New Videos - August 2023!

After reviewing so many albums, it's nice to just check out some music videos.  I've definitely got a mix of rock and metal this time around, with a few surprises along with some familiar faces.  Let's wrap up this summer by turning these songs up!

Taking a break from doing movie soundtracks, Trevor Rabin is coming back to recording vocal hard rock for the first time in decades.  This single is interesting, with a big, anethmic hook and some neat fretwork on both lead and bass guitars.  I kinda wish the production wasn't quite so muddy, especially with the vocals, but it's still pretty different and unique compared to a lot of the AOR that comes out these days.

I don't know what it is about Iron Savior, but they just keep ticking all the right boxes for me.  Otherwise going for a fantasy theme instead of their usual sci-fi, this is business as usual for them: catchy riffs, great energy, and Piet Sielck's excellent vocals.  October can't come soon enough!

Here's another Noveria single full of noodly solos and an anthemic chorus!  This one has a bit of an Arabic twinge, but otherwise, the chunky riffs and epic strings make for a solid track of melodic prog metal.  I'm definitely hearing stuff similar to DGM in this one, and that's a good thing.

While I've featured The Defiants on my blog before, it's been a few years, and I guess they've shifted from their 80s pop rock sound to something heavier and more anthemic.  Not that I mind, of course, it's just surprising to hear them rock this hard.  

The Dust Coda seem to be expanding their sound, this time coming out with a 70s style country rocker.  I admit when I started this song, I wasn't sure if I would like it, as I find country to be a little same-y (not that I've listened to a lot of it).  However, the band brings in some of their unique transitions, letting things build pretty well to a very anthemic ending.

Meanwhile, the Queen of Metal keeps things classic, sticking to some catchy, melodic, old-school metal.  If you've followed Doro at all, there are no real surprises here (though they look like they're having fun with their Mad Max aesthetic), but there's nothing wrong with keeping things simple, and this is about as straight-ahead as metal gets.

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 - June 2020!

Good heavens!  It's been a while, hasn't it?  It's not like there wasn't good material released in the past few months, I just wasn't getting around to it like I normally do.  Excuses aside, here are some new tracks worth listening to!

Modern Kansas is not quite like the 70s material, but they do have moments where it comes together pretty nicely, and this definitely shows the promise of their new album.  Thoughtful, broad, with that violin which adds that nice touch that's made this band stand out all these years.

I admit I haven't followed DeYoung's career after he left Styx, but here we see him aiming for that classic sound.  Tons of vocal layers, some classic proggy synths, the build to the catchy chorus, it has a lot in common with the sound he forged with his band in the 70s.  It could use some crunchier guitars, though.

After being blown away by them back in February, here they are again with another great song.  It's pretty poppy and melodic, but retains the heavy, crunchy guitars of the other song, making for a pretty epic number.

Nice piece of melodic prog metal, in the vein of Dream Theater and Vanden Plas.  With some interesting syncopated riffing and great vocals, this band just released their debut and from this track, they seem to have a lot of promise!

You can always trust Vega to lay down a solid rock song with a big chorus.  This one is the title track of their latest album, and probably one I should go pick up.  I really liked Only Human, and this sounds like it's more of the same!

More melodic prog metal!  I was impressed by Noveria back in March, and this one is just as epic.  Italian prog seems to have this perfect balance of melody, drama, energy, and crunchiness that works for me, and this track is a prime example.

New Videos - March 2020!

Let's kick this month off with a bang!  Got a lot of big songs, this time around, full of epicness, power, and glory!  Check them out!

We're starting off heavy this time with Mystic Prophecy giving us a dire piece of post-apocalyptic power metal.  The riffs are crunchy, the vocals soar, and the drums pound away like it's the end of the world!  (Heh.)

Eclipse just keeps making great songs that rock hard along with their melodies!  Apparently, I need to go back and just listen to their whole album.  If it has this many great songs, already, it's probably a winner, right?!

Noveria just keeps chugging away, making for some epic progressive metal.  Between the huge riffs, the synthy solos, and dynamic shifts, they really take you on a journey in such a short song, and it's great all the way through!

Never heard of these guys before, but all it took was this one song to decide to post it.  Add a touch of country to a thick post-grunge sound very reminiscent of Nickelback (which is not a bad thing, in my book!).  Balancing hard rock riffs with acoustic touches, this is a band I'll have to keep an out for in the future.

Yup, more Archon Angel!  Full of big riffs, orchestral sweeps, and Zak's huge voice, this one is simply epic!  While it definitely stands on the shoulders of Savatage and TSO, Archon Angel proves they have it where it counts.  I should probably get around to the whole album, now that it's out, huh?

Let's finish with another piece from this exciting Allen/Olzen project.  We get Russell Allen doing the vocals solo for this song (I think), but it remains a solid piece of symphonic metal, full of drama and solid melodies, nonetheless!  Excellent song from start to finish!

New Videos - November 2019 Part Three!

Happy Thanksgiving!  (In the US, anyway.)  I've been able to really dig through some new videos lately, so you get a fourth article this month!  Anyways, here's another mix of tunes for you feast on, whether you're celebrating the holiday or not!

We're starting off with a bit of an odd one.  Phil Campbell, best known for his contributions to Motorhead, has teamed up with Alice Cooper to give us a hard rocking song about . . . golf?  And swords, I guess.  Not really sure, but it is fun, and full of energy.

Crystal Viper is another band that flew under my radar, but here they serve up a nice track of 80s metal, with some symphonic touches, but this is more rockin' than your standard female-fronted band.  A bit like Saxon and other NWOBHM bands, but with some nice polish and flair added.

The minute this starts, there is no question that Judas Priest is at the heart of this band's influences.  Much like White Wizzard, these guys are wearing their early 80s metal heart on their sleeves, and it sounds great!

Of course, if you know me, I can't stay away from power metal for long.  Excalion is here with some late 90s charm, sounding like Stratovarius or Sonata Arctica, but with more keyboards and a deeper-voiced singer.  Very solid!

More Italian Prog Metal!  This one really kicks off hard and fast, and keeps up the pace with some very intense, crunchy riffs.  Then the epicness kicks in when the huge vocals and massive synths.  Awesome stuff!

To finish off, we're bringing back CoreLeoni and their Whitesnake-style of 80s rock, this time with a cover of a Gotthard classic.  Once again, Ronnie Romero charms his way through the song that would make David Coverdale proud, all backed up the classic riffs and solos you would expect from this kind of music.