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The Year In Review – Top 10 Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Albums of 2025

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“Who the fuck is Justin Bieber?” – Ozzy Osbourne

There’s not much to celebrate in rock and metal music in the same year when we lost the one and only John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne. Nothing will ever be the same without the Prince of Darkness, the Madman, The Wizard of Ozz. There isn’t a single artist or band reviewed in the history of The Headbanging Moose that wasn’t influenced in several ways by Ozzy and, of course, by Black Sabbath. It is a very sad year indeed. However, Ozzy was always in a great mood, always happy, and I’m sure that, wherever he is now, he wants to see us all smiling and laughing, because that’s what life is all about. He also wants us to keep attending rock and metal concerts to have a good time with our loved ones, with our closest friends, just like Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I did so many times this year, covering incredible bands the likes of Blackbraid, Ne Obliviscaris, Cattle Decapitation, Blind Guardian, and so on. I’ve also had the utmost pleasure of seeing the mighty Judas Priest in Dalhalla, Sweden, a dream come true for this fanboy here, and I can’t wait to “run for my life” in 2026. Having said all that, let’s honor the life of Ozzy with The Headbanging Moose’s Top 10 Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Albums of 2025, excluding EP’s, best of’s and live albums, and keep on rockin’ like the Madman until our very last breath!

1. Blackbraid – Blackbraid III (REVIEW)
Behold the stunning next chapter in the musical and spiritual journey of the witch hawk of Black Metal hailing from the Adirondack Mountains.
Best song of the album: Wardrums At Dawn On The Day Of My Death

2. Werewolves – The Ugliest of All (REVIEW)
The torchbearers of “Caveman Death Metal” continuing to annihilate intellects with an unlistenable barrage of truly hideous music.
Best song of the album: The Ugliest of All

3. Testament – Para Bellum (REVIEW)
Let’s prepare for war to the sound of the breathtaking fourteenth studio album by California’s own masters of old school Thrash Metal.
Best song of the album: Para Bellum

4. Helloween – Giants & Monsters (REVIEW)
These German giants of Heavy Metal and monsters of Rock N’ Roll are back with their ass-kicking seventeenth studio album.
Best song of the album: Majestic

5. An Abstract Illusion – The Sleeping City (REVIEW)
This incredible Swedish Progressive Death and Black Metal entity returns with their heaviest and most atmospheric work to date.
Best song of the album: Like a Geyser Ever Erupting

6. Allegaeon – The Ossuary Lens (REVIEW)
World domination awaits to the sound of the striking new beast by one of the must-see bands of the current tech death scene worldwide.
Best song of the album: The Swarm

7. 1914 – Viribus Unitis (REVIEW)
Trench warfare meets blackened death and doom in 1914’s fourth onslaught of war-torn fury.
Best song of the album: 1918 Pt 3: ADE (A Duty to Escape)

8. Cryptopsy – An Insatiable Violence (REVIEW)
Canada’s own Death Metal machine returns with their ruthless ninth studio album.
Best song of the album: Until There’s Nothing Left

9. Baest – Colossal (REVIEW)
Back from the fires of Denmark, this unstoppable creature will crush you with their fourth studio album.
Best song of the album: Colossus

10. Diabolizer – Murderous Revelations (REVIEW)
The torchbearers of diabolical abomination unite once again to drag us down into the fiery abysses of Turkish Death Metal without warning.
Best song of the album: Deathmarch of the Murderous Tyrant

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

11. Lorna Shore – I Feel The Everblack Festering Within Me (REVIEW)
12. Impureza – Alcázares (REVIEW)
13. Crimson Shadows – Whispers of War (REVIEW)
14. Primal Fear – Domination (REVIEW)
15. Serenity In Murder – Timeless Reverie (REVIEW)
16. Khôra – Ananke (REVIEW)
17. Panzerchrist – Maleficium – Part 2 (REVIEW)
18. Ominous Ruin – Requiem (REVIEW)
19. Wrath of Belial – Embers of Dead Empires (REVIEW)
20. Grima – Nightside (REVIEW)

Not only that, here’s once again our Top 10 EP’s of 2025, proving once and for all that the duration of an album is not that important in the end. As long as the music is great, the whole thing can be only one second long, like the classic “You Suffer” by Napalm Death!

1. When Plagues Collide – Kingmaker (REVIEW)
2. De Profundis – The Gospel Of Rot (REVIEW)
3. Fimbul Winter – What Once Was (REVIEW)
4. NecroticGoreBeast – Brute (REVIEW)
5. Serpent Corpse – Retaliate (REVIEW)
6. Akouphenom – Connections To The Erebus (REVIEW)
7. Necht – The Inevitable Suffering (REVIEW)
8. Discovery Through Torment – Telesynthetic Rebirth (REVIEW)
9. Der Rote Milan – Verlust (REVIEW)
10. Eleine – We Stand United (REVIEW)

Do you agree with our list? What are your top 10 albums of 2025? 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 2026!

And of course, as we really don’t like those boring Christmas songs here on The Headbanging Moose, we’ll leave you with what’s perhaps the most emotional and strongest metal hymn of the year, the charity version of “War Pigs”, by Black Sabbath, recorded by Judas Priest and with Ozzy himself sharing the vocal duties with the Metal God Rob Halford! This is the epitome of rock and metal music!

Generals gathered in their masses
Just like witches at black masses…

Concert Review – CallHome Music Festival 2025 (Lion’s Gate Park, Brantford, ON, 07/18/2025 & 07/19/2025)

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***Review by Kevin Ibbitson and photos by Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi***

This past weekend the CallHome Music Festival (formerly known as Crewfest) invited my Brother Keith “The Metal Paparazzi” back to cover this summer’s festival and he brought me to tag along with him this time. The festival was located at Lion’s Gate Park in Brantford, Ontario on July 18 &19, 2025 and consisted of one main stage and one side stage replete with plenty of vendors selling a variety of curiosities, wares, merch and plenty of food options, as well as wrestling brought to us by Brantford Wrestling which I found to be incredibly entertaining. The weather was absolutely perfect that weekend. The event organizers were extremely accommodating to us and we felt welcomed with open arms. All volunteers were awesome as well as the security team and local law enforcement. Everything blended together for a great family-friendly event experience, especially on the first day as it was open to all ages.

Toronto Rapper K-Os kicked off the festival on the main stage and rocked a set complete with a number of his best hits. Every band played solid throughout both days, especially all side stage acts (Barstool Confessions, Harm & Ease for example). Friday saw acts such as K-Os, Bedouin Soundclash, USS, and Walk Off The Earth. All of whom had memorable sets including a band member surfing the crowd. I would have to say that nobody went home disappointed on the first day.

JJ Wilde @ CallHome Music Festival 2025

The second day was 19 and up and had a slightly different feel as many more folks were inebriated and having a great time. Barstool Confessions opened up the day on the side stage and played great and even covered some Tragically Hip hits. On the main stage The Wild High put on a fantastic set covering CCR to start with and easing into their own catalogue and even some Monster Truck hits as this band consists of the remnants of Monster Truck. Rusty was on stage next and put on a memorable show playing their best stuff and let’s just say I’m still humming their songs days after the festival. Harm & Ease delighted on the side stage even though they were missing a guitarist. The lead singer brought a lot of energy and was the focal point of the set. They were very entertaining.

The Glorious Sons @ CallHome Music Festival 2025

JJ Wilde was electric on the main stage and rocked us for what seemed like an hour and a half. I met her backstage after the show and complemented her on such a great show and she was so appreciative about that. She was humble to say the least. Pop Evil was the heaviest group on the whole festival as they are a blend of pop and metal and they kicked ass pretty good. Pop Evil put on an hour and a half-ish long set and had the crowd excited throughout their set. The Glorious Sons came on to close the festival and they were pretty damn good and it was abundantly clear that they were the band that most people were there to see. This was my first time seeing all of these bands and I enjoyed all of them even though I listen to music with more of an edge, this was a good change of pace for me and I would happily recommend the CallHome Music Festival to anyone that enjoys great music and a welcoming family orientated vibe. Thank you to all of the organizers, in special to Jamie Stephens who invited Keith and I, we had a great time.

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Concert Review – Judas Priest (Dalhalla, Rättvik, Sweden, 07/10/2025)

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Thousands of metalmaniacs heeded the call of the Metal Gods to join them at the Gates of Dalhalla for a perfect night of pure Heavy Metal.

INTRO: At the Gates of Dalhalla

I think before starting the review of the actual concert, we should first talk a little about the venue. By the way, it’s my new favorite venue in the entire world, and I doubt any other place I see a concert in my life will be so beautiful and mesmerizing. Dalhalla or Draggängarna as it was previously called, is the name of a former limestone quarry where mining ceased in 1990, used nowadays as an open air theatre and music venue during the summer. It is located 7km north of Lake Siljan in the municipality of Rättvik in Dalarna, central Sweden. 360 million years ago, a meteor fell from space. It fell over Dalarna and the result was the Siljansringen and the surrounding Siljansbygden. The entire bedrock of the area was affected and formed an exciting composition of colorful vertical stripes that are different soil and rock layers, from which lime has become easy to access.

For about fifty years, they blasted and excavated what has now become the basis for Dalhalla, an acoustically designed arena with dimensions that form a kind of ideal golden ratio, albeit in three dimensions. A stroke of luck, which means that Dalhalla can be compared to famous stages in ancient Greece and Italy. In other words, it was the PERFECT venue for JUDAS PRIEST, with support from PHIL CAMPBELL AND THE BASTARD SONS, to stun us all with their undisputed Shield of Pain Tour 2025. And as soon as we got inside such a phenomenal venue, we were impressed with the entire structure, with not only the stage, the pit and the seats looking awesome, but the whole food and merch court was excellent, with plenty of options for all types of people, lots of spots to sit, and extra space for friends to chat about music and life. I obviously got myself a tour shirt and a set of patches, as I had to register that day not only in my memory, but also in my own fashion.

OPENING ACT: Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons

A Welsh rock band established in 2016 by longtime Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell, following the 2015 death of Motörhead iconic frontman Lemmy, PHIL CAMPBELL AND THE BASTARD SONS had the utmost pleasure of warming up the wild Dalhalla crowd on a perfect night, or maybe I should say day, as this time of the year it doesn’t really get dark in Sweden, with a lot of sun, blue skies, no clouds, rain or strong winds, and temperatures around +25oC. Seriously, the weather couldn’t have been better. I have mixed feelings about Phil Campbell and his crew, as sometimes they sound like a badass ensemble, sometimes like a college band with that “crazy drunk uncle” we all know on the guitar. Their setlist was fine, mixing songs form their 2023 album Kings of the Asylum with some Motörhead classics such as Going to Brazil and Born to Raise Hell, the two best songs of their entire show by the way, but there was something “missing” to give it that extra kick. I’m not going to say that extra ingredient would have been Lemmy because that would be daydreaming, but I think you know what I mean. In the end, it was a decent opening act for the Metal Gods, and they all seem to be very nice guys, so it was a good show for what it is.

Setlist
We’re the Bastards
Step Into the Fire
Going to Brazil (Motörhead cover)
Hammer and Dance
High Rule
Born to Raise Hell (Motörhead cover)
Straight Up (Phil Campbell song)
Dark Days
Ace of Spades (Motörhead cover)
Strike the Match

Band members
Joel Peters – lead vocals
Phil Campbell – guitar
Todd Campbell – guitar, harmonica
Tyla Campbell – bass
Dane Campbell – drums

JUDAS PRIEST

Faster than a bullet. Terrifying scream. Enraged and full of anger. They’re half man, half machine, and one hundred percent Metal Gods. Just like the meteor that fell from space hundreds of millions of years ago to form the stunning Dalhalla, the almighty Heavy Metal institution JUDAS PRIEST began ripping out hearts mercilessly with their flawless celebration of pure metal magic. The Hell Patrol showed no mercy for our metallic souls, blending some of their biggest classics like You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’ and Breaking the Law with new songs from their 2024 beast Invincible Shield, and of course almost all songs from the most metal album in history, the unparalleled 1990 masterpiece Painkiller. I can’t remember a setlist by the Metal Gods that sounded so powerful, electrifying and heavy, an ode to all things metal that inspired everyone at Dalhalla to keep their horns high throughout their entire set, headbanging and screaming like crazy until the very last second.

Speaking of the crowd, I couldn’t have asked for a better one that night. The Swedish metalheads proved you don’t need to push anyone for a concert to be absolutely wild, showing nothing but utmost respect for each other, and leaving enough space for each and every person in the floor section to breathe and actually enjoy the concert to the fullest. Kudos to the Swedes! Furthermore, when the speakers started playing Black Sabbath’s all-time classic War Pigs, and pretty much the entire venue began singing it at the top of their lungs, I knew the whole concert was going to be phenomenal, and as soon as the band took the stage by storm with the hard-hitting anthem All Guns Blazing, followed by the metal hymn Hell Patrol, the whole area turned into the most metal place on earth.

I love the way Rob Halford, Richie Faulkner, Andy Sneap, Ian Hill and Scott Travis managed to bring so much stamina, passion and energy to their setlist, going from a total banger like Freewheel Burning to the dark venom of A Touch of Evil, keeping all fans engaged from start to finish. The new songs selected for this tour also brought endless joy to my metal heart, with Gates of Hell putting everyone to dance, the fast and furious The Serpent and the King (which is my favorite song from Invincible Shield) exhaling the essence of pure Heavy Metal, and Giants in the Sky being the most emotional moment of the entire show with its homage to our fallen heroes. The fact Halford added Jill Janus to such a stellar group of rock and metal icons almost made me cry, and if you know nothing about her I highly recommend you go after her music. Halford loved her, her voice and her creations, just to give you an idea of how metal she was.

I was already on cloud 9 at that point, but when Mr. Scott Travis began hammering his drums in the iconic intro to Painkiller (which would certainly be my chosen song to be added to a time capsule to show all future generations the meaning of Heavy Metal), it was a collective metallic orgasm as everyone started screaming its lyrics together with the Metal Gods. I don’t remember seeing such a demented reception to that song ever before, as if it was the musical climax in the life of everyone at Dalhalla. I don’t think there’s a song by Judas Priest that the Swedish fans love more than that, and when the band is onstage playing it to perfection, you know you’re in for a treat.

Once again, I had some hope in my heart that Mr. Glenn Tipton would join them onstage for the encore, in special after they skipped Metal Gods (which was a part of their setlist, and a song Mr. Tipton might still be able to play at a high level), but unfortunately one of the best guitarists in the history of metal wasn’t there to jam with his bandmates during the encore. Well, I can’t complain at all about the work done by Richie and Andy, as those guys were shredding their axes in great fashion nonstop, but Glenn will always have a very special place in our hearts and minds.

Speaking of heart, mind and soul, it’s very hard nowadays to say who’s Rob Halford, and who’s Judas Priest. He’s always been the Metal God, no doubt about it, but it feels like his passion for heavy music has grown even stronger in recent years, adding even more strength and feeling to the band’s undisputed live performances. Rob was on fire as usual, being worshipped by all concert goers and driving the fans in the pit absolutely mental with his high-pitched screams. And when he rode his Harley-Davidson to the stage during the encore for Hell Bent for Leather and Living After Midnight, well, that’s one of those moments when you perfectly understand why you love Heavy Metal so much.

After the show was over, it was time to unfortunately say goodbye to Dalhalla, or maybe I should say farewell as I’m sure I’ll be back to that phenomenal venue, and drive back in almost broad daylight to our cabin not too far from there. I must say it was hard to fall asleep due to the adrenaline flowing through my body before, during and after the show, and of course the next morning I had to listen to the entire setlist again to relive such an unforgettable event, in special songs like Hell Patrol, The Serpent and the King, Giants in the Sky, and Painkiller. The big screen behind the band at the end of the show showed in big letters “THE PRIEST WILL BE BACK”, and I guess I don’t need to say that whenever they announce a new show in Dalhalla, I will be there.

Setlist
War Pigs (Black Sabbath song)
All Guns Blazing
Hell Patrol
You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’
Freewheel Burning
Breaking the Law
A Touch of Evil
Night Crawler
Solar Angels
Gates of Hell
The Serpent and the King
Battle Hymn
One Shot at Glory
Between the Hammer and the Anvil
Giants in the Sky
Painkiller

Encore:
The Hellion
Electric Eye
Hell Bent for Leather
Living After Midnight
We Are the Champions (Queen song)

Band members
Rob Halford – vocals
Richie Faulkner – guitar
Andy Sneap – guitar
Ian Hill – bass guitar
Scott Travis – drums

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Concert Review – Scorpions (Heinz von Heiden Arena, Hannover, Germany, 07/05/2025)

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The city of Hannover welcomed home one of the most important bands in the history of rock music on a night to remember.

OPENING ACTS: Rosy Vista, Bülent Ceylan, Alice Cooper and Judas Priest

They have played all over the world in stadiums and open-air arenas, in La Paz, Bolivia, at 3,636 meters, in Rio de Janeiro in front of 1.3 million fans, in Los Angeles and Moscow, but it was on July 5, 2025 when the unstoppable SCORPIONS, with support from ROSY VISTA, BÜLENT CEYLAN, ALICE COOPER and JUDAS PRIEST, played their most emotional concert in history, in a stadium in their home city of Hannover for the first time ever, the massive Heinz von Heiden Arena. Billed as Scorpions 60 Years Anniversary Concert – Coming Home to Hannover, it was a day and night to remember in the hearts and minds of the almost 50,000 fans who took every single space available at the arena, and when you add to that the perfect weather that was over the city, plus the quality or all merch, food and drinks, it definitely makes me want to go back in time to relive such an amazing celebration of heavy music. Well, to be honest, I will be able to do so, as the show was professionally recorded to be released as a live album titled Coming Home Live later this year.

Due to all attractions in the bill, the event started really early at around 3:30pm, when another band from Hannover, the girls from Melodic Heavy Metal/Hard Rock band ROSY VISTA, kicked off the festivities. The band formed of Andrea Schwarz, Anca Graterol, Heike “Bass Sistah” Müller and Marina Hlubek has just released a new album named F.o.r.t.y. this year, celebrating their 40 years on the road (and yes, Scorpions were not the only ones celebrating an important milestone that day), and of course available on most platforms like Spotify, but unfortunately we couldn’t make it to the stadium in time to see the girls. I have no idea how their performance was, but based on the quality of their music it might have been a cool opener for their hometown heroes. Maybe next time I visit Hannover I can catch them live, who knows.

Setlist
I Can’t Live Without My Radio
I Wanna Get You Back
Master of Control
Too Much Feeling
Addicted to Freedom
Poor Rosy

Band members
Andrea Schwarz – vocals
Anca Graterol – guitars
Heike “Bass Sistah” Müller – bass, backing vocals
Marina Hlubek – drums

After the girls from Rosy Vista, it was time for BÜLENT CEYLAN, a German comedian and Cabaret artist who plays several comic roles with frequent themes being the quirks of Germans from Turkish family backgrounds and people from Mannheim (told in the dialect of Mannheim), to hit the stage with his fusion of comedy and music. Once again, due to the early time slot allocated for Bülent Ceylan we couldn’t make it in time to see the band playing, and besides, I guess I wouldn’t have understood any of the jokes from his performance as they might have been all in German. I have no idea how the band sounds like, but I might take a listen at some of their songs on Spotify just out of curiosity.

Setlist
Yallah Hopp
Schmutzige Liebe
Wenn Metaller traurig sind
Rüstung aus Hass
Wohin du gehst
Anders gleich
Ich liebe Menschen
Brüder
Booom

Band members
Bülent Ceylan – vocals
Julia Lange – guitar
Tobi Stulz – guitar, backing vocals
Hannes Merten – bass, keyboards
Marcel Vojvodic – drums

After grabbing the event shirt at the merch booth outdoors, as well as a couple of beers (which included different versions of a Scorpions commemorative cup), we entered the arena about 20 minutes before American Heavy Metal/Hard Rock legend ALICE COOPER kicked off his horror-inspired rock show, increasing the temperature inside the venue with his collection of undisputed hits, including No More Mr. Nice Guy, I’m Eighteen, Under My Wheels, Hey Stoopid, Poison, School’s Out, and as the encore, Feed My Frankenstein. There were no songs from his upcoming new album The Revenge of Alice Cooper, but I don’t think anyone cared about that to be honest. The entire band was on fire, the theatricals during the songs were spot on, and it looked like the cameramen and the crowd were there to worship the stunning guitarist Nita Strauss. Seriously, she appeared on the big screens A LOT more than Mr. Cooper, and when she was introduced by him to the fans, the entire arena trembled. Well, long live Alice Cooper, and long live Nita Strauss.

Setlist
Lock Me Up
Welcome to the Show
No More Mr. Nice Guy
I’m Eighteen
Under My Wheels
Bed of Nails
Billion Dollar Babies
Hey Stoopid
Go to Hell
Poison
The Black Widow
Nita Strauss Guitar Solo
Black Widow Jam
Ballad of Dwight Fry
Killer
I Love the Dead
School’s Out

Encore:
Feed My Frankenstein

Band members
Alice Cooper – lead vocals, harmonica, guitars, percussion, synthesizer
Nita Strauss – guitars, backing vocals
Ryan Roxie – guitars, backing vocals
Tommy Henriksen – guitars, backing vocals
Chuck Garric – bass, backing vocals
Glen Sobel – drums, percussion

When you have as a supporting act the almighty JUDAS PRIEST, you know the whole event is going to be more than special. Add to that the fact the Metal Gods are currently running their phenomenal Shield of Pain Tour 2025, blending their 2024 beast Invincible Shield with the most metal album of all time, the masterpiece Painkiller, and you’re in for an unforgettable night alongside Rob Halford, Richie Faulkner, Andy Sneap, Ian Hill and Scott Travis. I had high hopes for Mr. Glenn Tipton to join them during the encore due to the caliber of such a special event, but I think his health has sadly deteriorated to a point he can’t perform live anymore. I love the fact he’s in their official video for their cover version for Black Sabbath’s War Pigs, but unfortunately I believe that’s all we’re going to get from Mr. Tipton from now on.

Anyway, back to the show, despite the fact they had to shorten their current setlist as they were “just” a supporting act, the Metal Gods kicked some serious ass with their avalanche of hits, with of course songs like Breaking the Law and Painkiller getting the wildest reactions from the crowd. It was also clear a lot of people were there only to see Scorpions and knew nothing about Judas Priest, or knew only their classics, showing indifference to their excellent new song Gates of Hell, for example. As mentioned, it was a Scorpions gig, not a Judas Priest one, but several fans like myself had an amazing time with one of the most important bands in the history of Heavy Metal. Add to that the fact Halford wasn’t afraid at all to grab the Ukrainian flag from a fan at the barrier and proudly carrying it onstage at the end of the show, without being afraid at all of any type of backlash or criticism, and you know you’re in front of the one and only Metal God.

Setlist
War Pigs (Black Sabbath song)
All Guns Blazing
Hell Patrol
You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’
Freewheel Burning
Breaking the Law
A Touch of Evil
Night Crawler
Solar Angels
Gates of Hell
Between the Hammer and the Anvil
Painkiller
Hell Bent for Leather
Living After Midnight
We Are the Champions (Queen song)

Band members
Rob Halford – vocals
Richie Faulkner – guitar
Andy Sneap – guitar
Ian Hill – bass guitar
Scott Travis – drums

SCORPIONS

It was getting late as apparently SCORPIONS and the entire production were waiting for the skies to get dark to kick off their more-than-special hometown concert, and that was a bit of a bummer as it was a very long day for tons of fans (who are not kids anymore, by the way). When the show finally started, the energy was back to the faces of all concert goers, and I wish I had a professional photographer working with me that night as my crappy cellphone photos do not live up to the visual magic that took over the entire arena. When we were entering the venue, we got a special wristband with a led that would automatically turn on and change colors depending on the song played, and in the end that worked really well, adding an extra special touch to the show as if the whole arena and the band were united as one.

Regarding their setlist, not only it was the same as from their most recent concerts, but also the lack of special guests (like Doro, or maybe even Halford joining them to sing Blackout) took away a bit of the uniqueness of the night. We still got their biggest classics, of course, such as the obvious choice for opening the night, Coming Home, followed by Make It Real, Bad Boys Running Wild, Send Me an Angel, Wind of Change, and so on, but maybe they could have also played a few deep cuts to add an extra kick to the show. I loved all songs, no doubt about that, but as a fan of new music or non-classics, that would have been even better for my personal taste. Furthermore, if there’s one thing that really adds absolute power to the live performances by Scorpions these days, that’s Mikkey Dee. The “motörhead” behind the band’s drums is a true rock and metal beast, filling every single space in the air with his precision, punch and stamina, and even adding hints of progressiveness to each song. The man in unbelievable live, making it worth every penny just to see him playing drums, to be fair. Just to give you an idea, as much as I hate drum solos, his own solo is a thing of beauty and I like the fact it’s part of their setlist.

Time, it waits for no man, and if you’re the frontman of a rock or metal band with very demanding songs, that’s even harder. That’s exactly the case with Klaus Meine, who’s still performing at a high level, but you can notice he’s struggling already in a few songs due to the beyond hectic schedule of singing for almost two hours day in, day out. Don’t get me wrong, his voice is still beautiful, it gives a soul to mesmerizing songs like the undisputed ballad Still Loving You, but the man definitely needs to slow down with the band’s crazy touring schedule. The support he gets from his bandmates is superb, which makes it easier for him to keep moving forward, but the vocals are by far the most difficult instrument to handle after so many decades on the road, and I fear he’s getting to the end of the road regarding his vocal power and reach, unfortunately.

When the whole celebration was coming to its end, it was time for the band’s colossal scorpion mascot to rise behind Mikkey Dee for their encore with the mega hits Blackout and Rock You Like a Hurricane, and oh boy, what a massive, gigantic scorpion! I loved its imposing vibe, just like all giant Eddies from Iron Maiden’s previous tours, and he even moved well for its size, giving the show a nice creepy vibe. Unfortunately, as aforementioned, I don’t have any professional photos of it, but let’s say that’s a good thing as you’ll be able to enjoy it in all of its glory when Coming Home Live is released, right? I can’t wait to watch the full concert again, because it was a night to remember, a night when Hannover welcomed home one of the greatest rock bands of all time, and if they manage to celebrate their 70th anniversary in style like that, I guess I’ll have to pay Hannover a visit again in ten years.

Setlist
Coming Home
Gas in the Tank
Make It Real
The Zoo
Coast to Coast
Top of the Bill / Steamrock Fever / Speedy’s Coming / Catch Your Train
Bad Boys Running Wild
Delicate Dance
Send Me an Angel
Wind of Change
Loving You Sunday Morning
I’m Leaving You
New Vision
Tease Me Please Me
Big City Nights
Still Loving You

Encore:
Blackout
Rock You Like a Hurricane

Band members
Klaus Meine – vocals
Matthias Jabs – guitars
Rudolf Schenker – guitars, backing vocals
Paweł Mąciwoda – bass
Mikkey Dee – drums

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Concert Review – 80’s Rock Invasion – Great White & Slaughter (Fallsview Casino, Niagara Falls, ON, 04/19/2025)

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Three of the must-see Hard Rock legends from the 80’s took the Canadian side of the Niagara Falls by storm this Saturday on an electrifying night of soaring vocals, classic riffs and endless adrenaline.

OPENING ACT: Vixen

There’s nothing better than spending part of the Easter long weekend enjoying some good old Rock N’ Roll, and that’s exactly what countless fans got at the always awesome OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls with a mini-festival beautifully titled 80’s ROCK INVASION 2025, spearheaded by GREAT WHITE and SLAUGHTER with special guests VIXEN. Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I endured the not-so-light traffic from Toronto to Niagara Falls for the show (as it was a beautiful day at the falls, tons of people had the same idea), but it was absolutely worth it as the whole night was fun, from arriving a bit earlier to meet with friends and enjoying some quality beer (including an “ice wine beer”, which I recommend you search for it online to see what I’m talking about), to spending some time at the casino before (and after) the event. Not only that, the fact the concert began only at 8pm also gave even late attendees enough room to get to the venue in time for the first attraction of the night.

Fans of all ages, plus some guests from the casino (who had no idea what they were about to see, but ended up having a good time with all bands) had already taken the entire venue when Saint Paul, Minnesota’s iconic Hard Rock queens VIXEN kicked off the festivities with an energetic performance, playing some of their biggest classics such as Rev It Up, How Much Love, Cruisin’, and of course Edge of a Broken Heart. Led by the only founding member left, drummer Roxy Petrucci, “the female Bon Jovi” didn’t stop running around the stage, jumping up and down, dancing, and interacting with the crowd, with the stunning Britt Lightning and Julia Lage (who was by the way the touring bassist for Smith/Kotzen back in 2022, having recorded with them the live EP Better days and Nights) making an amazing axe duo. My only complaint is that frontwoman Rosa Laricchiuta kept calling Niagara Falls as Toronto maybe 20 or 30 times, and as she’s from Montreal that’s kind of a “big mistake” from her, but I don’t think most people noticed that as she was on fire with her striking vocals. The next time they play in Niagara Falls or Toronto I’ll definitely be there, and maybe even give Rosa some “geography tips” before the show, right?

Setlist
Rev It Up
How Much Love
Cruisin’
I Want You to Rock Me
Cryin’ (Jeff Paris cover)
Edge of a Broken Heart

Band members
Rosa Laricchiuta – lead vocals
Britt Lightning – guitar, backing vocals
Julia Lage – bass, backing vocals
Roxy Petrucci – drums, backing vocals

SLAUGHTER

There was a very short break between Vixen and Las Vegas, Nevada’s own Hard Rock masters SLAUGHTER to the point a lot of people missed the beginning of their show, but of course their diehard fans didn’t move from their seats between those two shows to make sure they could have a blast with every second of their striking performance. Mark Slaughter and his henchmen put on a great show, despite some technical issues that made it difficult to hear his own vocals and the solos by Jeff “Blando” Bland, but overall it was an excellent rockin’ party full of classics the likes of Mad About You, Burnin’ Bridges, Fly to the Angels, and the rockin’ anthem Up All Night. Their insane drummer Jordan Cannata stole the show in my humble opinion, blasting his drums with tons of energy the whole time, and delivering a very exciting drum solo that sounded awesome even for people who don’t care abut drum solos (like myself). The guy is a beast on drums, which is why during his solo there was a short video of The Muppets’ one and only Animal in the background, and even if you’re not a fan of Slaughter you should check them out live to see Jordan hammering his drum kit like a maniac in the name of our good old Rock N’ Roll.

Setlist
Mad About You
Burnin’ Bridges
Spend My Life
Unknown Destination
Eye to Eye / Drum Solo / Eye to Eye
Days Gone By
Real Love
Fly to the Angels
Up All Night
Won’t Get Fooled Again (The Who cover)

Band members
Mark Slaughter – lead vocals, rhythm and lead guitar, keyboards, piano, tambourine
Jeff “Blando” Bland – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Dana Strum – bass, backing vocals
Jordan Cannata – drums, percussion

GREAT WHITE

It was already past 10pm (which means nothing when you’re at a casino) when Los Angeles, California-based Grammy-nominated Hard Rock legends GREAT WHITE hit the OLG Stage for an overdose of their trademark Blues-infused hybrid of Hard Rock and Rock N’ Roll, always led by the unparalleled riffs and solos by the guitar hero Mark Kendall. It was a fantastic performance by the entire band, and I must admit that although I knew nothing about their current vocalist Brett Carlisle, I was absolutely impressed with his vocals and charisma, proving why such a young musician was chosen by an old school band to be their new frontman. Both Mark and Brett were in total sync during their entire show, elevating the energy of already electrifying hits such as Desert Moon, Stick It, Rock Me, and the closing rockin’ feast titled Once Bitten Twice Shy. I personally think it was a shorter than expected setlist by those Hard Rock giants, but because the whole event started only at 8pm I guess they had to shorten their set, otherwise we would have been there way past 1am. Well, to be honest, I wouldn’t have cared at all if their concert had gone on past 1am or even 2am, because they play first-class pure, unfiltered Rock N’ Roll, and as you know, a true Rock N’ Roll party never has a time to end.

Setlist
Desert Moon
Lady Red Light
Stick It
House of Broken Love
The Angel Song
Mista Bone
Big Goodbye
Gonna Getcha
Save Your Love
Rock Me
Once Bitten Twice Shy (Ian Hunter cover)

Band members
Brett Carlisle – lead vocals
Mark Kendall – lead guitar, percussion, backing vocals
Michael Lardie – rhythm guitar, banjo, electric sitar, keyboards, percussion, harmonica, backing vocals
Scott Snyder – bass, backing vocals
Audie Desbrow – drums, percussion

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Concert Review – Visions of Atlantis (Lee’s Palace, Toronto, ON, 04/09/2025)

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Sailors, comrades and buccaneers from every nook and cranny of Toronto gathered this Wednesday night for an electrifying feast of first-class Melodic and Symphonic Power Metal.

OPENING ACT: Seraina Telli

Sailors, comrades and buccaneers from every nook and cranny of Toronto gathered at the always cozy Lee’s Palace this Wednesday night for a cinematic, thrilling feast of Melodic and Symphonic Metal, plus some colorful and vibrant Hard Rock, courtesy of VISIONS OF ATLANTIS with special guest SERAINA TELLI during their Armada Over North America Tour 2025, brought to the city by the iconic Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment. Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I were there to cover such a unique experience in the city, and I must say that from all Symphonic Metal bands out there these days, Visions of Atlantis are by far the most entertaining one, and the one I can listen to on a regular basis without getting bored at all. Quite the contrary, right after the show I kept listening to their music instead of switching to something else, just to give you an idea of how exciting the whole night was.

But before those Austrian pirates (seasoned with French and Italian elements) hit the stage, we were treated to the electrifying Hard Rock by Switzerland’s own SERAINA TELLI, a pleasant surprise as I’ve been following her work since she was part of Burning Witches, but I honestly had zero hope of seeing her live with her solo career in Canada. Well, it was amazing watching Seraina on the stage at Lee’s Palace, as she simply kicked ass with her beyond powerful and beautiful voice, colorful looks (which matched perfectly with her 2023 debut solo album Addicted to Color, available on Spotify), and rockin’ moves, and the crowd loved every single moment of her show. Not even the fact the bass lines were pre-recorded took away the energy of her show, with songs like Addicted to Color and Wish You Well masterfully depicting her passion for Rock N’ Roll. There was a funny moment when during one of her interactions with the crowd she asked us to sing with her some sort of “oooh-oh-oh-oh!”, and one guy screamed “what does that mean?” Seraina laughed out loud as she was caught by surprise, sayinbg no one had ever asked her that before, and that moment made the whole show even more intimate and relaxed. Hopefully we’ll see her again soon in Toronto, because at the same time she’s addicted to color, Toronto is just starting to get addicted to her music.

Setlist
Addicted to Color
Wish You Well
I’m Not Sorry
Take Care
I Dare to
Think!
All Your Tears
If No One Else Had Ever Been There Before
Modern Warrior

Band members
Seraina Telli – vocals, guitar
Mike Malloth – drums

VISIONS OF ATLANTIS

It was 9pm sharp when the Austrian pirate ship of Melodic/Symphonic Power Metal buccaneers VISIONS OF ATLANTIS docked in the “port” of Lee’s Palace for one of the most entertaining shows of the year, making everyone at the venue raise their fists, jump up and down, dance, headbang, and even row on the floor, thanks to their awesome pirate gimmick (or maybe they’re real pirates, who knows). Their latest albums Pirates (2022) and Pirates II – Armada (2024) resulted in an amazing live album titled Armada (Live Over Europe) (2025), available on Spotify, and that was basically their setlist for the night. I had no idea how they would behave during their first-ever headlining tour in Canada and in the US, after having a few opening slots like when they opened for Korpiklaani in 2024, but Visions of Atlantis were incredible from start to finish and, therefore, deserve a bigger venue when they get back to the city (as much as I love Lee’s Palace).

Songs like Monsters, Heroes of the Dawn, Where the Sky and Ocean Blend, Clocks, Tonight I’m Alive, Hellfire, and so on (and holy shit, they definitely know how to craft catchy tunes!) sounded thrilling live thanks to the perfect synchronicity between their pirate frontman Michele Guaitoli and their stunning siren Clémentine Delauney, plus their heavy artillery brought forth by Christian Douscha, Herbert Glos, and Thomas Caser. Michele and Clémentine are by far one of the best, most talented and most charismatic vocal duos in heavy music, maybe only losing to Helloween’s iconic vocalists Michael Kiske and Andi Deris (just to give you an idea of how good Michele and Clémentine are), and their clash of vocal styles kept the energy flowing majestically during their entire show. Michele brings power and fun to the stage with his crazy pirate character, while Clémentine is simply hypnotizing, driving the crowd crazy and putting huge smiles on everyone’s faces.

The last part of the show was a very entertaining and demanding one, starting with the pirate ship rowing during Pirates Will Return, the unstoppable jumping during the “jump jump” song Melancholy Angel, and of course the screaming of “HAIL JOLLY ROGER!” and “ARMADA!” during their now all-time hit Armada. I was even tired after the show was over, but a good type of exhaustion, I mean, when you’re tired but very satisfied and happy, got it? And if you ask me, not only they need to return to Toronto sooner than you can say “ARMADA!” with an even bigger headlining show, but they also deserve a spot opening for bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Helloween anywhere in the world. Visions of Atlantis are absolutely awesome, and if you don’t like them, it’s time for you to walk the plank.

Setlist
To Those Who Choose to Fight
The Land of the Free
Monsters
Heroes of the Dawn
Where the Sky and Ocean Blend
Clocks
Legion of the Seas
Tonight I’m Alive
Collide
Hellfire
The Dead of the Sea
Underwater
Magic of the Night
Pirates Will Return
Melancholy Angel

Encore:
Master the Hurricane
Armada

Band members
Clémentine Delauney – female vocals
Michele Guaitoli – male vocals
Christian Douscha – guitars
Herbert Glos – bass
Thomas Caser – drums

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Concert Review – Delain (The Axis Club, Toronto, ON, 03/20/2025)

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Three of the best bands of the current Symphonic Rock and Metal scene worldwide beautifully warmed up the city of Toronto on a cold but fun night of first-class music.

OPENING ACTS: Edge of Paradise and Xandria

Despite the cold rain that fell over Toronto during most of the day this Thursday (after a warm and sunny Wednesday, by the way), the turnout at The Axis Club to see EDGE OF PARADISE, XANDRIA and DELAIN during their North American Tour 2025, another excellent event brought to the city by Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment, was amazing, with over 3/4 of the venue taken by metalheads eager for some Symphonic and Melodic Metal, plus of course some of the city’s best metal photographers like Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi. Not only that, now that pretty much all the snow has already melted, the time needed to get in and out of the city, as well as to find a parking spot, has improved considerably, allowing fans to get to the venue in time for all attractions. Doors opening at 6:30pm and the first show starting only at 7:15pm also helped a lot, giving people time to grab some merch and drinks before the shows started.

The first band to hit the stage was Los Angeles, California’s own Hard rock band EDGE OF PARADISE, spearheaded by the beyond stunning frontwoman Margarita Monet. They sounded absolutely amazing live, driving the energy level up and properly prepping all fans for the upcoming attractions. Having just released their sixth album Prophecy, the band played a few new songs as part of their setlist, including Prophecy Unbound, Death Note and Falling Light, and the crowd’s response to their new songs couldn’t have been better. This was not the first time the band played in Toronto, and definitely not the last, as I’m sure Maragarita and the boys will return to the city with their Rock N’ Roll attitude sooner than later, and who knows, maybe next time as headliners of their own tour.

Setlist
Prophecy Unbound
The Other Side of Fear
Hologram
Death Note
Falling Light
Give it to Me (Mind Assassin)
The Unknown

Band members
Margarita Monet – vocals
Dave Bates – lead guitar
David Ruiz – rhythm guitar
Kenny Lockwood – bass
Jamie Moreno – drums

From all three bands playing Thursday night, Bielefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany-based Symphonic Metal act XANDRIA is by far my favorite one, in special after the Greek goddess Ambre Vourvahis joined the band back in 2022, with their 2023 album The Wonders Still Awaiting and their 2024 EP Universal Tales being used as the base for their setlist. Songs like You Will Never Be Our God, Reborn and Universal sounded powerful onstage, plus of course the fan-favorite closing song Nightfall, proving they’re more than ready for a headlining spot in Toronto in the near future. As mentioned a few times in other reviews for Xandria, the band’s founder Marco Heubaum nailed it with their new lineup, with Ambre of course being the icing on the cake in their recent “rebirth”, and that translates into sheer admiration, screams and horns high in the air every time they hit the stages of Toronto. The volume of the vocals during the entire night for all three bands, not only for Xandria, was a hit and miss mainly due to their high range, but nothing that would make any of the shows less enjoyable, and of course Ambre killed it as usual for our total delight.

Setlist
You Will Never Be Our God
Reborn
Universal
200 Years
Two Worlds
Live the Tale
Nightfall

Band members
Ambre Vourvahis – vocals
Marco Heubaum – guitars, keyboards, programming, backing vocals
Rob Klawonn – guitars
Tim Schwarz – bass
Dimitrio Gatsios – drums

DELAIN

Diana Leah had big shoes to fill back in 2022 as the replacement of the iconic vocalist Charlotte Wessels for Dutch Symphonic Metal/Rock band DELAIN, but after seeing her live this Thursday in Toronto I must say the Romanian kicks some serious ass and the band was spot-on in choosing her as their new frontwoman. The drumming by Sander Zoer and the grinding riffs and solos by Ronald Landa also sounded fantastic during the entire night, while Diana sounded superb on both new songs like The Reaping and Dance With the Devil, from their new EP Dance With the Devil, and old songs such as April Rain, Not Enough and We Are the Others. The lighting was also on point the entire night for all bands, and in the case of Delain that only made their show even more special for their fans. Just like what happened with Edge of Paradise and Xandria, I’m beyond certain we’ll see Delain again in Canadian lands sooner than later based on the smiles on their own faces and on the faces of all fans at the venue, proving Symphonic Metal indeed has its place in the heart of Torontonian metalheads.

Setlist
The Cold
Suckerpunch
The Reaping
Dance With the Devil
Burning Bridges
Creatures
Sleepwalkers Dream
Stardust
Get the Devil Out of Me
Your Body Is a Battleground
Queen of Shadow
The Gathering
Don’t Let Go
Moth to a Flame
April Rain
Not Enough
We Are the Others

Band members
Diana Leah – lead vocals
Ronald Landa – guitars, harsh vocals
Ludovico Cioffi – bass, harsh vocals
Martijn Westerholt – keyboards, orchestrations
Sander Zoer – drums

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Album Review – Lordi / Limited Deadition (2025)

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Paying homage to the 80’s toy culture, Mr. Lordi and his crew of unstoppable monsters return to action with another electrifying album of heavy music.

Displaying a unique blend of nostalgia and Heavy Metal creativity, embodying the spirit of a true limited edition, Limited Deadition, the brand new album by Finnish Heavy Metal/Hard Rock monsters Lordi, pays homage to the 80’s toy culture, a theme deeply resonant with frontman Mr. Lordi, a lifelong collector of action figures and other memorabilia. Recorded in Helsinki at IluSound Studio and Finnvox Studios, with Mr. Lordi taking on production duties, mixed by Ilkka Herkman, and mastered by Pauli Saastamoinen, the album’s concept aligns seamlessly with the band’s penchant for clever wordplay and thematic innovation, making it an essential addition to any fan’s collection while again showcasing all the talent and passion for our beloved Rock N’  Roll by the aforementioned Mr. Lordi alongside Kone on the guitars, Hiisi on bass, Hella on keyboards, and Mana on drums.

SCG XIX The Hexecutioners is a classic intro like in all Lordi albums, prepping us all for their monster attack in Legends Are Made Of Clichés, sounding extremely 80’s thanks to the classic keys by Hella and the Rock N’ Roll riffs by Kone. Mr. Lordi’s raspy, devilish vocals match perfectly with the futuristic keys by Hella in Syntax Terror, an exciting Hard Rock tune that will work really well live, whereas slowing things down while investing in an AOR vibe we have Skelephant In The Room, led by the classic beats by Mana. Then after the brief interlude SCGTV Saturday Night Main Event we face Killharmonic Orchestra, offering a more Heavy Metal-inspired sonority thanks to the riffs by Kone and the rumbling bass by Hiisi, whereas Collectable presents a melancholic start to the piano by Hella, evolving into a decent ballad with a striking solo by Kone.

Then after the fun interlude SCGTV Monstersquad Action Figures it’s time to hit the dance floor with Lordi in Fangoria, where the bass by Hiisi will send shivers down your spine while Hella continues to shine with her Hard Rock/AOR-infused keys. Mr. Lordi’s vocals and Kona’s riffs kick off the also 80’s-inspired Hellizabeth, keeping the album at a high dancing level. SCGTV The Hexecutioners Season Finale is perhaps the coolest of all interludes, followed by the classic rock tune Retropolis, showcasing a solid guitar work by Kone, in special another one of his fiery solos, and the always ass-kicking vocals by Mr. Lordi. Hella’s classy piano notes ignite another ballad entitled Frighteousness, which evolves into an AOR feast that’s just average; and after a word from their “sponsors” in SCGTV Crazeee Ralph Promo, it’s time for the title-track Limited Deadition, again showcasing a great balance between heavy riffs and whimsical keys while Mana dictates the pace with his spot-on beats and fills. Then ending the album we have the cowbell-infused rockin’ tune You Might Be Deceased, with Mr. Lordi’s striking, visceral vocals being nicely supported by his bandmates classic backing vocals.

“The album topic of 80’s toys is actually just a loose theme, but it’s been with me since I was little. I’ve always been a collector of various things, and I’m even some kind of a hoarder. I can’t even remember what my first toy was, but my obsession basically started with ‘Muppet Show’ dolls, followed by ‘Star Wars’ and ‘E.T.’ figures, with the latter actually being my favorite movie of all time,” commented Mr. Lordi, and you can feel his obsession with those collectibles by purchasing your favorite version of the album by clicking HERE, therefore also feeding your heavy music collector’s hunger. don’t forget to also follow those beautiful creatures on Facebook and on Instagram, keeping updated with all of their tour dates, to subscribe to their YouTube channel, and to stream all of their creepy creations on Spotify. For those ready to dive into this monstrous adventure, Limited Deadition is not just an album, but a celebration of Lordi’s unparalleled creativity and enduring legacy, making us eager for more of their monster-infused music in a not-so-distant year.

Best moments of the album: Syntax Terror, Killharmonic Orchestra, Fangoria and You Might Be Deceased.

Worst moments of the album: Collectable and Frighteousness.

Released in 2025 Reigning Phoenix Music

Track listing
1. SCG XIX The Hexecutioners 0:55
2. Legends Are Made Of Clichés 3:59
3. Syntax Terror 4:11
4. Skelephant In The Room 3:44
5. SCGTV Saturday Night Main Event 0:21
6. Killharmonic Orchestra 3:40
7. Collectable 4:21
8. SCGTV Monstersquad Action Figures 0:54
9. Fangoria 3:41
10. Hellizabeth 3:40
11. SCGTV The Hexecutioners Season Finale 0:31
12. Retropolis 3:29
13. Frighteousness 3:08
14. SCGTV Crazeee Ralph Promo 0:42
15. Limited Deadition 4:06
16. You Might Be Deceased 3:32

Band members
Mr. Lordi – vocals
Kone – guitars
Hiisi – bass
Hella – keyboards
Mana – 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!