Power Metal

Things You Might Have Missed 2014: Alestorm – Sunset on the Golden Age

By Diabolus in Muzaka on December 22, 2014 in 2014, Folk Metal, Heavy Metal, Napalm Records, Power Metal, Reviews, Scottish Metal, Things You Might Have Missed 2014, Folk Metal, Power Metal, 19 comments

“Previously on AMG, heavy metal pirates Alestorm received the glowing accolade of “unceremoniously piss[ing] in the pool” of pirate metal in a Running Wild review. Today on AMG, these Scottish privateers set sail into calmer critical seas, and I’m going to spend 500 or so words telling you, our dear readers, why Alestorm’s latest record, Sunset on the Golden Age, is worth your time and attention.” Mutiny is afoot at AMG, and the one thing we don’t tolerate is insubordination. Oh, and Alestorm worship.

Things You Might Have Missed 2014: Mike LePond’s Silent Assassins

By Al Kikuras on December 19, 2014 in 2014, American Metal, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Things You Might Have Missed 2014, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, 5 comments

“Symphony X nerds rejoice! Then again, maybe you won’t. Symphony X bassist Mike LePond’s first solo effort was released in September of this year and those expecting LePond to stick to his primary band’s keyboard-laden progressive metal path may be sorely disappointed. If you are, get that geeky head out of your pale behind (if you can get up off it long enough between games of Skyrim)…” New Jersey knows metal, and Al Kikuras knows New Jersey.

Estate – Fantasia Review

By El Cuervo on December 1, 2014 in 2014, Mighty Music, Power Metal, Reviews, Russian Metal, Glam Metal, Power Metal, 15 comments

“Hailing all the way from sunny Russia, Estate are the proud bearers of good ol’ fashioned Europower. Fantasia, their début effort, is brimming with cheesy keys, up-tempo riffing and questionable English accents – the hallmarks of power greats such as Sonata Arctica and Helloween. Nonetheless, the musical term ‘fantasia’ implies a nonconformity to a specific style, and there are certainly a few curve balls here.” Starting with that Pan-tastic album cover!

Bloodbound – Stormborn Review

By Steel Druhm on November 18, 2014 in 2014, AFM Records, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 9 comments

“Following these guys is like dating someone with a serious mood disorder. Sure, the wild emotional swings keep it interesting, but the payoff is rarely worth the effort. Bloodbound started out as a throwback traditional metal act, releasing an excellent debut which benefitted greatly from the considerable vocal talents of Urban Breed (ex-Tad Morose, ex-Pyramaze). Breed left thereafter but their sophomore outing was solid nonetheless, and he returned once again for the very good Tabla Rasa outing. He then bailed again, leaving the band to utilize the talents of Patrik “Pata” Johansson for 2011s Unholy Cross, which had moments, but was ultimately too generic to pass muster. Then came the abomination of 2012s In the Name of Metal, which only served to give metal a bad name.” Where will the mood ring take us next? To Westeros, of course!

Triosphere – The Heart of the Matter Review

By Steel Druhm on November 14, 2014 in 2014, AFM Records, Heavy Metal, Norwegian Metal, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, 24 comments

“Sphere fetishists of the world rejoice! We now present to you a band that not only has “sphere” in the moniker, but also offers a song called “The Sphere.” And yes, there’s a goddamn sphere on the cover too. Are you not entertained?! Ok, now that the sphere furbies left, we can get on with the review of what is a shockingly good album. Triosphere is a progressive power metal act hailing from Norway and though AMG and myself enjoyed their 2010 effort The Road Less Travelled a good deal, this tops it in every way.” Sphere’s to you, kid!

Kaledon – Antillius: The King of the Light Review

By Steel Druhm on November 9, 2014 in 2014, Italian Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Scarlet Records, Power Metal, 5 comments

“After the medieval dumpster fire that was the last Kaledon album, you’d be justified in asking why your friendly neighborhood Steel Druhm is reviewing their latest platter of hobbit beshirted LARP guild metal. Call me a glutton for punishment, but a certain morbid curiosity drove me to give the promo a spin to see if there was any improvement from last time.” They say morbid curiosity killed the cat, so will Steel pay for his wonderings ways or can this band step up to the big leagues…of orc metal?

Solitary Sabred – Redemption Through Force Review

By Jean-Luc Ricard on September 30, 2014 in 2014, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 27 comments

“I made the error of listening to Solitary Sabred’s new album at work. Half-way through opener “Disciples of the Sword” I was being restrained by security: apparently it’s “against office policy” to strip to your underwear, lather yourself in baby oil, adopt the power stance and wave a poster-tube around your head pretending it’s a sword (why I keep baby oil at the office is my business, OK?).” Most HR departments frown on such trve metal shenanigans because HR is not trve! Death to false human resources!

Gormathon – Following the Beast Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on September 28, 2014 in 2014, Heavy Metal, Napalm Records, Power Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Viking Metal, Heavy Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Power Metal, Viking Metal, 8 comments

“It seems like many in the melodic death camp are getting the Viking bug these days and Gormathon is another example. Like many, they borrow extensively from the well established Amon Amarth formula, but use ‘80s heavy metal elements. These include soaring, high-pitched vocal ranges and classic guitar noodling that borders on power metal.” Viking metal with power metal elements? Hmmm….

Sanctuary – The Year the Sun Died Review

By Steel Druhm on September 22, 2014 in 2014, American Metal, Century Media, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 25 comments

“25 long years after their last recorded output (damn, that makes me feel old), four-fifths of the classic Sanctuary lineup reunite to write an album that sounds exactly like vintage…Nevermore. Yes, I suppose we could have seen that coming, being that lead man Warrel Dane and bassist Jim Shepard founded that particular power-prog act after leaving Sanctuary, but I’m sure I wasn’t the only one hoping The Year the Sun Died would be a glorious return to the traditional American power metal of Refuge Denied rather than a retread of their better known project.” Some folks tabbed this as the most anticipated album of 2014. Steel Druhm wasn’t one of them because he’s not silly.

Hammerfall – (r)Evolution Review

By Steel Druhm on August 27, 2014 in 2014, Heavy Metal, Nuclear Blast, Power Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 28 comments

“Life may be good, but it also subjects us to those unavoidable bitches like death, taxes, hangovers and back hair. One of the very worst of said bitches is the dreaded Law of Diminishing Returns. Few bands better exemplify the havoc this truism can create than Hammerfall. When they fired the opening salvo of the retro metal crusade back in 1997 with their Glory to the Brave debut, their fusion of Euro-power and traditional metal felt familiar, but somehow new and exciting and the song craft was above reproach. Follow up Legacy of Kings was less impactful but still fun, exuberant and catchy as crabs. Then, tragedy struck. Each successive album was weaker, less interesting and less credible, with only a few scattered winners to remind the listener how great things started out. This culminated with the very non-infectious slog of 2011s Infected and it looked as if Hammerfall was in free fall. Don thy plastic helmets and grab thy Nerf swords, for once more into the breach we must fall!