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...

1. Is your band actually in the target group of what I review? I accept submissions for reviews of melodic metal, classic heavy metal, progressive rock, progressive metal,  melodic death metal. The important part is that it has to have great melodies beyond the vocal melodies.  It's not enough to have a synthesizer playing some mood chords in the background! Singing clean vocals in stead of screaming / growling also isn't enough to be considered melodic! I'll try to give some examples on well known melodic bands that fit my reviewing requirements: In classic heavy metal, there are many great bands, like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Saxon who all have great melodies. Just listen to 747 Strangers in the Night by Saxon . One of my all time favourite bands is Blind Guardian. They have at various points been considered speed metal, power metal and progressive metal. I will here use them as an example for melodic metal. They have great instrumentation and powerful melodies both ...

Requested submission. Band: Eluvian Album:  The Doom of Edendalk (ep) Release date: December 15, 2019 Record label: self released Genre: Melodic Death Metal From: Sula, Norway Eluvian is a 4 piece that consists of Mads Smebakk – Guitar and keys, Markus Olsen – Vocals and lyrics, Espen Mork – Bass, Ludvig Pedersen – Drums. The Doom of Edendalk is the bands second offering, having released the full length album Prophetic Flame in 2018. This 4 song ep is the start of a concept work in the fantasy genre that will be continued on the bands next album. The band has great vocals, going from a raspy heavy metal and old school thrash vocal to full out growling that still holds a clear melody, demonstrating that this is singing, not shouting. I’m also impressed by the emotional growling on the start of the last song of the ep. There are also a few ambitious vocal arrangements where there are several vocal parts at the same time in a kind of call and response ...

Band: Future Now Album: Utopia Awaits Release Date: June 24th, 2019 Record Label: Self released Genre: Progressive Metal From: Cambridge UK Future Now is the project of guitarist Jaz Hunter and drummer Charlie Mckenzie Stewart, where they invited vocalist Riko Burrows for the first studio album. The project has no been turned into a band with a touring lineup, featuring Richard Nejjy Nejman on keys and synthesizers, Joe Feighan on vocals and Tom Drake on bass guitar. The music is melody focused with emphasis on both vocal and guitar melodies. They would do well both with audiences that favour AOR, progressive rock or melodic metal. Most songs visit several themes or convey different moods in different parts of the song, which makes for great storytelling on the album. The band seems to be inspired by a lot of 80s prog metal bands like Queensryche, Savatage and Saracen, as well as more modern bands like Symohony X, Circus Maximus and Ayreon. There is also so...

Band: Deadwood Lake  Album: Immortalised In Death  Release Date: August 16th 2019  Record Label: UKEM Records  Genre: Melodic/Atmospheric Black Metal  From: Southwest UK  Reviewed by: Igor Jakobsen for Heaps of Metal This review I feel a bit guilty for, as it has taken far too long since I got the task until I actually had the time to sit properly down with the album and write the review.  The album is well produced, with the various instruments clear in the mix, something that is often an issue with black metal. They call themselves atmospheric black metal, however I would say they are closer to Norwegian progressive black metal and progressive extreme metal like Borknagar and Enslaved except there’s no keys. Instead they use clean guitars with various effects for the atmospheric intros and interludes. I would also want to compare them with the Irish dark metal band Primordial.  The album is a concept album, which...

Originally posted on Heaps of Metal 02.03.20 Derade is a 4-piece from the Suffolk area (UK) consisting of Guy Radford (guitars), Mark Radford (guitars), Lisa Skinner (Vocals), Paul Skinner (drums) They describe the music as Baroque metal, being influenced by classical music. The songs are fast paced, and would appeal to fans of power metal and melodic metal. Like folk metal bands usually having folk instruments, most fans of symphonic metal would expect from a Baroque metal band to have keyboard or orchestral arrangements, however this band is strictly guitars, bass, vocals and drums, which shows again that it’s the melodies that make the style, not the instruments. The classic symphonic influence is clearest in the instrumental Amentra, but is present through the album. The album is overall well composed, often playing two melodies at the same time. The mix is very good, particularly at balancing the guitars and vocals. The drums of Paul Skinner fit the mus...