Tag Archives: Power Metal

ALBUM REVIEW: Judicator – Let There Be Nothing

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While Judicator’s fifth full-length offers their signature brand of historically themed Power/Prog Metal, it comes at a more personal angle this time around. The story of Let There Be Nothing (Prosthetic Records) is based on the life of Belisarius, a 6th century Byzantine general who reclaimed remnants of the Western Roman Empire while wrestling with a crippling marriage. The album never quite reaches the catharsis of 2015’s At The Expense Of Humanity, but it’s nice to see their Blind Guardian worship be tempered with a little extra pathos.Continue reading →


CLASSIC ALBUMS REVISITED: Nevermore’s This Godless Endeavor Turns 15

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While Nevermore never quite broke into the mainstream, they always seemed to be just under the radar ready to make an impression. The band’s signature combination of proggy rhythms, gothic vocals, groovy chugs, extreme drums, and shredding solos seemed to have something for everyone in the Metal sphere, but their eccentric execution also meant they never found belonging in any single demographic. That all seemed like it was poised to change with their sixth album, 2005’s This Godless Endeavor (Century Media Records), which saw them gain greater exposure compared to their earlier efforts and more unanimous acclaim.

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EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE: Let Us Prey – “Virtues of the Vicious” (ft. Metal Mike Chlasciak) Lyric Video

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Ghost Cult has teamed up with modern extreme metal band Let Us Prey to debut the lyric video for the title track to their new album, Virtues of the Vicious, releasing tomorrow on July 24th via M-Theory Audio/Salem Rose Music. The blistering track is brutal, progressive, and epic sounding as it poses the eternal question about humanity: “Are we violent by design?” Coming off like a blend of bands like Lamb of God, Death, recent Testament, and classic Nevermore, Let Us Prey is led by vocalist Marc Lopes (Ross The Boss) and guitarist Jon Morency, the track also features guitar legend Metal Mike Chlasciak (Halford). The philosophical song title was inspired by an episode of the Marvel Netflix series The Punisher, so definitely check out the lyric video to one of the best metal songs of the summer, and pre-order the album at the link below. Continue reading →


ALBUM REVIEW: Primal Fear – Metal Commando

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Sometimes a title is all you need. And, as it unleashes a victorious scream of power metal majesty heard three townships away, Metal Commando (Nuclear Blast Records), the latest album from Primal Fear, is absolutely one of those titles. Continue reading →


ALBUM REVIEW: Ensiferum – Thalassic – Metal Blade Records

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Concentrating on a specific thematic concept for the first time, Thalassic (Metal Blade), the eighth full-length release by Finnish folk metallers Ensiferum, finds the band obsessing over – as the Greek translation suggests – the subject of things related to the sea.Continue reading →


PODCAST: Episode #106 – Christopher Bowes of Alestorm

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Ghost Cult recently caught up with Christopher Bowes of Alestorm, who dropped their new album Curse Of The Crystal Coconut via Napalm Records. The Captain of the “Pirate Metal Drinking Crew” was in high spirits when we spoke, delving deep into the new album, his entire career, Alestorm’s place in the powermetal scene, their die-hard fans, the Alestorm “rowing moshpit”, his love of the keytar, and much more. Purchase Alestorm’s music here and check out our chat with Chris!

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ALBUM REVIEW: Powerwolf – Best Of The Blessed

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When the wolfsbane blooms, and the moon is full, the time will come for Powerwolf to release a compilation album. Yes, after the hugely successful The Sacrament of Sin (Napalm Records), the German lycanthropes bridge the gap until their next studio release with Best of the Blessed (Napalm), a “Best Of…” with a difference.Continue reading →


ALBUM REVIEW: Greyhawk – Keepers Of The Flame

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The first full-length album from Seattle’s Greyhawk is a particularly interesting iteration of the NWOTHM scene. A focus on hooky songwriting with an epic tone makes for easy comparisons to such contemporaries as Visigoth and Traveler as the production carries a polished sheen similar to the likes of Haunt or Idle Hands. While these factors would initially suggest that the band is just another notch in a long line of derivatives, they find a lot of ways to set themselves apart on Keepers Of The Flame (Fighter Records).

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ALBUM REVIEW: Mike Lepond’s Silent Assassins  – Whore of Babylon

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Looking past the rather gaudy artwork, the third album from Mike Lepond’s Silent Assassins sees the group continuing to thrive on an over the top presentation. As with previous albums, Lepond’s bass playing leads the charge with intense flurries accompanied by surging power metal rhythms and Alan Tecchio’s flamboyant wails detailing history and legend. However, Whore of Babylon sets itself as the group’s most eclectic effort so far.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Grave Digger – Fields of Blood

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Marking the 40th anniversary of the band, the latest Grave Digger album is a serious return to form and arguably their best release since the glory days of the eighties. Delivering a fresh injection of power metal straight from the highlands of Scotland (where some of the album was even recorded), Fields of Blood (Napalm Records) is a strong statement from a band who have appear to have been taking some of their cues from military-obsessed Swedes Sabaton.Continue reading →