Latest Release: ΩmegaWebsite: www.epica.nl It has been five years since Dutch symphonic metal band Epica’s last album, The Holographic Principle. That excellent album was released several months after the band toured Australia, providing fantastic live performances on the back of previous release The Quantum Enigma. Today, the pandemic has put all sorts of international touring
German heavy metal band Accept formed about forty five years ago. In their early days, they quickly established their hard rock and heavy metal credentials within Europe. But by 1985, their profile reached an international level, touring most of the world’s heavy music centres on the back of their influential sixth studio album, Metal Heart. Personnel changes and an inevitable break a few years later remarkably saw a temporary reunion but by the mid-nineties, Accept had all but disbanded, despite another reunion attempt.
Helloween’s Pumpkins United tour in later years of the last decade saw the band implement an expanded line-up comprising of seven members, including the ambitious move of having three singers in the band. It was initially intended as a one-off for live performances exclusively. However, the gamble paid off so well, with an extremely successful tour as all members were able to work as a focussed, unbeatable musical team. As a result, various developments meant that a subsequent self-titled album, Helloween, was recorded with a remarkable amount of attention to detail.
The extraordinary influence of German born guitarist Michael Schenker is well known amongst musician circles globally. Somewhat underrated by the mainstream yet never one to actively pursue the well-trodden path of immense fame and glory, his dedication to the craft of guitar and creating his own unique music is highly revered.
Evergrey – Escape of the PhoenixScore: 95%Label: AFM.https://evergrey.net/ Swedish progressive metal band, Evergrey, have been around for a couple of decades and now with the twelfth album, titled Escape of the Phoenix, they’ve excelled beyond expectations. Following three prior excellent album releases that constitute a trilogy, this latest release covers various topics that are introspective,
English death metal band Benediction, have been invoking intense mosh pits with guttural vocals and ferocious riffs for decades. Their devotion to a rigid template for pummelling music has remained intact, as has their ability to engage with their loyal, fervent fan base with intense live shows. The relationship with their audience is almost symbiotic with regards to energy, which serves to cement their intent to deliver tight, intense metal music.
To achieve international success in the music industry, it takes unquestionable talent, ongoing persistence, hard work and a substantial amount of fortuitous timing. Sweden’s melodic metal band Amaranthe has effectively reached that pinnacle by harnessing those qualities with a shared goal. On their sixth album titled Manifest, the triple vocalist band has refined their sound having continually delivering energetic live performances and are now set to become a huge European touring entity, once the pandemic subsides. Amaranthe combines musical styles ranging from death metal vocals to slick, power pop harmonies, all backed by an aggressive rhythm section and crisp, heavy guitar riffs.
www.unleashthearchers.comLabel: Napalm Records Canadian power metal band, Unleash the Archers, have released their best album yet. Following on the narrative of their previous album from 2017, Apex, comes album number five, titled Abyss, and as the continuing story of a weaponised mercenary in space journey unfolds, striking female mezzo-soprano lead singer Brittney Hayes [stage name
Kamelot – I Am the Empire – Live from the 013.Napalm RecordsScore: 95% Symphonic melodic metal band Kamelot have released live albums before but this latest one captures them at the peak of their powers. Recorded in Tilburg in the Netherlands, where the Dutch have welcomed the band with numerous sold out shows, this concert
German power metal veterans, Primal Fear, continue to create consistently good heavy metal albums. Their latest studio release, Metal Commando is an apt title which could be seen as a mission statement. The songs within represent a growing musical maturity with concise choruses, melodic harmonies, fist pumping tracks, rousing power ballads plus an atmospheric, sprawling closing album track titled Infinity, which clocks in at over thirteen minutes.