Ever since Chris DeGarmo left 25 years ago, the wait for a new Queensrÿche album meant doubt, worries and deteriorating expectations. DeGarmo’s influence and impact over the band’s ability to create was so overwhelming, that even Geoff Tate’s desire and stubbornness to keep the ship moving forward was not enough to please the majority of..
Glass Hammer – Skallagrim – Into The Breach (Sound Resources)
The second installment of a trilogy is always the deepest part of the story... As a youngster, I quickly learned from movies such as The Empire Strikes Back and books like The Two Towers that the second instalment of a trilogy is always the deepest part of the story. With the latest musical offering from..
Sweet Oblivion – Relentless (Frontiers Music)
If you didn’t pay attention first time around (shame on you!), the Sweet Oblivion project is masterminded by the Italian label Frontiers Music, which has quite a number of successful all-star bands in its roster. This particular project is built around the talent of legendary Geoff Tate, with the help of some amazing musicians from..
Paranorm – Empyrean (Redefining Darkness Records)
Paranorm is a progressive death/thrash band from Sweden, existing since 2008. With two EPs behind their backs (released in 2011 and 2014 respectively), now, finally the time has come for the full-length debut Empyrean. The eight-track album will be released on February 26th by Redefining Darkness Records and you can already listen to the first..
Pain Of Salvation – Panther (InsideOut Music)
This is a very good album and will undoubtedly be ranked amongst the best progressive metal albums of the year. There is a fantastic soaring guitar solo that enters around the eight-minute mark on the closing track of this album, giving us a minute or so of pure Gilmouresque magic. But, remarkably, that is the..
Photo Credit: Robert Burress
Threshold confirm they have begun writing the follow up to 2017’s ‘Legends Of The Shires’
British prog metallers Threshold have confirmed they've started work on a follow-up to their 2017 double album Legends Of The Shires. As with most bands, Threshold's plans have been heavily disrupted during 2020 with tours to Europe and Australia cancelled due to coronavirus. Guitarist Karl Groom commented: "It's a good feeling to have something positive to say about music again. We've..
Hittman – Destroy All Humans (No Remorse Records)
The reunion “trend” has always been a two-sided card. On the one hand we have bands which simply do not live to the expectations and release mediocre new music just for the sake of it, with no heart or feel anymore. I will not give examples, because someone will be offended, but you definitely have..
Ilathar – A Vessel of Echoes
Cheerful is not the first word that springs to mind listening to Ilathar! This one-man project was created in 2018 in Lower Austria, with the initial goal being to act as a side project for Arstaern-Ilathar (I think Arstaern is his first name), creating his own take on old folk songs while also working in..
Dawnwalker – Crestfallen EP
Dawnwalker are an experimental metal band from London, England, featuring a revolving cast of players and led by songwriter Mark Norgate. Their music blends the modern progressive metal of Opeth and Tool with the melodic folk and progressive rock influences of 1970s heroes King Crimson and Comus, not to mention more recent prog bands like..
Hex A.D. – Astro Tongue in the Electric Garden (Fresh Tea)
Hex A.D. have produced a stunning album mixing psychedelic, doom and progressive metal in an inspired cocktail. Norway’s Hex A.D. have been ploughing a path of psychedelic doom metal for a number of years and this is now their fourth album. I’ve no idea what the intriguing title might mean but it certainly grabs your..