Tag Rhapsody
I’ve had quite a few Israeli bands in my review pile this month from various quarters as this sextet releases a debut of ambitious power metal complete with soaring operatic vocals. I have a penchant for this scene that started… Continue Reading →
The unexpected passing of Mr Chistopher Lee, a contributor to five of Rhapsody’s albums before divergent paths undertaken by the bands founders was somewhat ironic given the timing of Luca Turilli’s Rhapsody’s second ambitious symphonic and bombastic interpretation of how… Continue Reading →
There’ve been a lot of rule books torn up in recent years and even power metal hasn’t been immune to the occasional redraft. Taking those essential ingredients and either amplifying them beyond what any common sense would deem rational or… Continue Reading →
“Pushing The Envelope”. On the surface a strange phrase, but something I often say that Epica do with their Symphonic Metal genre – so I thought I’d better check exactly what it means; To attempt to extend the current… Continue Reading →
‘Limbo’. Quite apt as it goes… Italy’s Symphonic Neoclassical Progressive Power Metallers (!) Derdian have spent their last 3 albums exploring the realms of their self enforced Fantasy land trilogy, limiting them lyrically and planting them firmly in the shadow… Continue Reading →
Power metal is all about the instant fix. The catchy choruses, the anthems,the cinematic spectacle. In some ways it’s the essence of heavy metal – some of us get that. But in other ways its a path too well trodden… Continue Reading →
Silverthorn is one of the most anticipated power metal releases of the year so I’m not going to keep you hanging too long. Let’s just say that founder and guitarist Thomas Youngblood has wisely not messed with his tried and… Continue Reading →
Hungarian power metallers Wisdom released “Judas” in mid 2011 through Soundholic but it has been picked up by Noiseart for another release in late August, which I found strange. Questioning a power metal mate about the band, he was familiar… Continue Reading →
This album has all the hallmarks of a classic piece of power metal, thanks to its outward bombast, flamboyance and colourful artwork. What is less usual is that it comes fromPoland. But then where there’s a Behemoth, there’s a Riverside… Continue Reading →
This is a Norwegian studio project that started in 2007 that features a couple of big names, mainly relating to vocal duty personnel. Graham Bonnet (yep – Rainbow/MSG etc.) and Michael Kiske (Unisonic/ex-Helloween) are the big hitters, the other musicians… Continue Reading →
I first came across this leather clad Polish crew a few years back when their debut album ‘Curse Of The Crystal Viper’ landed on the mat from legendary distro Black Tears. It was a very rough and ready affair both… Continue Reading →
Formed after a chance meeting between David Grimoire and Adrian de Crow at a stage performance of Umberto Eco’s book “The Name Of The Rose” the two met up and decided to do a concept album based around the same… Continue Reading →