Top 5 of 2025!!

Once again, I'm later than everyone else as I wanted to give everything I could a shot to get into this list.  I admit it's been a crazy year for me, as I wasn't as consistent at reviewing new releases as I wanted to be, while getting in over my head with the retrospective Top 5s!  Still, I think I was able to check out a solid chunk of what last year had to offer, allowing me to share my Top 5 of 2025 with some confidence!  As usual, power metal dominates the year with some very solid releases, but there are a few honorable mentions to throw in.  The Ferryman had an outside chance with Iron Will, and Helloween's Giants and Monsters ended up not quite making it, despite some very good songs.  With those out of the way, let's get into this thing!

5. Sabaton - Legends

Sabaton have really cemented themselves as a band that does their own thing, and usually does it well.  While the World War I themes were starting to wear a little thin on that last album, the band decided to not bother with a big concept album, and I think it has helped them regain some energy and squeeze themselves into this list.  It may be churlish of me to put this over the veterans Helloween, but I will take an album that's consistent all the way through than one full of highs and lows.

4. Crazy Lixx - Thrill of the Bite

The odd one out in this list, but this album made me smile all the way through!  While they aren't doing anything new or innovative, they definitely know how to make their style of throwback glam metal just dominate your speakers.  Sometimes, you just want a good, fun rock 'n' roll album, and Crazy Lixx has that in spades!

3. Primal Fear - Dominiation

Another incredibly consistent band that had a bit of a drop of lately, but seems to be returning with strength in 2025.  Perhaps their new rhythm section helped improve their execution, but Scheepers, Karlsson, and Sinner really pulled together a pretty good album this time.  Not as good as Rulebreaker, but solid enough to get onto this list.

2. Dragonknight - Legion

Certainly the sleeper of the year, I really can't find much fault with this album.  There's certainly plenty of symphonic power metal to compare this debut album to, but these guys have pulled off a well-executed album, being bombastic enough to be fun, but not losing themselves in overly complex or melodramatic songwriting.  It's just the right mix that helps it stand out over the others.

1. Majestica - Power Train

It might be silly, but I can't deny that what Tommy and his buddies have done is write probably the greatest love letter to power metal I've ever heard, not only respecting their elders but also finding a decent amount of variety in these tracks to mitigate any repetitive elements.  I think it also helps that they clearly just love doing this kind of music, and that passion is what pushes this album above the rest for 2025.

2025 Wrap Up Part One!

I have to admit that I've been pretty negligent with my New Releases articles, as my Top 5 lists took up a lot more of my time than I anticipated.  However, I did want to at least go over some new albums, so I've got this handful plus one more group before I figure out my Top 5 list for 2025.  This is much more metal focused (I'll get to rock in the next one), so for now, here's what I've been headbanging to lately!

Sabaton - Legends

After completing a pair of albums based on World War I, the band decided to break away from album-long themes in favor of just writing a bunch of songs about various heroes and moments in military history, ranging from ancient Egypt to Napoleonic France, with a few trips to East Asia for good measure.  While I did find their last album to be a little lackluster, I think these topics have revived the band a little, as there are quite a few good songs here.

As for their style, it's Sabaton doing what they've been doing for nearly two decades now: bombastic heavy/power metal, though this time I did notice an increase in synthesizers (and not just orchestrations), which was interesting.  They rarely take center stage, but do feature on most of the songs, which is a little unusual for them (or maybe I hadn't noticed them before).  However, all the sounds you expect are here.  Joakim Brodén's baritone voice dominates the album, giving the lyrics plenty of gravitas, and the rest of the band stays tight to the song, as they do little beyond their  solid songwriting formula.

This time around, I really enjoyed the faster songs, like "Hordes of Khan," "Maid of Steel," and "The Duelist," though they still have some solid mid-tempo stompers with tracks "A Tiger Among Dragons" and "Crossing the Rubicon."  The rest of the tracks are decent as well, if pretty standard fare for the band.  In the end, though, it's Sabaton doing what they do best, with a bit of extra flair that I think makes it stronger than some of their other albums.

Cristiano Filippini's Flames of Heaven - Symphony of the Universe

I checked out their debut album a few years ago and found it to be pleasant, but not an amazing listen.  However, their line-up stayed together, and now they've released another bombastic batch of symphonic power metal.  Not much has changed in five years, as they still have their blend of shreddy guitars, soaring vocals, and layered keys, providing both orchestrations and 80s synths.  Once again, I thought of Rhapsody of Fire, Beast in Black, and Sonata Arctica (especially their excellent first album), and they do a good job of blending those styles together.  The lyrics remain as melodramatic as before, being both fantastical and sentimental, and there are a number of longer songs on this one, with four of them going over six minutes in length.  However, I do think the songs lean more into AOR territory than they did on the first album, but considering their sound, that isn't much of a stretch, really.

Naturally, I was drawn to the faster songs, like the opener "On the Wings of the Phoenix" and "The Power Stars," though they often had some interesting shifts for the bridge, providing a touch of prog.  From the mid-tempo songs, I think "A Flame from the Sky" is the best one, as it has some anthemic qualities.  The rest of the songs were fine, largely held together by the consistent, lush production, and the album does a better job than their debut at maintaining its energy to the end.  Not amazing, but pleasant.

The Rods - Wild Dogs Unchained

When I checked their album for 2024, it was really the first time I had given them a shot, finding it to be a solid collection of straight-ahead, no-frills metal.  However, their discography seemed to show some pretty large breaks between albums, so I was surprised to see that they'd cranked out another one so quickly!  Apparently inspired by one of their albums from the 80s, this one is just business as usual for the old veterans.

Once again, this is cruise control metal, as things mostly stay in the mid-tempo range and rock along without too much to shake things up.  There is a few more synths than just the Purple-style organs, especially on the dynamic "Tears of the Innocent," but otherwise, this just plods along, providing decent riffs and hooks to headbang along to.  The energy does pick up a little with the title track, "Time to Rock," and "Make Me a Believer," where the band comes alive, at least for a little while.  I do enjoy this band, but compared to the likes of Judas Priest, Saxon, and Accept, who are still dominating the traditional metal space these days, this band really struggles to compete.  There's nothing wrong with "rocking it old school," but aside from their retro charm and confidence, The Rods aren't really doing a whole lot that helps them stand out.

Majestica - Power Train

After Tommy Johansson left Sabaton, he turned his attention back to his own band Majestica.  Once known as ReinXeed, this band his been Tommy's personal band since the early 2000s.  Five years ago, he orchestrated a rather clever concept album, telling the story of A Christmas Carol with Christmas carols.  This time there is no concept, just a set of very fun power metal songs!

While there are obvious comparisons to recent power metal, such as Sabaton, Twilight Force, and Beast in Black, I think what makes this album work is that it draws upon the uplifting attitude and whimsy of Helloween.  Things kick off with the title track, which is such a refreshing, high-speed blast of joy.  Sure, it's a little cheesy, but the cheerful attitude is pretty infectious, and I found I was smiling through a lot of it, and that feeling carried through the rest of the album.  Some of the songs are more story-based, but they never drop the ball, carrying the same energy as the other tracks.  All of this is performed with gusto, as Tommy and his buddies are tight and majestic as ever.

I actually feel pretty bad for sleeping on this album for so long, as it came out back in February!  This feels like a love letter to power metal in general, with "Megatrue" being full of HammerFall references as the most obvious in that tone.  "No Pain, No Gain" is probably the most empowering song I've heard in a while, and "Thunder Power" is a nice blast to the face.  However, the closer "Alliance Anthem" had such strong classic-era Stratovarius vibe that I nearly jumped out of my chair listening to it!  This is going to give both Helloween and Primal Fear some serious competition when I consider my Top 5 for 2025!

Top 5 of 2010!!

Fortunately, after the last article, I was able to pull this one together pretty quickly.  At this point, this really is just a Top 5 of whatever I've listened to in a given year.  Still, this one has some decent variety, this time around.  I did want to shout out The Showdown by Allen/Lande and Kamelot's Poetry for the Poisoned as honorable mentions.  They aren't the greatest albums, but they were decent, which is kind of a theme for this list.  Still, five had to be picked and this is what I came up with.

5. White Wizzard - Over the Top

I remember when metal sites were making a big deal about this band back in the day.  Their attempt at recreating the classic NWOBHM sound made them seem novel, and they were pretty good at it.  Their debut album features tons of catchy riffs and sing-along choruses, so it's easy to see why they excited metalheads back in the day.  Unfortunately, they ran into some serious problems, with lineup changes and getting dropped from their label, but like any classic metal band, they found a way to carry on.  In any case, their debut squeaks onto my list for just being a fun throwback to when metal wasn't dominated by breakdowns and harsh vocals.

4. Atlantean Kodex - The Golden Bough

When I listened to this again, I had a sneaking suspicion this might find itself here, but I wasn't immediately sure.  Despite its peculiar production, the atmosphere they create on this album is incredible, matching the ponderous style of doom metal with ancient myths and folklore.  Like White Wizzard, this is a band that I should have stuck with, and I will likely be following up on their next albums in the next few years.

3. Vega - Kiss of Life

I warned you this was gonna happen!  Drenched in 80s cheese and thick with synthesizers, this album is some very nostalgic, sentimental AOR, and that's why I love it.  While they're more recent albums see them mixing up their formula a little, they definitely started on the right foot with this one.  Full of catchy anthems and warm layers, Vega was on the right track from the beginning.

2. Sabaton - Coat of Arms

While this probably isn't their best album, it's certainly a decent one.  "Screaming Eagles" is clearly the highlight, but the title track and "White Death" are no slouches either.  I can see some folks arguing that Sabaton's albums feel a little interchangeable, but I simply see a lot of consistency.  I don't know if they have a great album in their catalog, but they certainly have some good ones, and this one is solid enough to find itself at #2.

1. Accept - Blood of the Nations

However, once I started putting this list together, the #1 choice was obvious.  Back when I reviewed it five years ago, I was blown away by the rich production, tight riffing, and straight-ahead, no-nonsense approach to songwriting.  While that has always been Accept's main focus, this comeback album came at the right time, punching everyone in the face with excellent traditional metal tracks.  In fact, this might be my favorite Accept album of all time!

Anniversary Series - 2014!

Alright, I think I'm starting to catch up.  When I get to these later years, it's hard to really say anything conclusive, as rock and metal have long since come their own way by this point.  So once again, I'll be reviewing some albums from this year to fill out the article, but be sure to check out the playlist below for some more solid tracks.  

IQ - The Road of Bones

Funny story: I've actually heard this album before.  I remember some prog rock sites highly praising this one, so I gave it a listen, and at the time, most of it just kinda went in one ear and out the other.  Except for "Until the End."  For some reason, that song stuck with me, and I've since listened to it several times.  With this anniversary article, I figured I should give the whole album another shot and really see how I feel, now that I have a better idea of the band's sound.  I've listened to a few of their albums before, including their debut, but I think this one stands out for its rich production and moody atmosphere.

Not to say that IQ was particularly peppy before, but this album really leans into a particular sense of darkness, letting it linger so that it can explored.  Much of the lyrics focusing on wrestling with some abstract concepts, though some of the songs shift into a more hopeful tone, often with the theme of reconciliation.  The band is quite tight, with no performance standing out so much as these songs show just how in sync they are with each other, and the album flows quite well as a consequence.  If there are any problems, it's the songs are so similar to each other that they do kind of blend together.  Sure, they have the dynamics of prog rock within the songs, going from soft to loud and somber to uplifting, but when it's that kind of thing song after song, and the vocal cadences don't vary too much, the album may be a struggle for those wanting more variety in the tones and ideas.  However, those who don't mind letting the music soak around them won't have a problem.

What the band really excels in, though, is interesting transitions, solid atmosphere, and many catchy melodic hooks.  If the album weren't quite so long, I'd say it would be a great starting point for someone getting into the genre.  The songs are all pretty good, even from the curious start with the samples from the classic 30s Dracula, through the epic "Without Walls," the fascinating combo of "Knucklehead" and "1312 Overture," to the fade out ending of "Hardcore."  However, I think the big stand outs are "Until the End", which I mentioned before, "Constellations," which is a good throwback to 80s prog, and "Ten Million Demons," with a pulsing synth bass reminding me of Pink Floyd's "One of The Days."  As usual with prog rock, I'll have to listen to it a few more times to really decide how I feel about it, but overall, this is a good (if long) album of moody prog rock songs that flow, drop, and build-up well, arranged into a satisfying journey.

Sabaton - Heroes

Wow, has it really been more than two years since I last talked about Sabaton?  To be fair, their last album was kinda lackluster, being just another chunk of songs about World War I with some novel elements.  However, they've been pretty busy with their concert film and will likely be working on a new album soon (if they aren't already).  In any case, this article gives me the opportunity to fill in another gap in their discography that I haven't listened to.  The novelty with this one is an emphasis on individuals rather than the great battles of World War 2.

It's business as usual for the band, as Joakim Brodén belts out the stories with his usual charisma.  Naturally the band backs him up with the usual amount of melodrama and bombast, with choirs kicking in from time to time for the big moments.  The songwriting doesn't deviate much from their typical heavy/power metal flair, though "The Ballad of Bull" falls a little flat as it's more of a piano-driven ballad.  This is the first album with newcomers Thobbe Englund and Chris Rörland on guitars and Hannes Van Dahl on drums who all perform admirably.

Honestly, even with the lineup changes, Sabaton is pretty consistent in their style and quality.  As usual, I found a few songs that stand out from the pack, particularly the first two songs "Night Witches" and "No Bullets Fly" which set the tone for the album pretty well, and "Resist and Bite," which is full of the heroic vigor this band does so well.  While some may scoff at their discography being the same thing over and over, those of us who don't mind a bit a cheese with our epicness know that this band delivers where it counts, and that's more than enough.

Accept - Blind Rage

Accept is another band I've been slowly working through.  This one is their third with Mark Torillo, and the last one to have Herman Frank on guitars who would go back to his solo work and other projects.  Unsurprisingly, it's another slab of old-school, traditional metal with solid modern production.

The album chugs along pretty nicely, shaking things up just enough with the tempos.  Things start off energetic with "Stampede," and are carried on with "200 Years" and the closer "Final Journey."  Meanwhile, they get slow and groove-driven with songs like "Dark Side of My Heart," "Fall of the Empire," and "Bloodbath Mastermind."  They even touch on power metal territory with "Trails of Tears."  However, I think the song that stands out the most is "Dying Breed," featuring slick 6/8 riffs and referencing a bunch of their influences.  It's a pretty consistent album from beginning to end.

However, Blind Rage isn't as strong as Blood of the Nations or Stalingrad.  I'm not really quite sure why I feel that way; maybe it's just that I'm getting used to their modern sound and so this album isn't doing anything that the other two already did.  Still, I'm sure to come back to this one (and the others) when I'm in the mood for some classic metal crunchiness.

Anniversary Series - 2008!

Sorry for the lack of articles lately; things have gotten a little hectic for me lately.  Nothing serious, just real life being less convenient than usual.  However, it does mean I don't have the time or energy to look at new albums or doing reviews, so despite planning on reviewing more albums, this Anniversary Article is going to be a normal rundown.  Fortunately, there is some really good stuff this year.

While power metal had since peaked, at least in its popularity, the style carried on with artists old and new.  DragonForce followed up their Inhuman Rampage with an Ultra Beatdown.  While it was largely more of the same, it was still a pretty solid set of shredfests.  Sabaton solidified their themes and sounds with The Art of War, featuring titanic anthems like "40:1" and the title track, and Edguy would shift themselves into more of an 80s hard rock style with Tinnitus Sanctus.

However, in my opinion the big power metal release from this year is Amberian Dawn's debut album River of Tuoni.  Finding a curious space between symphonic theatrics and Stratovarius style riffing, and drawing upon their native Finnish heritage, the album is full of tight, epic tracks with just the right amount of grace provided by Heidi Parviainen's vocals.  

Another album I want to draw attention to is PowerWorld's self-titled debut.  Sometimes called melodic metal, they feel like a mix of Queensrÿche and later HammerFall, but they have some pretty solid songwriting, and a decent cover of "(I Just) Died in Your Arms."  Speaking of covers, Northern Kings returned with another slab of symphonic takes on 80s pop songs.  It's a shame they never did more, though.  Other highlights of the year include Disturbed's Indestructible carrying on their melodic groove metal style, and Metallica's brief return to thrash with Death Magentic, which I praised highly in my Metallica Retrospective earlier this year.

As for rock music, I'm sure there are a number of albums out there, but there are two I want to talk about.  First is the Asia reunion album Phoenix, which features the original lineup working together again, bringing back their proggy AOR sound with tracks like "Never Again." And finally there's AC/DC's Black Ice, which saw the band really channel their classic 80s style with a very good album of anthemic stompers, like "Rock 'n' Roll Train" and "Decibel."

Well, that covers the year pretty well, I think.  I know there are a bunch of other albums I didn't get to, so be sure to check out the playlist below and recommend others in the comments.  In the meantime, I'll work on getting myself back on track!  Until then, rock on! \m/

Last Played - March 2022!

I feel like I should apologize for not posting as much lately.  It was a rough month for me (nothing major, though), and I was distracted by a certain Madness going around, so ended up not spending as much time listening to new music.  Still, I was able to listen to a few albums, mainly catching up on some power metal releases.

HammerFall - Dominion

Speaking of catching up, I'm still working my way through HammerFall's later albums, and this was next.  Of course, it has much of the same heavy/power metal stylings as they always do, but I feel like this one is a little on the weaker side.

While the songs have great production and sound, most of the tracks felt incomplete, like they didn't really think them all the way through.  I think one of the big things is the lyrics.  Sure, HammerFall's lyrics aren't high poetry, but here they seem a little clunky and while Joacim Cans delivers them in his iconic style, they don't seem to click for me here.  The topics are also more varied, ranging from the Vietnam War to Ragnarok to Paradise Lost, and while that's not a bad thing, necessarily, it does make the album feel a little less focused.  Of course, there is still plenty to like, in particular the guitar work.  Oscar Dronjak and Pontus Norgren play some really great stuff, not only providing some very chunky riffs, but the solos are really on point.  Shifting between melodic passages and neo-classical shredding, their guitarwork is some of the best HammerFall has ever had.  

As for the songs overall, there were a few that stood out.  "Chain of Command" and "Testify" gets a little heavier towards Judas Priest territory, and "Dead by Dawn" is pretty dark, making me think of some of their material from Infected.  However my favorites are "(We Make) Sweden Rock" a solid anthemic rocker, celebrating a country that has a great rock and metal music heritage, and "Scars of a Generation" another metal anthem that really goes big, especially on the chorus.  It's not a bad album, but certainly on the weaker side compared to some of their others.  Still, I'm all caught up and ready for the latest one!

Sabaton - The War to End All Wars

Speaking of bands with an iconic, unchanging sound, Sabaton is back with another slab of World War I inspired tunes.  Just like the last one, it features some pretty anthemic stompers, a few high speed stormers, and few bits of experimentation for good measure.

The first and last tracks "Sarajevo" and "Versailles" work as some interesting bookends for the album, featuring female narration instead of standard verses, with the choruses echoing each other and cementing some interesting themes.  Otherwise, it's back to the triumphs and tragedies of war, with tracks like "Stormtroopers," "Dreadnaught," "The Unkillable Soldier," "Hellfighters," and "Race to the Sea."  The ones that are a little different are "The Valley of Death," which has a strange, AOR-like uplifting vibe; "Soldier of Heaven," which is clearly an attempt at Beast-in-Black-style synth metal, and pulls it off quite well, I must say; and "Christmas Truce," which goes for a TSO-style somber epic.  However, I do think these songs change things up nicely, making them the highlights of the album

There are a few stumbling blocks, though.  The lyrics on "Hellfighters" seems a little uninspired, "Lady of the Dark" has this strange, groovy riff that breaks up the flow in a weird way, and the mixed-meter on "Race to the Sea" doesn't seem to gel quite right.  Still, it's a solid album overall, from a band who are reliably consistent in their quality.  While it certainly won't convert anyone who hasn't been on board before, it will find plenty of playtime from the fans who don't mind the formula the band has established.

Kamelot - Poetry for the Poisoned

After reviewing Ghost Opera nearly three years ago, I had planned to move on to this one rather quickly, but that didn't happen for one reason or another.  It wasn't until now that I took the time to revisit what would be Roy Khan's last album.  I remember feeling the same disappointment as I had with Ghost Opera when I heard this one back in 2010, and after all these years my opinion really hasn't changed.  I'm not sure what may have convinced the band to go in this gothic symphonic direction, but I just don't think it really works.

Overall, this album just feels clunky.  The songwriting seems to shift uneasily between symphonic flourishes, gothic moods, and weird proggy riffing.  While Roy Khan is still performing well, some of his vocal melodies don't quite mesh with the songs from time to time, and I'm not sure why.  I also think the riffing seems to be an attempt to get away from the power metal they've been doing, but Youngblood goes for this jarring, proggy style that doesn't quite gel with me.  There are cameos a plenty, with Simone Simons from Epica returning once again to provide a counter to Khan's vocals, and they're pretty nice.  While Ghost Opera was at least consistent, this album's quality tends to jump all over the place.  And I wish that their four-part title track was just one 10-minute track.

There are some things I do like, though.  "The Great Pandemonium" is a decent opener, "House on a Hill" is a solid ballad featuring Simons, "My Train of Thoughts" has some interesting mood shifts, and "Once Upon a Time" feels like a return to classic Kamelot, though still dark and moody.  However, I admit when I first heard this, I was pretty down on it, and as a consequence, I hadn't really kept up with the band since.  I had heard that Khan wasn't feeling well (which later turned out to be burnout) and after trying a few different vocalists, the band settled with Tommy Karevik of Seventh Wonder moving forward.  I do plan on catching up on the newer records, though, and I'll be sure to post reviews for the albums I've missed when I get around to them.  After all these years, I'm curious to see where they went from here, especially with a new singer.

---

I'm afraid there won't be a New Videos article for this month.  I know I have plenty to check out, but I just haven't spent the time.  I just need to get back into the groove.  I'll still keep posting the Anniversary Series articles, and come up with more when I can.  Until then, rock on! \m/

New Videos - October 2021!

Sorry for the lack of posts.  This month ended up being busier than usual.  Still, late on Halloween, I was able to get this article of videos together.  I've got some great metal this time.  Also, I want to make a minor change to my Spotify playlists: I'm going to have them go by quarter than by month.  Anyway, let's get started!

Starting off with some more Manimal, this track has a ton of Judas Priest energy.  Not only do you have some nice mid-tempo riffing, but singer Sam Nyman really channels that Halford energy with some epic wails.  This one is real solid, fist-pumping kind of stuff.

More Firewind!  It looks like Gus G and folks have another neat single for us, and while it may not be anything they haven't done before, it's solid power metal.  Herbie Langhans really seems to fit well with the band, now that he's had an album with them under his belt.

Now that I'm aware that Herman Frank is a part of this band, each new single definitely gets my attention.  Here, we have a nice, mid-tempo rocker, giving me some AC/DC vibes along with the classic German metal sound.  Vocalist Gianni Pontillo really lets it hang out, and it's great stuff!

Oh, hey!  These guys are back!  Once again, they've taken melodic metal and added a powerful swing-step to it, making a pretty catchy and groovy track with some nice, crunchy riffs.  I guess they're preparing an album for next year, but it's nice to hear they're still rockin'!

Here's another band I hadn't heard of before.  I guess this is from an album that came out last year, but this video was pretty new.  It's kind of a mix of heavy and power metal, but it has a some catchy riffs and good melodies.

Yup, Sabaton is back and doing more World War One stuff.  Of course, given the subject matter, they've added a strong layer of symphonic elements, giving the track a Trans-Siberian Orchestra vibe, going for both somber and anthemic.  Say what you like about the band, they certainly don't do things half way.

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 - July 2021 Part Two!

Squeezing this one in before the month ends!  I've got a few artists coming back, plus some new names, and a new single from my favorite band: Yes!!  Here's the latest videos I've been jamming to.

I don't think I've missed any of the singles from these guys.  Starting off with an acoustic intro, it goes into some aggressive riffing, making me think of the melodic prog from Italy, but the chorus eases up for some anthemic pop metal sounds.  These guys really have an interesting approach to songwriting, but it still results in some awesome rock music!

Here's another band that I've been liking a lot lately!  This is more of a mid-tempo anthemic stomper.  The chorus gets pretty somber, but that only makes the chorus all the more epic.  Sometimes a power metal band player slower song can be a bit of a crapshot, but this is quite solid.

Now this is just plain fun.  Sabaton doing a Manowar cover is not really that surprising, as both bands excel at epic mid-tempo metal, but it's a solid rendering, and a loving homage to a band that is clearly a major inspiration for them.

New Yes will always get my attention, but I wouldn't be posting it here if I didn't think it was also good.  While I don't know if it's amazing, it has been growing on me quite a bit.  It definitely has more energy than the sluggish Heaven & Earth, which is a good sign for this new album.  Hopefully, the rest will be as good.

Mark certainly knows how to make crunch songs!  This is from his solo group Tremonti, and it's a great piece of mid-tempo hard rock.  You'd think that between this, Creed, and Alter Bridge, it would all blend together, but somehow he makes each one sound a little different, and here, it's just straight up post-grunge crunch, and I love it!

Let's finish with some proggy power metal from Costa Rica!  This one is on the dense side, making me think of the styles of Kamelot and Symphony X.  The vocalist sounds more than a little like Russell Allen, actually.  The keyboard runs also make this some pretty epic stuff.  

Last Played - May 2021!

It's been a minute since I've done one of these!  Mostly catching up on some older albums from some favorite bands, this one is full of melodic metal!  Here's what I've been banging my head to lately.

Symphony X - Twilight in Olympus

As I was listening to different bands, I was suddenly in the mood for something more shreddy, and I knew Symphony X was a band I wanted to get into more, so I threw on their 1998 album.  I definitely got what I wanted, as the band has a very distinct mix of neo-classical shredding, epic soundscapes, and technical proficiency.

Right off, you get some pretty good songs.  "Smoke and Mirrors" sets the stage by opening with a lightning fast guitar run before getting into some powerprog pyrotechnics.  Russell Allen sounds good, as always, though there are a few moments where I think he's maybe forcing the drama a little.  Still, it's a minor gripe about an incredible voice.

From there, the rest of the album lurches around, with some tracks working better than others.  "Church of the Machine" and "The Relic" have strong Dream Theater vibes, as well as the epic of the album "Through the Looking Glass."  It's not bad, but does feel clunky, as if the technical side took over the songwriting, resulting in a song that doesn't quite have its pieces together.  "In the Dragon's Den" was a pretty solid piece of powerprog, featuring a dual solo with guitars and synths that made me think of classic Stratovarius!  Overall, I enjoyed it, but then the band has always been pretty reliable, at least on the few albums I've heard, so it met my expectations pretty well.

Beast in Black - From Hell With Love

When I reviewed their first album, I said I was kinda down on the songs in the second half, but as I've listened to them more, they've grown on me.  That first album was quite solid, in the end.  In 2019, they followed up with this one, and while I enjoyed the singles from it, I didn't get around to the album until now.  I probably should have listened to it sooner, as it has some great stuff on here.

First of all, this really is more of the same: power metal mixed with 80s synth pop and even touches of Italo Disco.  The thing is, they aren't the only ones doing this anymore, as a number of bands have jumped on the 80s nostalgia train and added synth riffs and arrangements to their metal songs, and I admit it doesn't always work.  However, Beast in Black seem to have it down, as I found myself enjoying this album as much as the last one.  Yannis Papadopoulos remains a great singer, using both is lighter and heavier vocal styles to expand the range of emotions on these songs.  The riffs remain catchy and the synths ease their way in and out of the songs, never feeling forced or overdone, in my opinion.

Stand out tracks are the awesome opener "Cry Out for a Hero," the title track, the anthemic "True Beleiver," and "No Surrender," which sounds a bit more Judas Priest than some of the other stuff on here.  "Oceandeep," is an interesting ballad, going for more of a symphonic, Nightwish flavor.  The other songs didn't seem as strong, but they could grow on me like the first album did.  Still, a great follow up to what was a great album, and I look forward to more of their unique brand of energetic metal in the future.

Sabaton - Carolus Rex

Despite enjoy most of Sabaton, there are a few albums I still haven't gotten to.  This one is a little unique in that the subject matter focuses on a much older war than the band usually covers, that of the Thirty Years War and the Great Northern War of the 17th and 18th centuries, particularly from the Swedish perspective under the rule of King Charles XII, and his crack unit, the Caroleans.  It's a neat bit of history that few outside of Europe would know much about, which makes it pretty novel.

From there, the album proceeds to follow the standard Sabaton progression: epic power metal, sometimes fast and triumphant as they talk about the battles, sometimes anthemic and mournful for the heroes that fall and lives that are lost.  As for songs that stand out, I liked "The Lion from the North" and "Poltava," as they were the more energized tracks.  And their cover of Amon Amarth's "Twilight of the Thunder God" is a lot of fun!

As always, one knows what to expect when listening to a Sabaton album, for better or worse.  While I do enjoy their anthemic style, it does feel like there's some leaning on a formula here.  Still, it's a decent album, and it gets to show that the band has more interests than just World War II.

---

It's been kind of an up-and-down year for me so far.  I'm actually rather thankful that I get to listen to music while I work, as it's helped me cope with a lot of things.  (Nothing serious, just the tedium and tension of working at home during lockdown.)  Fortunately, I have no shortage of stuff to listen to!  I'll try to get back on the new releases soon, but until then, rock on! \m/

New Videos - May 2021!

There are times where I begin to wonder if I will ever see the bottom of my "to listen to later" pile of stuff.  Classic bands and artists keep right on going, while new ones crop up all the time!  And a lot of it is really good!  A good problem to have I suppose, but I should stop complaining and let you check out what I've found lately, as it's quite a mix of things.

Yes, more Sabaton!  This time, it's actually an English cover of a song originally in Russian by a band they've worked with before named Radio Topek.  Still, it has Sabaton's iconic, stompy style of power metal, so they've definitely given it their own spin, whatever the original may have sounded like.

Now here's a bolt out of the blue.  Tommy Clufetos has been drumming for various classic rock bands (most notably the end of Black Sabbath's last reunion), but now has his own outfit.  The song feels like a high-energy mishmash of all kinds of 70s rock and metal.  I feel like I'm hearing Sabbath, Motorhead, and Molly Hatchet all at once!  A lot of fun!

Back to the power metal!  Actually, this one is different the last Sonic Haven track, as it's more of a mid-tempo track with some symphonic touches to up the epicness.  Pretty catchy, with a nice melodic solo.

This is definitely on the softer side of things, but I can't deny that Robin's vocals really make this work.  I think I've posted every single from this album, so I guess I better find time to listen to the whole thing.  Nice, anthemic soft rock that still has some good energy to it.

Another throwback to the 70s, this band, coming from Sweden, sounds like a southern-fried Fleetwood Mac, with a dash of Thin Lizzy.  It's not intense, but more easy-going, but still has a lot of groove and melody.  Rather unique, I think.

A new single from Styx!!  This is the title track for their upcoming album, and despite being under 4 minutes, it really goes all over the place!  Hammond solos, layered vocals, shifts in tone.  The last section gives me big Queen vibes, actually.  Makes me curious about the rest of this album, so I suppose the single did its job!

New Videos - April 2021 Part Two!

Sorry for the delay!!  The second half of April got very busy for me, so I ended not having much to share.  Still, I was able to find some new stuff worth rocking out to.  Let's get into it!

Kicking off with Sabaton might be cheating, but I can't deny their charm and grandeur.  This time, digging into Swedish military history again, and borrowing a melody from a classic Christian hymn, they provide another epic number about bravery and glory.  Not exactly new territory for the band, but when it's this good, it doesn't matter.

Now here's a new group!  Building off the template of bands like Judas Priest, Saxon, and Accept, Coronary have a very no-nonsense, classic metal sound.  This one is energetic, with a great rock 'n' roll attitude, and a vocalist that sounds like Rick Altzi from Herman Frank's band.  Solid stuff!

Well, this is some high energy, double-kicking power metal!  I admit I'm not very familiar with Vexillium, but I like the folky elements they've weaved into their sound.  The layered vocals on the chorus is a nice epic touch, and the solos are solid as well. 

An interesting (and long) piece from a band I had heard a few times before.  This prog metal group from Lebanon is going for a lighter, dreamier tone.  Instead of technical playing, it's more on the emotional side of the genre, much like early Dream Theater or even Evergrey.  Worth a listen, if you have the time.

Yup, these guys again.  This one is a little more mellow, coming across as a kind of mid-tempo rock anthem that makes me think of bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd or Aerosmith.  It's rather uplifting compared to some of their earlier singles, but they still have the crunch when they need it.

Sonic Haven is a new heavy/power metal group from Germany, they certainly aren't new to the genre.  Herbie Langhans is fresh off of his Firewind debut from last year, and sounds great here, backed by a band full of experience.  Just off this track alone, I expect a lot of high energy riffing and double-kicking drive.

Anniversary Series - 2005!

I have to say, writing these Anniversary articles has been fun.  I get to go over stuff I love as well as dig into things I haven't heard before.  This month: 2005.  I admit that my knowledge of what the rock world in general was doing at this time is pretty sparse, but I know what I like, and this year has plenty of melodic rock and metal worth celebrating.

Speaking of which, let's start again with power metal.  A lot of really good albums came out this year for the genre, including the debut of Allen/Lande, a team-up to two very dynamic singers who really lay it on thick.  The album is full of fist-pumping anthems that are blast to hear.  HammerFall would continue their crusades, providing another set of stomping huge songs in Chapter V, namely "Blood Bound," "Fury of the Wild," and "Born to Rule."  And while Stratovarius' history would be pretty bumpy at this point, their self-title release is something of a dark horse in their collection, having some of their best material, in my opinion.

Kamelot would carry on their quality streak with The Black Halo, the second half of a concept album pair based on Faustian legends, and features tons of epic material.  Sabaton would kickstart their military history flavored metal with Primo Victoria, camo pants and all.  And of course, a discussion of power metal in 2005 wouldn't be complete with DragonForce's Inhuman Rampage, featuring the Guitar Hero favorite "Through the Fire and the Flames," and cementing the band as the poster child for the genre.  Admit it, when most people think about power metal now, it's usually DragonForce they think of.

Of course, there was more to 2005 than power metal.  Post-grunge continued to stick around, with 3 Doors Down's opener "Right Where I Belong" from Seventeen Days, and Nickelback showing us that "Photograph" everyone keeps making fun of them for.  Other highlights include Wolfmother's debut, full of Sabbath-y riffs and Deep Purple-y organs, as well as Disturbed finally turning the corner into their now iconic groove metal with Ten Thousand Fists.

To cap off, I want to end with band that may have flown under the radar.  One called Presto Ballet.  Formed by Metal Church guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof, he set out to put together an album that paid homage to classic rock bands of the 70s, taking Yes and Kansas into strongest consideration.  Along with a dedication to more analog recording techniques, their debut album is a very bright and vibrant album that straddles the line between crunchy and prog the way bands like Kansas and Styx did back in their heyday.

So that's another anniversary article in the books.  As usual, the playlist with even more good stuff is posted below, and if I've missed something, shout it out!  Until then, rock on! \m/

New Videos - September 2019 Part Two!

Well, got this in just in time!  As the month wraps up, I've got some more videos for you, full of the rock and metal that's new and fresh!  Check them out!

Oh my!  More Sabaton!  I've actually listened to this whole album finally, and this tribute to Sergeant York is one of the best tracks on The Great War.  Just a lot of fist-pumping fun!

This upcoming album just sounds better and better with each new song!  Alter Bridge just keeps crunching on with their icon hard rock sound, and this is some of the best I've heard all year!  If the rest of their album is as good as this, I can hardly wait!

Jeff Lynne is back with his iconic mix of rock and symphonic pop!  Going as Jeff Lynne's ELO, the song has a nice, laid-back quality.  With the tight vocal harmonies and orchestral staging (and the title!), the really does feel like a callback to the classic Out of the Blue album.  If only the production wasn't quite so muddy.

For all the metal I talk about here, it might be strange to bring up Huey Lewis, but I can't deny his music just puts a smile on my face.  Here, they sound like they haven't missed a step from their pub-friendly doo-wop/blues rock they played in the 80s. While their new album is still in the works, this definitely shows promise!

Some of the fun of doing this blog is discovering bands I might not have otherwise.  Kobra and the Lotus is a good example.  I guess they've been around for about 10 years, but I don't think I've heard them before this video, but it sounds like I've been missing out!  Here we have an epic hard rock song with some very nice cinematic flourishes!  And if this is their standard sound, I'm going to have to follow up on them!

The Ferryman is another Magnus Karlsson project, featuring Ronnie Romero on vocals, and it really crunches along like a German Allen-Lande.  Big and epic, with Romero's voice really soaring while maintaining strength and power.  Great stuff!

Last Played - September 2019!

I think September went just as fast as the previous months!  Still, I've been finding time to throw something on here and there.  Here's what I've been listening to this month!

Rhapsody of Fire - The Eighth Mountain

After giving their first two singles praise, I figured I should finally catch up and listen to the latest Rhapsody of Fire has to offer.  Known for their bombast and storytelling, the band seems set to start a new story they’re calling “The Nephilim's Empire Saga.”  Likely, this is where their next handful of albums will focus on, given their history of writing and pacing.

To be honest, I admit I have a hard time with Rhapsody of Fire.  Their music is epic and full of melodic leads and great solos, and the vocals are always performed with drama and power (though Giacomo Voli does have some big shoes to fill, he does admirably here).  The Eighth Mountain proves to be more of the same, so you would think this is right up my alley.

I think my issue is with the delivery of the lyrics.  Some of the grammar is a little rough, and the vocal melodies just sort of lay there on top of the song, without really resolving in a satisfying way.  It’s like they have too many words, so they just tack a note on them and put them anywhere, resulting in melodies that don’t really stick.  (I remember having the same problem with Dragonland earlier in the year.)  Don’t get me wrong, the lyrics aren’t a deal-breaker, but it does bring things down a little for me.

Still, there are some highlights to be found.  “Rain of Fury” is probably the best song on the album, and I can’t help but wonder if “White Wizard” isn’t an homage to the late Christopher Lee, who gets a posthumous cameo at the end of the album.  Other tracks that stand out are “The Courage To Forgive” and “The Legend Goes On.”  Overall, just bombastic, symphonic power metal from beginning to end, proving that Rhapsody of Fire has no plans of slowing down or changing course.

Sabaton - The Great War

Sabaton is back to do what they do best: epic power metal about military history.  Naturally, given the title, this one is about World War I, going over some of its most famous battles and individuals, as well as some of the themes that come from studying this particular conflict.

Still, that doesn’t really get in the way of all the huge, pompous, fist-pumping chords and choruses.  This is still very much Sabaton to the max.  Songs like “Seven Pillars of Wisdom,” “82nd All The Way,” and “Fields of Verdun” show that there is no slowing this metal machine down.

There are a few pieces that stand out, though.  “The Red Baron” has more of a bouncy rhythm, and does some interesting things with a hammond organ, while “The End of the War to End All Wars” has a full-on choir handling the chorus, giving it more of a Rhapsody of Fire vibe.

For what it’s worth, it’s not all glory and victory this time around, as they do touch on the tragedies of the war and lives lost, in their own way.  Sabaton also wants to honor and respect those who have served and lost their lives in these conflicts.  “Great War,” “Fields of Verdun,” “The Attack of the Dead Men,” and especially “The End of the War to End All Wars” all address the various themes of destructive tactics, shell-shock, chemical weapons, and the sheer totals of lost lives, including civilians.  Adding a very church-like arrangement of “In Flanders Fields” at the end is a nice touch.

That being, the music stays very much in Sabaton’s wheelhouse, providing a massive metal sound without getting too moody or doomy in nature.  Sabaton want to have fun with the material as much as they wish to respect it.  It’s an odd balance, but one that’s served them well throughout their career.  If you’re on the same wavelength, this is a very good album, full of all the epicness only Sabaton can provide!

Tanith - In Another Time

Man, talk about a throwback!  While there are a handful of bands taking on styles of rock from the past, this album really does sound like it comes from 1975!  Between all the folklore references and fantasy story-telling (to say nothing of the album art looking like it was pulled from an early D&D manual), this band really do sound like they are “In Another Time.”  Jokes aside, though, there is a lot more than just nostalgia going here with their eclectic mix of old-school metal and prog.

To start off, I do hear bits and pieces of bands like Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull, Deep Purple, and early Rush, but with the male/female vocal harmonies, a comparison to Fleetwood Mac feels appropriate as well (though Cindy Maynard is very different from Stevie Nicks).  Still, between all of this, they have a sound that is unique, full of melodic passages and groovy caveats.  

The first thing that stands out are those vocals.  While the harmonies do happen, there is also a lot of trading off, where Cindy will sing one line and Russ Tippins the other, making for some interesting back-and-forth.  They also have an interesting tendency to really mix up their song-writing.  They’ll set a tone, but half-way through, they’ll change the tempo or the time signature, shaking things up in a rather proggy way.  And in between, there are all kinds of noodly guitar leads and solos, all of which happen in songs that are still only 4 or 5 minutes long!

Of course, it’s not all mysticism and magic, as some of the songs are more philosophical and nature (and they even have one based on a NASA project!).  Still, it makes for a rather delightful experience to hear rock songs that really do sound like they come from not just a different era, but even a different ethos entirely!  Definitely more than a novelty, I’ll be excited to hear if they do anything more in the future!

Yes - The Ladder

I was actually planning on having one more new album on this article, but then I learned that Yes’s The Ladder just passed its 20 year mark, and I had to stop everything and listen to it again.  This album came out when I was in high school, and as a budding Yes fanatic, it was amazing!

The album really is a unique piece of work, seemingly interested in pushing forward while still retaining much of the sound that has made Yes such a great band all these years.  I really do feel that they brought together all of their experience to make something that sounded fresh and yet timeless at the same time.  Listening to it again only served to reinforce that feeling.

What was new was, first of all, how well I knew the album.  I was humming along with every melody, thumbing every beat, singing every lyric.  I also noticed the sheer positivity the album provided, with songs like “It Will Be A Good Day” and “I’m Alive” sounding like motivational speeches, and “Face to Face,” “Finally,” and “New Language,” just bursting with energy and joy.  Even the ballad “If Only You Knew” and finale “Nine Voices” come across as very sincere while still sounding huge.  I was smiling the whole time.

I love this album, and I said as much when I talked about Yes on my Big Three article last year.  While it may not be the most celebrated or popular of their albums, I really do think this is the best thing they’ve done in a long time, before or since.  A gem of an album that, unlike me, hasn’t aged one bit.

---

I'm still trucking along, it seems.  Not posting as often as I would like, of course, but at this point, I'm not too disappointed.  I think I will have one more video list before the month ends.  Until then, rock on! \m/

New Videos - July 2019 Part Two!

Like I promised, here's one last article for July, and it's more of the latest and greatest of rock and metal!  Certainly quite the mix this time around, so check them out!

I guess these Danish rockers have been playing since the 80s, starting out more glam but now evolved into a straight-forward hard rock band.  While some of their guitars may look a little strange, this is some catchy stuff.  Worth a look!

Yes, more Sabaton, but I can't help it!  This is a little different though, going with a bouncy, swing-step groove that makes it a little light on its feet.  Then there's the hammond organ solo in the middle that fits like a glove.  Neat variations for band known for their otherwise iconic style.

Alter Bridge is a band I should spend more time with, given what a big Creed fan I am.  Here we have a very heavy, but somewhat atmospheric slab of hard rock, going for something a little more cinematic in tone.  Good stuff!

Old-school AOR!  Here we have The Defiants providing that classic 80s rock sound that makes even the smallest things seem larger than life.  This has some pretty strong Bryan Adams vibes, very summery and catchy.

Queensrÿche has always carved their own path, and this song from their latest album really shows their quirky song-writing style.  Jarring at times, soft and somber at others, all while letting their vocalist ring out those soaring notes.  It doesn't get more iconic than this.

DragonForce is one of those bands where either you like them or you can't stand them.  While the video very 80s, the song is DragonForce to a T, so don't expect any heavy synths or poppy interludes.  For me, DragonForce is a nostalgic sound to when I first got into power metal, so this song is like putting on an old, but comfortable pair of shoes.  Nice the see the guys keeping their pedal to the metal!