MEGADETH - Dystopia Review

MEGADETH - Dystopia

Tradecraft Records

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For a while, I hated MEGADETH. That is, until I bought their re-mastered “Peace Sells...” CD that I had on tape 25 years ago. I think it was the vocals that killed my interest. Now that I have that CD, I appreciate it more and more. And with this new album, it's a great follow-up from a flop album “Super Collider”. This one rips in every respect. It just doesn't let up in originality, the vocals are tolerable and the music/leads are fantastic.

ARTEMISIA – Rito Apotropaico Review

ARTEMISIA – Rito Apotropaico

Onde Roar Records

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ARTEMISIA from Italy is a band that I have already presented to you here. It is an interesting band that through its music tries to create a melancholic and dark atmosphere without though their music lacking in melody. “Rito Apotropaico” is their new effort and let me tell you a few things about it.

BORKNAGAR - Winter Thrice Review

BORKNAGAR - Winter Thrice

Century Media Records

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This album is a gem, it's deeply emotional. Not a fast paced release, only in some parts. There are mood changes to this one; it can go from melodic to quicker, screaming vocals to clean. It really is unpredictable when those swings come up. But that doesn't take away from the magic of the album. I'd say this is one of the best releases in 2016. It's hard to put this band in a category they're sort of Viking/folk metal. The Viking sort reflects that of AMON AMARTH and the folk kind of like FALCONER but not so much with the vocals. Just sort of like that, but not totally exact. They have their own sound and vibe to them. But yeah, mood-swings.

NARNIA – Narnia Review

NARNIA – Narnia

Massacre Records

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When C.J. Lewis created the “Chronicles of Narnia” he wanted to write a tale that was also a metaphor about the Christian religion. Actually the Lion Aslan is considered to represent Jesus Christ. So, I think this is the reason that the band chose to use this name, because if you check their lyrics then you will realize they have themes about Jesus and the Christian religion in general. It is what we can simply say a white power metal band.

FROM THE DUST RETURNED – Homecoming EP Review

FROM THE DUST RETURNED – Homecoming EP

Sliptrick Records

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All good things start as an idea, but to materialize this idea and make it happen requires talented musicians to be found and of course to be determined. I think that talent and determination is what made this EP possible for us to listen to. FROM THE DUST RETURNED was an idea of Alex De Angelis (vocals, guitars) in 2015 which he managed to realize after a change of line-ups. Actually the band managed to find a stable line –up during the recording of its debut album. The problems continued when the recordings of this EP were lost and the band decided to re – record it in a new studio. So after so many line–up changes and misfortune which the band’s determination surpassed I have in my hands their lost EP.

CONCORDEA – Over Wide Spaces Review

CONCORDEA – Over Wide Spaces

Independent

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Russia really has a very interesting and worthy to mention metal scene. I think that the reason why its bands have not become so known abroad is mainly because of the use of the Russian lyrics by most of them and that they are interested mainly to spread their music inside their country. However, there are exceptions to that rule and there are bands like CONCORDEA that use the English language and are interested to spread their music all over the world.

FOGALORD – Masters of War Review

FOGALORD – Masters of War

Limb Music

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Epic symphonic power metal or else Hollywood metal, if you remember the term (though I would prefer the tag Cinecitta metal) is a genre to which Italy has offered some very good bands. However, as any successful genre, we had an overproduction of such bands from all over the word and somehow this caused its decline. Personally, I have reached to a point of avoiding listening to such bands, although I am a big fantasy fan. FOGALORD, though, with their debut that was released in 2012, caught my attention and made me realize that there are still musicians that can bring something fresh to the symphonic power metal sound.

VOLTAX – No Retreat… You Surrender Review

VOLTAX – No Retreat… You Surrender

Iron Shield Records

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People, who search the American metal scene and the underground, already know that in Mexico there is also a very interesting and promising metal scene. One of the most worthy to be mentioned representatives of this metal scene is surely the band VOLTAX who with this release reach their fourth full length album.

CUSTARD – A Realm of Tales Review

CUSTARD – A Realm of Tales

Pure Steel Records

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Ah… CUSTARD!! This is a band that I have followed since their first EP (which is great by the way). CUSTARD is one of these bands that exists for so many years and they never went astray from their sound. They really do love what they do, because first of all they are metal fans and of course good musicians. In all these years of their existence they have released some nice albums (some of them are really rare and the guys should consider reprinting them) and I am really curious to know why this band never received the attention they deserved in the heavy/power metal sound.