Him Razorblade

2017's Reaching Into Infinity marked the end of an era for Great Britain's DragonForce. Founding keyboardist Vadim Pruzhanov sat out its world tour for family reasons, and ultimately left the band in 2018. DragonForce haven't yet formally replaced him, but they did enlist the assistance of Epica's keyman Coen Janssen for Extreme Power Metal. Despite the personnel change, DragonForce have never sounded more like themselves than they do here. From the wonderfully cheesy album art to Herman Li's and Sam Totman's guitar pyrotechnics, to their blazing cover of Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" that closes the set, there is no mistaking who this is. On his third album with the band, lead vocalist Marc Hudson is finally revealed as one of metal's truly great frontmen with startling dynamic and tonal ranges and a commanding presence that absorbs and focuses all the musical heat around him…

Pack your bags, let's travel back in time; 30 years, to the good old times of Hard Rock. With "One More For The Road" THE NEW ROSES manage to take this leap in time with absolute serenity. They outclass the bulk of the erstwhile top of the scene! With phenomenal hearty hymns like the first single "Every Wild Heart", "Forever Never Comes" or the second single for the track "Life Aint Easy (For A Boy With Long Hair)“, these guys from Wiesbaden share a feeling of stepping into endless freedom. It's nothing more than overwhelming how shattering their riff tornados rip through the body. Singer Timmy Rough churns out the power of David Lee Roth while his instrumental forces deliver the distinct and raw rock'n'roll of Guns N' Roses next to the tightness of AC/DC.