Ghost of Mary – Oblivaeon (2016) – Review

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RockmusicRaider Review - Ghost of Mary - Oblivaeon - Album Cover

Ah, the Italian metal scene just never ceases to amaze me. From the mountainous foothills of the upper North to the very bottom of the heel, you will find a plethora of metal bands. Their styles are as diverse as the geographical spread they cover. From deep, dark Black Metal over airy Symphonic to Pagan Metal – you have them all. To top it, many of them are of international renown, I would like to add.

Then you got the new and upcoming bands like Ghost of Mary with their debut Oblivaeon.

In many ways, the style of Ghost [...] Click to raid more!

Balfor – Black Serpent Rising (2017) – Review

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RockmusicRaider Review - Balfor - Black Serpent Rising - Album Review

The RockmusicRaider offices were literally flooded with Black Metal offerings of all 50+ shades and beyond in 2016. A trend to move towards the dark waters of the river Styx that we saw emerging already in late 2015. And which continues to this day. Indeed anything blackened was pretty much game and lots of it in stellar format. 

Now, the year of the Dark Lord 2017 already starts to shape up well. A first pitch-black offering reaches us from the cold, cold steppes of Ukraine. And it promises to be a juice-dripping chunk of metal. Or does it?

Now, follow me to the realm of the beast and meet Balfor. Just be … [...] Click to raid more!

Intermittent Digest – Tome IV

RockmusicRaider Reviews - Tome IV

Howdy Fans and Friends!

It is (already) time again for an update on what has been cooking at RockmusicRaider since Tome III. And there has been a lot of action, I can tell ya. 

It looks like Tome IV shows less influence of Black Metal and everything blackened. Even if this particular genre has whelped a few very good specimens worth mentioning. And I expect this to continue for the remainder of the year. But enough of this and let’s get down to what we got.

RockmusicRaider Review - Amon Amarth - Jomsviking - Album Cover

But first, we take to the sea. The wild, cold sea. Rain-drenched shores, ready to … [...] Click to raid more!

Fleshgod Apocalypse – King (2016) – Review

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Fleshgod Apocalypse is a relatively young band. They formed in 2007 in Perugia/Italy. You know, the medieval city with the escalators that move you from the catacombs to the light. A place of epic murder trials, loads of chocolate, and pasta.

How very fitting a background for the Machiavellian theme employed in this album. And not yet quite 10 years into the game, they came a hell of a long way in a very short time. And I am saying this now because their style is really difficult to match in terms of complexity. Many a band certainly got some inspiration off … [...] Click to raid more!