Ah, gigs. Remember them? Well, I Am The Empire – Live From The 013 (Napalm Records), the new live release by veteran power metal act Kamelot is a welcome reminder of what live entertainment looked like in a pre-Covid world.
Tag Archives: Power Metal
EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE: Grimgotts – “Rise Again” Lyric Video
Epic Power Metaller pirates Grimgotts have shared a new single and lyric video today for their new sing;e “Rise Again”! Originally formed in 2015 as a Harry Potter parody outfit, Grimgotts has since graduated into their own original fantasy realm: the mythical land of Andria. Their well-received albums Lions of the Sea (2017) and Dragons of the Ages (2019), and their just-released EP Tales in May all chronicled epic battles between men and dragons on Andria’s high seas. Now on the eve of releasing the EP Sagas, due out on August 14th, 2020. Watch the lyric video for “Rise Again” now! Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Warkings – Revenge
A four-piece band of indeterminate origin (their home town is listed merely as “The Home of Kings”), Warkings are an international – presumably European based – supergroup who like nothing more than to cosplay while singing about such diverse subject matter as fighting, marching, combat, battles, warfare, and conflict.
ALBUM REVIEW: Judicator – Let There Be Nothing
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
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.
EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE: Let Us Prey – “Virtues of the Vicious” (ft. Metal Mike Chlasciak) Lyric Video
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
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
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
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!
ALBUM REVIEW: Powerwolf – Best Of The Blessed
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