Meadows End – The Grand Antiquation (2019) – Review

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It looks like this blog needs a bit more growling to move it back to our metal roots. Lately, we were hunting about the folksy parts of the music industry a lot. And finally ended up in cheese-covered Power Metal lands, populated by fantasy cookie monsters and fairy dust. 

So, it is great news that Meadows End finally came forward with their new full-length album The Grand Antiquation.

True to their credo, Meadows End kick off their 39-minute offering with a mix of Fleshgod Apocalypse, the hearty rumbling of Noumena, and a slice of Wolfheart. Yet … [...] Click to raid more!

The Riven – The Riven (2019) – Review

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This groovy grind was already visible when The Riven released their 2017 blurb Blackbird. This good ol’ whiskey-fueled rock, filled with stoner-esque pleasures to the brim. The good old times of sensual rock suddenly beckoning you all over again.

You do find them still, those bands with a style that kinda went out of fashion many years ago. But not so often anymore. Dirty Sound Magnet in their old incarnation was one. Or again Last Bullet or Hey Satan with their grouchy, stony beat.

But a band sounding like a mix of the gravelly voice of vocalists like Janis [...] Click to raid more!

Metallica – Reload (1997) – Review

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The Black Album came first in the ’90s, which was also the first one Bob Rock produced. This was a time when Metallica started to see the light. That they could not just scream about the stage forever, and stay at the same decent levels of fan support. Much to the dismay of one James Hetfield, it seems, judging by some of his remarks that still float about the YouTube multiverse. 

So, a somewhat painful time of trial and error commenced. A timespan filled with big controversies that should last the better part of a decade. Of strange metal [...] Click to raid more!

Avantasia – Moonglow (2019) – Review

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Ah, countless calories galore. I just went to the fondue shop to get my fix of milk fat, garlic, and loads of white wine. Together with two baguettes, of course. You do need nice, crusty bread to go with this dish of molten cheese.

Well, in hindsight, this is not something I should have done. Because little did I know that I’d get started on Avantasia‘s Moonglow anytime soon. Their 2019 record is so full of cheesy glory that – actually – there will be no need for future fondue excesses. Like for the next 250 years or so. [...] Click to raid more!