What are you listening to right now?

[introclaus]

ADVENT HORIZON - A Cell to Call Home
Released this morning, although the first 3 singles have been out for a while - progressive metal in similar vein as NoSpun, Haken and even a bit of Caligula's Horse. There are a bunch of guest musicians on the album, including Jordan Ruddess. It's okay, but nothing special.

[introclaus]

RONNIE ATKINS - Trinity
Hmmm ... no! This album is bland, boring and just not any good. I've been a die-hard Pretty Maids fan for close to 40 years by now. I liked Ronnie's first solo album, I loved the second, but this one just ain't cutting it. Songwriting is mediocre, Ronnie sounds uninspired, and there's only one single song on here that I would feel the need to go back and listen to again ("Godless", in case you wondered). Disappointed!

[TommyBoy]

The Gathering "Mandylion".

An absolute classic. I'm finding the older I get the more I'm going to my back catalog rather than new stuff which for the most part is completely generic and uninspired. Maybe its me.

[Ghost Wind]

https://solitarysabred.bandcamp.com/alb ... he-serpent

Kinda getting a Jag Panzer vibe from this tune. Loved their last album and this tune sounds quite good too. Hopefully the rest of the album will be killer. Love the vocals

[introclaus]

https://solitarysabred.bandcamp.com/alb ... he-serpent

Kinda getting a Jag Panzer vibe from this tune. Loved their last album and this tune sounds quite good too. Hopefully the rest of the album will be killer. Love the vocals

Yes, "By Fire and Brimstone" was a great album, I placed it as #65 on my year-end list in 2020 (https://www.pmrising.com/pm/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=11590).

Looking very much forward to the new one.

[introclaus]

MANTICORA - Beast of the Fall
I've been sitting quiet on this one for months ... but now the first single is out, I can finally say that this album is gonna be incredible. If you like Manticora, you'll be all over this. If not, oh well.

https://youtu.be/NFD_qJQhP0E?si=N9Ak2tFFxPhvVZkS

[giedrius]

Two Eldritch singles are pretty good, I am looking forward to the album.

[introclaus]

Two Eldritch singles are pretty good, I am looking forward to the album.

Entire album is really good. You'll enjoy it.

[introclaus]

ICARUS WITCH - No Devil Lives On
Six or seven albums in and IW still sound the same - neither better nor worse. Standard retro heavy metal. I think they are missing in the songwriting department which is why they’ve never gotten any further. Musicianship is fine and while not original in any way the vocals are okay. Songs just aren’t interesting and memorable enough. Dismissed!

[Mardoch]

Finally sorted all of my recent music purchases so listening to those today.

Ran through the new Lalu (very good), now running through the two Obsidian Tide albums, also very good.

[Mardoch]

Just finished another listen of the new Polarism, Fatalism, and that's definitely one of the year's best metalcore albums.

[Mardoch]

Finally getting to the new The Voynich Code, Insomnia. Really good prog-tinged deathcore. The keys are very nice when they show up. Claus, this one might tickle your fancy if you haven't come across it yet.

https://uniqueleaderrecords.bandcamp.com/album/insomnia

[Digital Man]

Ne Obliviscaris - Exul
https://neobliviscarissom.bandcamp.com/album/exul

Progressive black metal with violins?

One of my favorite bands recently. Seeing them on Friday, so getting warmed up.

[TommyBoy]

I have been revisiting Raintime (extremely underappreciated band) as well as some old demos like Pathology and Tritonus. I'm also looking for some older stuff I had and lost in a hard drive crash especially Twilight "Lurking Fantasia". Maybe Claus or Larry can help me out? I'm willing to share some classic demos I have if you guys are looking for anything.

[Mardoch]

After doing my run through Bandcamp stuff for this BC Friday I threw on a bunch of Allegaeon since the single got me in the brainspace for it. Love these dudes.

[introclaus]

Finally getting to the new The Voynich Code, Insomnia. Really good prog-tinged deathcore. The keys are very nice when they show up. Claus, this one might tickle your fancy if you haven't come across it yet.

https://uniqueleaderrecords.bandcamp.com/album/insomnia

THE VOYNICH CODE - Insomnia
Yes, this is a very good album, and it might make my year-end list. It's interesting how they blend tech-death, deathcore and some almost neoclassical/symphonic elements. It's not a perfect album, but I appreciate it quite a lot.


https://youtu.be/2FQoQuW1Ohs?si=od3_Fly87RK_vroZ

[introclaus]

Ne Obliviscaris - Exul
https://neobliviscarissom.bandcamp.com/album/exul

Progressive black metal with violins?

One of my favorite bands recently. Seeing them on Friday, so getting warmed up.

NE OBLIVISCARIS - Exul
I love this album - it's a Top 10 release for me this year.
One of the best modern prog-death bands. I don't hear any black metal in it, but ... if you do, great

https://youtu.be/Bftqq_BqQHI?si=GzRAdquIdpRelPUn

[introclaus]

I have been revisiting Raintime (extremely underappreciated band) as well as some old demos like Pathology and Tritonus. I'm also looking for some older stuff I had and lost in a hard drive crash especially Twilight "Lurking Fantasia". Maybe Claus or Larry can help me out? I'm willing to share some classic demos I have if you guys are looking for anything.

Tom, I understand you have an appreciation for the genre, but do me a favor and don't ask me to send you "demos" ... after all the crap you've "done" for the scene, all the stunts you've pulled over the years, etc. there's no reason for me to interact with you in any way whatsoever. Now that I know who is behind "TommyBoy", consider this my last post to you.

[giedrius]

I just read a very detailed and interesting interview with Kent Smedley of Oracle (who released "As Darkness Reigns" album in the 90s), https://symphoniesofsteel.blogspot.com/ ... rview.html

And when reading that, I found out about a very overlooked Eternal Odyssey "Awakening" album from 2019. Listening to it now, a pretty interesting power/progressive metal in the style of Lethal, Queensryche, Power of Omens, Divine Regale.

[Hearing Aid Man]

I found out about a very overlooked Eternal Odyssey "Awakening" album from 2019. Listening to it now, a pretty interesting power/progressive metal in the style of Lethal, Queensryche, Power of Omens, Divine Regale.

Checking this out. Love this style of stuff.

[Mardoch]

Giving the most recent two Ghost Iris albums a spin. I'd forgotten how much I love this band. Really good groove oriented djenty metalcore.

[LarryD]

New Karnataka and new I/O Earth....... both armed with new female singers, and both fantastic, although I'd give the nod to Karnataka for singer and musical emotion...

[introclaus]

I just read a very detailed and interesting interview with Kent Smedley of Oracle (who released "As Darkness Reigns" album in the 90s), https://symphoniesofsteel.blogspot.com/ ... rview.html

Yeah the ORACLE (Prodigy) album was really good. Besides Kent's brother Brendt who went on to Iced Earth, it also featured Bill Wren (who was on Mystic Force's "Man vs Machine" album).

https://youtu.be/wlcZeV8zGH0?si=ZWaT3N0eF_smSb2k (full stream of album)

And when reading that, I found out about a very overlooked Eternal Odyssey "Awakening" album from 2019. Listening to it now, a pretty interesting power/progressive metal in the style of Lethal, Queensryche, Power of Omens, Divine Regale.

I'll have to check that out - seems like it was a solo project for Kent, where his brother helped out on drums.

[introclaus]

Giving the most recent two Ghost Iris albums a spin. I'd forgotten how much I love this band. Really good groove oriented djenty metalcore.

I liked the debut "Anecdotes of Science and Soul" from 2015, but haven't gotten into any of the following releases. They got less "djenty" and more 'core on the later discs, and just hasn't appealed to me in same way.

[GaetanL]

Comedy Of Errors "Carousel" song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ss_ggT5iWV4

[Sir Exar Kun]

New Karnataka and new I/O Earth....... both armed with new female singers, and both fantastic, although I'd give the nod to Karnataka for singer and musical emotion...

New Karnataka has been in recent rotation here too. Beautiful album, and closes with an absolute epic.

Current disc is the new George Lynch "Guitars at the End of the World" instrumental album, and honestly I'm shocked at how good it is..... Probably the best Shrapnel-esque shredding guitar album I've heard in many a year.

[LarryD]

New Karnataka and new I/O Earth....... both armed with new female singers, and both fantastic, although I'd give the nod to Karnataka for singer and musical emotion...

New Karnataka has been in recent rotation here too. Beautiful album, and closes with an absolute epic.

Current disc is the new George Lynch "Guitars at the End of the World" instrumental album, and honestly I'm shocked at how good it is..... Probably the best Shrapnel-esque shredding guitar album I've heard in many a year.

****Glad to hear you are digging that Karnataka ... and yes, that epic ending is to die for ..... such a beautiful disc, hardly anyone writes stuff that emotional anymore.....
Her voice is absolutely angelic to these ears......

Have not heard that George Lynch disc ..... but man, even at this age, ( hell he is older than me ) he is an absolute monster....... kudos to him, and his interviews on YouTube are super cool .......

[Digital Man]

Ne Obliviscaris - Exul
https://neobliviscarissom.bandcamp.com/album/exul

Progressive black metal with violins?

One of my favorite bands recently. Seeing them on Friday, so getting warmed up.

NE OBLIVISCARIS - Exul
I love this album - it's a Top 10 release for me this year.
One of the best modern prog-death bands. I don't hear any black metal in it, but ... if you do, great

I'm very far from a black metal expert, but thought Xen's vocals were often in the black metal realm. However they are classified, I like them.

[introclaus]

Ne Obliviscaris - Exul
https://neobliviscarissom.bandcamp.com/album/exul

Progressive black metal with violins?

One of my favorite bands recently. Seeing them on Friday, so getting warmed up.

NE OBLIVISCARIS - Exul
I love this album - it's a Top 10 release for me this year.
One of the best modern prog-death bands. I don't hear any black metal in it, but ... if you do, great

I'm very far from a black metal expert, but thought Xen's vocals were often in the black metal realm. However they are classified, I like them.

I guess I can hear what you mean. I still would rather classify them as "extreme prog metal" or "modern prog-death", as there are more death metal than black metal in it, to me at least. Brilliant band.

[introclaus]

SOLITARY SABRED - Bound by the Lich
Second single from upcoming album ... man, this one sure has some early Sanctuary vibes. I love this kind of stuff.

[RickyRock]

Southern Empire. I can’t believe I haven’t heard of these guys before I read about the new album. I have had all 3 studio discs in constant rotation. Another great reason I lurk here. Australia sure kicks out some great bands. Another quick comment, Cam Blokland is a monster guitarist with a great voice that compliments the lead singers. Lots of talent for sure. Happy Friday everyone.

[Ghost Wind]

SOLITARY SABRED - Bound by the Lich
Second single from upcoming album ... man, this one sure has some early Sanctuary vibes. I love this kind of stuff.

Such a killer tune! The “Trangressor!” parts sound like Kind Diamond vocal wise to me. But yeah, great two singles so far.

[Ghost Wind]

https://olirossow.bandcamp.com/album/now-or-never

Really enjoying this instrumental release this week. Strong songwriting with a focus on melody but still having some tasty shredding. Nice thick guitar tone. Probably enjoy this one even more than Adam Ashbridge Scarred Earth.

[MeTuLHeD]

Mezzrow - Summon Thy Demons

Killer thrash!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=407oRRSpYHQ

[introclaus]

Mezzrow - Summon Thy Demons

Killer thrash!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=407oRRSpYHQ

As in "Then Came the Killing" Mezzrow? Old Swedish thrash band back together? What the heck ... I'll have to check that out.