Tag Archives: progressive metal

Album Review – Dream Theater / Parasomnia (2025)

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American Progressive Metal masters are back to their roots with their breathtaking sixteenth studio effort, a thematic concept album about parasomnia and all disruptive sleep disorders.

The band’s first studio album to feature original drummer Mike Portnoy since their 2009 opus Black  Clouds & Silver Linings, the excellent Parasomnia is more than just the sixteenth studio album by American Progressive Metal masters Dream Theater, but a return to their roots, representing both where they came from and where they’re going as not only bandmates, but as brothers. Mixed and mastered by Andy Sneap at Backstage Studios, produced by John Petrucci, engineered by James “Jimmy T” Meslin, and displaying a classy artwork by Hugh Syme, the new offering by vocalist James LaBrie, guitarist John Petrucci, bassist John Myung, keyboardist Jordan Rudess, and drummer Mike Portnoy is a thematic concept album about parasomnia, encompassing a wide range of unusual and undesirable experiences and behaviors people experience in their sleep, also known as disruptive sleep disorders, all embraced by the band’s undisputed, unparalleled sound that catapulted them to stardom over 40 years ago.

It all begins with the poetically titled intro In the Arms of Morpheus, with all background sounds in its first few moments making it feel like the soundtrack to a psychological thriller, setting the stage for Night Terror, with it’s nine breathtaking minutes offering us all a darkly catchy chorus (“Night terror / Hysteria / Nocturnal trial by fire / Eyes open wide but I can’t see”) and the always phenomenal drumming by the returning Mr. Portnoy, as well as the scorching riffs by John Petrucci. Their technical, progressive sounds keep stunning us all in A Broken Man, with John Myung’s bass overflowing heaviness supported by the classic keys by Jordan, sounding like old school Dream Theater for our total delight, morphing into the ten-minute aria Dead Asleep, another explosion of Progressive Metal led by the powerful vocals by James, with all of its breaks, variations and intricate passages inviting us all to a wild, enfolding musical journey to a world of dreams and nightmares.

A cryptic, atmospheric start gradually evolves into the most dynamic, fastest and heaviest of all songs, entitled Midnight Messiah, with James’ vocals being flawlessly boosted by John Petrucci’s riff attack while Mike hammers his drums in great fashion until the very last second. Then we’re treated to the whimsical, ethereal interlude Are We Dreaming?, heightening our senses for Bend the Clock, a beautiful, enfolding ballad where James declaims the song’s dark lyrics with tons of passion (“Worn down wearing thin / Hellish dreams / Tormenting scenes / Shadows looming / I’m paralyzed, can’t move / Scared and confused”) while his bandmates embellish the airwaves with their superb sounds. Finally, get ready for a 20-minute feast of first-class Progressive Metal in The Shadow Man Incident, with the hard-hitting drums by Mike and the rumbling bass by John Myung dictating the song’s thrilling pace while Jordan’s keys sound phantasmagorical, offering so many layers, striking moments and tempo changes it’s hard to put all that into words. Let’s say that if the album only contained this specific song, it would have already been fantastic.

“When you listen to this, I hope you’re able to hear, the excitement, the camaraderie, and feeling of being reunited as brothers,” affirms John Petrucci. “All of that is reflected in the music. It’s very driven and purposeful. I hope it sounds like the Dream Theater you remember and recall when Mike was in the band, but maybe even a little more elevated.” In the end, Parasomnia, available in full on most streaming platforms like Spotify, is dynamic, dramatic, and definitive Dream Theater, and you can show the band how much you love their new album by giving them a shout on Facebook and on Instagram, and obviously by purchasing a copy of the album from Century Media/InsideOut Music or by clicking HERE. In their 1999 masterpiece Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory, the album ends with the sentence “Open your eyes, Nicholas!”, while in their new album the last songs ends with “Wake up!” Would that be a sign of where the band is headed to in the future, by looking into their own past? Well, as long as their upcoming albums are as stunning as Parasomnia, we can rest assure Dream Theater will surely keep “waking us up” with more of their absolutely captivating music.

Best moments of the album: Night Terror, Midnight Messiah, Bend the Clock and The Shadow Man Incident.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Century Media/InsideOut Music

Track listing
1. In the Arms of Morpheus 5:22
2. Night Terror 9:55
3. A Broken Man 8:29
4. Dead Asleep 11:06
5. Midnight Messiah 7:58
6. Are We Dreaming? 1:28
7. Bend the Clock 7:24
8. The Shadow Man Incident 19:32

Band members
James LaBrie – vocals
John Petrucci – guitars
John Myung – bass
Jordan Rudess – keyboards
Mike Portnoy – drums

Album Review – Light Dweller / The Subjugate (2025)

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Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Cameron Boesch strikes again with his fifth album, delving into themes of death, purgatory, and the cessation of time.

Founded in December 2017 by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Cameron Boesch in Phoenix, Arizona, in the United States, Dissonant Death/Black Metal entity Light Dweller is set to release its fifth offering, entitled The Subjugate. Inspired by a broad spectrum of dissonant and melodic influences, including Cosmic Putrefaction, Defacement, Mesarthim, Convulsing, Violet Cold, Mare Cognitum, and more, Light Dweller has forged a unique path through the darker, more obscure realms of metal, with The Subjugate spanning six tracks delving into themes of death, purgatory, and the cessation of time, presenting a cohesive journey through these concepts, all embraced by another ass-kicking artwork by Adam Burke of Nightjar Illustration.

Cameron begins his riff and growl attack in full force in Echoes from the Spectral Void, offering our avid ears four minutes of top-of-the-line Progressive Death Metal; whereas Cessation of Time sounds as demolishing and experimental as the opener, with Cameron’s deep guttural walking hand in hand with his intricate yet heavy-as-hell drumming. Then a sinister intro evolves into another darkened amalgamation of sounds in Fracturing Light, where Cameron lets his Progressive Metal vein pulse harder than ever, and with his demonic gnarling matching perfectly with the music; followed by the eight-minute title-track The Subjugate, where Cameron invests in a very diverse and progressive sound by bringing into being several breaks, variations, and experimental and sharp sounds, all combined in a harmonic yet visceral way. In the second to last song of the album, titled Phasing Through the Veil, our one-man band shows no mercy for our souls with his demented riff, bass and drum attack, with its phantasmagorical ending flowing into Adrift the Expanding Nothingness, another bestial tune overflowing insanity and heaviness where he fires his most experimental riffs of the entire album, smashing our minds and souls mercilessly during its hellish seven minutes.

With each release, Light Dweller has evolved, skillfully weaving dissonance with melody, and balancing intense aggression with haunting, introspective passages, culminating now in 2025 with the excellent The Subjugate, and of course pointing to an even more interesting path ahead for Cameron. You can get to know more about him, his music and other details by following Light Dweller on Facebook and on Instagram, and show him your utmost support by streaming his music on Spotify or any other streaming service, and of course by purchasing The Subjugate from the Avantgarde Music’s BandCamp or from Sound Cave. This is undoubtedly Cameron’s strongest opus to date, but I’m sure we’ll hear a lot more from him in the near future, and we’ll say the same about his upcoming albums, as Light Dweller is always evolving, always looking forward, and always ready to surprise us all with its unique sounds.

Best moments of the album: Echoes from the Spectral Void and The Subjugate.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Avantgarde Music/Unorthodox Emanations

Track listing
1. Echoes from the Spectral Void 4:29
2. Cessation of Time 5:20
3. Fracturing Light 4:45
4. The Subjugate 8:10
5. Phasing Through the Veil 4:38
6. Adrift the Expanding Nothingness 7:39

Band members
Cameron Boesch – vocals, all instruments

Album Review – Jinjer / Duél (2025)

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Ukraine’s own metal juggernauts return with their fifth full-length opus, taking on a much more aggressive tone, ferociously wielding a fully stocked arsenal of metal genre trademarks.

Donetsk, Ukraine’s own leading Alternative/Groove Metal/Djent juggernauts Jinjer return with their eagerly awaited fifth studio album, entitled Duél, the follow-up to their 2021 album Wallflowers, taking on a much more aggressive tone, ferociously wielding a fully stocked arsenal of Progressive, Nu, and Death Metal, among other metal genre trademarks. On their new album, the iconic frontwoman Tatiana Shmayluk, guitarist Roman Ibramkhalilov, bassist Eugene Abdukhanov, and drummer Vlad Ulasevich continue their long-lasting collaboration with accomplished producer Max Morton, who co-produced, mixed and mastered the album, living up to the band’s reputation as metal visionaries, once more showing that they refuse to follow any set rules in their genre, but choose their own path of creativity.

Two seconds is all that Jinjer need to kick us hard in the ass with their enraged metal music in the high-octane Tantrum, with the bass by Eugene making our heads tremble in awe; whereas Hedonist offers four minutes of classic Jinjer to our avid ears, with Tatiana delivering her striking clean vocals and harsh roars amidst a fusion of Groove Metal and Djent. Rogue, another strong contender for their live concerts, will generate some wild circle pits if played live while Eugene and Vlad keep hammering their instruments nonstop, and the Sludge Metal-infused riffs by Roman dictate the pace in Tumbleweed, while Tatiana declaims the song’s darkly poetic lyrics with tons of passion. Then we have Green Serpent, one of the previously released singles, a venomous fusion of Alternative Metal with Groove and Post-Metal nuances where Vlad pounds his drums mercilessly for our total delight.

Kafka is another groovy, intricate and progressive creation by the quartet, with Tatiana’s mesmerizing vocals being nicely supported by the classy kitchen blasted by Eugene and Vlad, followed by Dark Bile, one of the most aggressive songs of the album thanks to Tatiana’s enraged roars, while Roman and Eugene continue with their stringed axe attack. I love when the band goes full metal like in Fast Draw, offering an overdose of heaviness, harsh, deep and visceral screams and blast beats, while Roman extracts piercing, sharp riffs from his guitar, whereas Someone’s Daughter, the very first single released, was somewhat promising, but compared to the rest of the album it feels a bit generic. A Tongue So Sly is yet another song where the band put the pedal to the metal and delivered sheer violence, while still overflowing groove and intricacy; and the album ends with the fast-paced title-track Duél, perfect for some action inside the mosh pit to the hammering beats by Vlad while Tatiana vociferates the song’s cryptic words majestically.

Showcasing the very best of their multifaceted, extreme soundscapes, providing a gripping listening experience, Duél is filled with a fierce attitude and tons of emotion, inviting their fans for multiple listens as each track evolves on their own. Hence, don’t forget to check what the band is up to, including their tour dates, on Facebook and on Instagram, to stream their music on YouTube and on Spotify, and to grab a copy of Duél by clicking HERE or HERE. Because Jinjer are always challenging themselves for a “creative duel”, pushing their boundaries further and further and, consequently, bringing joy and energy to our hearts thanks to their ever-evolving, never dull or stale heavy music.

Best moments of the album: Tantrum, Rogue, Fast Draw and Duél.

Worst moments of the album: Someone’s Daughter.

Released in 2025 Napalm Records

Track listing
1. Tantrum 3:59
2. Hedonist 3:46
3. Rogue 3:12
4. Tumbleweed 3:22
5. Green Serpent 4:01
6. Kafka 4:09
7. Dark Bile 3:40
8. Fast Draw 3:14
9. Someone’s Daughter 4:17
10. A Tongue So Sly 4:25
11. Duél 4:48

Band members
Tatiana Shmayluk – vocals
Roman Ibramkhalilov – guitars
Eugene Abdukhanov – bass
Vlad Ulasevich – drums

Album Review – Mad Parish / The Dust of Forever (2025)

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Embark on a thrilling story through a tapestry of Heavy Metal, following the journey of Joe, an immortal protagonist caught in a universe-threatening cataclysm.

Known for their unique fusion of New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) styles with Progressive Rock and catchy singalong melodies, Montreal, Quebec-based Heavy Metal brigade Mad Parish has been a formidable force in the Canadian heavy music scene for over a decade, culminating now in 2025 with the release of their sophomore opus The Dust Of Forever, a concept album that marks a bold new chapter for the band. Recorded by vocalist and guitarist Josh McConnell, guitarist Bob Eaglesham, bassist Patrick Latreille, keyboardist Andre Bisson, and drummer Paskal Belanger, the album weaves an original story through a tapestry of Heavy Metal, following the journey of Joe, an immortal protagonist caught in a universe-threatening cataclysm, promising to transport listeners to another realm, with layered sounds and textures that reveal new aspects with each listen.

The futuristic intro Prophecy will transport you to the world created by Mad Parish in Defecther, starting in a very progressive manner to the classic riffs by Josh and Bob, while Josh also fires his Ozzy Osbourne-inspired vocals. Patrick, Andre and Paskal generate a whimsical atmosphere in Possess The Child, blending Progressive Rock and Metal in great fashion; followed by Outerest In Irisius, the first interlude of the album, as ethereal and mystical as the intro, working as the warmup to Ouen Formation, one of the most 70’s-inspired songs of all, in special its vocals, backing vocals and overall pace. Here we go with another interlude titled Hunted, revving up their engines for Astra T.R.A.Z (Tower Reformatory Asteroid Zone), where they take their progressiveness to a whole new level to the stylish riffs by Josh and Bob and the striking keys by Andre. Transmission #1 Dream On is a bit too happy for my taste, but it is what the band had in mind to prepare us for Resistius, blending NWOBHM with 70’s Progressive Rock, with Paskal sounding flawless behind his drums. We then face another interlude, this time titled Aeternal, followed by another classy creation named An Age To Quell, where Josh and Bob’s riffage sounds thrilling until the very end.

Transmission #2 – Will Of God, the second interlude in the form of a transmission, is a Jazz-ish one, setting the tone for Loched, a Rock N’ Roll extravaganza highly inspired by old school Progressive Rock with Josh’s vocals sounding beyond ethereal, not to mention Andre’s striking Deep Puple-ish keys. Cathedron Wakes takes off from where the previous song ended, with their riffs and solos adding an extra touch of finesse to the overall result; and the piano by Andre in the interlude Book of Rites will captivate your senses before we’re treated to Bishop’s Tomb, boosted by the classic drums by guest Gopal Devanathan, resulting in one of the most electrifying of all songs of the album. There are too many interludes to my taste, and Transmission #3 – Baz Raa Luum might be the weakest of all, but everything gets back on track in The Experience Hunter, where Bob not only plays the guitar, but he’s also responsible for all keyboards, bass and drums, which is truly impressive. There’s one more interlude to go, entitled Trajectory: Tantus, heightening our senses for The Dust Of Forever, a riff-driven tune with a galloping pace led by the drumming by guest Gopal Devanathan, flowing into the outro Hail To The Hunter, putting an atmospheric, cryptic conclusion to the story.

Fans can look forward to an immersive album experience later this year, complete with a companion comic book titled The Experience Hunter Chronicles (with story by Josh McConnell, artwork by Niall Skinner, editing by Rahl Stafford, and design by Maximus Rex) and plans for a visually stunning live show (with the band’s live lineup comprised of Josh McConnell on vocals, Bob Eaglesham and Aaron Carbray on the guitars, Andre Bisson on keyboards, Gino Laposta on bass, and Max Rex on drums) featuring costumes, set pieces, and special effects, recommended for those who enjoy Iron Maiden, Virgin Steele, and Camel. Hence, don’t forget to see what such a unique band of the Canadian scene is up to on Facebook and on Instagram, to stream their music on YouTube and on Spotify, and to purchase a copy of the album along with a limited edition comic book via BandCamp, letting the story of the immortal being from the comics penetrate deep inside your mind while you listen to the stylish music by one of the most innovative bands hailing from Montreal.

Best moments of the album: Possess The Child, Resistius, Loched and Bishop’s Tomb.

Worst moments of the album: Transmission #1 Dream On and Transmission #3 – Baz Raa Luum.

Released in 2025 Independent

Track listing
1. Prophecy 1:30
2. Defecther 4:32
3. Possess The Child 4:45
4. Outerest In Irisius 1:34
5. Ouen Formation 6:35
6. Hunted 1:51
7. Astra T.R.A.Z (Tower Reformatory Asteroid Zone) 4:42
8. Transmission #1 Dream On 1:40
9. Resistius 6:44
10. Aeternal 1:44
11. An Age To Quell 4:05
12. Transmission #2 – Will Of God 2:04
13. Loched 3:24
14. Cathedron Wakes 5:37
15. Book of Rites 1:06
16. Bishop’s Tomb 3:32
17. Transmission #3 – Baz Raa Luum 1:46
18. The Experience Hunter 5:04
19. Trajectory: Tantus 2:02
20. The Dust Of Forever 5:11
21. Hail To The Hunter 1:01

Band members
Josh McConnell – lead vocals, guitars, bass on “Transmission #1 Dream On”
Bob Eaglesham – guitars, backing vocals, keyboards, bass and drums on “The Experience Hunter”
Patrick Latreille – bass
Andre Bisson – keyboards, piano on “Book of Rites”
Paskal Belanger – drums

Guest musicians
Peter Mika – keyboard solo on “Resistius”
Gopal Devanathan – drums on “An Age To Quell”, “Bishop’s Tomb” and “The Dust Of Forever”
Tony Spina – drums on “Transmission #2 – Will Of God”
Jeff Louch – piano on “Transmission #2 – Will Of God”

The Year In Review – Top 10 Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Albums of 2024

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“Fans still compare me to Bruce Dickinson. I have people coming up to me and saying, Don’t you know that could’ve been you? And I tell them, That was me! I just didn’t want it..” – Paul Di’Anno

It’s hard to put into words the loss of our beloved Paul Andrews (17 May 1958 – 21 October 2024), better known by his stage name Paul Di’Anno, one of the most iconic musicians in the history of heavy music, helping Iron Maiden be what they’re today by giving that edgier vibe to the albums Iron Maiden and Killers, therefore influencing all future generations of musicians not only in Heavy Metal, but also in Punk Rock and Rock N’ Roll. He was a legend and will be sorely missed by anyone who loves good music. There’s not much we can do at The Headbanging Moose to honor his life and work, but we’ll keep celebrating heavy music in his name for as long as we can. I wish he could have played one final show in Toronto so Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I could have registered such a unique moment in the city, but unfortunately time is not always in our favor. Anyway, it might be a very sad year to the metal community worldwide with an irreplaceable loss like that, but heavy music lives on, and that’s why here we have once again The Headbanging Moose’s Top 10 Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Albums of 2024, excluding EP’s, best of’s and live albums, to keep the spirit alive and keep raising our horns to countless metal musicians like our great Paul Di’Anno.

1. Judas Priest – Invincible Shield (REVIEW)
Nothing can stand in the way of the Metal Gods as they raise the invincible shield of Heavy Metal.
Best song of the album: The Serpent and the King

2. Werewolves – Die For Us (REVIEW)
Australia’s most savage beast is back with their fifth studio opus, a lecture in Death Metal perfect for beating anyone back to life.
Best song of the album: Spittle-Flecked Rant

3. Aborted – Vault of Horrors (REVIEW)
These Death Metal and Deathcore beasts open their demonic vault of horrors to bring brutality, gore and evil to our damned souls.
Best song of the album: Death Cult

4. Necrowretch – Swords of Dajjal (REVIEW)
This French Blackened Death Metal horde returns blacker than ever with a magnificent opus dedicated to the Islamic Antichrist.
Best song of the album: Vae Victis

5. Gaerea – Coma (REVIEW)
The torchbearers of present-day Black Metal arise again, erupting with intensity, casting forth black ashes over the world.
Best song of the album: Coma

6. Blood Incantation – Absolute Elsewhere (REVIEW)
Blood Incantation offer us all two sensational compositions that are as confounding as they are engaging in their scope.
Best song of the album: The Stargate [Tablet I]

7. Benighted – Ekbom (REVIEW)
Let’s dive into the auditory abyss with this Brutal Death Metal and Grindcore entity armed with their newborn beast.
Best song of the album: Fame of the Grotesque

8. Fleshgod Apocalypse – Opera (REVIEW)
One of the torchbearers of Symphonic Death Metal worldwide returns with their strongest opus to date.
Best song of the album: I Can Never Die

9. Arhat – Secrets of Ancient Gods (REVIEW)
The newborn spawn by this Ukrainian horde will take you on a journey into the world of ancient gods and mysterious rituals.
Best song of the album: Abyss of Flame

10. Grand Magus – Sunraven (REVIEW)
Sweden’s own Heavy and Doom Metal institution is back with a new collection of battle hymns inspired by the tale of Beowulf and Grendel.
Best song of the album: Skybound

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

11. Ecclesia – Ecclesia Militans (REVIEW)
12. The Last of Lucy – Godform (REVIEW)
13. Rotting Christ – Προ Χριστού (Pro Xristou) (REVIEW)
14. Rage – Afterlifelines (REVIEW)
15. Ingested – The Tide of Death and Fractured Dreams (REVIEW)
16. Blaze Bayley – Circle of Stone (REVIEW)
17. Striker – Ultrapower (REVIEW)
18. Kerry King – From Hell I Rise (REVIEW)
19. Accept – Humanoid (REVIEW)
20. Hiraes – Dormant (REVIEW)

In addition, as I always like to say, sometimes a band doesn’t need to release a full album to kick some ass, and that’s why we also have our Top 10 EP’s of 2024 to show that sometimes less is more, or maybe I should say, less is heavier!

1. Rifftera – Coda (REVIEW)
2. Trollwar – Tales from the Frozen Wastes (REVIEW)
3. Atavistia – Inane Ducam (REVIEW)
4. Ways. – Are We Still Alive? (REVIEW)
5. Enforced – A Leap Into The Dark (REVIEW)
6. Gutvoid – Breathing Obelisk (REVIEW)
7. Onslaught Kommand – Visions of Blood and Gore (REVIEW)
8. Golgothan Remains – Bearer of Light, Matriarch of Death (REVIEW)
9. Infernalivm – Conquering the Most High (REVIEW)
10. Dragoncorpse – Fall of House Abbarath (REVIEW)

Do you agree with our list? What are your top 10 albums of 2024? Also, don’t forget to tune in every Tuesday at 10pm BRT on Rádio Coringão to enjoy the best of classic and underground metal with Jorge Diaz and his Timão Metal, and every Thursday at 8pm UTC+2 on Midnight Madness Metal e-Radio for the best of underground metal with The Headbanging Moose Show!

Metal Xmas and a Headbanging New Year! See you in 2025!

In the end, there’s no Christmas-inspired song this year, nor anything festive like that, but I’ll leave you with the official video for one of the most important songs ever recorded by Iron Maiden, one with a strong punk and thrash vibe, with the one and only Paul Di’Anno on vocals. Let’s raise our horns to him forever and ever, my fellow metalheads! RIP legend!

Album Review – Blood Incantation / Absolute Elsewhere (2024)

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At roughly 45 minutes, the new beast by Blood Incantation offers us all two sensational compositions that are as confounding as they are engaging in their scope.

At roughly 45 minutes, Absolute Elsewhere, the breathtaking, diverse new opus by Denver, Colorado-based Progressive Death Metal outfit Blood Incantation, is unlike anything you’ve ever heard before. Recorded at Hansa Studios, produced, engineered, mixed and mastered by Arthur Rizk at Redwood Studios, displaying a cryptic artwork by Steve R Dodd, and featuring guest musicians Thorsten Quaeschning (Tangerine Dream), Nicklas Malmqvist (Hällas) and Malte Gericke (Sijjin), the new album by Paul Riedl, Morris Kolontyrsky, Jeff Barrett and Isaac Faulk offers us all two compositions that are as confounding as they are engaging in their scope, melding the 70’s prog leanings of Tangerine Dream with the deathly intent of Morbid Angel.

In “The Stargate”, a violent storm invokes the familiar before a grand cosmic key turns for a hint of sweeping scope to come with spiritual acknowledgement and accompaniment, as their wicked experimentations mixed with the harshness of Death Metal begin in full force in The Stargate [Tablet I], showcasing mystic lyrics roared by Paul (“Chamber echoing with dust / Drifting through beams of Light / Shadows cast upon the stones / Temple doors reveal the Night”) while his bandmates craft a beyond imposing ambience. Not only that, the balance between their undisputed aggression and the ethereal, soothing moments of the song is a thing of beauty, connecting flawlessly with The Stargate [Tablet II], starting in a futuristic, whimsical manner to the sound of their keyboards and synths, and flowing smoothly until an explosion of experimentations in its final part. And that aura of madness continues in The Stargate [Tablet III], with the cryptic vocals by Paul walking hand in hand with the superb guitar work dome by the same Paul alongside Morris and Isaac, not to mention the eerie narrations by guest Malte Gerick.

“The Message” is a step through doorways of unearthly beauty, playfulness, quirk and horror, and it’s indeed a visceral Progressive Death Metal attack that we get in The Message [Tablet I], with its enigmatic, pensive lyrics (“What does it mean to be human? / And the nature of Consciousness? / The mystery has been revealed… / By the dance of Nature’s quiet songs of the birds…”) also complementing their complex, thrilling and enfolding sounds. Then just like what happened in The Stargate, the second act of The Message, entitled The Message [Tablet II], also kicks off in a more experimental way but quickly evolves into a Progressive Metal hurricane, alternating between more primeval, savage moments and soothing, atmospheric passages. Lastly, the band offers the multi-layered, detailed and otherworldly The Message [Tablet III] as the icing on the cake in their new album, with Isaac sounding sensational on drums while his bandmates continue to deliver intricacy and energy through their vocals, riffs and bass lines, ending in a climatic yet mysterious way just the way we like it in the music by Blood Incantation.

Blood Incantation’s new album Absolute Elsewhere is the sound of a star born, and you should definitely listen to that beautiful sound in its entirety on YouTube and on Spotify, as it will undoubtedly feature among the best albums of 2024 in pretty much all lists out there. Hence, don’t forget to also check what the band is up to on Facebook and on Instagram, especially because there’s an upcoming North American tour that’s just about to start, to subscribe to their YouTube channel, and to purchase the mesmerizing Absolute Elsewhere by clicking HERE or HERE, as you witness the defining of a new musical epoch for one of the most important bands of the current extreme music scene worldwide.

Best moments of the album: The Stargate [Tablet I], The Message [Tablet I] and The Message [Tablet III].

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Century Media Records

Track listing
1. The Stargate [Tablet I] 8:20
2. The Stargate [Tablet II] 5:08
3. The Stargate [Tablet III] 6:50
4. The Message [Tablet I] 5:56
5. The Message [Tablet II] 5:58
6. The Message [Tablet III] 11:27

Band members
Paul Riedl – vocals, guitars, mellotron, additional synthesizers
Morris Kolontyrsky – guitars, additional synthesizers
Jeff Barrett – bass, additional synthesizers
Isaac Faulk – drums, gong, additional guitars, mellotron, percussion

Guest musicians
Thorsten Quaeschning – synthesizers and organs on “The Stargate [Tablet II]”
Nicklas Malmqvist – piano, synthesizers, mellotron, organ
Malte Gericke – vocals and narration on “The Stargate [Tablet III]”, “The Message [Tablet I]” and “The Message [Tablet II]”

Album Review – Unwanted Guest / Bonedead (2024)

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Guitarist Dave Fox and his Unwanted Guest return with another round of first-class rock and metal music, a true labour of love reflecting his personal and musical journey thus far.

The multi-talented Sheffield, England-based Dave Fox, lead guitarist of UK’s own Heavy Metal band Seventh Son, has recently re-emerged from the old school metal scene with a fresh take on 90’s Hard Rock, Progressive and Alternative Metal under the moniker Unwanted Guest, releasing in 2022 his critically acclaimed debut solo album Grave Metallum, which climbed to number 10 on the Amazon New Release Metal Charts. Following his successful debut, Dave has devoted nearly two years and 1,000 hours to writing, recording, and producing 12 new tracks for the second Unwanted Guest album, entitled Bonedead, a true labour of love reflecting his personal and musical journey thus far. On his new album, Dave once again performs all vocals and instrumental duties, showcasing his versatility as a seasoned rock guitarist and producer, giving the whole album a very personal and honest vibe.

Bonedead begins with Mary Had a Little Lamb, which according to Dave himself “is a very personal song lyrically and discusses the degeneration of elder family members. For some people, death is more preferable than being kept alive and suffering.” Musically speaking, it’s an exciting rockin’ tune where Dave slashes his guitar mercilessly while delivering melodious vocal lines, followed by Six Degrees of Saturation, exploring the concept of an abandoned playlist, sat on someone’s device, that may contain a masterpiece that no one will ever hear. “It is destined to remain digital dust, even more so when millions of bands are uploading song after song each day – most of which fall by the wayside – hardly ever being heard. What chance do these small artists ever have?”, said Dave, delivering another blast of modern-day Hard Rock showcasing classic riffs, bass lines and pounding drums. Then eerie background sounds add a welcome dose of insanity to The Alchemist, sounding like a Rock N’ Roll version of Deep Purple; and Dave enhances the heaviness of his riffs in Dead End, blasting a great fusion of Alternative Rock and Metal with classic Hard Rock in the vein of Velvet Revolver. It’s then time for Dave to invest in a more melodic vibe in the ballad Beneath the Broken Shell, with hints of Southern Rock in its riffs and beats; whereas Imposter Syndrome, a behavioral health phenomenon described as self-doubt of intellect, skills, or accomplishments among high-achieving individuals, offers tons of groove flowing from the bass guitar while all riffs and keys bring endless electricity to the music.

The second half of the album starts in a Velvet Revolver/Alter Bridge vibe with I’m Just a Guy, where Dave showcases all his passion for the riff while his vocals also sound as striking and melodic as they can be, followed by Show Yourself, another banger by Dave and his Unwanted Guest perfect for hitting the highway or simply enjoy it at home while having a cold beer, with the whole song exhaling pure Rock N’ Roll, in special Dave’s stylish riffs. He definitely knows how to blend classic rock music with the modern sound of the 90’s and 2000’s, which is exactly what we’ll get in Kindred State of Mind, flowing into the also rockin’ tune Future Skeleton, where he fires his classic riffs and beats from start to finish. It’s not amongst the strongest songs of the album, but it’s still very enjoyable, of course. His guitar lines sound heavier and more piercing in Funeral in My Brain, again nicely complementing his bass and drums, therefore supporting his vocal lines in great fashion; and lastly, it’s pedal to the metal in the flammable extravaganza titled Wrap Me Up, a striking conclusion to an album that reeks of our beloved Rock N’ Roll.

Bonedead can be appreciated in its entirety on Spotify, and you can also grab a copy of it from the project’s own BandCamp page, keeping Mr. Dave Fox very happy and motivated to continue his rockin’ journey and to bring to our avid ears more of his classy creations. You can also start following him on Facebook for news and other nice-to-know information about his Unwanted Guest, and also subscribe to his YouTube channel for more of his music. Both his debut Grave Metallum and his newborn spawn Bonedead are excellent albums that certainly deserve a listen by anyone who loves rock and metal music, and as mentioned, the more personal the albums by Dave and his Unwanted Guest sound and feel, the more thrilling his musical creations will be for all of us, proving again there’s nothing better than rock and metal music that is true to the heart as the soundtrack to our lives.

Best moments of the album: Six Degrees of Saturation, Imposter Syndrome and Show Yourself.

Worst moments of the album: Future Skeleton.

Released in 2024 Independent

Track listing
1. Mary Had a Little Lamb 4:09
2. Six Degrees of Saturation 3:58
3. The Alchemist 3:53
4. Dead End 4:52
5. Beneath the Broken Shell 3:34
6. Imposter Syndrome 3:37
7. I’m Just a Guy 3:57
8. Show Yourself 4:05
9. Kindred State of Mind 3:29
10. Future Skeleton 3:23
11. Funeral in My Brain 3:26
12. Wrap Me Up 2:48

Band members
Dave Fox – vocals, all instruments

Concert Review – Nervosa (Hard Luck Bar, Toronto, ON, 10/10/2024)

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Five excellent bands of the current Thrash and Death Metal scene led by the all-female beast Nervosa brought the Great American Jailbreak to Toronto on a night of pure underground madness.

OPENING ACTS: Prospects, Duskwalker, Hatriot and Lich King

Just one day after the incredible Sepultura concert in Toronto, it was time to head back into the battlefield (aka circle pit) for THE GREAT AMERICAN JAILBREAK TOUR 2024 with NERVOSA, LICH KING, HATRIOT, DUSKWALKER and PROSPECTS, who despite having the fierce “competition” of Skeletal Remains and Bewitcher at the exact same date and time at The Rockpile, put on an amazing show to a small but unstoppable crowd at Hard Luck Bar. In addition, all those shows happening at the same time in the city forced Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I to divide and conquer, but while he was covering the show at The Rockpile I fortunately had the support of the amazing metal photographer Afrida Nawar, which is why you’re seeing some classy photos of the night instead of my terrible mobile ones. Once again due to work commitments I missed the show by Toronto’s own Progressive Metal band PROSPECTS, and again I have no idea which songs they played, but if you’re curious about their music you can find them on Spotify and on BandCamp. Spoiler alert, they’re awesome.

Band members
Robert Medeiros – vocals, guitar, keyboards
Jerry Zhang – guitar
Matthew Lothian – bass
Anthony Zicari – drums

As mentioned, the venue wasn’t even half full when Niagara Falls-based Thrash/Death Metal act DUSKWALKER kicked off their frantic, heavy-as-hell and devilish show, with their frontman Joey Scaringi roaring nonstop and with a lot of passion as if he was playing in front of a sold out arena with 20,000 fans watching him. Well, those guys simply love the underground from the bottom of their hearts, which is more than explicit in their new album Underground Forever (available in full on Spotify), and that energy translated into a small but most excellent mosh pit during their entire set. The title-track for their new album, Underground Forever, sounded amazing live, with the band demanding us all to raise our fists and horns in the name of our beloved underground scene. Duskwalker are a killer crew, and I can’t wait to see what they can do in front of a bigger audience, opening for a band like Exodus or Death Angel, for example.

Setlist
Crippled at the Core
Shadowcreeper
The Loss
You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’
Vanquisher
Underground Forever
The Crawling Tongue

Band members
Joey Scaringi – vocals
John Robinson – guitars
John Neadow – bass
Cale Costello – drums

Speaking of Exodus, the third band of the night was formed of brothers Cody and Nick Souza, sons of the legendary Exodus frontman Steve “Zetro” Souza, plus Kosta V. and Miguel Esparza on the guitars, collectively known as California’s Melodic Death/Thrash Metal beast HATRIOT, and holy shit, what an amazing performance by one of the most hardworking bands of the current American scene. Playing basically songs form their 2022 album The Vale of Shadows (available on Spotify), with Horns & Halos, Clemency Denied and Hymn for the Wicked sounding absolutely demented, plus the excellent new song Forest of Illusion, the entire band sounded ruthless on stage, with Cody not only blasting inhumane screams (like an even more demonic version of his amazing father), but also showing how much the entire band loves the underground, just like Duskwalker, thanking us all for another unforgettable night in Canada for them. Those boys are an incredible live act, and if you have a chance to see them live don’t think twice and simply go for it, getting ready for an intense night of mosh pits, blast beats and crazy screams.

Setlist
Horns & Halos
Delete
Forest of Illusion
Clemency Denied
Ethereal Nightmare
Hymn for the Wicked

Band members
Cody Souza – vocals, bass
Kosta V. – guitars
Miguel Esparza – guitars
Nick Souza – drums

Another quick break and it was time for Amherst, Massachusetts-based Thrash Metal/Crossover brigade LICH KING to show us all why they’re considered one of the precious gems of the underground scene, a cult band that always delivers an endless amount of adrenaline on stage for the lovers of our gold old Thrash Metal. In 2015, original vocalist Tom Martin stopped performing with the band, remaining a “shadowy puppetmaster”, writing the band’s material and running things; in addition, their last official release dates way back to 2017, the excellent The Omniclasm (available on both Spotify and BandCamp), which means there’s nothing new from those guys since then. Do you think that means their show was weak or lame? Quite the contrary, it was total anarchy led by their unstoppable frontman Zach Smith, and the band also had the support of Cody Souza of Hatriot on bass as their bassist Mike Dreher could not join the band here in Toronto. Everyone at the pub simply loved each and every second of their show, leaving us all eager for more Lich King in the near future, and more than pumped for the main attraction of the night.

Setlist
All Hail
Attack of the Wrath of the War of the Death of the Strike of the Sword of the Blood of the Beast
In the End, Devastation
Lich King V: Stalemate
Crossover Songs Are Too Damn Short
Waste
Combat Mosh
We Came to Conquer

Band members
Zach Smith – vocals
Nick Timney – lead guitars
Joe Nickerson – rhythm guitars
Cody Souza – bass
Brian Westbrook – drums

NERVOSA

A lot has changed for the beyond talented and hardworking Prika Amaral and her Thrash/Death Metal creature NERVOSA since the last time they played in Toronto opening for Destruction in 2022. Now with a completely different lineup, including Prika being now responsible not only for the guitars, but also for the vocal duties, the now half-Brazilian, half-Greek band formed of Prika alongside Helena Kotina on the guitars, Hel Pyre on bass and Gabriela Abud on drums sounds even more infuriate than before, which can easily be seen in their 2023 album Jailbreak, available on Spotify and on BandCamp. As a matter of fact, due to personal reasons, Hel Pyre could not join the band on this North American tour, being replaced (at least in Toronto) by the beautiful Natalie Nova, vocalist for Los Angeles, California-based Heavy/Groove Metal band Beyond the Roots, who by the way spent pretty much the entire time the opening bands were playing together with fans at the floor section, dancing, headbanging and enjoying some good underground heavy music nonstop.

And Prika, Helena, Natalie and Gabriela simply destroyed on stage, sounding amazing from the first notes of Seed of Death until the very last seconds of Endless Ambition. There were mosh pits, horns being raised everywhere, fans screaming the lyrics together with the band, and so on, with things getting even more serious during true bangers like Death!, Kill the Silence, Kill or Die, and my two favorite songs of the night, Jailbreak and Guided by Evil. Prika promised the band will return to Toronto sooner than later, and I really hope next time they get a much bigger crowd because they definitely deserve it. After their electrifying show was over, I had the pleasure of briefly chatting with Prika, who was very humble and thanked me (an everyone else) for attending the show and supporting Nervosa. To be fair, I was the one who wanted to thank her and the girls for such an awesome night, and despite being tired for back to back shows with amazing bands the likes of Obituary and Sepultura on one night and Nervosa on the next, a good dosage of Death and Thrash Metal like what the girls provided us with this Thursday night is exactly what we all needed to regain our strength and keep headbanging nonstop in the name of live music.

Setlist
Seed of Death
Behind the Wall
Death!
Nail the Coffin
Kill the Silence
Perpetual Chaos
Venomous
Ungrateful
Masked Betrayer
Under Ruins
Kill or Die
Jailbreak
Guided by Evil
Endless Ambition

Band members
Prika Amaral – vocals, guitars
Helena Kotina – guitars
Natalie Nova – bass
Gabriela Abud – drums

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Album Review – Oceans of Slumber / Where Gods Fear to Speak (2024)

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One of the must-see names of the Progressive Rock and Metal scene returns with their sixth full-length album, sounding like a dystopian western or a post-apocalyptic survival movie.

More than a decade has passed since the release of Aetherial, the debut album by Houston, Texas-based Progressive Metal/Rock band Oceans Of Slumber, and a lot has changed since then for this “Dark Cinematic Metal” outfit. After recruiting Cammie Gilbert (now Gilbert-Beverly) in 2014, the crew’s trajectory took a natural, upward tilt, fueled by the hugely positive response received by second album, Winter, released in 2016. Monuments to a restless creative spirit, the band’s third, fourth and fifth albums, The Banished Heart (2018), Oceans Of Slumber (2020) and Starlight and Ash (2022), raised the stakes ever higher. Recorded at Estudios Audiovision, produced, mixed and engineered by Joel Hamilton at Studio G, mastered by Maor Appelbaum at Maor Appelbaum Mastering, and displaying a classy artwork by Giannis Nakos of Remedy Art Design, their sixth full-length opus, titled Where Gods Fear to Speak, sees the band exploring new heights, therefore sounding even tighter and more compelling than before, proving why vocalist Cammie Beverly, guitarists Alex Davis and Chris Kritikos, bassist Semir Ozerkan and drummer Dobber Beverly have become a reference in the style.

The album kicks off with the darkly embracing title-track Where Gods Fear to Speak, where the heaviness in the guitars by Alex and Chris make a stunning paradox with the powerful vocals by Cammie, blending Progressive and Groove Metal with the obscurity and heaviness of Doom Metal, followed by Run From the Light, featuring guest vocals by the one and only Mikael Stanne of Swedish melodeath legends Dark Tranquillity, another avalanche of intricate guitar lines, harsh and clean vocals, and the always groovy beats by Dobber, sounding like several songs in one. Then a smooth intro boosted by minimalist background synths evolves into a beautiful ballad titled Don’t Come Back From Hell Empty Handed, where Cammie obviously steal the spotlight with a phenomenal vocal performance, whereas Wish is another solid tune by the band showcasing the always massive beats by Dobbie supported by the classic bass lines by Semir. And Cammie will steal your heart in the captivating tune Poem of Ecstasy, presenting the band’s trademark hybrid of Progressive Rock and Metal in a beyond thrilling way.

The Given Dream presents hints of R&B added to the band’s core rock essence, feeling very delicate yet profound and somber, with once again all background elements sounding beautifully haunting; while I Will Break the Pride of Your Will is even more experimental and progressive than its predecessors, with Alex and Chris taking the lead with their stylish riffs. In Prayer we face the dark and evil harsh roars by the iconic frontman Fernando Ribeiro of Moonspell clashing in great fashion with Cammie’s embracing, delicate vocals, with all acoustic elements making the song even more detailed and complete, followed by The Impermanence of Fate, showcasing another jaw-dropping vocal performance by Cammie to the classy sound of the piano by Dobber, who also hammers his drums, exploding into sheer savagery while sounding like classic Death Metal in a multi-layered and bold aria of heavy music. And lastly, we have their stunning rendition of Wicked Game, originally recorded by Chris Isaak in the 1989 album Heart Shaped World (check the original version HERE), a more than gorgeous icing on the cake to close the album on a perfect note.

“This album is a dystopian western or a post-apocalyptic survival movie, somewhere between The Handmaid’s Tale, The Dark Tower and Cormac McCarthy,” states Dobber. “The whole idea is that Where The Gods Fear To Speak is a movie, and we’ve written the soundtrack. If the world was taken over, like in movie The Book Of Eli, and Gary Oldman had found the Bible and the true power of it, and he was wielding the power of the lord over everybody, those people that were maybe just into their traditional spiritualism or people that were not religious at all, they would be the defectors, so the record is written from the viewpoint of the defectors. The ending credits are our version of ‘Wicked Game’ by Chris Isaak. We wanted to take it back to when the music in movies set the tone for everything.” Hence, if you want to join Oceans of Slumber in this thrilling cinematic ride, you can follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram, subscribe to their YouTube channel, listen to all of their beautiful albums on Spotify, and of course purchase their new album by clicking HERE or HERE. Where Gods Fear To Speak proves that Oceans Of Slumber will not let the occasional setback put them off their creative stride, and I personally can’t wait to see what’s next to one of the must-see names of the progressive scene worldwide.

Best moments of the album: Where Gods Fear to Speak, Poem of Ecstasy, The Impermanence of Fate and of course Wicked Game.

Worst moments of the album: I Will Break the Pride of Your Will.

Released in 2024 Season of Mist

Track listing
1. Where Gods Fear to Speak 6:25
2. Run From the Light 5:15
3. Don’t Come Back From Hell Empty Handed 8:28
4. Wish 3:53
5. Poem of Ecstasy 6:33
6. The Given Dream 3:36
7. I Will Break the Pride of Your Will 5:27
8. Prayer 5:03
9. The Impermanence of Fate 6:20
10. Wicked Game (Chris Isaak cover) 5:26

Band members
Cammie Beverly – vocals
Alex Davis – guitars
Chris Kritikos – guitars, synths
Semir Ozerkan – bass
Dobber Beverly – drums, piano

Guest musicians
Mikael Stanne – vocals on “Run From The Light”
Fernando Ribeiro – vocals on “Prayer”