New Videos - July 2023!

Wow, this summer is going faster than I expected!  I know it's been dang hot for everyone, but hopefully we can endure for another month or so.  In the meantime, I've got another handful of excellent new songs for you to check out.  

Despite enjoying some of Noveria's singles in the past, I never did get around to that album, and now they have another one coming out!  They've still got that technical riffing and epic sound, this time with a bit more of a symphonic flair.  Italian melodic prog metal really is a distinct and fascinating sound!

Yup.  Another Anthem single.  This one definitely aims for more of a Painkiller vibe with that double-kicking bass drum and driving chugs.  Also, that guitar solo is pretty solid.  I'm starting to think I need to get into this band sooner rather than later, as their singles are surprisingly consistent.

Is it bad that the most I knew about this band is that they were the reason Herman Li & Co. changed their name to DragonForce?  Well, it turns out they've got a solid heavy/power metal sound, much like Grave Digger.  With a catchy chorus and some solid guitar work, this single might inspire me to give them a shot now that they've got a new album coming out.

Yup.  More Primal Fear.  This one is definitely a mid-tempo stomper, getting to their classic metal roots.  So far, Ralf and company seem to be keeping their consistent quality with this one.  While it's definitely much like what they've done before, I'm still looking forward to their new album. 

So I guess earlier in the year, some of the guys from Vanden Plas started this side-project that's more of a hard rock/heavy metal group.  Finally catching up on it, I think they have a solid sound, though I think I could hear Andy Kuntz sing over just about anything.  In any case, it's got some crunchy riffs and decent melodies, with some synth layers behind it for good measure.  Check it out!

New Videos - May 2023!

Wow, sorry for dropping the ball at the end of last month!  Life got rather busy and stressful in a real hurry, so this kinda took a back seat.  Still, I've been able to find a few things worth checking out, featuring some interesting throwback styled rockers as well as some regulars on this blog.

Stray Gods are another band that borrows heavily from Iron Maiden.  This means soaring vocals, upbeat energy, and plenty of noodly guitar riffs.  And yet, I can't deny that this is pretty fun!  The Maiden sound when done well can always put a smile on my face, so I'll have to keep an eye out for more from these fellows.

Wow, I don't know if I've heard a band try so hard to sound like Rush.  And it's not just one specific era, as they have the hard rock of the early era, the song-writing of the prog era, and the synths of the 80s all mixed together.  Of course, it isn't just a carbon copy, as this band takes you on a solid journey for 18 minutes.  Between all the catchy melodies and interesting transitions, it's quite the prog rock buffet!

Primal Fear may have gone into cruise control for the past few albums, but I can't deny that they remain pretty consistent in providing solid, crunchy heavy/power metal.  As long as Ralf has the pipes and the band has the riffs, I'm in.  This one is a pretty standard mid-tempo stomper, but it's a decent tease for their new album.  

So Jamison Palmer, guitarist of Visigoth, has this other project that has singer Madeline Smith as the main focal point.  She has an interesting, epic lower register that works well with the traditional metal style they've got going here.  I think this goes for more of a Tanith/70s metal vibe, focusing as much on narrative storytelling as the riffs.

I clearly need to jam more Anthem.  They take on heavy/power metal is just so catchy and epic, and this track is no different.  Big, noodly riffs, double-kicking bass drums, a hooky chorus; it's just one big pile of everything I like, and I know this is the first time I've felt this way about them.  Turn this up!

Man, it really does feel like Iron Savior can do no wrong.  Their epic style of power metal just hits all the right notes for me, and this lead single for their new album is just another example.  Tons of energy and melodies, with an epic chorus and a grand story to tell.  I look forward to hearing more!

New Videos - February 2023!

Time to get into some new videos again!  Already, there's plenty of solid tracks that get me excited for the releases of this year, especially those from the big names.  Lots of metal this time around, but I promise I'm checking out plenty of rock as well.  In the meantime, check these ones out, as they're likely to get your head banging!

Once again, Metallica has come out screaming.  One thing I noticed with this (and the last song) was how much it felt like they were drawing from the Saxon and Motorhead side of their influences.  They got a bit more of high-energy rock vibe.  I'm scared to get my hopes up, but this could potentially be a solid Metallica album coming in April!

Gus G and his dynamic fretwork is back for more in this heavy/power stomper.  Herbie Langhans sounds as big and gritty as ever, and the rest of the song has solid, uptempo anthemic energy while still keeping things catchy with that melodic synth riff.  

Anthem is another of those bands where I like what I've heard, but I just haven't taken the plunge yet on one of their albums.  They still have their excellent mix of heavy and power metal, making for a very anthemic, uptempo track full of riffs that really get the blood pumping.

Well, I guess that hiatus wasn't very long at all!  Not that I'm complaining, of course.  Right off, their new bassist sounds great, fitting right in with the band's high speed pyrotechnics.  If the rest of the album is like this, I'm sure these Japanese power metal goddesses will find themselves in my Top 5 again!

I knew that when Kamelot announced they were doing a new album that it would be a priority for me.  The visual shift to sci-fi is a bit new (though welcome; it makes me think of the awesome Dune movie), but otherwise it's pretty typical symphonic metal for the group, featuring a pretty anthemic 6/8 groove.  However, I do want to try and catch up on the other two albums before getting to this one, so keep an eye out for those as well.

New Videos - March 2019

Another month, more videos!  Let's get into it!

As mentioned before, I'm a pretty big Alan Parsons fan, so the fact that he's finally coming out with a new album after 15 years has me pretty excited.  That being said, this song does feel a little lackluster.  While it has a classic Parsons sound, it doesn't seem to do much more.  Hopefully the album will have more going for it.

Here we have a new band The Brink playing hard rock like it's 1982, where the anthems of the 70s meet the crunch of the 80s.  I'm not sure if I like the waaaa-ing underneath the whole song, the rest of it is great, fist-pumping rock!

Battle Beast is back with another anthemic rocker, but when they're this good, how can you go wrong?  Seriously, though, if you're in it for uplifting, melodic metal, you can't go wrong with these guys (and gal)!

Another banger from Japanese band Anthem!  This upcoming collection of re-recorded greatest hits is sounding better and better!  Just full of power and, well, anthemic riffs!

This one is a live recording of Riverside, playing the title track off their last album.  Riverside is a name I've seen around, but I've never really listened to them.  Here, we get a nice, moody piece that later explodes into a proggy metal jam.  Check it out!

Let's go with some classic party rock to finish this list!  Here we have a very AC/DC inspired track from Treatment, with a guy who can actually sing!  No disrespect to the gritty tones of Scott and Johnson, but hearing this style of music with clean vocals is just as catchy!

New Videos - February 2019 Part 3!

I feel like these video articles are all I'm doing these days, but I can't help sharing all the cool music I'm finding!  I promise I'll get to other types of articles, but for now, let's check out some great rock music!

Let's start off with another one from Anthem.  As I mentioned before, this Japanese band has been going for a while, but this video is for their first major international album, so their pulling all the stops.  Great piece of speedy metal!

I know I post a lot of metal here, but I can't deny the power of good AOR, and I'm thankful for labels like Fronteirs Records and their mission to give this kind of music an opportunity to shine.  Here's another uplifting, 80s-style epic from Find Me, and it doesn't disappoint!

Sticking with the 80s for a moment, here we have epic 80s hair metal coming from Swedish glam rockers Crazy Lixx.  While they may not have the classic pedigree of Def Leppard or Dokken, they have the right sound and attitude to for it!

Saint Vitus seems to be coming back, bring their style of old-school doom metal with them.  While the intro seems different, that middle section and is pure Sabbath-y, with crunchy riffs and a wailing, haunted guitar solo!

Here we have another piece of melodic progressive metal from Darkwater.  After this song and the previous one, between the atmosphere, the riffs, and the synth solos, this is sounding like an album I shouldn't miss!  

Let's wrap things up with some Queensrÿche.  As expected, they bring their classic 80s style with some solid riffing and great melodies to go along with their message.  Todd La Torre really shines on this one!

New Videos - January 2019

Happy New Year!  Here's to another year of great rock and metal music!  Let's start off with some more videos, because there's a lot coming up and we don't want to miss it!

I admit I'm not real savvy to Neal Morse's material, but this just shines with both technical chops and an uplifting tone!  Lot's of proggy keyboard runs and crunchy guitars, backed up by Mike Portnoy's solid drumming.

Candlemass can always lay out the lead.  They've been pounding out their brand of epic doom metal for decades, and it never gets old!  The touches of choir on the chorus really push this piece just that little bit higher.

So, apparently, this Japanese band has been rocking since the 80s alongside Loudness, and are finally getting some proper Western support and attention, and their experience shows!  Nice epic heavy/power metal with some decent crunchy melodic lines.

It looks like Rhapsody of Fire isn't the only Italian Power Metal band stepping up in in 2019.  Here is Ancient Bards continuing their saga, with all sorts of bombast, neo-classical riffing, and epicness to spare!

Oh, look!  More Italian Power Metal!  Vision Divine has been playing their style of prog/power metal for a while, and it sounds like they haven't lost a step!  New singer sounds good as well!