I love Finland’s SONATA ARCTICA. There, I’ve said it. Do not expect an unbiased review of their tenth studio album, ‘Talviyö’. However, do expect a mind-blown exercise in foaming at the mouth excitement.
It is always an event when SA release a new record. Their 2016 release (‘The Ninth Hour’) was my favorite album of that year and ‘Talviyö’ is reaching out to me with those neverending harmonies that take the band above the average power metal combo.
Since 2011, Lost Empires have been fusing together a new breed of metalcore straight out of Oklahoma City, OK. One could say, fantasy metalcore? A healthy blend of sharp and tight traditional riffs with a power metal element, the melody along with the synthesizers. This is really something cool.
The five piece consists of Kilby and Brad on guitars, drummer Jeremy, Luke on bass and Lawrence on vocals. “Death, the Unveiling of Eternity” EP was released in 2016. It’s like God Forbid and Blind Guardian are dating. It’s a fabulously unique metalcore EP. The standout track is undoubtedly “Standing at Death’s Door.” Song structure is interesting, catchy and elaborate. The power metal elements really stand out on this particular track. Some cleans throw in the background really compliment the growls. Another favorite, “Hameln” has the eerie synth magic happening with a really evil and driving riff over top. It’s just a solid track. Fans of mid-2000’s metalcore will certainly be interested in Lost Empires, and power metal fans that don’t mind more aggressive vocals.
The band is pretty quiet on their socials, but after a bit of poking around it seems as they are taking a break at the moment but have future plans to write new material. Their 2016 EP is available for streaming on Spotify.
Lords Of The Trident was forged 10 years ago in Madison, Wisconsin. For the last decade the warriors that make up the band have been battling their way to stages all over the country. Lords Of The Trident is made up of Master Hercule “Herc” Schlagzeuger (Lead Drums), Baron Taurean Helleshaar (Lead Guitar), Fang VonWrathenstein (Lead Vocals), Asian Metal (Lead Guitar) and Pontifex Mortis (Lead Bass). They are in the process of soldiering their way to a stage near you as the band announces their first quest of 2019 will be for “The Metal, Spikes, And Chicken-Fried Steak Tour” with A Sound Of Thunder. The metal warriors will be performing four dates kicking off the first in Cincinnati on January 17th and wrapping up the crusade in Atlanta on January 20th. The tour is in support of Lords Of The Trident‘s 7th studio album ‘Shadows From The Past’ released this past August. Album stream can be heard on Bandcamp, Spotify, and Youtube. Continue reading
*This is part of our State Of The Art series, showcasing bands every Monday from the featured state. This month’s state is Rhode Island.*
Rhode Island may be one of the last places that comes to mind when pondering anthemic, symphonic metal. Goldenhall, however is about to change that entirely. Since their formation in 2014 by way of numerous local bands, they have lent credence to idea that Rhode Island has been a hidden hotbed for heavy music. Started by guitarists Ryan Spahr and Greg Rosche, formerly of Condolence; it did not take long before recruiting Nico Cannella (Acerose) and Matt Young from Chaos Before Creation, on bass and drums, respectively. Goldenhall is fronted by classically trained vocalist, Jason Shealy. All of the music is recorded and produced by this independent band. Continue reading
It has been eight years since the release of their last full length, “The Great Escape,” so “highly anticipated” is an understatement for their fifth record. The Swedish, melodic and progressive metal phenomenon, Seventh Wonder are finally ready to grace the world with their latest musical endeavor from Frontiers Music s.r.l. One one hand, eight years is quite some time. But on the other hand, vocalist Tommy Karevik joined Kamelot in 2012. Perhaps that may be the greatest reason of all for such a delay. No longer must we wait though, as “Tiara” drops on October 12th.
Deutschland’s one of the best power metal exports, POWERWOLF will be coming out with an all cover album, featuring some very big and modern artists in the metal scene. The cover album features many POWERWOLF hit tracks covered by international stars within the metal sphere, such as, EPICA, BATTLEBEAST, HEAVEN SHALL BURN, AMARANTHE, CADAVAR, KALIBAN and many more. It is interesting to note that all the bands featured on this cover album are modern and young, which will really cater to a large mass of modern metalheads. Or if you’re someone who knows how to chill and not cause rift creating stuff like old school and new age, it should cater to you as well. Also, not to forget most of the bands on this album are led by, OR constitute female singers, which is yet another achievement in its own. Bands like EPICA, BATTLEBEAST, AMARANTHE and ELUVEITIE, have been the example setters when it comes to women in metal. And I think POWERWOLF has done a great job in putting forward and carrying on the female power in metal.
Also, this cover album, ‘Communio Lupatum’ will be a part of the all new upcoming POWERWOLF studio record titled, ‘The Sacrament Of Sin‘. ‘Communio Lupatum’ will be a part of the special edition of the brand new LP, which also contains a 3-CD earbook edition with studio album, and an orchestral album!
Strictly from their sound, it is almost hard to believe this symphonic power metal outfit comes from Tampa, Florida. Since 1991, founder and guitarist Thomas Youngblood has been the mastermind behind the entity that is Kamelot. A change of frontmen in 2011, however, reignited a flame for the band. Swedish singer, Tommy Karevik (Ayreon, Seventh Wonder) took the place of Roy Khan and has since elevated Kamelot to exponential heights. ‘The Shadow Theory’ is the twelfth album in their discography, released on Napalm Records and produced by Sascha Paeth who has been perfecting their sound since 1999’s The Fourth Legacy. Continue reading
Kreator
Sabaton, Kreator and Cyhra recently kicked off their North American tour and finally it reached the Washington DC/Baltimore area last Wednesday night. This show in Silver Spring was one of the last ones of the North American tour, the wait was grueling. This is a tour I have been waiting to cover for a while, firstly because I am a huge fan of both bands, and secondly Sabaton is a great band to photograph. I haven’t attended any show since Trans Siberian Orchestra in November, so I was extremely excited to be surrounded by metal heads. Let me dive into the review now, you can check out the photo gallery at the bottom of the page.
Today we’ve a very special review for you here at Metal Nexus which concerns a group that are more-than-likely virtually unknown to the vast majority of our most avid readers at this precise point in time but are more than certain to achieve high bursts of success and international acclaim in the years to come. Frozen Crown aren’t a name you’ve heard before but will most definitely hear a lot more of very soon. They are a self-categorized ‘Melodic Power Metal’ group Continue reading
If there was ever a perfect blend of Power Metal and Death Metal that perfection would be none other than Haarlem Netherland powerhouse SPARTAN. Marching in the standard Phalanx formation of their namesake, these brutal warriors are set to take the world by storm and gain the favor of metalheads worldwide with calculated ferocity. With their original formation being in 2007 SPARTAN now consists of Jeffrey Rademakers on vocals, Pieter Vink and Nick van Beusekom on guitar, Mike van Bekkum on bass and Frank Bos on drums. Although they are from the Netherlands, the members of SPARTAN have a deep love of Greek Mythology and lore. How could they not? The Greeks have won the hearts and minds of people the world over with their rich history, and awe inspiring tales of Gods, Goddesses, and brutal titans which the band has more than effectively translated to the here and now with an epic fusion of Power and Death Metal. SPARTAN released their first E.P. in 2009 titled “For Glory” and the success of that album sent them marching through Holland, and later conquering a good portion of Europe between 2009-2013, where they shared the stage with metal icons such as Marduk, Moonspell, Septicflesh, Negura Bunget, and Rotting Christ. In 2014, they signed an endorsement deal with Dutch guitar makers ‘Serpent King Guitars’ and in 2015 they released their epic album “The Fall Of Olympus” with Into The Limelight Records. Continue reading
