Kamelot – The Awakening (2023) – Review

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The perpetrators active in a mix of Symphonic and Power Metal often have trouble deciding which way to turn. Nightwish or – again – Epica are good examples, albeit that they tend more to their symphonic parts. Kamelot are another band where this rings pretty much true. The RMR crew was always impressed by the pretty flawless productions that this band projected into their various albums. And so far they shoved their Power Metal urges into the limelight more prominently than other intruding styles. But this may be about to change.

So, five years after The Shadow Theory, the … [...] Click to raid more!

Katatonia – Sky Void of Stars (2023) – Review

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It’s interesting, isn’t it? Many bands of renown never made it onto the famed RMR review pipe. One reason might be that we tend to favor the underground. Those vile creatures of the mucky metal Middle Earth, slithering around in the oily dark corners of our crusty pipeline. Just to be pulled out screaming into the light to sometimes spectacular effects.

In other words, the RMR Review Committee usually shuns the mainstream. And many of those big outfits kinda placed themselves in their most commercially viable channels. And there’s – after all – nothing wrong with this approach. Gotta buy … [...] Click to raid more!

Alestorm – Seventh Rum of A Seventh Rum (2022) – Review

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Do you know Mallorca, the sunny island in the warm Mediterranean sea? A haven for cheap mass tourism and a modern Tortuga for the good ol’ booze-crazed party folk. And it’s also the questionable home of the Ballermann (for the Germans) or Magaluf (for you Brits reading this), seedy miles of artificial glitzy fun that spawned their very own gaudy pop stars. I kid you not.

The only thing that’s missing is probably a very own Alestorm Pirate Bar or something. A place to boost your moonshine-guzzling savvy up to that famed seventh rum. A tasty new opportunity for an … [...] Click to raid more!

Moonspell – Hermitage (2021) – Review

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Do you know what I like about Moonspell? They always deliver something new on every record. I often think back to the quietly aggressive desperation on Extinct or the delicious menace on Night Eternal.1 1755 was a bit more touchy, yet the idea to do an album in Portuguese without clear vocals was quite a feat. Because, earthquake centuries ago, you know.

Insinuations and rumors have it that the band may not continue for much longer. And that’s not necessarily something I fancy to hear. Because this band’s dark and melancholy ways have very much become part … [...] Click to raid more!