Sirenia – Dim Days of Dolor (2016) – Review

Listen on Apple Music
RockmusicRaider - Spotify Logo
RockmusicRaider Review - Sirenia - Dim Days of Dolor - Album Cover

To look at Sirenia these days is like reliving the events around Leaves’ Eyes all over again. If you remember, out rocketed Liv Kristine earlier this year, and in came the Goth Chick from the East. And it was lightning fast, with – apparently – no prior notice to the victim in this play of villains.

In the context of Sirenia, it is Aylin Gimenez getting the boot in a tearing hurry. She actually stayed longest with the band, as female fronts go. In the past all leads left after an album or so, stating a variety of reasons. This kind of sounds [...] Click to raid more!

Diabulus in Musica – Dirge for the Archons (2016) – Review

Listen on Apple Music
RockmusicRaider - Spotify Logo
RockmusicRaider Review - Diabulus in Musica - Dirge for the Archons - Album Cover

Often in the metal universe, a new album is somewhat of a Pandora’s Box. Or the bottle with the genie that, once released, won’t fit back into it.

Now, I had somewhat of an issue with Argia last time we looked at Diabulus in Musica. And the juicy comments from some punks from the Ministry of Love to get lost over it were interesting, too.

I was thus a bit wary of what I would find in DiMs latest and best. But – lo and behold – the tune changed into something else. More lively, rockier, lighter in taste, [...] Click to raid more!

Epica – The Holographic Principle (2016) – Review

Listen on Apple Music
RockmusicRaider - Spotify Logo
RockmusicRaider Review - Epica - The Holographic Principle - Album Cover

Epica are known for their penchant for super-epic, somewhat overstuffed, and choir-heavy productions. Starting as a Symphonic and Gothic Metal outfit with the astonishing The Phantom Agony, the band slowly evolved towards an orchestral-laden, bombastic style that left many of their earlier fans confused in their wake.

Over the last years, we have seen many of the major players in this genre move into a similar – if not the same – direction. Which means that what should be innovation turns out to be the new mainstream of sorts. It is a little like this drive to political correctness, [...] Click to raid more!

Delain – Moonbathers (2016) – Review

Listen on Apple Music
RockmusicRaider - Spotify Logo
RockmusicRaider Review - Delain - Moonbathers - Album Cover

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!