Melodic Metal

The Unity – The Unity Review

By Treble Yell on May 4, 2017 in 2017, German Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, SPV, Steamhammer, Melodic Metal, Power Metal, 16 comments

“The Unity know a thing or two about history, two of its members having kicked tires in Gamma Ray for a spell, but the trip down memory that is their self-titled debut goes further than their own stomping grounds and offers an experience akin to a boisterous evening catching up with those legendary veterans. But this isn’t Just Another German Power Metal Band (JÄGPMB), as beneath the glossy Teutonic shell twitches layers of classic acts such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and – perhaps unsurprisingly – Helloween.” Who wants Jäger bombs?

Ignis Gehenna – Baleful Scarlet Star Review

By Madam X on January 14, 2017 in 2017, Australian Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Séance Records, Black Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Melodic Metal, 24 comments

“Here’s something to think about… If Darkthrone’s Transilvanian Hunger released today, would it make the same impression it made back in 1994? More importantly, would it get the same reception nowadays that it got in the past?” No chance.

Enbound – The Blackened Heart Review

By Eldritch Elitist on November 16, 2016 in 2016, Inner Wound Recordings, Power Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Melodic Metal, Power Metal, 23 comments

“A few years back I had the pleasure of seeing Kamelot live at the only venue in my home state that hosts good metal concerts. It was a brilliant show, with the audience belting every lyric while the band granted us an unanticipated level of interactivity, yet one man I met in the crowd remained nonplussed. Forget one of America’s best power metal bands; this guy was excited as all fuck to catch second-rate supporting act Delain.” Taste is a terrible thing to taste.

Delain – Moonbathers Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on August 14, 2016 in 2016, Dutch Metal, Eurocore, Hard Rock, Napalm Records, Reviews, Eurocore, Hard Rock, Melodic Metal, 45 comments

“Metal bands sure like to take baths in a wide variety of places, be it in the sun, in blood, in ghosts, in wombs, in entrails, or in whatever “slaughtb” is. Me, I’m more of a shower guy. A nice cold shower helps you think, and tons of great ideas come to be in there, but sometimes you get this introductory bit. It seems that the Dutchmen and Dutchwomen in Delain have suggested a new place for our metallic hygienic niche to take place on their fifth album: the moon.” Delain got a tongue lashing from AMG for being normcore back in 2012. Will DiM be nicer than he was?

Jaded Heart – Guilty by Design Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on June 7, 2016 in 2016, German Metal, Hard Rock, Massacre Records, Power Metal, Reviews, Hard Rock, Melodic Metal, Power Metal, 31 comments

“I’m not going to lie, I have the biggest fucking headache right now. And who is to blame for this ailment? Bon-fucking-Jovi. Why in hell would I be listening to Bon Jovi, you might be asking? Because Jaded Heart’s back-catalog resurfaced my hard-helmet, classic-rock listening, construction-work nightmares. Yep, you read right. I said Jaded Heart. Why would I dare review such a thing, you may also be asking? Well, curiosity killed the cat.” Paul Baloff actually killed that cat because it was a poser!

Vuolla – Blood. Stone. Sun. Down. Review

By Roquentin on June 2, 2016 in 2016, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Finnish Metal, Post-Rock, Reviews, Schwarzdorn Production, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Melodic Metal, 25 comments

“In the case of Finnish five-piece Vuolla, nomen really est omen. Their name, which translates as “carve” or “whittle,” is an apt symbol of the group’s reductive and appropriating approach. As they chisel away at a body of work developed from various genres, from post-rock to death metal, it’s difficult to ignore that the essence of their sound is still based in a rehashed version of melancholic doom metal.” Turn loose the sads.

DarkTribe – The Modern Age Review

By Roquentin on July 22, 2015 in 2015, French Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Scarlet Records, Melodic Metal, Power Metal, 16 comments

“It’s difficult to shake the feeling that among all of metal’s subgenres, power metal remains the one that refuses to grow up, stuck forever in an adolescent state. Barring a few bands, the power metal scene might as well still be living in the middle of the nineties, when Stratovarius’ Visions had just been released, Nightwish were kind of relevant, and Symphony of Enchanted Lands, by that Italian band that used to be known simply as Rhapsody, lurked around the corner.” Ah, the 90s were the good old days for 80s style power metal.

Artaius – Torn Banners Review

By Madam X on May 14, 2015 in 2015, Bakerteam Records, Folk Metal, Italian Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Folk Metal, Melodic Metal, Progressive Metal, 9 comments

“It took two lines in the Artaius promo blurb to stop me in my tracks – Artaius has shared the stage with well known metal acts like Ensiferum and Primal Fear and Torn Banners features special guests Tim Charles (Ne Obliviscaris), Lucio Stefani (Mé, Pek e Barba) and Dario Caradente (Kalévala). Those be some big selling points right there!” Madam X willing reviewing folk metal? The end is nigh.

Sonata Arctica – Pariah’s Child Review

By Angry Metal Guy on April 12, 2014 in 2014, Finnish Metal, Nuclear Blast, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Melodic Metal, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, 39 comments

“A strange thing happened somewhere between Sonata Arctica’s 2012 release Stones Grow Her Name and 2014’s Pariah’s Child: Tony Kakko found his wolf shirt and his copy of Ecliptica. Neither of these things were to be expected. Since 2007’s much-maligned Unia, these Finnish masters o’ cheesemetal have been popping out records that are hard to tie back to the band’s original incarnation.” Ain’t nothing as good as record with a great picture of a wolf on it.

Soilwork – The Panic Broadcast Review

By Angry Metal Guy on June 25, 2010 in 2010, 3.0, American Metal, Eurocore, Metalcore, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Eurocore, Melodic Metal, 61 comments

Wow. So, it’s been like 10 years since I’ve listened to Soilwork and it turns out that they don’t sound at all even remotely the same. Sometimes a band falls off your radar and you don’t even think about them at all and honestly, Soilwork is one such band. Now, it’s probably not a surprise to anyone else but I was in utter shock when I turned on The Panic Broadcast to discover that the Gothenburg sound had totally been replaced by eurocore! See, now you’re laughing at my ignorance, but I’m a bit surprised. See, in Angry Metal World, the last record that Soilwork released was actually The Chainheart Machine in 2000. And back then, these guys were playing a not-entirely-novel, but very, very good version of the Gothenburg sound. Turns out in the much lamer real world Soilwork has had a bunch of records and gotten a new vocal style, a new sound and hyper-produced.