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Tag Archives: melodic metal
Album review: BRIDEAR – Aegis Of Athena

Setsuzoku Records [Release date 13.05.22] All girl band, Bridear, from Fukuoka, Japan has created a global fanbase since its inception in 2014. Aegis of Athena is its third album. The band’s skilful merge of Melodic Metal and J-Pop might not … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, Amaranthe. Operatic, Epica, Evanescence, heavy metal, J-Pop, melodic metal, progrock, review, rock, symphonic metal, Within Temptation
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Album review: JANI LIIMATEINAN – My Father’s Son

Frontiers [Release date: 06.05.22] “Solo” album from Sonata Arctica/ Insomnium/ Dark Element guitar man/ composer, Jani Liimateinen. Considering that he’s put this album together with a host of guest vocalists, the finished article is a strongly cohesive whole, with barely … Continue reading →
Album review: FOZZY – Boombox

Mascot Records [Release date 06.05.22] Fozzy have been present on the rock scene for over two decades and their pedigree is clearly demonstrated on this latest album – it’s a master class in pure Rock ‘n’ Roll! Fozzy have had … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, Boombox, Chris Jericho, Fozzy, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, melodic metal, metal, review, Rich Ward, rock
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Album review – SEMBLANT – Vermillion Eclipse

Frontiers [release date: 15.04.22] Semblant’s second album on the Frontiers label sees this Brazilian Melodic (Death) Metal band confidently cement its leading position in the “one to watch” category. The “Death” description is misleading, and only gets used in the … Continue reading →
Album review: TREAT – The Endgame

Frontiers [Release date: 08.04.22] Here’s Treat again. The Endgame, produced by the talented Peter Mansson, is the band’s fourth album since their rebirth in 2006. In the world of second and third generation melodic rock, only Harem Scarem, Leverage and … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, Ander Wikstrom, Jamie Borger, melodic metal, melodic rock, Patrick Applegren, review, Robert Ernlund, Treat
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Album review: SHINING BLACK – BOALS and THORSEN – Postcards From The End Of The World

Frontiers [Release date: 18.03.22] Shining Black’s 2020 self titled album collaboration was tuned into Hard Rock as much as it was to Melodic Metal. Guitarist, Olaf (Labyrinth, Vision Divine) Thorsen and singer, Mark (Malmsteen, Royal Hunt) Boals’ first musical marriage … Continue reading →
Album review: EDGE OF FOREVER – Days Of Future Past (Remasters, 3 CD set)

Frontiers [Release date: 11.02.22] Frontiers’ golden boy, Alessandro Del Vecchio, formed Edge Of Forever in 2004. The label has now released the band’s back catalogue in a 3 CD, remastered set, titled Days Of Future Past, with a bonus track … Continue reading →
Album review: TRICK OR TREAT – Creepy Symphonies

Scarlet Records [Release date 01.04.22] ‘Creepy Symphonies’ is the seventh studio album from Trick Or Treat, who always entertain with their music. Like Freedom Call, Trick Or Treat like to think of their music as happy metal. Vocalist Alle Conti … Continue reading →
Album review: BATTLE BEAST – Circus of Doom

Nuclear Blast [Release date 21.01.22] Album number six from Battle Beast, after a bit of a gap since 2019’s highly enjoyable ‘No More Hollywood Endings’. Their line-up remains the same, namely Eero Sipilä (bass), Pyry Vikki (drums), Janne Björkroth (keytar), … Continue reading →
Album review: THE FERRYMEN – One More River To Cross

Frontiers [Release date: 21.01.21] The Ferrymen are Magnus (Freefall/ Heart Healer) Karlsson, Ronnie (Lords Of Black/ Rainbow) Romero and Mike (Rage/ Axel Rudi Pell) Terrana. One More River To Cross is their third album on Frontiers, and this is a … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, Axel Rudi Pell, Freefall, Frontiers, Lords Of Black, Magnus Karlsson, melodic metal, Mike Terrana, power metal, Rage, Rainbow, review, Ronnie Romero, the Ferrymen
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Album review: SONATA ARTICA – Acoustic Adventures: Volume One

Atomic Fire Records [Release date 21.01.22] After Sonata Artica toured in 2016 with an acoustic set and then again in 2019. From these two successful tours the idea was born to capture these versions on two acoustic albums, the second … Continue reading →
Album review: BEAST IN BLACK – Dark Connection

Nuclear Blast [Release date 29.10.21] Beast In Black, the band that love to mix synths, Europop beats and their love of Anime into the more traditional power metal mix. This is the band’s third album with both of their previous … Continue reading →
Album review: FICTION SYXX – Ghost Of My Fathers Past

MR Records [Release date 04.08.21 digital/28.09.21 physical] Here we have the third album from Fiction Syxx who have been pretty consistent in releasing a new album every couple of years since they started back in 2017. The band consists of … Continue reading →
Single review: MANIMAL – Armageddon and The Inevitable End

AFM Records [Release date 06.08.21] ‘Armageddon‘ is the title track and third “single” release from forthcoming new album from Sweden’s Manimal. As the song title suggests, this video version has lots of footage of global warfare, nuclear of course, clearly … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
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Tagged AFM Records, Armageddon, Manimal, melodic metal, power metal, review, singles
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Album review: SOCIAL DISORDER – Love 2 Be Hated

AFM Records [Release date 18.6.21] Social Disorder is not just another punk rock band, in fact despite its misleading name (and album title), it’s not a punk rock band at all. Love 2 Be Hated is pretty cool melodic metal, … Continue reading →
EP review : RHAPSODY OF FIRE – I’ll Be Your Hero

AFM Records [Release date 04.06.21] There’s no band more adept at sucking us into their fantasy world of bombastic, exhuberant Metal than Champions League Melodic Metal band, Rhapsody Of Fire. This is one of those rarities we call an EP. … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Single and EP reviews
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Tagged AFM Records, album, EP, melodic metal, power, review, RHAPSODY OF FIRE, symphonic
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Album review: SUNBOMB – Evil And Divine

Frontiers [Release date 15.05.21] An outsider may see Sunbomb as the completion of Michael Sweet’s journey to the darkside. A restlessly talented musician finally freeing himself from the strictures of Christian Rock, crossing into the world of the Sunset Strip’s … Continue reading →
Quick plays: KATE VARGAS, TRICK OR TREAT, CRAIG CARDIFF

KATE VARGAS For the Wolfish & Wandering Bad Reputation This is Kate Vargas’s third album, released last year, and she has recently launched a Crowdfunding campaign to finance her next album. Her press bio has her down as a reformed … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
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Tagged album, All This Time Running, Americana, Craig cardiff, folk, For the Wolfish & Wandering, indie, Kate Vargas, melodic metal, metal, power metal, review, roots, singer songwriter, the Unlocked Songs, Trick Or Treat
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EP review: SILVER NIGHTMARES – The Wandering Angel

Bandcamp [Release date 31.03.20] Silver Nightmares were formed in Palermo in 2018 by bassist Gabriele Esposito, drummer Alessio Maddaloni, keyboardist Gabriele Taormina with guitarist Mimmo Garofalo joining shortly after. They wrote, composed and orchestrated this, their first EP, which features … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
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Tagged album, EP, melodic metal, metal, prog, prog metal, review, Silver Nightmares, The Wandering Angel
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EP review: TEMPERANCE – Melodies Of Green And Blue

Napalm Records [Release date 19.02.21] Italian melodic metal band Temperance have been around since 2013, releasing their latest studio album ‘Viridian’ last year. They also feature three vocalists, namely Alessia Scolletti, Michele Guaitoli and Marco Pastorino (although he is credited … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
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Tagged acoustic, album, melodic metal, Melodies Of Green And Blue, metal, power metal, review, Temperance
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Album review: ACCEPT – Too Mean To Die

Nuclear Blast [Release date 29.01.21] Accept, the German masters of heavy metal for more than 40 years and key influencers on bands such as Metallica and Iron Maiden, return with their 16th studio album – ‘Too Mean To Die’. Accept … Continue reading →
Album review: IRON SAVIOR – Skycrest

AFM Records [Release date 04.12.20] Installed like a figurehead at the prow of European heavy metal, Piet Sielck’s Iron Savior proudly trail the story of this classic musical movement behind them. You could argue that along with Kai Hansen, Sielck … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
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Tagged AFM Records, album, Helloween, IRON SAVIOR, melodic metal, metal, Piet Sielck, power metal, review, Skycrest
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Album review: IRON MASK – Master Of Masters

AFM Records [Release date 05.12.20] For those who live and work outside Power Metal territory, bands like Iron Mask sound much like every other Power Metal band. When you’re on the inside though, perspective comes easy. Different musical styles readily … Continue reading →
Album review: SORCERESS OF SIN – Mirrored Revenge

Bandcamp [Release date 27.11.20] Sorceress Of Sin formed in 2020 in Cambridge, based around vocalist/lyricist Lisa Skinner and her husband, drummer Paul Skinner. By day they run a post office but after hours they go all power metal! Joining them … Continue reading →
Album review: PHANTOM ELITE – Titanium

Frontiers Records (Release date 22/01/21) On their second album now, Phantom Elite grew from the seeds of an HDK tour band, embracing Progressive Rock, Contemporary Metal and Symphonic Rock, evolving into what we see today. Fronted by Marina (Avantasia) La … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, Amanda Somerville, Frontiers, HDK, Marina La Torraca, melodic metal, metal, Phantom Elite, prog metal, review, Titanium
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