Igors Metal Blog

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...

  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...

  Band: Moonscape Album:   Entity, Chapter II: Echoes from a Cognitive Dystopia Release date: November 23, 2020 Record label: self released Genre: Progressive metal, epic metal, melodic death metal From:   Gjøvik, Norway   After hearing “Entity” by Moonscape, I knew I had to get to hear the new album “Entity, Chapter II” and I’m very happy that Håvard Lunde submitted it to me for review.   “Entity, Chapter II: Echoes from a Cognitive Dystopia” continues the story started in “Entity”. The album consists of 4 tracks: 3 main compositions, from 8 to almost 17 minutes each, as well as an orchestral prelude that sets a quite epic mood for the album.   Each of the 4 main compositions have quite distinct parts, with their own names and moods that fit into the overall theme of each composition, like in a classical orchestra piece. At the same time, each of the 4 compositions fits seamlessly together, so that...

Time for the first guest review! This review is written by Anna Loppacher, the keyboard player in my band  Dreamslain Band: Votov  Release: I.X.X.I.  Release date: 14th of August, 2020  Record label: CDN Records  Genre: Death Metal  From: Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada)  Votov formed in 2015; since 2018, they have their current line-up: Chuck Labossiere on guitar and vocals, John Duke on bass and Derrick Kroll on drums. They have previously released a full-length album as well as an EP. Their newest offering is I.X.X.I., a full-length album with crushing riffs and awesome grooves. There are lots of rhythmic changes, which is great. The doomy slow parts create variety and together with the breaks, they make the songs capturing. Both the slow parts, some of the guitar vibratos, and the lyrics such as on Celf have a Black Sabbath-vibe. Overall, however, I would say that Votov’s composing style and sound is within the OSDM range. The sound is huge, caused of c...

Requested submission.   Band: Ward XVI Album:   Metamorphosis Release date: September 25, 2020 Record label: Metal Rocka Recordings Genre: Horror, circus, shock rock From:  Whittingham, northern England, UK       Ward XVI consists of Psychoberrie - vocals and lyrics, Doctor von Stottenstei - guitars and Wolfy Huntsman - bass. For this release they are joined by John Badger – drums (ex-Impavidus) Martin Crawley - keys & accordion (SarifMusic), Anabelle Iratni – operatic vocals (Devilment), Russ Custard – guest vocals on “Shadows” (Footprints in the Custard), Chris Barton – voice acting as The Psychiatris on “Retrogression” and Steve Walker – voice acting as The Judge on “The Verdict”   If you are a fan of concept albums and songs that tell a story, this album is definitively for you. Already the the intro, which makes me think of one of the intros on the Operation Mindcrime album, sets the mood...

Reviewed for: The Metal Lab Band: Avory Release: Foundations / Wreck Release date: August 23, 2019 Record label: self released Genre: post-hardcore / alternative rock From: Nothingham, UK   Avory is a 4-piece formed in 2018 consisting of Zack Corden on vocals and bass guitar, Jack Elsome on Drums Drew Mangham-Dewhurst and Jamie Haffield on guitars. Foundations and Wreck is their second offering, having already released 2 songs in spring 2019.   The 2 songs sent to me for review, “Foundations” and “Wreck” are well composed and offer more complexities than mainstream rock, which would be the market Avory would have to compete in. The songs are mixed and polished, and would do well on mainstream radio. The mix is a bit too wet for my taste, and I think particularly the vocals would stand better out with less delay. Most of the vocals are quite mellow, which makes the shouting vocals in the middle of “Wreck” an interesting contrast.   Unlike traditional hardcore, here is more...

Originally posted on Heaps of Metal 26.01.20 Band: Damaged Album: 1914 Released: October 18, 2019 Track list: 1 - 1914 2 - Time to Kill 3 - Fallujah 4 - Invisible Battle Scars 5 - In the Killing Fields 6 - Death from Above 7 - The Endless War 8 - Terror Alert Damaged is a Puerto Rican thrash metal band that was initially formed in 1989 but split up in 1991. They reformed again in 2015 with original members Jose Oscar Torres (guitars, lead vocals) and Hector Luis Colon (drums) and new bass player Charlie Force. The album 1914 unsurprisingly has many songs about war, but isn’t a concept album concentrating only on WW1. Besides all the American thrash bands they cite as influences, I’m reminded of Celtic Frost, particularly on “In the Killing Fields”, as well as old Iced Earth and Satan. The solos vary between very melodic ones and more Slayer inspired ones. I like the melodic leads and the clean parts. The songs are more complex than what one would expect of ma...

Originally posted on Heaps of Metal 05.11.19  Archer Nations “Beneath the Dream” is the bands 2 nd album, the first, “Culling the Weak” having been released in 2015. The album has nice melodies, and I’m happy to find that there are guitar melodies also on the parts where there are vocals. The album is overall well arranged and well produced, which is not surprising as they used a rather well known producer, Mike Clink, who did many big heavy rock and metal bands in the 80s. The band describe themselves hard rock. I hear both heavy rock and heavy metal here, as well as some power metal and technical metal elements here as well. While the band is a trio with guitar/vocals, bass and drums, there is also some background keyboards that add a bit atmosphere here and there. I like that the album starts with a melodic riff that sets the stage for the band, making me expect a melodic band and making me think of Angra, the Brazilian progressive power metal band. The ...

Originally posted on Heaps of Metal 10.10.19 Blood Beneath Us Starts as a typical melodic death metal song, with dark growling vocals, mid tempo riffs and some melodies, that makes me think of Amon Amarth, possibly some Black Label Society as well. Brings in a well sung, somewhat operatic, but not over the top female vocal that lifts the song. The songs are well produced. I in particular like the drum sound, which is really full. The guitar and vocals are also well placed in the mix. While the bass guitar is mixed typically for the subgenre, I would have preferred a more articulate bass guitar, with more treble. Fall of thine Eyes The second song is faster, and have some brighter growling vocals, more in the direction of black metal, in addition to the darker vocals. Now, I’m guessing all male vocals are handled by the same singer, and if so, it’s an impressive variation in growls. I like how this song changes between several riff tempos and the cymbal work by ...

Originally posted on Heaps of Metal 04.06.19 Son of Boar is a 5 piece band from Bradford. They describe their music as Stoner / Doom, which emphasizes the focus on slower parts and inspiration from Doom metal, which again is of course inspired by the pre-NWBHM metal bands. The riffs on «A Tongueless Tale» seem however to me to more blues rock inspired than inspired by Black Sabbath or Doom metal band riffs. (I’m here thinking of “traditional” doom metal rather than the extreme metal influenced doom one often encounters in the Scandinavian scene). The EP “A Tongueless Tale” was released in march 2019 by the band themselves. It contains 3 songs, with a running time just over 17 minutes. The mix focuses strongly on the vocals, while the guitars could for my taste have been mixed louder. There are particularly some melodic guitar parts that I would want to hear more off (yes, this review is written by a guitarist). The bass guitar sits well in the mix, and I like the f...

Review originally posted on Heaps of Metal 20.05.19 Beyond Salvation is a Manchester based metal band founded in 2014. The bands current lineup is Jon Pedley - Vocals and Guitar, Karl Stone - Bass, Simeon Moore - Drums and Arun Kamath - Guitar. The bands sound focuses on thrash metal, but draws also inspiration from hardcore, particularly in the vocals, and also has, to my ears, some metalcore and Goethenburg melodic death metal inspiration, reminding me of bands like In Flames and Soilwork. My thoughts also go to newer Testament and the thrashier songs of Iced Earth The lyrical theme of the songs is described by the band to focus on the concept of finding a positive from a neagative, sorrow out of despair. “Scarbearer” was released 3 rd of May 2019. It is Beyond Salvations 3 rd offering, the first two being t he EP “Ascension”, which was released in May 2016, and then the single “Betrayer” in May 2017. Being just short of 27 minutes, and containing 5 songs, I would say...