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Nov 10, 2024 | 
avenoctum.com | Paul Maddison
This is classic US death metal, a new release consisting of Kam Lee, vocalist and basic innovator of death metal vocals, in fact the same stable line up since 2021’s ‘Resurgeance’ release. Those who following the Swedish death metal scene will note once again Rogga Johnasson is present who is a true leading force of death metal over the last decade and “from beyond” (SIC!) maybe?
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Oct 29, 2024 | 
avenoctum.com | Paul Maddison
Following hot off the heels and riding into battle, this Greek Heavy/Power metal band follow their debut album “Storming the Walls” with ‘Spirit Invictus’. I think with the vocal sound and phrasing and the powerful anthem driven heavy metal, it’s most probable to say they admire Manowar, especially relevant to a track like ‘Hall of a Thousand Storms’. ‘Triumpher’ is a touch more mid-tempo at its start, a grinding guitar assault that peppers your headbanging needs.
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Oct 1, 2024 | 
avenoctum.com | Paul Maddison
Portland’s Black/speed metal purveyors are back with a fourth full length release. Last year’s compilation of the first three demos was a welcomed bonus to those who missed them first time around. I always find this band refreshing and rather on the evil side with their simple, but effective, devilish rock n roll. Having lived with three advance tracks for a while, it’s nice to hear them slot into the album fully.
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Sep 26, 2024 | 
avenoctum.com | Paul Maddison
This is a debut album from a relatively new German speed metal band which is welcomingly depicted on the opener ‘Tower 42’. It has authentic sound and a good vocal tone and melody. Hammering through into the next track, ‘Murder at the Barricades’, the band show some slower restraint and flow into the traditional heavy metal sub-genre.
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Sep 10, 2024 | 
avenoctum.com | Paul Maddison
This is their follow up to 2018’s ‘Judge Not’, a relatively big gap, but with other projects in mind, the time is actually about right Blitzkrieg to return with a self-titled release. From the opening tune ‘You Won’t Take Me Alive’ you get an immediate appreciation of the high quality heavy metal, melody, song structure and the ability to make the listening experience memorable.
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Sep 9, 2024 | 
avenoctum.com | Paul Maddison
Over the last few years since their comeback, Satan have been plying their up tempo Heavy Metal styles with some often saying, proto speed metal rather successfully. This is their seventh album, the fifth since their energetic comeback with this stable line up. Whilst many other band projects exist for the members, Satan is what brings them all together. Lyrically ‘Frantic Zero’ goes along the lines of society commentary with a slight reflective comment from a wiser person to another generation.
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Sep 4, 2024 | 
avenoctum.com | Paul Maddison
I discovered this German Heavy/Folk Metal band during Covid times, this is the first full length release following a couple of EP issues. The romanticism of the swirling vocal really encapsulates the band’s sound and I suppose the folk element is those non-traditional metal influences that are included, but I feel if you are looking for something to compare, take the less heavy distorted sound and present energetic rock classics staged with symbolic atmosphere.
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Aug 29, 2024 | 
avenoctum.com | Paul Maddison
This is the debut album release from London based Epic Heavy Metal band who started with the very solid foundation of ‘Sacrifice Doth Call’ EP. With lyrics of valour and fighting through time and extension to basic Greek mythology. With this introduction would come the usual suspects of influences, Manowar, Mercyful Fate, Bathory and Cirith Ungol etc. This is not a negative, but I need to set the scene straight away.
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Jul 31, 2024 | 
avenoctum.com | Paul Maddison
This Norwegian version of Sovereign (there are over 15 bands of this name listed that I could find) are a death/thrash group featuring ex members of Nocturnal Breed, Incinerator (these guys are awesome!) and Nekromantheon. ‘Altered Reality’ eventually gets going in a howling vocal akin to early Death recordings, with a pace of early Sepultura and Slayer. Yeah, this is a real adrenaline ride. Unsurprising based on the PR material, I’m not too much of a keyboard fan, but its subtle and for effect.
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Jul 23, 2024 | 
avenoctum.com | Paul Maddison
This is album number five for this US heavy/power metal band. Throughout their career they have provided, what I term happy heavy metal. The foundations of which are built from the forefathers of our lovely heavy metal genre, but lazily in Europe based on its rise in the late 1990’s, will probably get categorised as power metal. ‘Riding the Dragons’ is with pace, I find this Dio, Jag Panzer and US metal inspired. Again, strength is in the melody and the sheer smooth as silk musicianship.
