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Operus – Score Of Nightmares
Some people seem to be of the very firm opinion that in order to be considered symphonic metal you have to have a soprano or at least lady on the mic. Canadian Operus impressively prove this thesis very wrong with their sophomore effort Score of Nightmares, as they explore the genre with gusto and are led by the strong and expressive vocals of David Michael Moote, who is perfectly capable of adding a very theatrical flair to the songs. Operus also do not make the mistake of overloading their songs with synthesizers in an attempt to make them stand out as ‘symphonic’, but manage to craft a very well rounded piece of metal that deserves the attention of any symphonic metal lover out there!
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Ormskrik – Ormskrik
Let me introduce you to my discovery of the year. Norwegian Ormskrik is an amazing band that on their debut album mixed black thrash metal with hardcore and death metal and created a flawless masterpiece. While listening to a song from this album, you can’t tell if it’s more black metal, more thrash or more hardcore because of how perfectly the genres are combined here. Every instrument sounds splendidly and the vocalist delights with his skills to create different types of vocals. The record surprises you all the time with the song structures, hidden elements, atmosphere, melodies, solos and a lot more. Ormskrik was inspired by a lot of different bands and styles and it’s audible, but they used these inspirations to create a piece of art that sounds as fresh as it gets. It’s hard to describe it in just a one short blurb, so I invite you to read my full review of it here.
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Carach Angren- Franckensteina Strataemontanus
If it’s horror that you seek, it’s horror that you’ll receive, and of utmost quality I may add. In their sixth instalment, Franckensteina Strataemontanus, the Dutch black metal storytellers of Carach Angren took a rather experimental turn both in music and in concept. Surrounding Johann Conrad Dippel and the story of Frankenstein, this album reeks of alchemic witchery in every lyric and sound texture. Such expressive and vivid imagery rarely comes from black metal, but by now it’s no surprise that Ardek’s magical orchestra and Seregor’s explicit theatrics can turn even the most monochrome music style into a colorful picture. While unsettling and gruesome at the core however, this record also encompasses a strongly empathetic component, resulting in an emotional roller-coaster that you’ll not soon forget. There are flashbacks to Lammendam and Where the Corpses Sink Forever displaying terror and tragedy hand in hand, but also sonic ground that was yet unexplored, touching on an industrial style with strong prominent bass and a much deeper mix. So then dive into this tormentful tale and greet the wretched rogue yourself… if you’re brave enough of course.
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Lamb Of God – Lamb Of God
While Lamb of God’s new self-titled release is certainly nothing new for us to hear, the combination of breakneck grooves, aggressive vocals and technical riffing typical to the band’s trademark sound are brought to new life in what’s the first album by the Virginia metallers not to feature legendary drummer Chris Adler. Lamb of God has plenty of memorable moments, from the highly atmospheric beginning of “Memento Mori” to the crushing aggression and technicality of “Checkmate”, “Gears” and “New Colossal Hate”. The guest featurings of Jamey Jasta and Chuck Billy represent the final icing on the cake of the umpteenth solid release of a band that sees its status in the metal scene furtherly cemented, but that will have to throw in some major innovations to their music in the near future to avoid repetitiveness.
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Velkhanos – The Wrath
At the 11th hour this month, Velkhanos blew through my house like a hurricane with the ‘I can’t believe this is their first full length’ hand-grenade of an LP The Wrath. I’m finding Spain is increasingly becoming my go-to for excellent death metal. The Wrath goes further in cementing that, masterfully weaving together melodic death metal with a generous helping of power metal and traditional Spanish folk. While everyone involved plays their socks off, I’ve got to give an extra special mention to vocalist Miriam Ortiz, who positively slaughters, displaying a range that had me constantly checking to confirm there weren’t several vocalists involved.
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Descend – The Deviant
Following a six-year hiatus and some line-up changes, Descend returns with The Deviant, a colossal outburst of brutally refined progressive death metal. Building on the foundation of early Opeth, the Swedes push their soundscape beyond the stratosphere through a downright monstrous production sound and no holding back on aggression. But the use of melody, clean vocals and clean guitar sections is all seamlessly merged with the riffs and growls, putting them on a higher level of creativity and musical proficiency than most death metal acts out there. One of the most surprising releases in the genre and a huge leap forward in the band’s sound!
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Hail Spirit Noir – Eden In Reverse
It is rather peculiar how bands evolve sometimes. Hail Spirit Noir have been making a name for themselves in the past decade, notably for their unique blend of black metal and psychedelic rock. Thus, their audience might be surprised by their decision to take a massive left turn and release an even more massive album. Eden in Reverse is an album that borrows more from 80’s prog rock and its synth laden compositions and almost completely abandons the ever present 70’s influence. And while the music is most certainly satisfying to a great extent, the real deal is the bold concept, sharp lyricism and even more importantly, the crucial point in time that this album is released. Hail Spirit Noir have pulled yet another ace out of their sleeve and I honestly can’t get enough of it.
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Erreth-Akbe / Fogweaver – The Imminent Grove
The Imminent Grove brings together two of dungeon synths best acts, two acts that just happen to use the seminal works of Ursula Le Guin’s Earthsea as inspiration. Fogweaver and Erreth-Akbe have both been releasing stellar material over the past few years, and in surprisingly similar vein. Ethereal melodies and a melancholic nostalgia transport the listener across the fantastical landscapes and diverse archipelago of Earthsea. Melancholic yet uplifting, somber yet full of life, The Imminent Grove delivers the best of what the current dungeon synth scene has to offer.
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Voidceremony – Entropic Reflections Continuum: Dimensional Unravel
Voidceremony is the latest in a string of quality releases by 20 Buck Spin. And although their debut, Entropic Reflections Continuum: Dimensional Unravel, features members of Ascended Dead, it’s very different from that band and its labelmates. Instead, it’s a throwback to the early years of progressive death metal, sounding a bit like early Atheist and Aussie greats Stargazer, whose bassist Damon Good is a session player, providing fretless bass. Entropic Reflections Continuum: Dimensional Unravel is a must-listen for all fans of death metal, particularly those who like their progressive death metal to be strongly rooted in the genre’s origins. Check this one out if you like The Chasm, Zealotry, and Blood Incantation.
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Chaos Over Cosmos – The Ultimate Multiverse
Chaos Over Cosmos have taken their explorative prog power to new technical heights on this The Ultimate Multiverse, which solidifies the content of the band’s recent EPs in a more consistent setting. Expect sci-fi synths, guitar shredder licks and scales, plus a more aggressive power metal vocal from Joshua Ratcliff. The cosmos has become a busier place.
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HÄG – HÄG
Whelp. Just when you thought heavyweights Wino and Curse the Son would be offering the pinnacle slabs o’ doom this month, this sultry affair straight out of Newfoundland and Labrador had already beaten them to the punch and then some. A menagerie of textures and atmospheres awaits the intrepid riffmonger, from the luscious intimacy on ‘Your Skin’ and the harrowing ‘House of Sparrows’ to the infectious motifs rocking’n’rolling on ‘Ruins’, all of which are guided through the darkness by the enigmatic Clair Hipditch. HÄG construct a formless identity out of the ether, attracting the best elements of doom in all its shapes towards their lifeforce; it might exist purely in the shadows but holy hell can you feel its magnetic allure.
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Battle Born – Battle Born
It’s so satisfying to see the UK power metal scene start to blossom again – and it would seem Southampton’s Battle Born caused quite the stir, even before their debut EP launched. These guys have the potential to be the spearhead band for the community, such is the quality on display on this release. Battle Born is grandiose, pompous, cheesy, catchy and full of good-natured fun. Basically: these are the best songs Manowar never wrote. Whilst a comparison to DeMaio & co. is inevitable, Battle Born ooze more charisma than Manowar ever did. From the self-titled, anthemic banger of an opener, to the utterly gorgeous ballad “For Our Home”, this is the power metal EP of 2020 to check out if you love your swords, sorcery, dragons and singalong choruses.
