Eclectic Vibes
by Andrew Frey
Lacuna Coil - Shallow Life
Lacuna CoilShallow Life
Label: Century Media
I gotta admit, this Italian gothic metal outfit continues to impress. The beautiful and masterfully blended dynamics of male and female vocals and impressive instrumentation with well rounded dynamics make this a worthy addition to their already groundbreaking catalogue.
• Lacuna Coil Website • Lacuna Coil WikiProng - Power of the Damn Mixxxer
ProngPower of the Damn Mixxxer
Label: 13th Planet Records
Tommy Victor and company present revisioned versions from “Power Of The Damager.” These 13 moshing metal juggernauts from as many different remixing aficionados are refreshed, refueled and ready to pound into your brain with the angst and emotion that breed repeated play.
• Prong Website • Prong WikiAmorphis - Skyforger
AmorphisSkyforger
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Finding new ways to awaken my inner Viking! Invigorating anthems with their signature Scandinavian folk metal approach reverberate a dark, powerful beauty and majesty unmatched. This third round with singer Tomi Joutsen integrates a broad stroke of vocal styles with increased progressive rock elements to their musical palette.
• Amorphis Website • Amorphis WikiDarkest Hour - Eternal Return
Darkest HourEternal Return
Label: Victory Records
Rolling and thundering melodic metal with a fair amount of technical wizardry ta boot! Born in the mid 90s, the band was among the first to combine their American hardcore/punk fury with the Swedish death metal sound and is the lineage that still propels their music.
• Darkest Hour Website • Darkest Hour WikiStratovarius - Polaris
StratovariusPolaris
Label: Armoury Records
This first outing after the departure of former bandmaster Timo Tolkki finds this Finnish melodic power metal group revisioned and situated to continue their formidable musical legacy for many more years to come.
• Stratovarius Website • Stratovarius WikiArkaea - Years In The Darkness
ArkaeaYears In The Darkness
Label: E1 Entertainment
Terse, intense and vibrant industrialized death metal from Fear Factory alumni Raymond Herrera and Christian Old Wolbers. Although incorporating proven Fear Factory stylings which fans will certainly enjoy overall I find the release safe, repetitive and formulaic.
• Arkaea WikiMile Marker Zero - Mile Marker Zero
Mile Marker ZeroMile Marker Zero
Label: Self Released
Spinning impressive progressive rock adventures is undeniably the calling for this Connecticut quintet. An eclectic epic soundstream is forged around the lyrics that enjoy the dichotomy of life’s many lessons while thriving on the energy of the experience.
• Mile Marker Zero WebsiteShadows Fall - Retribution
Shadows FallRetribution
Label: Ferret Music
Throwing together aggressive vocals and neck wrecking riffs and rhythms while whipping up a wild and entertaining stage show has been a quite effective formula for this twice Grammy nominated outfit. Now to up the ante, they are introducing their own record label!
• Shadows Fall Website • Shadows Fall WikiTYR - By The Light Of The Northern Star
TYRBy The Light Of The Northern Star
Label: Napalm/SPV
Viking Metal by actual Vikings! Named after the God of War and Justice, this inspiring Faroese quartet brings us pagan metal anthems/hymns galore! Their folk metal attack is awakened and filled with vibrant traditional harmonies while telling tales of the Viking struggle against the horrors of Christianity and it’s bloody Crusades that were forced upon them.
Valina - A tempo! A tempo!
ValinaA tempo! A tempo!
Label: Joyful Noise Recordings
The technical artsty rock that this Austrian trio purveys sways from booming and brain scratching mega riffs to experimental rock plateaus with indeterminate attitudes. Math rock produced by Chicago’s Steve Albini.
• Valina Website • Valina Wiki3 Inches Of Blood - Here Waits Thy Doom
3 Inches Of BloodHere Waits Thy Doom
Label: Century Media
Daredevil vocals riding on the unrelenting waves of an unabashed speed metal barrage. Vocalist Jamie Hooper notes of the album. “We are forging the steel that we’ll use to annihilate the heavy metal posers, and in every town we play, the streets will run red with their blood.” Nuff Said. Produced by Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison.
• 3 Inches Of Blood Website • 3 Inches Of Blood WikiAndreas Kisser - Hubris I & II
Andreas KisserHubris I & II
Label: Mascot Records
Sepultura’s lead guitarist and musical visionary brings us an opus broken into two discs, the first electric and second acoustic, exemplifying the songwriting skills and depth of this masterful artist who enmeshes his Brazilian rhythmic heritage into these diverse and gratifying contemporary compositions.
• Andreas Kisser Website • Andreas Kisser WikiView More
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