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!

Overtures – Artifacts (2016) – Review

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Looks like the Mediterranean is fertile ground when it comes to metal of all kinds. You got the island folks on Cyprus going strong, at least one very good one dwelling in Portugal. 

But then there is a very important community down South in Italy too. Overtures being one of them and they are rocking away from Gorizia, right on the border with Slovenia. The band is now ready to open the doors on their newest and third full-length studio album Artifacts. To me, this is – not quite surprisingly – about the most mature album they produced so [...] 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!

Gloryhammer – Space 1992: Rise of the Chaos Wizards (2015) – Review

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Never judge anything by its looks! I tell ya. Don’t. The garish album art of the newest Gloryhammer album Space 1992: Rise of the Chaos Wizards with its purple pinkish hue and green Lego monster just got my teeth hurting in a heartbeat.

And it is a good example of why not. 

Gloryhammer present you with insanely catchy lines, melodies that will stick to you like honey in your hair, presenting their parodical metal cheese with enthusiasm and energy that will wither away the mighty egos of other bands to nothing. By Loki!

In short, Space 1992: Rise of the Chaos Wizards will [...] Click to raid more!