March 7th 2025 - New release highlights

Band: Raging Speedhorn
Album: Night Wolf
Genre: Sludge / Groove Metal
Similar artists: Charger, Iron Monkey, Superjoint Ritual

Unbelievably, it's been 25 years since Corby's "finest" released their stomping, self-titled debut album. In the ensuing years the band's output has been both sporadic and hit and miss, but on Night Wolf they've rediscovered the spark that has been missing from the last few releases. This is Speedhorn at the top of their game.

Recommended tracks: Night Wolf, DOA
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Band: The Unguided
Album: Hellven
Genre: Melodic Death Metal
Similar artists: Pain, Sonic Syndicate, dEMOTIONAL

It all started off promising enough for The Unguided. Formed in 2010 by ex-members of Sonic Syndicate, their debut album, 2011's Hellfrost, was exactly the pop-tinged Melodic Death Metal you might have expected from the Sjunnesson brothers and Roland Johansson. Unfortunately, in my opinion, subsequent releases never matched the same heights and my interest in the band waned. Fast forward to 2025 and The Unguided have finally delivered the goods again. Hellven might not be as good as Hell Frost but it's a big step in the right direction. Welcome back lads.

Recommended tracks: Kilonova, Hell
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Band: Istapp
Album: Sól Tér Sortna
Genre: Melodic Black Metal
Similar artists: Havukruunu, Windir, Kampfar

Sweden's purveyors of the finesy sun-bating folky Black Metal are back with their first album since 2019. They might not be doing anything particularly fresh here, but when you are as consistently good as Istapp, you really don't need to. Album of the week and contender for album of the year.

Recommeded tracks: Storm av Is, Grýla, Frostdraken

Feb 28th 2025 - New release highlights

Havukruunu - Tavastland

Probably the best kept secret in Pagan Black Metal, Finland's Havukruunu release the long-awaited follow-up to 2020's Uinous Syömein Sota. Arguably the best band in the genre today and well worth your time if you're a fan of the likes of Moonsorrow, Kampfar and their ilk.

Recommended tracks: Havukruunu ja Talvenvarjo, Tavastland.

Architects - The Sky, The Earth and All Between

Brighton's finest have been mainstays on the UK Metalcore scene since 2006 and while they certainly aren't breaking the mold or any new ground on this record, it's a decent enough example of the genre.

Recomended track: Blackhole

Review: Elvenking - Reader of the Runes - Luna

Band: Elvenking
Album: Reader of the Runes - Luna
Release date: April 11th 2025.

Italy’s premier Folk-influenced Power Metal outfit, Elvenking, are now on their twelfth album and this is the third, and I assume, final part of their Reader of the Runes series. While I’m not and never have been a fan of Power Metal in general, I must admit to always having had a soft spot for Elvenking. With that said, I have found their output to be a little hit and miss, but rather appropriately considering their musical style, they are improving with age like a quality cheese. The previous installments of the aforementioned ROTR series, were among the best of the band’s career, so I have been looking forward to hearing this one.

Opening track Season of the Owl is a surprisingly thrashy little number, underpinned with a slick, understated fiddle melody and some virtuoso keyboard flourishes reminiscent of the sadly missed Children of Bodom. Next up are the one-two punch of the jaunty Luna, which lodges itself in my brain instantly with its deviously catchy melody and Gone Epoch which has a faint air of Falconer about it. So far, so promising. Luckily, the rest of the album continues in the same vein and though it never strays too far from the band’s well-worn sound, the band are deftly and gradually growing and evolving. While the band’s love of Folk Metal legends, Skyclad has always been apparent and openly acknowledged, this is now being complemented by subtle progressive influences from the likes of Nightwish and the aforementioned Children of Bodom.

Overall, ROTR – Luna is an enjoyable and satisfying listen, which is comfortingly familiar, yet at the same time, forward thinking and progressive. With a genuine knack for a catchy chorus and skillful use of melody, Elvenking are masters of their domain and this album is definitely up there with their best. It might be a bit early to say this, but for me, ROTR - Luna is a strong contender for Folk Metal album of the year.

Standout tracks: Season of the Owl, Luna, Thrones of Atonement.

Feb 21st 2025 - New release highlights

Killswitch Engage - This Consequence

The Metalcore icons return with their first album since 2019's Atonement and they are on fine form. Musically it's more reminiscent of the Howard Jones era than the recent post-Jesse comeback albums, which is unexpected, but welcome. As a long-time fan, I'm pleased to say that this album has everything I could want from the band. The familiar, trademark Metalcore heaviness is present here, but it is always underpinned by Jesse's powerful vocals and is positively dripping with melody.

Standout tracks: Discordant Nation, Aftermath, Forever Aligned, I Believe

Horizon Ignited - Tides

Still relatively new on the scene, Finland's Horizon Ignited offer a fresh take on the well-worn Finnish Melodic Death Metal sound. While there's no significant re-invention of the wheel here, there are signs of a heavier future beyond the traditional Melodeath boundaries, as evidenced on Welcome to This House of Hate and Baptism by Fire. Influenced as much by the atmospheric progressive sound of Amorphis as they are by Insomnium or Before the Dawn, this is another strong release by this underrated band.

Standout tracks: Beneath the Dark Waters, Welcome to this House of Hate.

Scour - Gold

The full-length debut album from Scour is finally here and it as unrelenting wall of full-on, melodic Black Metal nastiness as one might have expected it to be. Don't expect a lot of variation though. Aside from a couple of between song instrumental tracks, at it's (black) heart, this is a modern take on old-school Black Metal. Anselmo's voice is on brutal form, veering between gutteral death growls and blackened rasps. Extrememe Metal album of the year? Could be.

Standout tracks: Blades, Coin, Devil.

Feb 21st 2025 - Recommended new songs of the week

Machine Head - Unbøund

Alien Weaponry - 1000 Friends

Disturbed - I Will Not Break

2025 Albums you might have missed

We're only a few weeks into February and 2025 has already seen some fantastic new Metal releases. Here are just a few that you might have missed.

The Halo Effect - March of the Unheard

Coming just a couple of years after their debut, Gothenburg's finest have delivered the goods yet again on their sophomore release. Comprising of members of the city's Melodeath elite, the band displays the confidence of experience and a real songwriting nouse. In my humble opinion, the absolute best Melodic Death Metal band out there today.

Standout tracks: Detonate, Cruel Perception, March of the Unheard.

Harakiri for the Sky - Scorched Earth

Since releasing their debut album in 2012, HFTS have been not only prolific, but also consistent. Marrying beautiful melodies and heartwrenching lyrics with an abrasive, yet melodic post Black Metal core sound. Although, with an average song length of 8 - 10 minutes, they won't be for everyone, but I'd urge you to give them a chance. An early contender for album of the year.

Standout tracks: Heal Me, Without You I'm Just a Sad Song.

Thy Kingdom Will Burn - The Loss and Redemption

Despite being relative newcomers to an already very much over-subscribed Melodic Death Metal scene, Finland's TKWB more than hold their own with the more established acts. What they lack in originality, they more than make up in quality. As well as these lads, there have been a lot of other great new bands in the genre in recent years, such as Aeolian, After Earth and Thermality, proving that the future of Melodeath is in very safe hands.

Standout tracks: Obscure Existence, Suffering Sky, To End of Times

Feb 14th 2025 - New release highlights

Any of you who used to read my blog back in the day might remember that I'd post a weekly update about new album releases. Well, I think it's time to resurrect that idea. With so many new albums being released each week, it can be hard to keep track of everything and even harder to know what's worth your time. I'll be updating this blog every weekend with my pick of the week's new releases. Bear in mind that I probably won't have listened to the albums by the time I post. If I have, I'll add a quick review, otherwise I'll write a few lines as a description of the band / genre. As with the recommended songs, I'll aim for 3 - 5 albums per week, but this is obviously dependant on the number / quality of releases.

Lacuna Coil - Sleepless Empire (Gothic Metal)

Judging from the singles released so far, Lacuna Coil's tenth album is going to be a return to form for the Italian veterans and another collection of quality Gothic Metal anthems.

Loksmith - Lanterns (Alternative / Prog Rock)

Danish Alt / Prog oddballs release their debut album and it's really rather good. Take the opening track, I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream. The intro alone swings from Helmet to Korn to Dream Theater...and that's before a word is sung. I'll let you discover the rest of this little gem for yourselves, but personally, I really enjoyed it.

Inside Her - Shame of Hearts (Synthwave / Alt Industrial)

This band is new to me and so far I've only heard the one track, Dusty Pink, but it was enough to pique my interest. The synth melody in the intro alone was enough to hook me. It has an 80s vibe, but in a good way.