can get in touch with those Italian metallers via Facebook and Instagram, subscribe to their YouTube channel, stream their music on Spotify, and of course purchase their new EP from Big Cartel. As aforementioned, Stormrage works as a bridge between their 2024 album and their future endeavor, and based on the high energy and quality of the music found in their new EP, we can rest assured the future looks extremely promising for such an amazing up-and-coming band.

Best moments of the album: Sui and Paradise Lost.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Independent

Track listing
1. Stormrage 4:16
2. Sui 5:27

CD Version bonus tracks
3. Paradise Lost (Symphony X cover) 6:45
4. Of War and Flames (Orchestral version) 3:40

Band members
Nicoletta Rosellini – vocals
Paolo Campitelli – guitars, keyboards
Alessandro Mammola – guitars
Luca Scalabrin – bass
Dario Gozzi – drums

Album Review – Primal Fear / Domination (2025)

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The Teutonic eagle of Heavy Metal strikes again with a thunderous 13-track opus, a masterclass in sonic warfare offering an unrelenting barrage of soaring vocals, earth-shattering riffs, and battle-hardened anthems forged in fire and steel.

Spanning more than 25 years of pure Heavy and Power Metal, having faced numerous challenges since their formation in 1997, and having repeatedly risen from their lowest points like a phoenix from the ashes, Germany’s own metal commando Primal Fear is finally back into the battlefield with their fifteenth studio opus, simply titled Domination, following up on their successful 2023 album Code Red. After a recent line-up change, which saw the incredible Thalìa Bellazecca join on guitar and André Hilgers on drums, alongside the iconic frontman Ralf Scheepers, the unbreakable bassist Mat Sinner, and the unstoppable guitarist Magnus Karlsson, the band will strike again with a thunderous 13-track opus, a masterclass in sonic warfare offering an unrelenting barrage of soaring vocals, earth-shattering riffs, and battle-hardened anthems forged in fire and steel.

The album kicks off with the striking The Hunter, with Ralf delivering pure adrenaline through the song’s classic words (“Through the labyrinth of fear, you’re lost and alone / A primal force unleashed a river of blood / This is the part / When you will run for your life / And every step you take / Leads closer to my knife / Blood stains the ground / The hunt never ends”); and  Magnus and Thalìa showcase their passion for shredding in the excellent Destroyer, a pure Primal Fear extravaganza with Mat and André keeping the rhythm flowing in great fashion. The band then goes full Melodic Power Metal in Far Away, where Thalìa proves why she was chosen as the new band’s guitarist as her dexterity is impressive, followed by I Am the Primal Fear, and as cheesy as the song title might sound, the music is a great mid-tune party by the band, with Mat kicking some ass on bass. Needless to say, it’s great to have him back in action. Tears of Fire is another song with a classic title following a similar pattern as the previous song, with Ralf’s soaring vocals adding an extra touch of epicness to the overall result; whereas back to a heavier, faster and more dynamic sonority we face Heroes and Gods, with André crushing his drums while Ralf pierce our minds with his undisputed screams.

Hallucinations is a smooth, melodic instrumental piece where Thalìa once again steals the spotlight with her flammable axe, warming us up for Eden, a dark and enfolding power ballad by those Teutonic metallers led by Ralf’s passionate vocal performance. In Scream the name of the song says it all, demanding us to jump up and down with Primal Fear and simply scream together with Ralf. Furthermore, the heaviness flowing from the guitars by Magnus and Thalìa is truly awesome, boosted by Mat’s thunderous bass. The Dead Don’t Die brings forward another blast of razor-edged riffs and blast beats that reek of Rock N’ Roll, perfect for some wild headbanging, and get ready to be caught in a crossfire of pure Heavy Metal to the sound of Crossfire, where André pounds his drums nonstop for our total delight. March Boy March is a song that gradually evolves into a metal attack led by Ralf’s piercing vocals while the band’s guitar duo keeps delivering sheer electricity through their axes, and ending the album we have the melancholic ballad A Tune I Won’t Forget, which is fine for what it is despite taking away some of the power blasted in all previous songs.

Recorded by Dennis Ward at Kangaroo Studios, produced by Mat Sinner and co-produced by Ralf Scheepers and Magnus Karlsson, and mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios, Domination reeks of classic Primal Fear while at the same time sounding fresh and unique, proving why the band has been on the road for so many years against all odds. You can check what the German eagle is up to on Facebook and on Instagram, including their breathtaking live performances, stream their incendiary discography on Spotify, and above all that, put your metallic hands on Domination by clicking HERE. Primal Fear are more than ready to spread their metal wings once again all across the globe and dominate the world of heavy music armed with their new album, a new chapter in the career of this Teutonic eagle that refuses to die, forever fighting in the name of our beloved Heavy Metal.

Best moments of the album: Destroyer, Heroes and Gods, Scream and Crossfire.

Worst moments of the album: A Tune I Won’t Forget.

Released in 2025 Reigning Phoenix Music

Track listing
1. The Hunter 4:21
2. Destroyer 4:31
3. Far Away 4:19
4. I Am the Primal Fear 5:41
5. Tears of Fire 5:14
6. Heroes and Gods 4:10
7. Hallucinations 2:37
8. Eden 7:25
9. Scream 4:27
10. The Dead Don’t Die 4:27
11. Crossfire 4:12
12. March Boy March 5:01
13. A Tune I Won’t Forget 3:32

Band members
Ralf Scheepers – vocals
Mat Sinner – bass, vocals
Magnus Karlsson – guitars
Thalìa Bellazecca – guitars
André Hilgers – drums

Album Review – Helloween / Giants & Monsters (2025)

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Confident and bursting with vigor, these German giants of Heavy Metal and monsters of Rock N’ Roll are back with their breathtaking seventeenth studio album.

With 15 gold awards, six platinum awards and over ten million records sold, German Heavy Metal masters Helloween are celebrating the band’s 40th anniversary with the successor to their critically acclaimed 2021 self-titled masterpiece. Confident and bursting with vigor, the septet formed of frontmen Michael Kiske and Andi Deris, guitarists Kai Hansen, Michael Weikath and Sascha Gerstner, bassist Markus Grosskopf, and drummer Dani Löble presents one of their most versatile albums to date, titled Giants & Monsters, the seventeenth studio album in their undisputed career. Recorded and mixed by Charlie Bauerfeind and Dennis Ward at Mi Sueno Studio, mastered by Sascha “Busy” Bühren and Emil Pohjalainen at Wisseloord Studios, and once again displaying a stunning artwork by Eliran Kantor, Giants & Monsters showcases a band that keeps reinventing themselves while staying true to the foundations of Heavy Metal, continuing to challenge seven brimming careers even after four decades.

Mr. Andi Deris begins embellishing the airwaves with his striking vocals in Giants on the Run, a classic Helloween tune sounding fast, electrifying and epic from start to finish, and I must say I love the fact Kai also delivers some vocal lines during the song. Then it’s time for Mr. Michael Kiske to take us back to the glory of the 80’s in Savior of the World, a flawless Power Metal song striking us hard like fire and thunder, with Dani kicking some ass behind his drums; whereas venturing through the realms of Progressive Rock but always rooted in their classic Heavy Metal sonority we have A Little Is a Little Too Much, one of those songs perfect for dancing with your loved ones. The visceral riffs by Kai, Michael Weikath and Sascha set the tone in the Primal Fear-like attack titled We Can Be Gods, flowing majestically until the very end. And Into the Sun, which was originally recorded for their 2021 self-titled album, but scrapped after being altered during production (as the final result wasn’t to their liking), is a charming ballad led by the hypnotizing vocals by Kiske and Andi.

This Is Tokyo, the first single released a couple of months ago, was a very good sign of the classic, old school approach by Helloween with a Melodic Rock/AOR twist, boosting their vocal lines even more while the chorus couldn’t have sounded catchier; and it’s pedal to the metal in the Heavy and Power Metal attack entitled Universe (Gravity for Hearts), with Dani’s fast and furious beats providing Kiske with exactly what he needs to make his vocals soar high like an eagle, resulting in eight minutes of pure metal magic by our beloved German pumpkins. The septet then offers two three-minute songs, the first being Hand of God, showcasing a more experimental sounds mixed with their core essence. Not their best effort, to be honest, while back to a more electrifying sound we have Under the Moonlight, with the guitars by Kai, Weikath and Sascha adding an overdose of Rock N’ Roll to their core sound. There’s still time for one more epic tune by Helloween, the phenomenal Majestic, and the music perfectly reflects the song title, with Kiske taking the lead with his unparalleled vocals while the band’s guitar triumvirate penetrates deep inside our souls with their superb, classic riffs and solos, or in other words, it’s an epic conclusion to such a metallic celebration by Helloween.

After all is said and done, Giants & Monsters presents the experience and musical enthusiasm of a band that can do anything and everything blazes its way, with all creative limits being set aside once and for all. “What keeps motivating us is the fact that we’re extremely different. That generates suspense and creative energy,” explained Michael Weikath, “and if problems do occur, we connect through our passion and our sense of humor. We try not to take ourselves and everything around us too seriously,” added Kai Hansen, before Andi Deris concluded with a bang. “In the end, we’re just seven guys who want to make music and enjoy the incomparable force that arises when we’re together. Helloween is way more powerful than the sum of its parts.” Hence, if you also want to be part of the Pumpkins United army, you can follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram, stream their classy music on YouTube and on Spotify, and of course add their superb new album to your private collection by clicking HERE. Because Helloween are giants of Heavy Metal, they’re monsters of Rock N’ Roll, and while they’re among us we can all rest assured heavy music will remain alive and kicking.

Best moments of the album: Savior of the World, A Little Is a Little Too Much, This Is Tokyo, Universe (Gravity for Hearts) and Majestic.

Worst moments of the album: Hand of God.

Released in 2025 Reigning Phoenix Music

Track listing
1. Giants on the Run 6:20
2. Savior of the World 4:15
3. A Little Is a Little Too Much 3:30
4. We Can Be Gods 5:24
5. Into the Sun 3:39
6. This Is Tokyo 4:16
7. Universe (Gravity for Hearts) 8:22
8. Hand of God 3:44
9. Under the Moonlight 3:07
10. Majestic 8:10

Band members
Michael Kiske – vocals
Andi Deris – vocals
Kai Hansen – guitars, vocals
Michael Weikath – guitars
Sascha Gerstner – guitars
Markus Grosskopf – bass
Dani Löble – drums

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”