REVIEW: EVERGREY, The Dark Discovery

 

EVERGREY, The Dark Discovery (1998)

InsideOut Music America

Πολλά υποσχόμενο.

Οι Σουηδοί Evergrey αποτελούν μια ιδιαίτερη περίπτωση στο progressive/power metal. Το Dark Discovery είναι η πρώτη τους προσπάθεια και, σε σχέση με το ιδίωμα στο οποίο ανήκουν, λειτουργεί σχεδόν ως το αντίθετο των Kamelot. Δηλαδή, ενώ οι Evergrey παίζουν ένα prog που παραπέμπει σε αμερικανικό ήχο — όπως και οι Kamelot, που όμως, αν και Αμερικανοί, παίζουν metal ευρωπαϊκής λογικής — το αποτέλεσμα είναι εντελώς διαφορετικό.

Τα φωνητικά του Tom S. Englund έχουν ήδη από το ντεμπούτο αυτό το χαρακτηριστικό ύφος που τον κάνει μοναδικό. Σε πολλά σημεία μοιάζει να “ραπάρει” τις φράσεις, κολλώντας τις αράδες των στίχων σαν να αποτελούν ένα ενιαίο σώμα.

Μουσικά, το άλμπουμ βρίσκεται κοντά στους Fates Warning, ενώ ειδικά εδώ θυμίζει και Iced Earth, κρατώντας το heavy metal ύφος αλλά με μπλεγμένα riffs που απαιτούν πολλές ακροάσεις για να μπεις στη λογική τους.

Στο κιθαριστικό κομμάτι υπεύθυνος είναι ο Dan Bronell, στα πλήκτρα ο Will Chandra, στο μπάσο ο Daniel Nojd και στα ντραμς ο Patrick Carlson.

Με κομμάτια όπως τα December 26th, Dark Discovery, Blackened Dawn, Trust and Betrayal, When the River Calls, For Every Tear That Falls, το άλμπουμ παραμένει ένα από τα πιο αγαπημένα του κοινού τους — ενός κοινού που παραμένει πιστό στο συγκρότημα μέχρι και σήμερα.

English:

Very promising.

Sweden’s Evergrey are a special case within the progressive/power metal spectrum. Dark Discovery is their first effort and, compared to the stylistic space they occupy, it functions almost as the opposite of Kamelot. In other words, Evergrey play a kind of prog that evokes an American‑leaning sound — while Kamelot, despite being American, perform metal with a distinctly European sensibility — yet the end result is completely different.

Tom S. Englund’s vocals already display, from this debut onward, that unmistakable style that makes him unique. At many points he almost “raps” the phrasing, stitching the lines together as if the lyrics form one continuous flow.

Musically, the album sits close to Fates Warning, and in this particular case even recalls Iced Earth, maintaining a heavy metal backbone but with interwoven riffs that demand multiple listens before their logic fully reveals itself.

The guitar work is handled by Dan Bronell, with Will Chandra on keyboards, Daniel Nojd on bass, and Patrick Carlson on drums.

With tracks like December 26th, Dark Discovery, Blackened Dawn, Trust and Betrayal, When the River Calls, and For Every Tear That Falls, the album remains one of the band’s most beloved releases — cherished by a fanbase that has stayed loyal to Evergrey to this day.

Τάκης "Ε-Μortal One" Γιώτης!

REVIEW: STEELWING – Lord of the Wasteland

 

STEELWING – Lord of the Wasteland

NoiseArt Records

Lord of the Wasteland marks the full‑length debut of this young Swedish heavy metal outfit, and it’s a confident statement of intent. STEELWING lean unapologetically into classic heavy metal, drawing heavily from the IRON MAIDEN school of galloping riffs, melodic twin guitars, and soaring vocals. The result feels familiar in the best possible way: energetic, tightly executed, and rooted in the genre’s traditions without sounding derivative.

The album’s concise runtime works in its favor, keeping the momentum high and avoiding the fatigue that often comes with longer debuts. While the tracklist is consistently solid, a few songs stand out for their immediacy and strong hooks—particularly “Headhunter,” “The Nightcrawler,” “Point of Singularity,” and “Clash of the Two Tribes.” These tracks showcase the band’s ability to balance melody and speed while maintaining a clear sense of identity.

For fans of classic heavy metal, this is an album worth seeking out. It sits comfortably among the notable releases of 2010, alongside records from SCORPIONS, ATLANTEAN KODEX, ARRYAN PATH, ENFORCER, and SKULL FIST. STEELWING are currently touring with SABATON, though unfortunately Greek audiences haven’t had the chance to catch them live yet.

Their debut shows real promise, and it will be interesting to see how they evolve from here.

Ioannis Kaskamanidis

REVIEW: EXCITER – Death Machine

 

EXCITER – Death Machine

Massacre Records

Anyone with even a passing familiarity with EXCITER knows exactly what they’re stepping into: uncompromising speed metal, raw to the bone, delivered with the kind of vocal ferocity that feels like the singer is spitting fire with every line. Death Machine, the latest release from the legendary Canadian trio (4 members here), embraces that identity without hesitation. The band sounds particularly intense this time around, and that heightened aggression radiates through every track.

If I had to place this album somewhere within their long history, it most often brought Long Live the Loud to mind. That’s not to claim Death Machine reaches the iconic status of that classic—only time can make that judgment. What’s clear, though, is that EXCITER have crafted a record that respects their roots while still delivering the kind of high‑velocity metal their fans expect.

A standout element here is the performance of new vocalist Kenny “Metal Mouth” Winter. His delivery—imagine Udo on an adrenaline surge—fits EXCITER’s sound with surprising precision, adding grit without sacrificing clarity. He feels like a natural extension of the band’s long‑established sonic identity.

Overall, Death Machine is a solid, confident release from a veteran band that still knows exactly how to ignite a speed‑metal assault. Listeners can draw their own conclusions, but fans of the genre—and especially long‑time EXCITER followers—will likely find plenty to enjoy.

Highlights: “Death Machine,” “Dungeon Descendants,” “Razor in Your Back,” “HellFire,” and “Skull Breaker” (featuring a killer hidden solo).

Nick Parastatidis

REVIEW: RIOT, Immortal Soul

 

RIOT, Immortal Soul (2011)

Steamhammer

Αναπτέρωση του έμψυχου σε έναν γκρίζο κόσμο

Η σύνθεση του άλμπουμ–ορόσημο για την ιστορία του αμερικανικού power metal, του θρυλικού Thundersteel, ξεπέρασε κάθε διαφορά και, μετά το 2009, οι Tony Moore (φωνή), Don Van Stavern (μπάσο), Bobby Jarzombek (ντραμς), Mike Flyntz (κιθάρα) και φυσικά ο ιδρυτής του σχήματος, ο αθάνατος Mark Reale στις κιθάρες, κυκλοφορούν αυτό το εκρηκτικό μείγμα Riot όλων των εποχών. Ένα είδος best of για το συγκρότημα που ξεκίνησε το 1975 και συνεχίζει ακόμη και σήμερα, μετά τον άδοξο θάνατο του Mark, πλέον ως Riot V.

Το σοκ ήταν μεγάλο. Μετά από απουσία πέντε και πλέον χρόνων, το συγκρότημα που διαμόρφωσε αυτόν τον ήχο επέστρεψε με μια ονειρική σύμπραξη τόσο μουσικών όσο και συνθέσεων. Το ομότιτλο Riot ανοίγει τον δίσκο, και τα Wings Are for Angels, Still Your Man, Immortal Soul, Insanity, Whiskey Man, Believe, Echoes είναι τίτλοι που θα μπορούσαν να βρίσκονται σε οποιοδήποτε άλμπουμ της χρυσής εποχής τους, από τη δεκαετία του ’80 έως και τα τελευταία χρόνια του ’90.

Ένα CD που, χωρίς τότε να το φανταζόμασταν, θα αποτελούσε και το τελευταίο της κλασικής εποχής. Η συνέχεια, πάντως, θέλω να πιστεύω πως θα δικαιώσει μετά θάνατον τον Mark Reale.

English:

Reviving the Living Spirit in a Grey World

The creation of Thundersteel, the landmark album in the history of American power metal, managed to overcome every internal difference. After 2009, Tony Moore (vocals), Don Van Stavern (bass), Bobby Jarzombek (drums), Mike Flyntz (guitar), and of course the band’s founder — the immortal Mark Reale — returned to release this explosive blend of Riot across all eras. It stands almost like a best‑of for a band that began in 1975 and continues even today, after Mark’s untimely passing, now under the name Riot V.

The shock was immense. After an absence of more than five years, the band that shaped this very sound came back with a dreamlike union of musicianship and songwriting. The self‑titled track Riot opens the album, and Wings Are for Angels, Still Your Man, Immortal Soul, Insanity, Whiskey Man, Believe, and Echoes are songs that could easily belong on any record from their golden era — from the 1980s through the late 1990s.

It was a CD that, without us realizing it at the time, would become the last of the classic era. Still, I want to believe that everything that followed has continued to vindicate Mark Reale, even after his passing.

Τάκης "Ε-Μortal One" Γιώτης!

SORROWFUL ANGELS Return With New Single and Video “Hope Untold”

 

Sorrowful Angels, one of Greece’s most seasoned Dark/Gothic metal acts, make a powerful comeback with the release of their brand‑new single and official video clip, “Hope Untold.” The track marks the beginning of a fresh creative chapter for the band, offering a first glimpse into the material currently in the works.

“Hope Untold” showcases the group’s evolving sound while staying rooted in the dark atmospheres and melodic depth that have defined their identity. The band describes this new era as Melodic Dark Metal, signaling a refined direction as they prepare to unveil more steps in their upcoming cycle.

The video was filmed at MBS Studio in Athens, capturing the energy and mood of the composition. Direction and production were handled by Dion Christodoulatos (Unity Music / CFN Records), with cinematography by The Howler (Phobetor AV) and lighting by Nick Kodizas. Recording, mixing, and mastering were completed at CFN Recordings Studio, also by Christodoulatos.

With “Hope Untold,” Sorrowful Angels invite the metal community and press to witness the dawn of their new era—one that promises atmosphere, intensity, and renewed artistic vision.

BUTT SPLITTERS Unleash Lyric Video for “Flowers of the Wind”

 

Italy’s thrash/death metal force Butt Splitters have released the official lyric video for their new single “Flowers of the Wind,” taken from their 2024 album Nibelvirch. The video is now streaming on YouTube, delivering an intense visual experience that pairs the band’s signature aggression with atmospheric, story‑driven lyric imagery.

“Flowers of the Wind” captures the raw energy and emotional weight that define the Butt Splitters’ sound. With relentless riffs, pounding drums and deep growling vocals, the track dives into themes of impermanence, freedom and the fragile nature of life — all amplified by the immersive visuals of the lyric video.

The video transforms the song’s charged lyrics into a vivid audiovisual journey, allowing listeners to connect with every word while being swept away by the track’s ferocious momentum. It’s an invitation to experience Butt Splitters at their most unfiltered and dynamic.

GUILTERA Drop Powerful New Single “They”

 

Guiltera return with “They”, an explosive new single that tackles criticism, social pressure, and the fight to stay true to yourself in a world demanding conformity. Fueled by raw intensity and an unapologetic edge, the track dives into the emotional weight of being told who you should be and how far you’re “allowed” to go.

With cinematic lyricism and a commanding sonic presence, “They” transforms frustration into empowerment. It moves from vulnerability to defiance, delivering a clear message: imitation and undermining can never replace authenticity.

Haunting, forceful, and deeply resonant, “They” showcases Guiltera’s evolving artistic identity and their ability to turn personal struggle into universal storytelling. A defining new chapter for the band, the single is both a statement of resilience and a call to empowerment.