Nightwish

Frozen Crown – The Fallen King Review

Frozen Crown – The Fallen King Review

By Eldritch Elitist on February 18, 2018 in 2018, Italian Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Scarlet Records, Melodic Death Metal, Power Metal, 1 comment

“This past week I was giving Frozen Crown’s The Fallen King my dozenth or so spin as I was handling a particularly annoying clean-up report at my other office job. Typically, when faced with such an irksome task, I like to listen to fast music of either the aggressive or uplifting variety; either emotional response triggered by the conflicting styles will do the trick to kick my ass into work-mode. This particular go-round with Frozen Crown struck me, as it handily enabled both responses.” Don’t let it go.

Serious Black – Magic Review

Serious Black – Magic Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on August 22, 2017 in 2017, AFM Records, International Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, 53 comments

“Their catchy-as-fuck 2015 debut, As Daylight Breaks, was the first. Then, last year’s “meh” Mirrorworld. And, now, Magic. Math ain’t my strong-point, but that should make three albums in three years. Sure, Vardan releases a baker’s dozen on an annual basis, but groups like Serious Black? I didn’t think it was possible—nor should it be. But, by god, here it is. Unfortunately, the intense schedule for releasing full-length albums on a yearly basis is starting to show. Since the debut, quantity over quality has been the name of the game for Urban Breed and co. Which results in a Serious Black bummer. ” The strings are showing.

Seven Spires – Solveig Review

Seven Spires – Solveig Review

By Eldritch Elitist on August 4, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Symphonic Metal, Power Metal, Symphonic Metal, 26 comments

“Enter Seven Spires, a Boston-based act I blindly picked as a personal punching bag after going soft from weeks of reviewing great material. Featuring Adrienne Cowan of Light and Shade (a band we largely panned last year), their debut Solveig, armed with the most excruciatingly mediocre cover art of the year, is doomed to fail… right?” Books, covers, judgments, etc.

Insatia – Phoenix Aflame Review

Insatia – Phoenix Aflame Review

By GardensTale on June 23, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Pitch Black Records, Power Metal, Reviews, Symphonic Metal, 85 comments

“The promo selection at AMG is a brutal process. If you are late to the game, all the good stuff has been picked by the vultur- I mean, my colleagues, and your choices are reduced to black metal, metalcore or symphonic metal (which nearly always means Nightwishcore.) I was late this time, and Jorn help me, I picked symphonic power metal album Phoenix Aflame completely blind. I recall my last thought before my own private hell was unleashed: “Can’t be worse than Akoma.” The early bird gets the Wormrot.

In Tormentata Quiete – Finestatico Review

In Tormentata Quiete – Finestatico Review

By GardensTale on June 20, 2017 in 2017, Avante Garde, Black Metal, Italian Metal, My Kingdom Music, Reviews, Symphonic Metal, Black Metal, Symphonic Metal, 24 comments

“I don’t know any bands that sound quite like In Tormentata Quiete. The vocals are the heart and soul of the band, but where this often indicates an accessible band with a single, capable vocalist, ITQ uses everything but the kitchen sink in its range of styles. Two equally capable ladies bring harmonic symphonies that without context might have befitted a progressive Nightwishcore band, but here they balance out Marco Vitals. The only male listed in the vocal department, I am forced to conclude this one man is responsible for the grandiose, operatic clean vocals, the hushed whisper of the spoken sections, the occasional guttural growl, and the absolutely caustic black metal screech.” Many tongues, few spit-ups.

Karkaos – Children of the Void Review

Karkaos – Children of the Void Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on May 30, 2017 in 2017, Canadian Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Melodic Death Metal, Power Metal, 27 comments

“When I read words like “Canadian” and “female-fronted,” my mind invariably goes to Unleash the Archers. Without trying, I’ve somehow trained my weak mind to do this. Not that I’m upset about it. Unleash the Archers fucking rule. But, it isn’t the promo sheet for the new Unleash the Archers record I’m reading. Instead, I’m reading the one from Canadian melodeath outfit Karkaos.” Wake up and smell the Karkaos.

Deathless Legacy – Dance with Devils Review

Deathless Legacy – Dance with Devils Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on January 25, 2017 in 2017, Alt-Metal, Italian Metal, Reviews, Rock, Scarlet Records, Alt-Metal, Rock, 26 comments

“Despite trying to sound like Death SS via their humble beginnings as a tribute to those guys, Deathless Legacy comes across more as a soporific Halloween-themed Nightwish, but with worse vocals. There are plenty of keyboards, and the tempos don’t generally get too lively. Sadly, ‘Monster Mash’ may actually make for an apt comparison.” So much for the Transylvanian Twist.

Akoma – Revangels Review

Akoma – Revangels Review

By GardensTale on January 7, 2017 in 2017, Danish Metal, Massacre Records, Reviews, Symphonic Metal, Symphonic Metal, 92 comments

“Let’s play a game of ‘guess the genre!’ We have a band with a nondescript, vaguely fantasy-sounding name. Google betrays it to be the Ghanese word for ‘heart.’ The album name is Revangels, which I’m guessing is a contraction of revenge and angels? That seems likely, but I choose to believe it’s about angels that have become groupies for deceased drummer The Rev, instead because that’s more clever than the alternative.” Show no symphony.