Tag Archives: Fantasy Metal

Hammerfall – Avenge the Fallen (2024) – Review

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Rockslaget, anyone? As the lore goes, fledgling Hammerfall attended a few of those Swedish rock contests very early in their career back in the last millennium. Fronted by Dark Tranquility’s Mikael Stanne, their early crew was – at that time – on their way to nowhere with only these contests to show for. This dramatically changed once Joacim Cans came on board and started to put the pedal to the metal. And he stayed to this day.

So, why are we not surprised? DT’s latest contribution with Stanne (still) at the helm left us somewhat unimpressed. And yet, Hammerfall… [...] Click to raid more!

Tyraels Ascension – Hell Walker (2024) – Review

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Core, the bane of RMR? Not quite, just a bunch of styles that don’t sit too well over at the RMR Review Desk. Albeit some hybrids found pretty feisty praise in 2024. So, good fare will find recognition after all.

Tyraels Ascension‘s debut record Hell Walker dwelled in our review pipe for a while – and got forcefully displaced by some metallic extremes that will air shortly on RMR. Hence our being comfortably late all over again. And – perhaps – the need for core-ish brutality wasn’t all that prevalent for a while. Sometimes the urge for caustic screams … [...] Click to raid more!

Greyhawk – Thunderheart (2024) – Review

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Ah, we got ourselves another one. 2024 seems to be the year of early metal and gritty rock that wafts straight up from the ’80s. New interpretations from bands who should know better than to rehash the past. But then, I’ve seen many a youngster embrace the olden and golden times of young Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. And those are people I know personally, not some odd acquaintances on Social Media. So, these ‘young’ bands embracing old-style rock ‘n’ roll may be on to something after all.

And this is amazing and telling at the same time. Methinks that … [...] Click to raid more!

Cirith Ungol – Dark Parade (2023) – Review

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When Cirith Ungol returned from the happy defunct in 2020 with a new scorcher, we were torn. Forever Black had this oldish vibe, true. This metallic gene whence great Heavy Metal records spring. Yet again, at times, the piece sailed a tad too close to the age-old tropes Judas Priest and Rainbow pursued back in the ’80s. And that – with the monotonous and screamy vocal delivery – led to some discord over at the RMR review desk. But – CU‘s wares had a knack for keeping us fascinated to a point despite those annoying little elements that didn’t … [...] Click to raid more!