Igors Metal Blog

Review Cruel Mother - John Barleycorn Band: Cruel Mother Single: John Barleycorn Release date: December 13th, 2023 Record label: Self released Genre: Folk metal, doom metal From: London, United Kingdom Cruel Mother is a quintet formed in 2022, with it's current lineup formed as late as 2023 with Becky on bass and vocals, James on guitars and vocals, Kirstie on guitars, David on violing and Dan on drums. Becky is also the main composer in the band, while lyrics are taken from traditional folk songs, with some adaptions to fit the compositions. John Barleycorn is their first release except for 2 demo songs that were what picked my interest initially. The song is based on traditional English and Scottish folk songs. John Barleycorn is an euphemism for alcohol, and the traditional songs would sing about the various stages of barley being processed.  However, with this being presented as being about a person, it sounds quite dark and gruesome, and I'm pleased to find that Cruel Moth...

Band: Moonscape Single:  If Heaven Knows My Name / 2. A Rendezvous in Time? (Alt. Version) Release date: November 25th 2022 Record label: Self released Genre: Progressive Metal, epic metal, melodic death metal From:   Gjøvik, Norway   I was happy to receive 2 tracks from Håvard Lunde of Moonscape for a review.  The first track, “If Heaven Knows My Name” is a solid prog metal track with elements most should find appealing.   I’ve always compared Moonscape with Ayreon, and this track is probably the closest to Ayreon I’ve heard by this band so far, even if there’s only one singer. In addition there’s a very cool synth Aaron Minich (Nekrogoblikon) and heavy riffing that makes me think of Symphony X. If that wasn’t enough, there is a melodic lead guitar that reminds me of Opeth in the transition period from melodic death metal to prog. I like the drums, that I still find hard to believe to be programmed, probably because Håvard Lunde starte...

Originally reviewed for: Epic Metal Blog Band: Cyclopean Walls Album:  Enter the Dreamlands Release date: October 29th 2021 Record label: Steel Gallery Records Genre: Progressive Metal From: International, located currently in Paris, France   Cyclopean Walls is a project by guitarist Yiannis Tziallas, who performs guitars and bass guitars on the record, except for guitar solos by Steelianos Amirides & Stelios Anatolitis on one song. On drums are Jonas Schultz on and Sean Lang (track 5), vocals are handled by Raphael Gazal, with additional vocals by Andrea Krux on one track. Hugor Lee is listed on saxophone, however the saxophone seems to be present only on a few tracks. Yiannis Plastiras did both the composition of the first track and plays Hammond organ on one track. Finally the Esession Strings Quartet performs on the first song.   The first song has to be mentioned separately. Rather than being a metal song, it’s a classical piece that was compos...

Band: Siren’s Rain Album: Rise Forth Release date: 8. October 2021 Record label: self released Genre: Dark Folk Metal From: Tacoma, USA       Siren’s Rain was founded in 2014 and has released to EPs: Beneath The Narrows in 2016 and Nightmares From The Abyss in 2019. The band consists of Rena Hellzinger- vocals, harp and percussion, William Beritich: bass, percussion and backing vocals. Scott Eugene Jones: percussion, Michael Heaney: mandolin and guitar, Ed Miller: guitar, nyckelharpa and backing vocals.   This band makes me think of 90s metal bands and Gothenburg metal, particularly Arch Enemy. These songs sound like they were written the old way, in the rehearsal room, not on computers with all parts programmed. This is a band I imagine I could have discovered while looking the cds at my record store when such things still existed. A major part of the sound of Siren’s Rain is the use of folk instruments and folk inspired melodies, as well as t...

  Band: Sorceress of Sin Album: Constantine Release date: 6. August 2021 Record label: self released Genre: melodic power metal From: Cambridge, UK        I have followed Lisa and Paul Skinner since before they started the band Sorceress of Sin. This is now their 2 nd album under this name, and I’m happy to review their progress. (You can find my review of their first album here ) The core of the band is the same since the previous album, namely Lisa Skinner on vocals, Paul Skinner on drums, Constantine Kanakis on guitars and Tom Maclean on bass (in studio), keyboards and orchestral arrangements as well as being responsible for mixing and producing this album. For their live shows they are joined by John Turner on guitar and Daniel Mackender on bass guitar.   The songs vary from fast paced heavy metal to epic metal, often with a symphonic side. At 1 hour 1 minute, with 9 songs, it is exactly long enough. No songs are ...

  Band: Gospelheim Single: Into Smithereens Release date: 30 July 2021 Record label: self released Genre: Black Metal / Avant-Garde Metal / Dark Metal From: Manchester, UK    It’s rare to find me reviewing black metal. Being located in Norway, and being in the scene myself, there is a great abundance of bands that place themselves in the genre. However I find most black metal quite uninspiring. In contrast, Gospelheim were able to capture my attention at once the vocals kicked in. While it lacks the keyboard melodies, this track makes me at once think of Arcturus and Borknagar.   The band is a trio, consisting of R.M. - Vocals and Guitar A.K. - Vocals and Bass C.O. – Drums. I believe there are some ambient keyboards as well, however it’s not clear who performed those. The band got together as late as 2019, but it’s clear from the performance that all 3 are experienced and accomplished musicians.   Intent...

I want to thank Epic Metal Blog and ZYX Music for sending me this album to review. Band: Rhabstallion Album: Back in the Saddle Release date: 12th of March 2021 Record label: ZYX music Germany / Golden Core label Genre: Heavy metal / Heavy rock From: West Yorkshire, UK While Rhabstallion had a song released as early as 1980 (their song Chain Reaction was featured on the sampler album New Electric Warriors), they never got to release a full album before they broke up in 84. With them reuniting in 2018, they finally recorded the album Back In The Saddle, which was released 12 th of March 2021. This album features original members,  Dave Thompson and Stuart Toddington on guitars, Jack Himsworth on drums, Graham Hooper on bass from the 1979 line up. They are joined by Andy Wood on guitar and lead vocals who had previously been in the Rhabstallion line up between September 1981 to 1984.   With many of these songs being from the 80s, I find it natur...

Band: Forlorn Hope Single: The Bitter End Release date: 12. February 2021 Record label: self released Genre: Heavy metal / Power Metal From: Merseyside, UK   Usually I don’t review singles. However, with a band name inspired by the series Sharpe’s Rifles, I just have to give this a listen. And yes, this is exactly what it should be: fast tempo heavy metal with folk influences and a good story. Alestorm, move over, this is the true heir of the great Running Wild! On this song Forlorn Hope folk inspired lead melodies on guitars and keyboard, a great fast paced rhythm and a great vocal performance. The melodic guitar solo is a welcome addition. I like that the bass is put high in the mix, like in Iron Maiden. The mix is clear, with plenty of room for all the instruments.    This is definitively a band for fans of Running Wild, Sabbaton, Iron Maiden and Saxon Also, the single is out today! Listen to it at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AErifNYSvQ You can al...

Band: Peculiar Three Album: Leap of Faith Release date:13. April 2020 Record label: self released Genre: Heavy metal / progressive rock From: Livadia, Greece     The band consists of Valantis Dafkos - Lead & Backing Vocals, BassPanos Karkanas - Guitars, KeysParis Gatsios - Drums. They describe themselves both as alternative metal and “hard 'n' heavy rock / prog trio”. In addition, there is some old school melodic metal here as well as elements of heavy progressive rock. At times they make me think of Warlord and at times of Porcupine Tree, so there is quite a range here.   There is big variation between songs, and if one said it was a split disc, between an old school metal band and a prog/alternative band, I would believe it. While most would complain about such variation in songs, I find it quite cool, especially when the band goes from one style into the other during a song.   This band is definitively for those that want ...

  Band: Hermit’s Maze Album:   Every Dream Has Its Bleakness Release date: November 13, 2020 Record label: self-released Genre: Progressive instrumental metal From: Buenos Aires, Argentina   Hermit’s Maze is an instrumental band from Buenos Aires, Argentina that elects to keep its members, how many there are, and what instruments they play, a secret. The EP “Every Dream Has Its Bleakness” is the bands 3 rd offering, and contains 5 tracks, all instrumentals.     The band has many references to 80s and early 90s progressive rock and metal, as well as some more modern riffing. At times they remind of such great bands as Sieges Even and Queensryche.   The band is very atmospheric, both in the use of melody, pauses and background synthesizers. There are also some sampled sounds to expand beyond the traditional band instruments.   The band makes good use of various rhythms and rhythm changes, as well as chan...

  Band: Sorceress of Sin Album:   Mirrored Revenge Release date: November 27th, 2020 Record label: RocknGrowl Promotions Genre: Power metal, melodic metal From:   East Anglia , UK       Sorceress of Sin consists of Lisa Skinner – Vocals, Constantine Kanakis – Guitars, Paul Skinner – Drums, Topher O’Meagher – Bass, Tom Maclean – Bass, Orchestral Backing   The sound is quite dark, more like US power metal than the European continental variant. I think it would be safe to compare Sorceress of Sin with Chastain. The 10 songs are quite varied, borrowing elements from many metal subgenres from thrash and speed metal to symphonic and operatic metal. Many bands have a somewhat similar sound to what Sorceress of Sin creates. What makes them stand out to me is how well the songs create a certain mood or atmosphere, with every element, both song, lyrics and instruments working together to set the stage for...