Velarium, special shade by Ashen Sun!

Ashen Sun - Velarium - Album Cover

Does anybody remember Johnny Hagel? You know, the bassist who kept popping up here and there on this zine. Most notably on records sponsored by an ancient incarnation of Tiamat and – yes – more recent Sorcerer, too. But since then, he seemed to have taken a deep dive. Like them anal nuclear subs that disappear into nowhere.

Thus, the RMR crew was mighty surprised to see him emerging astride a Gothic Rock gig called Ashen Sun. One that wallows darkly in echoes of dystopian melancholy, electronica-driven Darkwave without the bodices, and soft-spoken messages of fire and … [...] Click to raid more!

Lacuna Coil – Comalies (2002) – Review

The RMR crew just covered Lacuna Coil‘s 2025 Sleepless Empire piece. And the merciless judges over at the RMR Review Desk found the band’s newest chunk of alloy quite to their taste. Now, if you remember, the last two records, Delirium and Black Anima, found effusive praise from all corners of LC‘s fan universe. And these two pieces were indeed quite impressive.

In contrast, the aforementioned Sleepless Empire got a somewhat mixed reception from critics and fans alike. And that made us reach into the past to understand the present better. So, let’s get a closer look … [...] Click to raid more!

Karma Rassa – Vesna…Snova Vesna (2018) – Review

Listen on Apple Music
RockmusicRaider - Spotify Logo
RockmusicRaider - Karma Rassa - Vesna...Snova Vesna - Album Cover

I admit, we do like bands that somehow navigate outside of the proverbial box. Those that will point their music to wherever their artistic urges take them. A journey that gets us to unexpected soundscapes that we did not hear often before. Or never at all.

So – in this light – it is not that we forgot about Karma Rassa and their 2018 record Vesna…Snova Vesna. The time just had to be right to get our juices flowing for such an eclectic Progressive Rock and Metal album.

The band already pretty much got on our good side with [...] Click to raid more!

End of Green – Void Estate (2017) – Review

Listen on Apple Music
RockmusicRaider - Spotify Logo
RockmusicRaider Review - End of Green - Void Estate - Album Cover

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!