Here are some of my favorites:
EVAREST (
http://www.myspace.com/evarestczech , Czech Republic)
According to their Metal Maniacs review, their debut album "FEAR" has "the uptempo pizzazz of Helloween...", they received a 9/10 from their Sonic Cathedral review and from other reviews they are recommended for fans of Gamma Ray & Sonata Arctica. I think their music is a cross between Power Quest & Nightwish. If headbanging fast & furious to a female fronted Power Metal band is your thing, then this band is for you
. I did see them live in Sweden for their CD release tour and not only did they enjoy themselves on the stage, they were very energetic and fun to watch. Their lead guitarist Pepa is a total Ham, raise your camera and chances are he's already posing for you
! The vocalist, Eva knows how to keep the audience's attention with frequent eye contact and interacting with her bandmates. Clearly these guys are no strangers to live performance. In fact they just played at one of Europe's bigger Metal Fests called MASTERS OF ROCK in Vizovice between the sets of DragonForce & Edguy. Any chance we could see them on the next year's bill
?
KRLES' (
http://www.myspace.com/krlesband , also Czech Republic)
These guys are awesome. They've been around since 1998 and have 4 albums to their credit. Lucie's vocals reminds me of Marta Gabriel of CRYSTAL VIPER. I cannot help but headbang to their songs. Definitely on of the most obsecure and yet kickass female fronted Power Metal bands in Europe. Lucie and Eva from EVAREST are good friends and frequently perform duets together which if you're a fan of both bands, is really fun to watch
If only we could see them here in the States! Hint, Hint
MINSTRELIX (
http://www.myspace.com/minstrelixfc2webcom , Osaka, Japan)
I heard a track from these guys on the All Hallows Eve MetalFest II Compilation CD, held at Chillicothe, OH. One track and I was hooked, BIG TIME. This band defines itself as Folk Speed Metal! Their track "The Betrayal" starts off instrumental, kicks into Speed Metal, drops into JAZZ, and picks back up into Speed Metal. Having played them on my Metal radio show on
www.xtrememetalradio.com during my show (DJ Metal Daddy, Sundays from 9:00 to Noon Eastern time), I have received a lot of favorable comments about them.
CRYSTAL VIPER (
http://www.myspace.com/crystalviperofficial , Poland )
No introductions necessary here. One of the most kickass female fronted Power Metal bands in Europe. They just played at Manowar's Magic Circle Festival, followed by the Headbanger's Open Air. See them next year at Keep It True XIII! New album is on its way
!
ELEVARE (
http://www.myspace.com/elevare , BRAZIL)
Heard a track of theirs on the Warriors Of MetalFest II (
www.myspace.com/womfest) Bonus CD and really liked the vocals, so I checked their myspace page and was blown away by the strength of Pamela Emmanuel's voice! WOW! They describe themselves as Progressive Goth Metal but I'd classify them as simply awesome. Apparently Clint Olsen of
www.MetalCDRatings.com also agrees with me because when I sent him Elevare's debut album he was also really taken by Pamela's voice and gave the CD a 4/5 (not an easy task as he is very very picky). I subsequently forwarded the album to Sonic Cathedral and they gave it an 8/10. Definitely check them out, you'll be glad you did.
Hope you all have fun discovering these great new bands.
Datis
DJ Metal Daddy
