The Ghost Cult album round up is back in town, for your vulgar delectation…Continue reading
Tag Archives: Melodic Metal
REVIEWS ROUND-UP: Week 43 (2017) – feat. Savage Messiah, Winds of Plague, Hollywood Undead, Sparzanza and more…
August Burns Red – Phantom Anthem
By now considered metalcore stalwarts, August Burns Red have always proved a reliable and popular outfit without ever reaching the creative or commercial heights of many of their peers; yet have successfully carved somewhat of a niche in the genre. Whilst never seeming close to toppling the likes of Killswitch Engage or Parkway Drive off their perches, they have produced a consistently decent catalogue and have settled into the notion of their music being fun and (at least attempting to be) anthemic throughout, whilst also never being afraid to shy away from the samey and stagnant structures that plague many in the genre. Continue reading
The Contortionist – Clairvoyant
The transformation The Contortionist have undertaken since their inception has been quite simply staggering. From their heavier but still progressive-nuanced Deathcore-like début album Exoplanet (Good Fight), they evolved and changed (considerable line-up changes aside) into a much more melodic, post-rock and even jazz influenced outfit by the time of 2014’s Language only two albums later. Venturing even further down the rabbit hole, latest album Clairvoyant (both eOne) branches even further from their early Tech Metal roots, thus showing even further expansion and breaking of limits.Continue reading
Iced Earth – Incorruptible
Since forming Iced Earth (formerly known as Purgatory) over thirty years ago, it’s fair to say that mainman Jon Schaffer has presided over his fair share of changes in personnel. The sole remaining member of the original line-up, since 1985, the singer/rhythm guitarist is now onto his seventh lead guitarist, tenth drummer (Brent Smedley now in his fourth separate term), eighth bass player, and fifth lead vocalist.Continue reading
Adrenaline Mob – We The People
I gotta admit, I liked Adrenaline Mob’s second disk Men of Honor. It was great for doing cardio. So, I had a good feeling going into We The People (both Century Media). It didn’t disappoint. We The People is the same hard-driving, pristine, Heavy Metal album Adrenaline Mob’s predecessor was. Adding David Zablidowsky on bass and Jordan Cannata on drums, We The People exhibits a healthy rhythm section that has us all breathing a sigh of relief. I honestly didn’t think it would “work” without AJ Pero, but bless! I’m happy this album is as strong as it is. Continue reading
A Fine Day To Live: Daniel Cavanagh of Anathema talks The Optimist, being an honest band and more
Despite a messed up sleeping pattern and having not yet gotten around to getting any caffeine in his system in the hour since he woke up, guitarist and co-songwriter Daniel Cavanagh of Anathema is in good, wry spirits. Almost Optimistic one might say… An erudite and affable chap of no little musical or creative talent, Mr Cavanagh is talking to Ghost Cult about the newest Anathema album, The Optimist (KScope) Continue reading
Junius – Eternal Rituals For The Accretion Of Light
Concluding a conceptual trilogy with an examination of spirituality and reincarnation on Eternal Rituals For The Accretion Of Light (Prosthetic), progressive, melodic, post-Metal exponents Junius are not producing throwaway music; theirs is a depth not just of expression and concept, but of musical bent, with soundscapes to complement such musings and reflections. Continue reading
Xandria – Theater of Dimensions
Around five years ago, German/Dutch Symphonic Metal band Xandria threw off the shackles of the Middle Eastern and Celtic romanticism prevalent on their first four albums, switched singers and promptly transformed themselves into Nightwish. Well okay, maybe not quite, but the similarities between the two bands recently are striking to say the least and on new album Theater of Dimensions (Napalm) it would now also appear they’ve absconded with Dutch compatriots Epica too.Continue reading
Once Human Releases Gravity Music Video, New Album Due In 2017
Once Human, the modern metal band led by former Machine Head and Soulfly guitarist Logan Mader have released a video for their new single ‘Gravity’. You can watch the clip below: Continue reading