Receiver – Whispers of Lore (2023) – Review

Listen on Apple Music
RockmusicRaider - Spotify Logo
Receiver - Whispers of Lore - Album Cover

I have a confession to make. Receiver here almost got the boot, plucked out of the muck of our review pipe, and unceremoniously dismissed. And I blame the quality of the promo preview that returned a horrible tinny sound. Luckily, things improved once we got our hands on a real copy. Never brutally judge something by its first appearance, right? So very true.

Thus, Whispers of Lore got some real love over here after a few spins. And for cause. The record combines (some of) the exuberance of Splintered Throne with the galloping machinations of Iron Maiden. All of … [...] Click to raid more!

Sorcerer – Reign of the Reaper (2023) – Review

Listen on Apple Music
RockmusicRaider - Spotify Logo
Sorcerer - Reign of the Reaper - Album Cover

The 2015 record In the Shadow of the Inverted Cross immediately got our full attention. The release marked the moment when Sorcerer finally came out of hibernation for real. After five years of trying to decide what they wanted to become since 2010, the year of resurrection of the band after a long time of stop ‘n’ go and deep freeze. And that record restarted their metal machinations with a friggin’ thunderclap.

They rocked on to VIP status over at the RMR review desk when the fire king was crowned. Whereas – the next album – Lamenting of the [...] Click to raid more!

Cirith Ungol – Dark Parade (2023) – Review

Listen on Apple Music
RockmusicRaider - Spotify Logo
Cirith Ungol - Dark Parade - Album Cover

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!

Apostolica – Animae Haeretica (2023) – Review

Listen on Apple Music
RockmusicRaider - Spotify Logo
Apostolica - Animae Haeretica - Album Cover

Apolostolica was quite a surprise back in 2021. The band emerged out of nowhere in full anonymous mode à la Ghost on the Power Metal train with Haeretica Ecclesia. The band’s debut came along as one full-throttled PM album of a band staffed by reputable and established musicians from a variety of bands. That’s what we were told, to be precise. Especially Ezekiel‘s croaks sounded suspiciously similar to some of the bigger players out there in the metal multiverse.

But be this as it may, the record made quite an impression over here. Albeit with a record that … [...] Click to raid more!