Reviews

Three Times Lucky

Fatal Vision

This was a good album. They didn’t re-create the wheel, as that would be nearly impossible, but what they did do well was push emotions in their music, and created some memorable hooks for the listener to take with them. There was also a nice balance between the vocals and the instruments, to the point where one didn’t outshine the other.

Opium EP

Half Me

Half Me are a five piece band from Hamburg Germany. Formed in October 2018 after […]

The Last Will and Testament

Opeth

This album strikes a rare balance between Progressive intricacy, dark storytelling, and glimmers of light that struggle to break through its somber and angry tones. These stories unfold over a meticulously crafted backdrop of shifting time signatures, complex layers, and atmospheric transitions that leave each track feeling like an unfolding chapter in a larger, haunting novel. Each song feels carefully plotted, its emotional intensity mounting steadily, only to shift directions unexpectedly—a trademark of great Progressive music. This album stands as a masterful blend of Progressive ambition and lyrical poignancy, immersing the listener in a carefully crafted sonic landscape. For anyone who seeks music that is as intellectually stimulating as it is emotionally resonant, a powerful journey not to be missed, and their best album in many years.

Kill Or Be Killed

Alex Nunziati

One man show.

The Forgotten West

Forsaken Rite

This was a solid listening experience, and one that I would have liked to have heard more of. There is a nice balance of melody and aggression, all tinged with Folk elements, and they pull you into their fairytale world with their brand of songwriting.

New Moon

Frust

From Austria, comes Post Black Metal band FRUST, a one-man project. From their EPK, “While […]

Till Förruttnelsen

Grand Harvest

This was a promising two-song teaser for the upcoming album. If these two songs have that much power, imagine what the rest of the album can deliver. The interesting thing about “the futility of mankind’s existence” is a dichotomy of the fact that among the living on this planet, we think of ourselves almost as Gods of our own will and destiny. We start wars, wage battles against groups of people, and demonize our enemies with our self-righteousness. But in the end, none of that matters, because once we are lowered into the ground, we all have the same fate.

Egrotants, Souffreteux, Cacochymes, Covidards

Grylle

There was nice balance between the many folk instruments used on the album with the traditional guitars of Black Metal. There was a sinister quality to the music, as well as hypnotic ones, that almost beg you to enter their world, where even the strongest person might succumb to their dark charms.

Our

Notturno

This was a good album, but I would have liked to have heard more songs. The strictly despondent ones were full of emotion, and the more ardent ones provided a nice balance on the album. It wasn’t quite as rich and full of a sound as I had hoped for however.

Merciful the Dying Light

Vølus

If you want a new experience on Death Metal, try this release.

Harlekin und Krieger

Robse

This German band shows a fine mix between Melodic Death Metal and Folk Metal.

Feed the Machine

Mordkaul

This band offers an updated form of Old School Melodic Death Metal that is impossible to resist to!

Blowing Your Ears Off

Kate’s Acid

WOW, this is how a live album must be!!!

Old City New Ruins

Feldspar

This sextet shows some traits that can be poiting to new ways to Hardcore/Punk Rock.

Chronicles of Lunacy

Defeated Sanity

Taste this Death Metal band and become addicted!

Bleed on My Teeth

Adorior

Wow, what ass kicking Old School Thrash/Death/Black Metal release!

Winter Storm

Ensiferum

This was a solid album. I think that fans will get exactly what they want here…a familiar sound that is comfortable for them as well as one that doesn’t take the album on tangents. No one can question the band’s talent, but the songwriting is just a bit too predictable for me. Still, it was an enjoyable listen.

True

Jon Anderson And The Band Geeks

JON ANDERSON is back to making new music. This time debuting with his backing band, […]

Sing and Bleed

Wall of Palemhor

Wall of Palemhor from Parma, Italy does it right, and as such, their new and second full-length album, Sing and Bleed, is one of the best indie records that I’ve heard all year.

Triumph of Enslavement

Traumatomy

I could write an entire article about this one episode, and a thousand articles just based around my lifelong love of The Simpsons. However, Traumatomy is not The Simpsons, and I most certainly do not love them.

Le ballet des anges

Ad Vitam Infernal

AD VITAM INFERNAL'S "Le ballet des anges," is a crushing album in many ways with a lot more dynamics and degrees to that crush than a lot of other bands in this style can pull off. This is a year end banger that makes a strong case for how great of a state death metal is in near 2024's demise.

There Is Beauty In Letting Go

Vicious Rain

A torrent of Swiss Post-Hardcore blasing out of the town of Baden with emotion

Wounds of Desolation

Isolert

From Bandcamp, “Four years have passed since the release of “World in Ruins.” In idle […]

Violent DNA

Nuclear

Chile's thrash metal juggernaut, NUCLEAR, delivers a fierce new EP in 2024 titled "Violent DNA", a six-track sonic assault that leaves a lasting impact on listeners with its aggressive blend of thrash and death metal influences. This release showcases the band’s penchant for speed, precision, and a deep reverence for the genre’s roots, all while pushing their sound further into chaotic, adrenaline-fueled territory. While half the EP is composed of covers, the original tracks stand out as potent examples of NUCLEAR's relentless energy and craftsmanship.

Metal Merchants

Mindless Sinner

What happens when you blend Swedish power metal with Saxon and Judas Priest? You get Mindless Sinner.

Am I Invisible

BornBroken

Canadian death metal outfit BORNBROKEN returns with a crushing new release in 2024, "Am I Invisible", a 10-track exploration of existential despair, personal strength, and the brutal reality of human existence. Blending their signature aggression with a profound lyrical depth, the album delivers a relentless sonic assault from start to finish. Each song on the album brings a unique perspective on universal themes, drawing the listener into a vortex of introspection and rage. BORNBROKEN's blend of technical precision and raw power makes this album a standout in the modern death metal landscape, and the tracks are as memorable for their heavy riffs as they are for their deeply resonant messages.

Champion

Turbokill

“Champion” is my first encounter with TURBOKILL. And one thing becomes very clear from the very first listen; these guys know how to write and play bloody good riffs. Rather high paced, very intense and drenched with class.

Feberdrömmar

Shining

New album? Well, that’s not exactly true, as the original version of this album, called “8½: Feberdrömmar I Vaket Tillstånd” is from 2013. It was an in-betweener for the band between albums. Apparently a good one, as it is being rereleased.

Outer Limits

Salem UK

For those who are not familiar with the music SALEM UK plays, we are talking fast paced Melodic Heavy Metal. Whether you listen to the 2016 album “Dark Days” or anything later than that, it is easy recognisable as SALEM UK. That is not only because of the kind of music that is played, but is also due to the very distinctive and rather high pitched voice of singer Simon Saxby.

The Overlord Messiah

Retched

RETCHED plays US Metal. If you are prone to the early years of OMEN, you will certainly like the sound as well as the music. If you are a fan of the first albums of MALICE, you will love the music and find it a pity that the sound is lacking a bit of conviction.

Burning Savage

Obnoxious Youth

Listening to “Burning Savage” is quite a challenge. Not one song is sane from start to finish, with the title song as a perfect example. The thing is, when band goes mad, it is also very hard to properly hear and understand what is being sung/shouted/screamed.

Praise The Communion Fire For The Unhallowed Sacrament

Blackevil

The production of “Praise The Communion Fire For The Unhallowed Sacrament” is bloody good indeed. Crisp and clear where it concerns the Thrash and Heavy Metal parts, and vague and misty when Black Metal is reigning. But you can distinguish all the sounds being played all the time. That in itself is worth listening to this latest offering of BLACKEVIL

The Nothing That Is

Fit For An Autopsy

In lesser hands, this album could have fallen out of favor and crossed over into the “unmemorable” category. As you know, the genre boundaries for Deathcore are narrow, but FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY manage to explore each and every inch. The album did wear out a bit of its welcome after 10 songs, and at times, was played too safely for me, but I am sure their fans will be pleased.

Descent

Morass Skoffin

MORASS SKOFFIN’s “Descent” is a downward spiral definitely worth taking. It is possible for death metal to provide memorable moments without losing any of its intensity and provide an engaging experience—”Descent” is proof of that.

(XX)V - Of Tales and Tragedies

Battlesword

Ultimately, this isn’t a terrible album but it’s just average. I didn’t hate the time I spent with it but now that the review is written, I don’t see myself picking it back up. There have been dozens of truly great albums released this year, both in melodic death and other genres, and this one just doesn’t have the chops to compete.

Sbarco

SBARCO’s debut album marks a good starting point for the trio, their initial landing if you will. It’s a well formulated album but maybe needs a little more unbridled passion.

Latest Reviews

Con Man's Chronicles

The Skelters

Next Akin To Chaos

Sterbhaus

Stardust

Speedclaw

Eternal

Return To Darkness

Celestial Clear Moonlit

Storming

The Graves and Ghosts of Yore

Deogen

All 37579 Reviews

Metal Temple Editor Wanted Banner (Girl - Square)

Latest News

WRACK: Black Metal Band Signs with The Crawling Chaos.

February 7, 2023

ALLEGAEON: Announce Extraterrestrial Takeover Tour.

February 5, 2023

COUNTLESS SKIES: Announce May 5 Release of "Resonance."

February 5, 2023

HAWKWIND: Announce New Album, "The Future Never Waits."

February 5, 2023

SUFFOCATION: Announce European Tour 2023.

February 5, 2023

WILD BEYOND: Announce Debut Album Details.

February 5, 2023

All 42686 News

Metal Temple Editor Wanted Banner (Guy - Square)

Latest Interviews

Krista Shipperbottom

LUTHARO

Samuel Cornelsen

Count Raven

Zeb Nilsson

Aeon

Burning Point's Peter Ahonen: "…everyone has people in their "circle" that are always negative and kind of in a "bad mood". Those are the soul burners and consume your energy" interview

Filters

Order by

Date Range

Reviews

Three Times Lucky

Fatal Vision

Opium EP

Half Me

The Last Will and Testament

Opeth

Kill Or Be Killed

Alex Nunziati

The Forgotten West

Forsaken Rite

New Moon

Frust

Till Förruttnelsen

Grand Harvest

Egrotants, Souffreteux, Cacochymes, Covidards

Grylle

Our

Notturno

Merciful the Dying Light

Vølus

Harlekin und Krieger

Robse

Feed the Machine

Mordkaul

Blowing Your Ears Off

Kate’s Acid

Old City New Ruins

Feldspar

Chronicles of Lunacy

Defeated Sanity

Bleed on My Teeth

Adorior

Winter Storm

Ensiferum

True

Jon Anderson And The Band Geeks

Sing and Bleed

Wall of Palemhor

Triumph of Enslavement

Traumatomy

Le ballet des anges

Ad Vitam Infernal

There Is Beauty In Letting Go

Vicious Rain

Wounds of Desolation

Isolert

Violent DNA

Nuclear

Metal Merchants

Mindless Sinner

Am I Invisible

BornBroken

Champion

Turbokill

Feberdrömmar

Shining

Outer Limits

Salem UK

The Overlord Messiah

Retched

Burning Savage

Obnoxious Youth

Praise The Communion Fire For The Unhallowed Sacrament

Blackevil

The Nothing That Is

Fit For An Autopsy

Descent

Morass Skoffin

(XX​)​V - Of Tales and Tragedies

Battlesword

Sbarco

Sbarco

Latest Reviews

Con Man's Chronicles

The Skelters

Next Akin To Chaos

(XX)V - Of Tales and Tragedies