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...

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 ...

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...