BAD TASTE! LOUD RIFFS! TOO MUCH CUM!
Cyan Kicks
Cyan Kicks' debut is a frustrating exercise in overblown ideas and sloppy execution; it drowns rather than delivers.
Ambush
'Evil In All Dimensions' delivers a solid dose of modern metal, but ultimately lacks the spark to truly transcend its influences.
Epica
*Aspiral* finds Epica wrestling with weighty themes and expansive soundscapes, delivering a mostly compelling journey despite moments of self-indulgence.
Sellsword
A towering hour of battle-ready power metal, packed with huge melodies, muscular riffs and enough character to justify every minute of its runtime.
Helloween
Helloween's latest offering, 'Giants & Monsters', feels like a band caught between reverence for their past and the daunting task of forging something new.
Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost's latest offering, 'Ascension', delivers a familiar blend of gothic grandeur and crushing doom, though its length proves a minor stumbling block.
Battle Beast
Steelbound delivers a predictably potent dose of power metal, though some familiar tropes threaten to blunt its considerable force.
HAMMER KING
'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.
TAILGUNNER
A committed but ultimately unremarkable effort from Tailgunner, delivering flashes of promise without ever fully catching fire.
Bloodbound
A valiant, if somewhat predictable, quest through power metal tropes – Bloodbound’s 'Field of Swords' delivers heroic bombast but lacks true innovatio
Evergrey
Evergrey return with a masterclass in progressive metal, weaving intricate melodies and crushing riffs into an unforgettable tapestry.
Dynazty
A valiant effort, but 'Game of Faces' feels like a band treading water rather than forging ahead.