Manowar

Ross the Boss – By Blood Sworn Review

By Steel Druhm on April 16, 2018 in 2018, AFM Records, Ambient Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, 56 comments

“Steely D loves him some Manowar. As ridiculous as their persona became over time, they were one of my favorite bands growing up and I still love that kind of epic, chest-thumping warrior metal. Ross the Boss was the guitarist during the band’s golden era and helped write many of their best songs. He left the fold following 1988s Kings of Metal, and since then he’s dabbled in a solo career only in fits and starts. By Blood Sworn is his third album under the regrettable Ross the Boss moniker, and the first since 2010s Hailstorm.” The crown and the gory.

Preludio Ancestral – Oblivion Review

By Swordborn on March 28, 2018 in 2018, Argentinian Metal, Fighter Records, Power Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, 37 comments

“Next up on the AMG stack of rotating power metal promos is the fourth studio album from Argentinian independent sympho-heavy/power entity Preludio Ancestral, a band heretofore bound to digital obscurity in the South American underground. The band’s past fits with my general impression of many underground metal acts from South American nations: a strange amalgamation of Spanish and English lyricism, bizarre album cover art, and a penchant for very eccentric, almost anarchical musical stylings that run the gamut from alternative rock, Manowar-hailing shirtless heavy metal, and Euro-styled power metal across individual albums.” Hail, hail the shirtless.

Visigoth – Conqueror’s Oath Review

By Steel Druhm on February 5, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, Metal Blade, Reviews, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, 64 comments

“Hammers, axes and swords glint in the flickering torchlight as the tumultuous cacophony of an army on the march fills the night air. Women weep, clutching their children as they flee to forests deep, praying to the heavens for mercy. On this glorious night Visigoth has returned to reclaim the Immortal Throne, and the blood of the untrve will soon stain rock, stone and leaf. We’ve awaited this uprising since 2015 when their righteous debut scorched the land and revitalized the trve heavy metal genre, and 2018 finally sees the second crusade underway with Conqueror’s Oath.” Nuts and Hun-y.

Vhäldemar – Against All Kings Review

By Eldritch Elitist on November 16, 2017 in 2017, Fighter Records, Power Metal, Reviews, Spanish Metal, Power Metal, 59 comments

“A Spanish band that’s been active since 1999, Vhäldemar released a pair of relatively well received albums in the early 00’s, featuring influences far-flung as Gamma Ray, Manowar, and Rhapsody. After independently releasing a couple of underwhelming records in the early half of this decade, they’ve found a new home with Fighter Records, a label known around these parts for harboring the disasterpiece that is Tales of Gaia’s Hypernova.” Power metal: Approach with caution.

Argus – From Fields of Fire Review

By Steel Druhm on September 6, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Cruz Del Sur, Doom Metal, Epic Metal, Reviews, Doom Metal, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, 50 comments

“In the pantheon of epic and trve metal acts, the Argus wing isn’t far from the front foyer where legends like Cirith Ungol and Manilla Road reside. As one of the best of the current acts keeping the old ways alive, Argus has graced us with three top-notch slabs of backward looking metal that always managed to avoid sounding stale. The secret ingredient keeping their sound fresh was always the rich undercurrent of heavy doom they injected into the batter. This anchored their tales of myth and Manoantics to the Earth and kept things reliably weighty and mega-ballsy.” Machos supreme.

Crystal Viper – Queen of the Witches Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on February 8, 2017 in 2017, AFM Records, Heavy Metal, Polish Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 63 comments

“Before we begin, there is something that needs saying: Marta Gabriel kicks ass. And not because of Crystal Viper’s newest album, Queen of the Witches. No, she’s ruled since her first note on 2007’s The Curse of Crystal Viper. This may not be news to Viper fans, but someone needed to put it in writing.” And the Doctor is just the Medical Deviate to do it!

Revel In Flesh – Emissary of All Plagues Review

By Ferrous Beuller on December 5, 2016 in 2016, Cyclone Empire, Death Metal, German Metal, Reviews, Death Metal, 31 comments

“”Listen to them, the children of Entombed. What sweet music they make!” Or something like that. There can be no denying just how ubiquitous the genre has become, but I harbor a serious love of all things Swedish death. Clearly so do Revel In Flesh, a band who have been successfully churning out body-blow Scandinavian flavored death metal for the last 5 years.” Left Hand wrath.

Sacred Steel – Heavy Metal Sacrifice Review

By Steel Druhm on October 15, 2016 in 2016, Cruz Del Sur, German Metal, Heavy Metal, Heavy Metal, 20 comments

“In the rich annals of metal bands crossing over into unintentional parody, Sacred Steel looms large. The perpetually over-the-top cheese fueled trve metal warriors led by “unorthodox” vocalist Gerrit P. Mutz have been pounding on the doors of the Great Hall ov Great Metal demanding entrance since 1997 only to be met with a shrug and a “No Solicitation” sign. But ignore them at your peril, for they’re as relentless as they are comical.” In trvth there is pain.

Gloryful – End of the Night Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on August 24, 2016 in 2016, German Metal, Heavy Metal, Massacre Records, Reviews, Heavy Metal, 38 comments

“Those looking for great prose don’t turn to a dictionary. Instead, a writer opens up the ol’ Merriam-Webster tome to get himself a clinical definition of whatever word he happens to be unsure about. With that step out of the way, our writer can hopefully make something great using the technical knowledge he gained. While he’ll remember the dictionary definition, it will never be inspiring to him; it will just be a reminder about what the word means and how to use it correctly in context. When listening to Gloryful’s third record, End of the Night, I kept coming back to dictionaries. It sounds like heavy metal and I suppose it technically is.” Glory is for winners.

Ravensire – The Cycle Never Ends Review

By Steel Druhm on January 29, 2016 in 2016, Cruz Del Sur, Heavy Metal, Portuguese Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, 39 comments

“One look at that cover and you knew I’d be the chosen one to review it, didn’t you? And rightly so, as Ravensire has an imposing Throne of Usurpation built directly on the epicenter of my metallic wheelhouse. They rock a burly form of trve metal similar to Visigoth and Ironsword, and since that means Conan-core, you can expect much Cirith Ungol worshiping, Manowar loin clothing and Manilla Road raging.” If you’re bored, reforge the sword!