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4 days ago | 
bravewords.com | Mark Gromen
(No Remorse)Damn, those Greeks love the high pitched vocals and this two-guitar Spanish quartet (signed to the Athens based store/label) even dip into King Diamond falsetto territory on their second full length (+ the Knights Of Metal, debut EP)Eight proper songs (after 41 seconds “Ascension” intro), lasting about 35 minutes.
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1 week ago | 
bravewords.com | Mark Gromen
Fresh from a European tour, supporting their latest album (fifth, in just over decade), the purple hooded horde have escalated from a kitschy, prop wielding outfit, with satanic laced odes to “whips & chains,” into an international viable act, with musical depth and real singing/songwriting skills prominently on display.
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2 weeks ago | 
bravewords.com | Mark Gromen
(Frontiers)The Swedish power metallers (once thought of as a Helloween clone, circa Sunrise In Riverland, 2001) issue their second album since returning to activity (after a 2007 begun hiatus) and sixth, overall. Well, they certainly aren’t short on material, as the nine pseudo-conceptual platter features tracks eclipsing seven, eight and 14 minutes! The “shortest” number is “Underneath The Eye”, just a second short of 5:00.
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1 month ago | 
bravewords.com | Mark Gromen
The beautiful Landis Theater is located in Vineland, an economic enterprise zone, one hour outside of Philadelphia: an area better known for its blueberry farms than entertainment. The 1937 movie house has a neon & chrome makeover and typically plays host to AOR/hair metal cover bands, each weekend. About once a month, there’s some touring act: Accept has played here, as did Burning Witches.
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1 month ago | 
bravewords.com | Mark Gromen
Like metal, pizza comes in many flavors and if you’re a fan, you’ll probably sample any/all styles, while always returning to your favorites. Legions Of Metal festival provides a sampler, a smorgasbord of metallic sub-genres of inquisitive fans to mull over, digest and hopefully go home with a doggie-bag” morsels to enjoy at a later date.
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1 month ago | 
bravewords.com | Mark Gromen
Of the two days, this had more “must see” performances, on paper, including the headlining Crimson Glory. With a baker’s dozen acts set to play (as opposed to 10, yesterday), the show kicked off two hours earlier, at 3:30, with the operatic/symphonic power metal of After Time. First two bands were on the main stage, before alternating between there and the adjoining Joint set-up, inside Reggies bar/dining area.
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1 month ago | 
bravewords.com | Mark Gromen
Calendar says the first weekend in May, but as Great Lakes denizens know (Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo, Toronto), spring is often late. While out-of-towners long ago packed away jackets, jeans and long sleeves (in favor of shorts & tank tops), Chicago greeted them with (hopefully) the last blast of artic air: just “high” temps in the 50s and overnight lows precariously close to freezing. Thankfully, the festivities were all inside Reggies, although the weather did curtail roof-top patio pre-gaming.
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2 months ago | 
bravewords.com | Mark Gromen
(Rata Mutante)Been three years since leader Esteban and his clan of speed metal Colombians have graced us with new music. Album #10 offers eight ripping additions to the Revenge canon. Looks like an upgrade in production and cover art, dispensing with the frequent cartoon characters in favor of a more Victorian horror vibe (Headless Horseman, apparently drawn by the same artist that did the Harder Than Steel artwork).
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2 months ago | 
bravewords.com | Mark Gromen
(Doomentia)Fresh on the back of last year’s full-length, comes a new, limited edition (300 pieces) 12″ vinyl, four-song EP from the rough, speed metal Spaniards. All are exclusive to this release. “Heavy Metal Rush” comes tearing out of speakers, with a bit of simple, staccato, punk aggression (“Hey! Hey! Hey!”). Only the guitar break identifies it as a true metal construct. By contrast, the 4:04 mostly instrumental “The Catapult” is fleet fingered, repeated runs up/down the fretboard.
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2 months ago | 
bravewords.com | Mark Gromen
Most years, the vast majority of the Decibel lineup is a mystery to me, yet invariably, I discover a couple of acts that warrant future investigation and support. However, in 2025, nearly half the bands I’d not only seen, prior to the fest, but deemed most of them enjoyable. Saturday seemed a far cry from the fare. Somebody’s tastes are changing!Speaking of tastes, on Day 2 some breweries rotate their line-up, giving people something different than Day 1.
