Cage

Project: Roenwolfe – Project: Roenwolfe Review

By Holdeneye on June 2, 2023 in Reviews, Power Metal, Thrash Metal, 28 comments

“It seems I was just waxing longingly about the power/thrash-shaped hole in my heart left by Iced Earth, and here I am again with a potential filler. Back in 2021, one of our lovely commenters recommended the then-new record Edge of Saturn by Project: Roenwolfe, and its Iced Earth-meets-Cage vibe was exactly what the doctor had ordered for me. Featuring the phenomenal guitar work of Alicia Cordisco (Transgressive, ex-Judicator), Project: Roenwolfe seemed tailor-made to quench my Iced Earth thirst with powerful, story-filled anthems saturated by thrashy guitar work and insane, high-pitched vocals.” Roenwolfe in the Iced Room.

Raptore – Blackfire Review

By Holdeneye on August 4, 2022 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, 62 comments

“Originating in Argentina, Raptore released one full-length album back in 2016 and have been relatively quiet ever since, with a contribution to a 5-way split being their only other official release. But after moving to Spain in search of the right lineup, founding guitarist and vocalist Nico Cattoni finds his project poised to unleash sophomore record Blackfire upon an unsuspecting trüe metal scene. Single “Prisoner of the Night” demonstrates Raptore’s kitchen-sink approach to writing classic heavy metal tunes by combining bits of early Ozzy with the hair metal swagger of Mötley Crüe and a bit of American power metal.” Angry birds.

Project: Roenwolfe – Edge of Saturn [Things You Might Have Missed 2021]

By Holdeneye on December 12, 2021 in Things You Might Have Missed 2021, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Thrash Metal, 33 comments

“American power metal is one of life’s great simple pleasures. Take some killer thrash riffs, find someone to wail over the top of them, and—voila!—instant US powah. Of course, the truth is more nuanced than that, but I’m not far off. My two favorite bands of all time, Nevermore and Symphony X, may embellish the style with progressive elements, but when you boil things down to what really makes both of those bands awesome, you find two things remaining: riffs and vocal theatrics.” Project: Power Wolfe.

Wizard – Metal in My Head Review

By Holdeneye on February 11, 2021 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 39 comments

“I’m not quite sure how this is possible, but I didn’t know that Germany’s Wizard even existed until Steel Druhm mandated that I clear my schedule for this week to review the band’s 12th studio album, Metal in My Head. I mean, they play exactly the kind of ball-busting, artery-clogging cheese metal that originally enticed me to emerge from my primordial metalcore soup and set me on my way to becoming a full-fledged trve metal organism.” Head cheese.

Death Dealer – Conquered Lands Review

By Holdeneye on November 13, 2020 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 47 comments

“Formed in 2012 by Ross the Boss (ex-Manowar, Ross the Boss), Sean Peck (Cage), and Stu Marshall (Empires of Eden, ex-Dungeon), America’s Death Dealer is a bonafide heavy/power metal supergroup. Over the years, they’ve released two albums and picked up former Into Eternity drummer Steve Bolognese and Symphony X bassist Mike LePond, making the lineup for 2020’s Conquered Lands simply mouthwatering.” Iron sharpens steel.

The Three Tremors – The Three Tremors Review

By Steel Druhm on January 15, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Steel Cartel Records, Heavy Metal, 217 comments

“Some ideas sound great in theory. Fewer look good when put to paper. That crucial step of transforming an idea from paper into reality? Well, let’s just say only the best of the bunch should see the harsh light of day. Taking three of metal’s premier wailers and screamers and having them lustily compete with one another for an album’s worth of over-the-top manic hysteria is not such a worthy concept. Aptly named The Three Tremors, this project features Tim “Ripper” Owens (ex-Judas Priest, ex-Iced Earth), Harry “The Tyrant” Conklin (Jag Panzer, Satan’s Host), and Sean (no cool nickname) Peck (Cage, Denner/Sherman).” Banshee business.

Empires of Eden – Channeling the Infinite Review

By Steel Druhm on May 24, 2012 in 2012, 3.0, Australian Metal, Heavy Metal, Music By Mail, Power Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 0 comments

Another super group?? I usually don’t think much of these star-studded affairs where everybody and their cousin’s uncle cram into a studio to twiddle, poke and harass one instrument or another. Often, the end result sounds as disjointed as the fractious collaboration that birthed it.