Rockshots Records

Manam – Rebirth of Consciousness Review

By Lord Doom on November 20, 2018 in 2018, Italian Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Rockshots Records, Melodic Death Metal, 30 comments

“Metalcore is an important genre. Now that all the metal elitists are lighting torches and gathering pitchforks, let me explain. Most kids these days (sadly) aren’t listening to Master of Puppets, and the gateway bands of the 80’s simply are not converting new people. I would never have discovered this site and thereby many of my now favorite bands like Wilderun, Barren Earth, Æther Realm without first stumbling onto Killswitch Engage. So, my interest was piqued when Lord Druhm visited the n00b dungeon to deliver the promo for Italian band Manam’s debut, Rebirth of Consciousness, promising a blend of melodeath and metalcore.” Gateway thugs.

Kormak – Faerenus Review

By Lokasenna on July 9, 2018 in 2018, Folk Metal, Italian Metal, Reviews, Rockshots Records, Folk Metal, 71 comments

“Another day, another Italian folk metal band, this one apparently masterminded by one Zaira de Candia, singer and screamer extraordinaire, or so we hope. Newcomers to the scene, Kormak have only in the last two years finalized a lineup and Faerenus marks their first formal release. That kind of turnaround, especially on a debut album, is distinctly ambitious — worryingly so for some, myself included.” Get the folk out.

Kanseíl – Fulìsche Review

By Lokasenna on June 3, 2018 in 2018, Folk Metal, Italian Metal, Reviews, Rockshots Records, Folk Metal, 42 comments

“It is hardly controversial to describe the Italian metal scene as ‘bombastic,’ or even ‘cheesy.’ Hell, it’s the go-to for basically everyone in the Anglosphere, even when talking about brutally heavy acts like Hour of Penance. So imagine my surprise when I turn over a rock and find an Italian act that defies those expectations!” Cheese famine.

We Have the Moon – Till the Morning Comes Review

By Mark Z. on March 3, 2018 in 2018, Electronica Metal, Italian Metal, Metalcore, Reviews, Rockshots Records, Electronica, Metalcore, 10 comments

“This is it, folks. We spent years telling our kids they were special, years encouraging them to be creative and let their imaginations run wild. No doubt this encouragement led to some fantastic art, but there was certainly some that were lacking. Fortunately, parents or instructors were typically there to steer these budding musicians along, telling them gently to ‘try something else’ or ‘maybe play soccer instead.’ But of course, there were always a few that slipped through the cracks.” Bad moon rising.

Sonic Prophecy – Savage Gods Review

By Swordborn on January 24, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Rockshots Records, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 7 comments

“Salt Lake City’s Sonic Prophecy has at this point become a fixture in the US metal underground, plying their craft of beefy, vocal-driven, traditionally styled heavy/power metal that evokes Judas Priest, Iced Earth, Manowar, and others of the sort. Word on the street has been positive for this lot, so Savage Gods now stands in judgement before easily-irritated power metal guy.” Swords n’ Tequila hold the tequila.

Mistheria – Gemini Review

By GardensTale on December 15, 2017 in 2017, Italian Metal, Neo-Classical Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Rockshots Records, Progressive Metal, 36 comments

“If only it were that simple. Completely instrumental albums are more difficult to write, I think because we are automatically drawn to voices. Without a vocalist, the tracks must be carefully composed to guide the listener’s attention and keep a sense of structural flow and integrity. Gemini is not carefully composed. Gemini doesn’t have flow and barely any structure. Rather, Gemini is a group of very talented musicians wanking onto a biscuit and hoping you’ll eat it.” Don’t eat the buttermilked biscuits.

Enzo and the Glory Ensemble – In the Name of the Son Review

By Master of Muppets on October 5, 2017 in 2017, Italian Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Rockshots Records, Symphonic Metal, Progressive Metal, Symphonic Metal, 82 comments

“Once, I believed myself able to see past the veils and charades of societal labels, to be able to transcend the likes of religious affiliation in order to experience art for art’s sake. Once, I believed that I could overcome any element of musical unpleasantness if the rest of the material was strong enough. I have loved the likes of Mos Def, Flyleaf, and Ghost Bath, and felt no shame. Once, I believed all this to be enough to allow me to find redemption in any kind of music… until I heard Enzo and the Glory Ensemble’s In the Name of the Son.” Jazz hands for the Lord.

Echotime – Side Review

By Huck N Roll on May 6, 2017 in 2017, Italian Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Rockshots Records, Progressive Metal, 10 comments

“First, a bit about these theatrical Italian progsters. who dare compare themselves to the likes of Dream Theater and Pain of Salvation. Side is the quintet’s second album, a concept album featuring a number of songs tied together via a series of narratives. The concept itself is a bit difficult to understand, but seems to be a series of stories about characters that some woman named Lily knows.” When prog goes Side-ways.

Black Yet Full of Stars – Black Yet Full of Stars Review

By Ferrous Beuller on October 22, 2016 in 2016, International Metal, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Rockshots Records, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, 29 comments

“There’s no doubt about it, in this burgeoning world of myriad metal sub-genres, an unlucky few have been branded as default pejoratives. We’re all guilty of it to some degree: nu metal, metalcore, deathcore… basically anything with a core, all sneered at and vilified down the length of our long, elitist noses. It saddens my iron bones to find that power metal seems to be suffering the same fate. Sure, it’s not for everyone, but there can be no denying the scene’s quality output.” Up with power!