Reviews
3.0
BLACKBRIARA Thousand Little Deaths
Blackbriar's latest feels like a beautifully orchestrated collapse; moments of genuine brilliance buried under frustrating repetition.
4.0
BEYOND THE BLACKBreak The Silence
'Break The Silence' flirts with genuine grandeur but ultimately buckles under the weight of its own ambition; a frustratingly uneven listen.
2.0
CYAN KICKSCome Hell, Come High Water
Cyan Kicks' debut is a frustrating exercise in overblown ideas and sloppy execution; it drowns rather than delivers.
7.0
AMBUSHEvil In All Dimensions
'Evil In All Dimensions' delivers a solid dose of modern metal, but ultimately lacks the spark to truly transcend its influences.
7.0
EPICAAspiral
*Aspiral* finds Epica wrestling with weighty themes and expansive soundscapes, delivering a mostly compelling journey despite moments of self-indulgence.
9.0
SELLSWORD...With Might and Vengeance
A towering hour of battle-ready power metal, packed with huge melodies, muscular riffs and enough character to justify every minute of its runtime.
Napalm Records Onlineshop
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5.0
HELLOWEENGiants & Monsters
Helloween's latest offering, 'Giants & Monsters', feels like a band caught between reverence for their past and the daunting task of forging something new.
7.0
PARADISE LOSTAscension
Paradise Lost's latest offering, 'Ascension', delivers a familiar blend of gothic grandeur and crushing doom, though its length proves a minor stumbling block.
8.0
BATTLE BEASTSteelbound
Steelbound delivers a predictably potent dose of power metal, though some familiar tropes threaten to blunt its considerable force.
10.0
HAMMER KINGMake Metal Royal Again
'Make Metal Royal Again' isn't just an album; it's a coronation. Hammer King have forged a monument to power metal, and it resonates with glorious force.
5.0
TAILGUNNERMidnight Blitz
A committed but ultimately unremarkable effort from Tailgunner, delivering flashes of promise without ever fully catching fire.
6.0
BLOODBOUNDField Of Swords
A valiant, if somewhat predictable, quest through power metal tropes – Bloodbound’s 'Field of Swords' delivers heroic bombast but lacks true innovatio
9.0
EVERGREYArchitects Of A New Weave
Evergrey return with a masterclass in progressive metal, weaving intricate melodies and crushing riffs into an unforgettable tapestry.
7.0
DYNAZTYGame of Faces
A valiant effort, but 'Game of Faces' feels like a band treading water rather than forging ahead.
Visit Croatia
Croatia is the other side of the Adriatic Sea: a country that still has clear traces of a Roman and Venetian past, but has developed a strong identity culture, with its own traditions and artistic movements.
4.0
AVANTASIAHere Be Dragons
A sprawling, theatrical odyssey, *Here Be Dragons* offers moments of genuine grandeur but ultimately feels like a retread of well-worn fantasy tropes.
7.0
THE HUHUN
A valiant, if somewhat predictable, second act for Mongolian folk metal titans The HU.
5.0
AT THE GATESThe Ghost of a Future Dead
The Gothenburg titans return, but 'The Ghost of a Future Dead' feels like a spectral echo of their former glory.
6.0
MORTEMMorketid
Mortem’s return is a murky affair, steeped in atmosphere but lacking the visceral punch of their prime.
8.0
MARCO GARAU'S MAGIC OPERAThe Final Flight
A soaring, bombastic journey through Italian power metal, 'The Final Flight' delivers a thrilling experience with moments of genuine brilliance.
8.0
INTO DARKNESSRoute to the Outer Side
A patient, cosmic death-doom voyage that turns planetary distance into crushing atmosphere and disciplined tension.