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: 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...

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...

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...