Tag Archives: Epica

Xandria – Theater of Dimensions (2017) – Review

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They did it. They finally did it. Xandria managed to keep one of their female fronts a bit longer than for a felt stretch of one album only. So, here they again feature the classically trained Dutch singer Dianne Van Giersbergen on their second album in a row. And rightly so. Talented girl that she is, she can easily match a range from Tarja Turunen, over Floor Jansen, and back to Simone Simons. And that means something.

As the band’s progression goes, already their last contribution Sacrificium was a step up the star-studded ladder of operatic glory. This makes you … [...] Click to raid more!

Newsflash: AfterTime bemoan a lost world!

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Ha! Looks like 2017 got off to a juicier symphonic start than I expected. A few watery sun rays hit us already late last year, with a couple of Symphonic Metal players turning in some pretty sturdy material.

Even some of the ‘established’ bands, have seen the light and kicked it up a couple of notches. But of course, not nearly enough to counter the same-same, but different legion that likes to dominate the genre.

So, luckily we have some exceptions. Now, AfterTime state their influences to be Nightwish, Within Temptation, Epica and Leaves’ Eyes – in between … [...] Click to raid more!

Diabulus in Musica – Dirge for the Archons (2016) – Review

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Often in the metal universe, a new album is somewhat of a Pandora’s Box. Or the bottle with the genie that, once released, won’t fit back into it.

Now, I had somewhat of an issue with Argia last time we looked at Diabulus in Musica. And the juicy comments from some punks from the Ministry of Love to get lost over it were interesting, too.

I was thus a bit wary of what I would find in DiMs latest and best. But – lo and behold – the tune changed into something else. More lively, rockier, lighter in taste, … [...] Click to raid more!

Dark Portrait – A Harrowing Atrocity (2016) – Review

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We kind of felt that this may turn out to be the unholy year of Black Metal. And – indeed – it proved black in more ways than one. Like the fucking 50 shades of gray gone very dark and blood-laden all of a sudden.

We enjoyed Ritual Black Metal from the likes of Darkend. Loads of Atmospheric stuff coming our way too, which seems to be the new, sometimes almost sanitized blackened style of the day.

And now Greek fire starts to get on our mutual radar screen.

And I kid you not, Dark Portrait joining us from Athens serve us with their debut album A Harrowing Atrocity. The band was … [...] Click to raid more!