SAINT DAEMON-in shadows lost from the brave 2008
Excellent melodic metal, well produced and well played. Good mid-to-high pitched singer.
http://www.saintdeamon.se/media.html
RAGE-carved in stone 2008
Speak Of The Dead was a huge disappointment for me, after the excellent Soundchaser and Unity. This one is recalling these 2 albums more, still heavy power metal with a thrashy edge at times, featuring killer guitar playing by the underrated Victor Smolski and better songs than the previous album. Mike Terrana is not really missed, as his replacement Andre Hilgers (ex-SILENT FORCE) does an excellent job in a similar style.
LEVERAGE-blind fire 2008
New disc from the Finnish melodic hard rocking metallers. Last one Tides was killer stuff from start to finish and revealed one of the very best new singer in the metal field IMO (Pekka Heino). Im not sure if I like this new one as much, but this is quality stuff anyway.
http://www.leverageband.com/songclips.php
VINDICTIV-s/t 2008
Melodic progressive metal is what we get from this new band, which features the excellent Goran Edman on vocals. Its proggy, but not too much, which is fine for me, the accent is more on the songs themselves. Good stuff.
http://www.myspace.com/vindictivmusic
FATAL SMILE-world domination 2008
Gone is HB Andersson (singer on their first 2 albums, and also on the 1st TOKEN and in SCUDERIO) on that new disc. The new singer is pretty good, and surely not a high-pitcher. Music is still traditional melodic metal/hard rock, with some modern touches. Nice songs all over. They are opening for W.A.S.P. on the current US tour.
http://www.myspace.com/fatalsmile1
LECHERY-violator 2008
New traditional heavy metal band from Sweden and they rock big time. The album could have use a couple speedier songs cause its almost all mid-pace stuff but the album is excellent nonetheless.
http://www.lechery.se/
SANDALINAS-fly to the sun 2008
This new album features a new singer, Rick Altzi (also in AT VANCE), which replaces Apollo Papathanasiou (FIREWIND), who sang on the 1st album Living On The Edge. I prefer Apollo's voice, but Altzi does a good job. The style is still traditional heavy metal/hard rock and this is fine stuff again.
http://www.myspace.com/sandalinas
STEVE HILL-devil at my heels 2007
This is a guitarist/singer from Montreal, Canada, which used to play bluesier stuff but now returns with his heaviest album yet. Style is melodic metal with a modern edge and his vox reminds me a bit of Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy) at times. Im looking forward to have the chance to see him live soon.
http://www.myspace.com/thestevehill
BENEDICTUM-seasons of tragedy 2008
Veronica and co returns with a much better disc than the previous one IMO. This time, there is more melody and the songs are just better overall. The style is still powerful heavy metal, quite heavy in fact. Also, Veronica, which has a powerful manly voice, shows her real softer voice at times (like on the Steel Rain song) and its great, it adds diversity to the album. Veronica Freeman is definitely the star here, but the other guys in the band do a great job too.
http://www.myspace.com/benedictum
ROAD TO RUIN-s/t 2007
New band that features LIONS SHAREs guitarist Lars Criss, as well as singer Matti Alfonzetti (last heard from me on the latest DAMNED NATION disc). This is less heavy than recent Lions Share and more in the 70s style hard rock. Really good stuff for those who appreciate that style, which I do.
http://www.myspace.com/roadtoruintheband
STEVE GRIMMETT-personal crisis 2007
Former GRIM REAPER and LIONSHEART singer returns with his 1st solo album. This is the heaviest material he sang on in a while, powerful hard rocking metal. The guy must be pushing his late 40s and he still has that powerful voice, and is controlling it better than in his early days. Very good songs to be found here, as well as an excellent new version of Wrath Of The Ripper (from the 1st Grim Reaper album, See You In Hell).
http://www.myspace.com/thestevegrimmettbandgrimreaper
LETTER 7-salt of the earth 2007
Christian heavy metal band that totally worships the 80s days of DIO, PRIEST and MAIDEN. And they do it well. Cool stuff.
http://www.myspace.com/letter7rocks
TITANIC-full steam ahead 2007
New album from the Christian traditional heavy metallers. I was not a big fan of the Maiden Voyage album but I think this new one is very good. 80s metal is still alive.
http://www.myspace.com/titanicmetal
WHITE WOLF-victim of the spotlight 2007
This album has been released for a while and seems to have been overlooked, which is a shame. This 1st disc in more than 20 years from the Canadian band is their heaviest and best IMO. Really well done hard rock/melodic metal, full of nice catchy songs.
http://www.whitewolfworld.com/
ARI KOIVUNEN-fuel for the fire 2007
This 2007 winner of Finnish Idol released a very nice melodic hard rocking metal album, full of catchy songs. The guy has a nice voice. For a change, Id like to see a metal singer like him win Canadian or American Idol..The guy looks to be selling loads of discs in his country, it would be nice if he could become more popular over here too.
http://www.myspace.com/arikoivunen
STEEL ASSASSIN-war of the eight saints 2007
I was not too crazy about their early work, cause the high-pitched vocals were bugging me big time. But on this album, they have a new powerful mid-ranger (John Falzone) which do a great job, sometimes sounding like John Bush. The style is traditional US heavy metal, these guys are veterans and you can see it in their songwriting. Hill Of Crosses and Bloodlust Quest are 2 killer songs.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=88128328
Congrats if you read all of this.
Comments are of course welcome.
Guillaume
Excellent melodic metal, well produced and well played. Good mid-to-high pitched singer.
http://www.saintdeamon.se/media.html
RAGE-carved in stone 2008
Speak Of The Dead was a huge disappointment for me, after the excellent Soundchaser and Unity. This one is recalling these 2 albums more, still heavy power metal with a thrashy edge at times, featuring killer guitar playing by the underrated Victor Smolski and better songs than the previous album. Mike Terrana is not really missed, as his replacement Andre Hilgers (ex-SILENT FORCE) does an excellent job in a similar style.
LEVERAGE-blind fire 2008
New disc from the Finnish melodic hard rocking metallers. Last one Tides was killer stuff from start to finish and revealed one of the very best new singer in the metal field IMO (Pekka Heino). Im not sure if I like this new one as much, but this is quality stuff anyway.
http://www.leverageband.com/songclips.php
VINDICTIV-s/t 2008
Melodic progressive metal is what we get from this new band, which features the excellent Goran Edman on vocals. Its proggy, but not too much, which is fine for me, the accent is more on the songs themselves. Good stuff.
http://www.myspace.com/vindictivmusic
FATAL SMILE-world domination 2008
Gone is HB Andersson (singer on their first 2 albums, and also on the 1st TOKEN and in SCUDERIO) on that new disc. The new singer is pretty good, and surely not a high-pitcher. Music is still traditional melodic metal/hard rock, with some modern touches. Nice songs all over. They are opening for W.A.S.P. on the current US tour.
http://www.myspace.com/fatalsmile1
LECHERY-violator 2008
New traditional heavy metal band from Sweden and they rock big time. The album could have use a couple speedier songs cause its almost all mid-pace stuff but the album is excellent nonetheless.
http://www.lechery.se/
SANDALINAS-fly to the sun 2008
This new album features a new singer, Rick Altzi (also in AT VANCE), which replaces Apollo Papathanasiou (FIREWIND), who sang on the 1st album Living On The Edge. I prefer Apollo's voice, but Altzi does a good job. The style is still traditional heavy metal/hard rock and this is fine stuff again.
http://www.myspace.com/sandalinas
STEVE HILL-devil at my heels 2007
This is a guitarist/singer from Montreal, Canada, which used to play bluesier stuff but now returns with his heaviest album yet. Style is melodic metal with a modern edge and his vox reminds me a bit of Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy) at times. Im looking forward to have the chance to see him live soon.
http://www.myspace.com/thestevehill
BENEDICTUM-seasons of tragedy 2008
Veronica and co returns with a much better disc than the previous one IMO. This time, there is more melody and the songs are just better overall. The style is still powerful heavy metal, quite heavy in fact. Also, Veronica, which has a powerful manly voice, shows her real softer voice at times (like on the Steel Rain song) and its great, it adds diversity to the album. Veronica Freeman is definitely the star here, but the other guys in the band do a great job too.
http://www.myspace.com/benedictum
ROAD TO RUIN-s/t 2007
New band that features LIONS SHAREs guitarist Lars Criss, as well as singer Matti Alfonzetti (last heard from me on the latest DAMNED NATION disc). This is less heavy than recent Lions Share and more in the 70s style hard rock. Really good stuff for those who appreciate that style, which I do.
http://www.myspace.com/roadtoruintheband
STEVE GRIMMETT-personal crisis 2007
Former GRIM REAPER and LIONSHEART singer returns with his 1st solo album. This is the heaviest material he sang on in a while, powerful hard rocking metal. The guy must be pushing his late 40s and he still has that powerful voice, and is controlling it better than in his early days. Very good songs to be found here, as well as an excellent new version of Wrath Of The Ripper (from the 1st Grim Reaper album, See You In Hell).
http://www.myspace.com/thestevegrimmettbandgrimreaper
LETTER 7-salt of the earth 2007
Christian heavy metal band that totally worships the 80s days of DIO, PRIEST and MAIDEN. And they do it well. Cool stuff.
http://www.myspace.com/letter7rocks
TITANIC-full steam ahead 2007
New album from the Christian traditional heavy metallers. I was not a big fan of the Maiden Voyage album but I think this new one is very good. 80s metal is still alive.
http://www.myspace.com/titanicmetal
WHITE WOLF-victim of the spotlight 2007
This album has been released for a while and seems to have been overlooked, which is a shame. This 1st disc in more than 20 years from the Canadian band is their heaviest and best IMO. Really well done hard rock/melodic metal, full of nice catchy songs.
http://www.whitewolfworld.com/
ARI KOIVUNEN-fuel for the fire 2007
This 2007 winner of Finnish Idol released a very nice melodic hard rocking metal album, full of catchy songs. The guy has a nice voice. For a change, Id like to see a metal singer like him win Canadian or American Idol..The guy looks to be selling loads of discs in his country, it would be nice if he could become more popular over here too.
http://www.myspace.com/arikoivunen
STEEL ASSASSIN-war of the eight saints 2007
I was not too crazy about their early work, cause the high-pitched vocals were bugging me big time. But on this album, they have a new powerful mid-ranger (John Falzone) which do a great job, sometimes sounding like John Bush. The style is traditional US heavy metal, these guys are veterans and you can see it in their songwriting. Hill Of Crosses and Bloodlust Quest are 2 killer songs.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=88128328
Congrats if you read all of this.
Comments are of course welcome.
Guillaume
