BAD TASTE! LOUD RIFFS! TOO MUCH CUM!
Frozen Crown
A sweeping, majestic tapestry of power metal that balances visceral martial grit with ethereal, soaring atmosphere.
Simone Simons
A polished, symphonic addition to the gothic metal canon that prioritises atmospheric consistency over radical sonic innovation.
Poppy
Poppy attempts to bridge the gap between nu-metal grit and synth-pop sheen, but the resulting aesthetic is more confused than confrontational.
Paradise Lost
While the veterans remain masters of atmosphere, Icon 30 feels like an album content to sit on their legacy rather than build upon it.
Týr
A polished, safe voyage through Norse mythology that swaps genuine peril for high-production safety.
Alterium
A triumphant masterclass in symphonic grandeur, Alterium deliver a flawless epic that cements their status as modern titans of power metal.
Evergrey
A sprawling, slightly bloated excursion into progressive metal that prioritises atmosphere over concise songwriting.
Masterplan
Technical proficiency meets a lack of creative direction in Masterplan's latest power metal offering.
Lord Of The Lost
A slick, safe collection of gothic tropes that swaps genuine danger for polished industrial sheen.
Powerwolf
A study in stylistic stagnation where theatrical grandeur fails to mask a lack of genuine musical evolution.
Ad Infinitum
A masterclass in symphonic weight, where cinematic grandeur meets punishing grit to forge a crowning achievement for the modern era.
Amaranthe
A bloated, directionless excursion that loses the spark of its metal roots in a sea of generic electronic wash.