Anubis Gate

Theocracy – Ghost Ship Review

Theocracy – Ghost Ship Review

By Steel Druhm on November 1, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Ulterium Records, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, 55 comments

“Though I’ll admit to having steered clear of “Christian metal” over the years due to some silly, small-minded prejudices, there have been exceptions that slowly opened my eyes. Trouble began life as a “white metal” act and I still loved them intensely, and little known Barren Cross caught me in a weirdly inescapable web of hooks with their Atomic Arena album back in 88. Much more recently I was completely blown away by Theocracy’s 2011 opus As the World Bleeds, which mixed bombastic power with prog and classic metal in a way that suited me down to my nonspiritual bones.” It’s high time to get some religion!

VOLA – Inmazes [Things You Might Have Missed 2015]

VOLA – Inmazes [Things You Might Have Missed 2015]

By El Cuervo on January 12, 2016 in 2015, Danish Metal, Djent, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Things You Might Have Missed 2015, Unsigned Bands, Djent, Progressive Metal, 21 comments

“VOLA are highly unusual in their approach to modern progressive metal. The most apt description I can define is prog-power by way of djent, offering the catchy melodies of Anubis Gate and Voyager but executed with the staccato, modern heaviness of a post-Meshuggah era.” Some things just sell themselves.

Kingcrow – Eidos Review

Kingcrow – Eidos Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on July 3, 2015 in 2015, Italian Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Sensory Records, Progressive Metal, 47 comments

“If there’s anyone to thank for this review of Kingcrow’s Eidos, it would have to be our esteemed Steward King, Steel Druhm. This little piece of progressive mastery almost slipped through the cracks before the dreaded Scribe Hammer™ came crashing down on my checkerboard mahogany and human-flesh paneled desk. Said Hammer (and the tyrannical HR department) may be painful here at the AMG office, but without the necessary discipline, AMG writers would run amok and reviews would focus almost exclusively on 600-700 words of the exact nonsense you just read.” Spare the rod, spoil the blog.

Pyramaze – Disciples of the Sun Review

Pyramaze – Disciples of the Sun Review

By Steel Druhm on May 23, 2015 in 2015, Danish Metal, Inner Wound Recordings, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, 46 comments

“Pyramaze is a tough nut to crack and an even tougher one to anticipate or graft expectations onto. They released two very well done platters of crisp progressive power metal with Lance King at the helm in the early 2000s, the latter of which, Legend of the Bone Carver, ended up one of my favorite albums of the decade. When Lance left, they acquired the mighty Matt Barlow of Ice Earth fame and released the far heavier, very Iced Earthy Immortal. Then they fell silent and despite rumors of this singer or that joining the fold, no new material was forthcoming. Now, seven years later they finally reemerge from the Danish hinterlands with a new album, new guitarist and a new singer. But what do they sound like after so much time away? Like a completely different band, that’s what.” Are you ready to worship the sun? You better be.

Threshold – For the Journey Review

Threshold – For the Journey Review

By Steel Druhm on September 17, 2014 in 2014, English Metal, Nuclear Blast, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Progressive Metal, 24 comments

“Threshold has long been a darling of the progressive metal scene for two very simple reasons: they’re unbelievably consistent and more importantly, they’re the anti-Dream Theater in that they remember how to write actual songs and not just seven minute, ego-driven wank fests that go nowhere. Despite the tragic death of long time singer Andrew “Mac” McDermott in 2011, the band bounced back hard with 2012’s March of Progress, recruiting original singer Damian Wilson to get the job done, and now they’re back with For the Journey.” Pack a bag and join Steel Druhm on the road to musical enlightenment.

Record(s) o’ the Month – April 2014

Record(s) o’ the Month – April 2014

By Steel Druhm on May 30, 2014 in 2014, Blog Posts, Record o' the Month, 9 comments

“Just in time for the Record(s) o’ the Month for May, we proudly present the Record(s) o’ the Month for April! And here you thought that beige background would NEVER go away! April was an interesting month in music, with a whole bunch of quality “extreme” albums dropping. Even so, there was much less staff infighting this time to determine what the big burrito was.” You say burrito, we say this is a bit late.

Voyager – V Review

Voyager – V Review

By Steel Druhm on May 28, 2014 in 2014, Australian Metal, Nightmare Records, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Progressive Metal, 32 comments

“Australia’s Voyager has stealthily grown into one of my favorite bands over the past five years. While I was suitably impressed by 2009s I Am the Revolution, I was utterly blown away by 2011s The Meaning of I, to which I gave an extremely rare perfect score. They have a very distinctive sound and approach to power-prog and their ear for melody and hooks is second only to Anubis Gate. Naturally, as the release of V grew near I became giddy like a school girl at a Justin Bieber kissing booth. Now I’ve spent some serious time with V and it actually comes close to my high expectations…at first.” But what happens next? Oh, the huge manatee!

Anubis Gate – Horizons Review

Anubis Gate – Horizons Review

By Steel Druhm on April 22, 2014 in 2014, Danish Metal, Nightmare Records, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, 9 comments

“Prog metal can be an off-putting proposition for some folks. With all the odd time signatures, tempo shifts and efforts to show how talented the band is, sometimes the songs themselves are abandoned along the highway of wankery. Power-prog has always been a bit easier to stomach for yours truly, taking the basics of power metal and jazzing it up some, but not too much. In this sub sub-genre of music, Denmark’s Anubis Gate have long been my favorite due to their ability to craft mesmerizing, impossibly catchy melodies and emotional songs that resonate from the very first listen.” Do these great Danes continue to enthrall the jaded Steel Druhm, or has that love died on the vine?

Vanishing Point – Distant is the Sun Review

Vanishing Point – Distant is the Sun Review

By Steel Druhm on March 11, 2014 in 2014, AFM Records, Australian Metal, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, 14 comments

“It seems I don’t get to review power metal all that much these days, though it was one of the reasons I was originally recruited by AMG in the first place (my official title was Assistant Chief Power Metal Weenie). Instead, it’s Rogga Johansson this, retro death metal that, yadda yadda yadda. Maybe that’s why it feels so refreshing to hear some genuinely solid power-prog from long running Aussie act Vanishing Point.” Steel Druhm takes a short break from reviewing Rogga Johansson projects to enjoy some prog-power. Feel free to join him.