Not having heard these guys before, and not knowing what to expect, I'm well and truly gob-smacked. The thing is, they have this innate knack for drifting from one style, one mood, one atmosphere, effortlessly into another...and another....and another! My initial thought of an angel was the cute kind of cherub, but traditionally angels aren't..
Could Seed – Terminal (Klonosphere Records)
The end result is that this is an album that feels both intimate and cinematic. One moment evokes solitude and reflection, the next bursts into overwhelming catharsis. Throughout Terminal, Could Seed remind us that instrumental music can communicate emotions with a clarity that words often cannot. (And it's not often I'd agree with that!). Some albums tell..
Zilqy – Birth Of Riot (Maveric DC Group)
Fancy a little bit of post-melodic nu-metal? Well, if you’re quietly wondering what that means then you are not alone because it was beyond me to fathom it out. OK, nu-metal we all understand, and nu-metal can be melodic (at times), but what does post-melodic mean? Anyway, post-melodic nu-metal might be how the band position..
Crimson Coven 1- The Forge (Cruz Del Sur Music)
If you like mid-paced ‘80s infused epic metal with a healthy dose of doom thrown in too then this new band from Spain might be your cup of tea. This is their first full-length album and follows on from an EP which was titled 0 – The Genesis. I guess the working assumption that there..
The Eternal (ft. members of Amorphis) – Obscured Horizons (Reigning Phoenix Music)
The new album refines The Eternal’s signature blend of doom-laden textures, progressive sophistication and haunting melodic resonance, while embracing a broader, more expansive sound that feels both intimate and monumental. I have to say from the outset that I'm not normally a huge fan of either Doom or Prog Metal, and yet I find myself..
Forbidden – Forbidden (BLKIIBLK)
Well, I doubt anybody can dispute the fact that 2026 has been the year of thrash. It started with killer new albums by legends Megadeth and Kreator, then continued with also strong releases by Exodus, Flotsam and Jetsam, Acid Reign, Exumer, Anthrax and now will end with a new Xentrix album and the long-awaited returns..
Avrak – Avrak (Peaceville Records)
What a great surprise this is! I have to admit I had no idea of the existence of Avrak, a band founded in November 2023 by guitarists Anders Hegna (Nød, El Kayenne, Svidd Grevling) and none other than Ted Skjellum (a.k.a. Nocturno Culto), notable for being half of the legendary black metal duo Darkthrone. Shortly..
Cinema Stereo – 12:34 (Cargo UK records)
With 12:34, Cinema Stereo confidently announce themselves as an intriguing new voice, delivering a debut that is ambitious and filled with a rich variety of songs that invite listeners back again and again. This Nashville based, high-energy alternative rock band brings vibrance and vintage musical backbone to the modern world that needs it most. Originally..
Maiah Wynne – Into The Waves (Kscope)
Into the Waves moves effortlessly between intimate folk-inspired songwriting, expansive alternative rock textures and cinematic arrangements, with each song serving a chapter in the album's overarching narrative. A songwriter since the age of seven, Maiah Wynne has steadily built an impressive career. She has performed at festivals including Northwest Folklife and Upstream Music Fest in..
The Pineapple Thief – Far and Wide (InsideOut Music)
This is proper, "grown-up" rock music of real class and nuance. For me this band has thrown off the shackles of the past and revealed a new level of song-writing, an altogether mightier future! On their sixteenth studio album, Far And Wide, released 9th October via InsideOutMusic, The Pineapple Thief feel more like a rock..