Power Metal

Graveshadow – Nocturnal Resurrection Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on November 15, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Mausoleum Records, Power Metal, Reviews, Symphonic Metal, Power Metal, Symphonic Metal, 60 comments

“While the name Graveshadow would suggest a band dabbling in a number of genres, the album art pretty much narrows that list down to a select few. Just seconds into Nocturnal Resurrection and all your wonder transforms into 100% certainty. This album clearly bleeds with the Nightwish-washy inklings of symphonic keys and power-metal attitude. I suppose this makes sense being that this sextet hails from the magical forests of Finlannnn… oh wait.. Sacramento.” Hamster, a dentist! Hard porn, Steven Seagull!

Dark Moor – Project X Review

By Steel Druhm on November 7, 2015 in 2015, Power Metal, Reviews, Scarlet Records, Spanish Metal, Power Metal, 41 comments

“Dark Moor has been tilting at windmills a very long time. As one of Spain’s longest-running power metal bands, they’ve had successful early albums like The Hall of the Olden Dreams and The Gates of Oblivion which benefited from crisp writing and the raspy roar of Elisa Martin. When she was replaced by Alfred Romero on the band’s eponymous 2003 album, they lost a bit of what made them stand out.” Grab your tinfoil hat and open your X-File!

Amberian Dawn – Innuendo Review

By Roquentin on November 1, 2015 in 2015, Finnish Metal, Napalm Records, Power Metal, Reviews, Symphonic Metal, Power Metal, 25 comments

“Amberian Dawn are a Finnish neoclassical power metal stalwart that has been around for almost a decade, always lurking somewhere on the outskirts of mainstream popularity, but never quite reaching the status of bands such as Nightwish or Epica.” Enough of this kvlt crap, let’s fire up the pop-porn!

Númenor – Sword & Sorcery Review

By Madam X on October 18, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Epic Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Serbian Metal, Stormspell Records, Symphonic Metal, Black Metal, Epic Metal, Power Metal, Symphonic Metal, 41 comments

“Tolkien metal is actually a thing. For those that haven’t come across it prior to now, it’s a subgenre of black metal that’s supposedly more atmospheric and ambient with lyrics entirely based around Tolkien’s works. Summoning are the forerunners of the genre, but it looks like they have a little competition in the shape of Serbian band Númenor.” Nerds. Be. Raging (and LARPING).

Dragonheart – The Battle Sanctuary

By El Cuervo on October 10, 2015 in 2015, Brazilian Metal, Pitch Black Records, Power Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Power Metal, Thrash Metal, 41 comments

“Dragonheart is paramount in man’s interaction with music. If not for such albums as The Battle Sanctuary, who would remind us of our primitive warmongering? Of gods and kings and swords and shields? Of halcyon times where it was not just socially acceptable, but encouraged, to raid poorly-defended acquaintances and ravage their family?” If thy neighbor’s lawn offends thee, smite it down!

Gloryhammer – Space 1992: Rise of the Chaos Wizards Review

By Angry Metal Guy on September 28, 2015 in 2015, English Metal, Napalm Records, Power Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, 134 comments

“I have been accused of being boring and touchy because I dislike parody heavy metal bands. Whenever a band like Steel Panther or The Darkness shows up, I get defensive. “Metal is alive and well,” I argue, and honestly, there are bands that are putting out great power metal and hard rock that gets ignored by mainstream press outlets that rave over parody bands and they sell lots of records. I also tend to get annoyed by comedy lyrics; for the most part those songs are funny once or twice, but after a while they just stop being funny and they become uninteresting because, well, that’s the point. Put this together, and a parody band seems like it should have a lot of strikes against it here at Angry Metal Guy. Not only are Steel Druhm and I firmly anti-fun, but I’m defensive about metal because I don’t want real, talented metal bands getting short shrift next to bands who are just making fun of the sound.” Fun will be had.

Stratovarius – Eternal Review

By Steel Druhm on August 26, 2015 in 2015, EarMusic records, Finnish Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, 45 comments

“Euro-power is in a bit of rut lately, with very few releases really grabbing my jaded ears with the proper blend of bombast, cheese whizardry and over-the-top exuberance. Stratovarius was once a no brainer when I needed such sonic excesses, but the past few albums have been hit or miss affairs, especially 2013s Nemesis where the band explored a more commercialized, and dare I say it, poppy style.” Can the former Lords of Euro-power regain the Cheddar-Coated Throne of Power?

Stormhammer – Echoes of a Lost Paradise Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on August 6, 2015 in 2015, German Metal, Massacre Records, Power Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, 10 comments

“Even though I spend a lot of time listening to black metal (and anything and everything King Diamond), I hold a very special place in my heart for power metal. At any given time, you can walk by my office and hear an Iced Earth, Blind Guardian, or Metalium (yep, I said it) song reverberating off the walls and echoing down the hallway.” The good doctor is a power metal weenie.

Powerwolf – Blessed & Possessed Review

By Madam X on July 29, 2015 in 2015, German Metal, Napalm Records, Power Metal, Reviews, Symphonic Metal, Power Metal, Speed Metal, Symphonic Metal, 48 comments

“Hot on the lashing tail of the cheesiest of Sharknado films, Powerwolf return with another wolfnado of larger than life proportions. I’m told it’s supposed to be a humdinger, boasting some of the finest power metal, speed, hard rock and unholy orchestra contributions, and Powerwolf kept this firecracker under wraps for near on two years before unleashing it on the unsuspecting public.” Where are you when we need you, Tara Reid?

Symphony X – Underworld Review

By Angry Metal Guy on July 27, 2015 in 2015, American Metal, Heavy Metal, Nuclear Blast, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, 81 comments

“Symphony X is New Jersey’s answer to Yngwie Malmsteen. That’s not just a funny blurb: the more I think about it the more I realize that that’s actually a surprisingly good description of the band. My relationship with the band started in 2000 with the release of the band’s absolutely perfect V: The New Mythology Suite. At the time, I described them to friends as being “Malmsteen—if he could write songs and had a good vocalist.” Since then the band has released some excellent records, but they’ve also taken a turn for the heavier, and edgier, moving further away from the traditional progressive/power wheelhouse and straight-up neocassical stylings. The orchestral approach on V never quite disappeared—they’re a ‘neoclassical’ progressive/power band ffs—but from Paradise Lost on the band’s heavier attitude has continued to develop; embodied by Allen’s full-throated Jersey rasp.” Angry Metal Guy weighs in on Symphony X’s newest release.