Tag Archives: Gothic Rock

End of Green – Void Estate (2017) – Review

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A Doom Rock and Metal avalanche currently thunders into this valley of woe, where the fans dwell. It is big, scary, and heavy on tears and sorrow. RockmusicRaider already covered a few of those bands over time. Traditional outfits like My Dying Bride or again Vanha kind of hold the fort. Then you have the youngsters like Khemmis traipsing all over the hallowed established grounds of Doom Metal.

Then again you will find these sort of crossover bands that have enough doom in them to be called that, yet sit astride a score of other styles. The German band End … [...] Click to raid more!

Delain – Moonbathers (2016) – Review

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I’ll be damned, time flies really fast. It is already ten years and five full length albums down the road for the Dutch Symphonic and Gothic Metal band Delain. Now crowned with their latest record Moonbathers. 

Already their very first album Lucidity impressed me greatly. To find a debut of an unknown band at such a level of professionalism was astounding. The whole record exuded a freshness and carefree attitude that – sadly – started lacking on future albums.

And of course, the undeniable vocal powers – then and now – of Charlotte Wessels contributed greatly to the success of the band. April Rain – their second – followed in that … [...] Click to raid more!

Kratos – Arlechino (2016) – Review

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It is really difficult to find good, new bands – fresh blood, if you will – still active in the Gothic Metal playing ground these days. Most were already covered, and they are legion.

And we heard and saw it all, didn’t we?

The ubiquitous female front, the painted, black-clad band. Pretty much all sound-alikes, projecting stereotypes, wanting to achieve something that was already achieved yesterday by many and mastered by few. Right? RIGHT?

One could indeed think that this is so, but not so fast. As always, there is bad, ugly, but also good to be found in the genre. Like … [...] Click to raid more!

Phantasma – The Deviant Hearts (2015) – Review

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To ease my Death Metal injured ears somewhat, I started listening to some loftier and softer stuff. And stumbled across a band called Phantasma belting out a seemingly Nightwish-esque tune on an album called The Deviant Hearts.

The fact that Charlotte Wessels (Delain) is the female front on this project really piqued my interest right away. After all, she can truly sing and is one of the most respected professionals in the genre. 

Interestingly, the project actually features three core band members. The remaining two: Georg Neuhauser (Serenity) and Oliver Philipps (Everon). And they harmonize really well, … [...] Click to raid more!