Last Played - December 2021 Part Three!

Merry Christmas!  Here's a handful of reviews for your present!  Seriously, though, this month has been a ride, catching up with all these albums.  Here we've got a good mix of pop, power, and heavy metal, along with Vega's new release.  Let's get into it!

Vega - Anarchy and Unity

Vega have been a pretty solid band when it comes to more melodic hard rock.  Only Human was solid 80s anthemic cheese that I loved.  Grit Your Teeth loosened things up a bit and let the band feel around a little more, which I liked, but Anarchy and Unity might have taken things a little too far.  While I liked the early singles, now that I've listened to the album, this band has shifted slightly.

It's definitely a little strange compared to the previous two, as the keyboards seem to take a backseat to a more guitar-and-vocal focused approach.  While the guitars are pretty thick and chunky, giving some great rock riffs, the song-writing and production felt much more modern.  The comparisons I kept making was to anthemic alternative rock bands of the 2000s, like Daughtry, The Calling, and the Goo Goo Dolls.

That being said, there's some solid stuff on here.  "Beautiful Lie" and "Sooner or Later" are a great start to the album, with big riffs and a great uptempo vibe.  I also liked "Bring the Riot," which had a bit of a punk rock vibe.  They also try to mix it up, such as the finger-snapping jazzy grove on "C'mon" and an interesting shift in the middle of "Live For Me," where it changes from a power ballad to a straight-up rocker for one very shreddy solo before dropping back into power ballad territory.  "2Die4" is also a strange one, trying a few different dynamics than I'm used to for these guys.  

To be honest, I think I'm a little disappointed.  After I loved the other two so much, I guess maybe I got my hopes up.  Perhaps I should take it as a sign that the band are trying to push themselves, and sometimes you have to stumble to really know what works and what doesn't.  It's still a decent album, with a lot of anthemic rockers, but this had less of an impact on me, overall.  

Victory - Gods of Tomorrow

Victory started in the mid-80s, and despite getting an international hit or two, generally got overshadowed by other German bands like Scorpions and Accept.  Herman Frank joined in 1986 and stayed with the band until they disbanded in the mid-90s.  However, they reunited in 2003 with Frank, and the lineup has generally changed around him since then, including a lot of members from Frank's solo band.  At first, I just thought he had joined a long-running band, but looking over the history, this has pretty much become another Herman Frank solo project in all but name.  As such, the music bears a lot of similarities to Frank's solo albums, and to much of the classic German metal sound established by bands like Accept and Sinner.  

Because of this, I was going in with the expectation of some solid riffing and rockin' vibe, and this album doesn't disappoint.  If there is any difference between this and Frank's recent solo works, I think this is a little closer to 80s rock rather than metal, but it's a pretty subtle difference.  Think AOR, but with a German metal vibe.

Honestly, though, it's not a major deal.  While the album is a little long and there really isn't anything particularly new or innovative going on, it rocks pretty well, occasionally pushing into faster territory with songs like "Gods of Tomorrow," "Rising Force," and "Into the Light."   "Love & Hate" and "On Fire" has a lot of classic Accept vibes, and the album never loses its classic metal energy.  I think I actually like this more than Herman Frank's own album from earlier in the year.  It will be interesting to compare the two as I prepare for my Top 5 of the year.

Crazy Lixx - Street Lethal

Crazy Lixx was one of the bands I discovered in 2019, quite enjoying their 80s pop metal style so much so that they crept into my Top 5 for that year!  While I anticipated this one pretty deeply, I expected to get more of the same, and they certainly haven't disappointed.

Once again, we're deep in the style that made household names out of Def Leppard, Dokken, and Whitesnake.  Full of big, cheesy anthems and arena rockers, these guys haven't lost a step in their 80s-drenched cinematic vibe.  As usual, the uptempo tracks stand out to me, such as "Rise Above,"  and "Street Lethal."  I also liked "Reach Out" and "One Fire - One Goal" with their AOR-heavy elements, and some tracks aren't afraid to get bluesy at times as well.  The album ends with some longer songs, with the closer being a 7-minute epic "Thief in the Night," which a decent mid-tempo rocker with a more dramatic tone.  I also noticed a greater presence of synthesizers on the album overall, though they're mostly used to give the tracks a bigger, AOR-like feel, a la Europe or Night Ranger.

While Forever Wild was a bit on the long side, this one is definitely tighter, with 2 of its 11 tracks being short instrumentals.  That being said, there's plenty of variety, which makes the album feel like it uses its time well.  I don't know if this one is better than the last one, but it's pretty dang close in quality.  However, just as I said about the last album, this one proves that the glam/pop metal style is still relevant and worth listening to!

NorthTale - Eternal Flame

After being reminded that this band exists and enjoying their first album so much, I was excited for their follow up.  While they retain their classic power metal style, they definitely shift their sound more, experimenting with a lot of different things.  However, they seem to be at their best when they build upon the styles of Stratovarius and Sonata Arctica.

Right off, the album kick starts with some high-speed power metal with the great opener "Only Human." From there, the band really starts to try some things.  "Wings of Salvation" has a symphonic tone in a 6/8 style, "Future Calls" features Kai Hansen and his son Tim so it has some strong Helloween elements, "The Land of Mystic Rites" pulls out some flutes and Latin folk vibes which made me think of classic Angra, and then "Midnight Bells" and "In the Name of God" were on the heavier side, the former making me think of Brainstorm or Primal Fear, and the latter having the bass-heavy grooves of Metalium.  The closer is a symphonic outro that doesn't feature metal at all.  It's a nice piece of music (making me think of symphonic Final Fantasy arrangements), but it is a bit of a strange ending.  The rest of the album, however, stays in the Stratovarius zone, and I found I enjoyed those songs most of all.

Like I mentioned on an earlier article, their new vocalist Guilherme Hirose sounds a lot like Timo Kotipelto, and I wonder if that was a deliberate choice.  The solos trade back and forth between the keyboards and the guitars, only strengthening the Stratovarius comparison.  That's a good thing though, as classic Stratovarius is some of my favorite power metal, so I'm pleased to hear a new band write these kinds of songs.  I think my favorite songs were "Future Calls" and "Only Human," and I thought the 11-minute epic "Nature's Revenge" was solid as well.  Overall, though, I don't know if this album is better than the first one.  I'd have to listen to them more to really decide.  That being said, if you're looking for quite the smorgasbord of power metal, this album certainly delivers.

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Well, that's the year wrapped up.  While I know I didn't get to everything I could have, I think I hit all the releases that I wanted to, so I don't have many regrets.  That being said, when I was looking over my charts, I found that I have listened to and reviewed 28 albums this year!  I don't know if I've ever listened to that much new music within a calendar year!  Figuring out my Top 5 is gonna be quite the challenge!  We'll see what I decide when that comes out at the end of January.

I plan on having on more article before the end of the year, catching up on some new videos.  Otherwise, I plan on having a cozy holiday week, and I hope you all have that as well.  Until then, rock on! \m/

New Videos - November 2021!

Let's finish off the month with another set of videos!  Now that I'm planning on doing only one of these a month, it does make the article on the longer side, but I assure you, these are all great tracks.  It's mostly power metal this time, but I've got a few others in there to mix it up.

Yup, more German heavy/power metal.  However, I get a very strong Queensryche vibe, but that may be just because vocalist Denis Brosowski makes me think of Geoff Tate.  Still, it's got a decent 6/8 gallop that really carries the song, adding to the dark, epic tone.

So a pair of folks who used to work together in the band H.E.A.T. decided to come together for a power metal project, and they definitely have a mix of classic and modern influences.  It's a promising start, and a project I'll have to keep an eye out for in the future.

Once again, Crazy Lixx and their nostalgia-heavy pop metal sound find their way onto one of my articles.  This one has a lot of energy, and has some great gang vocals in the chorus.  This track, along with many of the other singles, is giving me a lot of high hopes for the new album.

So Sorcerer has been staying busy by doing some covers and releasing them as singles.  While the others have been interesting, this one stood out to me as really fitting their style.  Vocalist Anders Engberg really soars, just like he did on their last album.  Kinda slow and epic, their take on the Saxon classic is a little safe, but very solid.

NorthTale keeps coming with great, high-speed power metal, and they've definitely added some symphonic elements on this one.  Of course, it helps to get power metal legend Kai Hansen and his son involved, just to add that extra level of epicness.  It's a great track that makes me look forward to their new album, which I still need to get to.

I guess Lovebites is going on hiatus, after their bass player left.  So they're filling a gap with a compilation album that features this new song as a single.  Naturally, it's a high-speed power metal stomper with plenty of melodic leads and harmonies.  While the future of this band may be uncertain, this single is a fitting tribute to their career thus far.

Wolfmother kinda surprised everyone with a new album out of the blue, and I've been listening to pieces of it.  Unsurprisingly, they've still got that very 70s metal vibe, with noodly guitar solos straight off of a Rainbow record.  Expect a review of this from me soon!

So the founder of Nuclear Blast started a new label called Atomic Fire, and after bringing over a handful of artists, they've signed some new ones, including these guys.  This song is some solid power metal, somewhere between DragonForce and Stratovarius, with a bit of the Legend of Zelda in the solo, for good measure.  I'll definitely be keeping an eye on them next year.

I remember stumbling across Power Quest in 2011, when they released Blood Alliance, and I thought they were a pretty decent band, much in the vein of DragonForce.  I haven't kept up with them recently, but it seems they've carried on without a hitch, despite nearly a new lineup.  Uplifting power metal is always welcome around here.

After blessing us last Christmas with a power metal adaptation of A Christmas Carol, Majestica seems to have pulled together a few more tracks (including this one) for an Extended Version this year.  While the song follows the same formula of telling the story while using a classic Christmas song as a base, it's still a pretty solid tune, much like the rest of that album.

Last Played - November 2021 Part Two!

I think I'm going to end up spending a lot of this holiday season catching up on this year's releases.  I know there are a lot of albums I want to get to, but I'm also starting to wonder how on earth I'm going to decide my Top 5.  While I don't know if I've heard any obvious winners, there has been a good chunk of great music this year, and this article is gonna go over some of them.  Here's what I've been checking out lately!

Dream Theater - A View from the Top of the World

After the band stumbled with The Astonishing, they set out to recenter themselves with Distance Over Time, and largely succeeded.  I felt that the album was adequate, with not much really standing out to me.  Now we have their follow up with this album, and their stated intentions to start exploring again, this time with some heavier, 8-string guitars, which I think helped their songs sound very dramatic and broad in their scope.

Of course, Dream Theater going for heavy isn't necessarily anything new (Train of Thought comes to mind), but I think goal here was to expand their dynamics and tones, which has mostly worked.  Right off, the album starts with some very chunky metal riffs, with "The Alien" and "Answering the Call," setting the tone for the rest of the album, with later tracks adding some interesting symphonic elements.  "Transcending Time" is a curious outlier, surprisingly having a lot of AOR rock energy, and I can't deny that I rather liked it.  However, the center piece is clear the 20 minute epic at the end of the album that has the band really flexing their songwriting muscles.  They really explore a lot of moods on that one, shifting from fast to slow, heavy to light, and back again.  (Par for the course, really.)

Overall, I think this is slightly better than their last one.  The heaviness seems to have brought some energy along with it, and the band do some interesting balancing between heavier and lighter sections.  "Answering the Call" and "Awaken the Master" are probably the best tracks, as I feel they make great use of the heaviness without letting the songs go off the rails too much.  That being said, this is still very Dream Theater, and will likely not appeal to anyone who isn't already a fan.  I admit I'm not a huge fan of them, myself, so take my words with a grain of salt.  Nevertheless, it's a solid showing, proving that this band still have a lot of creative energy in the tank.

Beast in Black - Dark Connection

After enjoying their first two albums, I was pretty keen on hearing what Beast in Black had in store this year.  When the singles landed, the clear switch to a very 80s cyberpunk aesthetic was a bit of a surprise, as they dived deeper into their sonic inspirations.  However, the result is clearly more of the same, for better or worse.

The album has a great opener in "Blade Runner," with some great energy and crunchy riffs.  However, from there, it starts to feel like a repeat of previous efforts.  Some songs are poppy, some are more metal, but all stay within the range the band has covered before.  "One Night in Tokyo" is one of the better ones on the poppy side, "To the Last Drop of Blood" is probably the one that balances the two styles the best, and "Revengeance Machine" has a great "Painkiller" vibe that's kinda ruined by some awkward, profanity-laden narration at the start.  There's a general shift toward more mature, suggestive lyrics as well, so your mileage may vary with that.  The band continues to maintain their solid production and tight performances, however, with Yannis Papadopoulos flexing his dynamic vocals once again.  He gets plenty of opportunities to shift between his lighter and aggressive styles.  Oh, and that Manowar cover is pretty fun.

While it's easy to criticize this as being more of the same, I'm reluctant to do so, as I feel this band is still the best as this fusion of 80s pop and heavy metal (which I have dubbed "synth metal").  I know I certainly don't want them to stop.  However, I do think this is a bit of a step down from the previous albums.  In their attempt to shift the content from fantasy to sci-fi, they tried to be more sophisticated with their lyrics and presentation, with mixed results.  While it's nice to have some epic cyberpunk anthems, it's hard to feel like the band is really stretching themselves.  In the end, it's a decent album, with a few great songs, but not as engaging as their previous efforts.

NorthTale - Welcome to Paradise

So this is a bit of catchup before I do their 2021 release, as I wanted to go into NorthTale's new album with some context of what they had done here.  Honestly, I loved what I had heard from the singles, but then the band just kinda fell off my radar somehow.  To be honest, I feel bad about it, as it's clearly the kind of power metal I love, being very influenced by the styles of Helloween and Stratovarius.

Right off, we start with some high speed, double-kicking power metal, and it doesn't really let up.  Oh, sure, there are power ballads in the middle with "Way of the Light" and at the end with "Even When," but they're kinda forgettable (which is also quite like Stratovarius; I love that band, but I could never get into their ballads).  "Everyone's a Star" is also a bit different, a kind of satirical piece of pop metal.

But everything else is excellent power metal.  I loved hearing a bunch of the singles again, like "Higher," "Shape Your Reality," "Siren's Fall," and "Bring Down the Mountain."  As for rest, "Follow Me," "Time to Rise," and "If Angels Are Real" stood out to me.  Vocalist Christian Eriksson is quite good, providing some epic held-notes, and making me think of Jonas Heidgert of Dragonland.  The guitar solos are incredible, with Bill Hudson throwing in some neo-classical chops here and there, and the keyboards by Jimmy Pitts are right there with him, noodling along like Jens Johansson.

Honestly, this could have been a Top 5 contender for 2019.  This is the kind of power metal that bands should be making more of, in my opinion.  I'm not quite sure how to describe it, but I know it's not the over-the-top style of DragonForce nor the heavier power metal of Iron Savior or Primal Fear.  It's that middle ground where Helloween, Freedom Call, and Stratovarius live, and now we have NorthTale representing the style, and doing it very well!  Great stuff!

The Dust Coda - Mojo Skyline

Hey, remember these guys?  I was digging a lot of their singles earlier in the year, and I've finally taken the time to listen to their new album.  While a lot of retro rock bands lean on the styles of Zeppelin or Sabbath, these guys are going for more of an Aerosmith vibe, and do it well!

This album has three things going for it: First, is the meaty riffs.  Clearly leaning on 70s rock clichés, the production gives them a good amount of heft and power.  They also have a good balance of being catchy and simple.  They won't win any shredding awards, but with hooks this good, my head was bobbing all the way through this record.  Second, their vocalist John Drake really lets it all hang out.  He's got a great, straight-forward rock sound, with just the right amount of grit.  He's as subtle as a brick and it's perfect!  Third, these songs have a ton of energy!  Even though it's mostly settled in a nice, mid-tempo rock groove, these are not passive tunes.  I can see them jumping around all over the stage in my mind as they play these songs.

Basically, I'm saying that I really like this album.  I was a little afraid it would get repetitive, but it really doesn't.  They know how to shake it up a little with some different moods, with things shifting even during the song sometimes.  "Breakdown" is a really good example of this, starting at a mid-tempo groove before going full-on hard rock at the end.  Other stand outs include "Limbo Man," the anthemic "Dream Alright," "Best Believe It," and that super heavy riff on "I've Been Waiting."  Overall, it's a plain straight-up rocking album from start to finish, with no brakes to slow things down.

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Well, that was certainly a fun mix of music!  I have one more article coming before the end of the month, and it's gonna be a bunch of videos, so keep a look out for that.  I don't have much else to say, so until then, rock on! \m/

New Videos - September 2021 Part Two!

I know I'm cutting it close, but here's one more for September before we dive deeper into the stacked autumn season.  Definitely got a good variety here, so there's sure to be something for everyone. 

Between Worlds is another Frontiers Records project, this time revolving around Ronny Munroe, a metal singer who has been kicking around for a few decades, with well-known stints in Metal Church and TSO.  Here it seems to be leaning into a symphonic rock/metal project that has some decent crunch and some potential, along with a catchy chorus.  I'll have to keep an eye on this one.

Kissin' Dynamite is always good for a fun song, and this is no different.  Finding a nice groove between 80s rock and metal, it's not surprising that it's uplifting and anthemic.  Surprisingly, this is for an album not coming out until January, which seems a little early, but I suppose it will serve as a good start for 2022.

Carrying on with more 80s cheese, Crazy Lixx is back with more Def-Leppard-style pop metal.  After enjoying their last album so much, I'm definitely interested in more from them.  While "Anthem for America" was a little weird, this one is much more straight-forward, with a mid-tempo rocking vibe that feels nice and laid back.

It's been a while since I've listened to Ronnie Romero.  I kinda forgot this was one of his bands as well.  The music is some pretty straight-forward melodic metal with some dramatic heft, but it's Romero who really shines with his iconic vocals.  Overall, a satisfying track.

I clearly need to get caught up on Tremonti's solo band, as this stuff is really solid.  It does wander into alternative metal territory with that very crunchy opening riff, which isn't necessarily outside of Mark's wheelhouse (I still remember "Bullets"), but the chorus falls back into classic post-grunge, allowing for some decent juxtaposition that doesn't feel too jarring.

Wow, this has massive Stratovarius vibes!  This makes me think of classics like Visions and Destiny.  Even vocalist Guilherme Hirose is reminding me a lot of Timo Kotipelto.  High speed riffing with nice neo-classical touches throughout, this is power metal done well!

New Videos - August 2021 Part Two!

Sorry for the delay on this one, but I wasn't sure what I wanted to do for the last article of August.  Eventually, this one won out, mostly by the fact that it got done first.  In any case, there's plenty to check out, mostly power metal.  Turn it up!

I'm always surprised by how many new bands just keep coming out with new stuff, but I guess these guys have been kicking around Sweden for more than a few years, now.  I don't know if having those pulsing bass synths is normal, but it does push this metal track to the next level of epic, sitting next to the likes of Beast in Black and Primal Fear in style.

While the band is doing some more cross-promotion with a video game, I can't deny Sabaton can still put out fun stuff.  Going back to their well-tread ground of tanks (get it?), they offer another catchy, upbeat stomper.  I kinda wish the music wasn't drowned out by the explosions and tankfire, though.

Speaking of reliable bands, Eclipse keeps bringing the rock!  They seem to have really mastered writing these massive, anthemic, upbeat rockers (this time with a little Beethoven).  Their last album had a bunch of them, and it seems this next one won't be any different.  Incredible stuff.

Rage is another band that's a gap for me.  These German metallers have been going since the 80s, and are often cited for being a part of the early shift into power metal.  However, here, we have something that's more like melodic thrash, making me think of bands like Metal Church and Savage Messiah.  Huge, crunchy riffs, and plenty of energy prove that the band leader Peavy hasn't slowed down.

Hey, remember these guys?  I still never got around to their debut album, but this new video they threw together serves as a good reminder for me to get back to them.  Full of neo-classical energy a la Stratovarius, these guys had some great power metal chops.

Metalium has actually been broken up for nearly 10 years now, but when their founded and bassist Lars Ratz passed away, the remaining members got together to write this song in tribute to him.  To be expected, it's a pretty solid power metal track that balances the crunch with the epic.  I know I'd like to hear them come back, but for now, this is a nice tribute to one of the underdogs of metal.

New Videos - October 2019 Part Two!

Hey, so I was able to pull together another list before the end of the month!  Of course, I kind of cheated and picked a bunch of power metal songs, but when the stuff is this good, why complain!  Here's one last list for October!!

I warned you this would be heavy on the power metal, and we're kicking off with another NorthTale track.  This group really brings it together with all the staples of classic 90s power metal, with some crunchy riffs for good measure!  I really need to listen to this album already!

Now Freedom Call is part of those power metal hey-days of the 90s, and they're still charging ahead with their speedy, uplifting sounds like they haven't aged a day.  This is another band I should listen to more often!

Twilight Force has more power metal for us, though they are more in the DragonForce and Rhapsody of Fire style than the previous two.  However, anyone familiar with this group knows to expect epic lyrics, massive choirs, and a dramatic flair well-suited for their style of story-telling.  That speedy guitar solo doesn't hurt, either!

Alright, let's break up the power metal with something a little bluesier.  Here we have CoreLeoni, which is another group fronted by Ronnie Romero (how many bands is he in?!).  This has that late 80s, bluesy-metal of bands like Whitesnake and Great White, but with Ronnie's big vocals and some very nice shredding!

Sitting at the nexus of hard rock and post-grunge is Those Damn Crows, a band that doesn't sound like they come from Wales at all!  Full of upbeat, crunchy riffs, and a thick, soaring baritone voice, this is some solid stuff!

Let's wrap this up with more power metal, and this one is a classic!  With Helloween now featuring the return of Kai Hansen and Michael Kiske, they're really going all out!  Full of soaring vocal harmonies and epic riffage, it's clear to see why these guys are the origin of power metal, and they're still slaying it today!!  Oh, and just in time for the 31st, as well!

New Videos - October 2019!

I'm afraid this month hasn't been as productive, as I've been dealing with a very persistent cold.  Hopefully, next month will be better.  Until then, here are some videos that has caught my interest over the past month!

Angel are back, bringing a nice mix of AOR and glam rock that reminds me very much of Europe's early material, and which is a compliment in my book!  Something of a nostalgic song as they look back on their past, but it sounds like they can still rock all the same.

Apocalyptica are certainly a unique band in the rock world, with their cello-driven metal, but here we see them venture more into progressive territory, mixing the collage-like imagery with all kinds of mood shifts and tempo changes. Impressive work!

Of course, I can't stay away from power metal.  Here is another one from NorthTale, full of that symphonic power metal magic I love!  I really should listen to their album, as I've loved everything they've released so far!

More symphonic power metal!  Visions of Atlantis takes things on a more cinematic scale, showing some nice vistas to go along with their epic melodies and orchestral swells.  Great stuff!

Talk about a band playing it oldschool!  RAM is here is bring back the glory days of early metal, carrying vibes of late-70s Judas Priest, Accept, and Riot.  With some crazy fast licks and a penchant for over-the-top metal aesthetic, this is a blast, literally and figuratively!

Let's finish with something a bit weird.  The prog supergroup Flying Colors is back with a third album, and for their first single, they're messing around with time-signatures and glow-in-the-dark in the same measure.  While the video is pretty nuts, the music is an interesting blend of hard rock and jarring rhythms, with a softer section reminiscent of Yes or early Genesis.  Nice work, fellas!

New Videos - September 2019!

We're finally getting into fall, and I'm very thankful!  Summer really wears me out, so it's nice to feel things get cooler and crisper again.  But enough about the seasons!  Let's check check out some rock!

Man, if the first two singles for Alter Bridge's new album were good, this is straight up epic!  It starts off kinda soft but then hits you with a massive riff and just gets bigger from there! Great piece of hard rock!

Visions of Atlantis is another symphonic metal band, going for that epic, dramatic sound.  While I know there are a lot of bands like this, this song shows some promise, having a bit of a folky vibe and keeping things accessible and melodic.  

Northtale once again bringing that classic power metal sound, like it's 1999 all over again!  With shades of Stratovarius and Sonata Arctica, this is right up my alley.  I really need to around to listening to this album!

It's been a while since we talked about First Signal, but here's a newer one from them and it's another great AOR rocker!  They're really going for a big, epic sound on this one, and the chorus is very catchy.  Who knew the end of the world would be so uplifting?

More Twilight Force!  If you've heard these guys before, you know the drill: epic vocals, fast guitar leads, symphonic swells, and cheesy fantasy lyrics!!  Seriously, despite the low-budget vibe of the video, this is fun stuff!

Here's another one from The Defiants!  Once again, they have that great 80s, Bryan Adams vibe: big chords while still having that laid-back, summery feel.  Just turn it up, put the card in cruise-control, and soak it in!

New Videos - July 2019!

Good heavens, July is slipping right by!  Good think I've found some great new songs to share!  It's a little all over the place, but still full of epic rock and metal for you.  Check them out!

Talk about a huge AOR sound!  I admit I had never heard of Unruly Child before now, but I'm impressed!  This song has it all: great riffs, sweeping synths, and an huge, uplifting chorus.  I can only hope the rest of their new album sounds like this!

Yup, here's some more Grand Magus.  This is another solid piece of traditional metal, full of vikings and epicness provided the only way these guys can.

Yes, I know, another Monkey3 video from their new album Sphere.  At this point, I've posted half of the album, but I don't care!  They sound amazing!  Another incredible slice of psychedelic rock that builds into a massively epic ending!

So the power metal band ReinXeed decided to rebrand themselves as Majestica, but keep the same, straight ahead epic metal we've known them for.  I'm not sure why they decided to change their name, but I'm not complaining!  Sounding like a mix of Stratovarius and Rhapsody of Fire (with a few bass solos thrown in!), this song just plain rocks!

Here's another new power metal band, this time made up of people who've worked with U.D.O., Twilight Force, and even Yngwie J. Malmsteen.  Again, epic straight-forward, and full of those lightning fast guitar leads I love so much.  Looking forward to more from these guys!

Let's finish off with another power metal banger!  Twilight Force is showing off their new singer for their next album, but their sound stays comfortably between Rhapsody of Fire and DragonForce, so it's not really a surprise I like it!  I can't help but love the epicness of this kind of stuff!!