Author Andy Barker
A dark, rain soaked landscape stretches forebodingly into the hazy distance. The grey clouds hang heavy over the mists of dank depression, a smog of broken dreams and lost hope. The perfect landscape for a soundtrack of melancholic Gothic Doom… Continue Reading →
It’s exactly twenty years since I first heard an album by Greek Metal band Innerwish. At the time I was impressed with the maturity that the band displayed in the professional melodic metal within what was just their second release… Continue Reading →
German Metal band Aiwaz (not to be confused with the Italian Death Metal band from years ago…who knew there would be two Aiwaz’s?) are quite a unique entity in their way. They are the living, breathing epitome of melancholy, which… Continue Reading →
Six albums in and Swedish Power Metallers Veonity are still evolving, both musically and personally. Guitarist Anders Sköld has decided to take a step away from lead vocal duties this time around to concentrate on just being one half of… Continue Reading →
Well, I clearly wasn’t the only one who enjoyed Ensiferum’s slight change in approach with 2020’s excellent “Thalassic”. It topped Finland’s album chart, reached number 3 in Germany’s, and went top ten in Switzerland, Canada and even the USA. So,… Continue Reading →
Dragony. It’s a name leaving little to ponder about the musical direction of this Austrian Metal band. Hmm…could it be Brutal Death Metal? Post-Black Metal? Dark Ambient? Or maybe, just maybe, could it be…Symphonic Power Metal? You betcha flowing cape… Continue Reading →
Relatively new to the scene, Power Metal crusaders Krilloan waste no time in unleashing their second instalment of unapologetic, bombastic, galloping Power Metal. With as much Metal subtlety as a house brick, standing on another house brick, surrounded by more… Continue Reading →
Anyone who knows anything about Italian Progressive Power Metal will be familiar with Vision Divine. This is their ninth album, spread out since their debut back in 1999 which featured their first in an impressive trio of vocalists to have… Continue Reading →
One thing Wintersun are not is predictable. Having released “Time I” way back in 2012, main-man Jari Mäenpää (songwriting, vocals, guitars, keyboards etc etc) chose to follow it five years later with the alternatively conceptually themed “The Forest Seasons”. But… Continue Reading →
So, if you’ve ever wondered what it would sound like if Epica vocalist Simone Simons decided to team up with Ayreon mastermind Arjen Lucassen for a whole album rather than just the odd guest vocal, then wonder no more, as… Continue Reading →
Hammerfall. There’s no denying the influence this Swedish band has had on the Power Metal scene over the years and the following they’ve built. Their debut was a breath of fresh air whilst Metal was still mired in the turgid… Continue Reading →
Imperia are old hands at this Symphonic Metal lark. In fact, their debut emerged back in 2004 when Symphonic Metal was still being labelled as Gothic Metal, and in the albums that the band have released since, they’ve pushed their… Continue Reading →