Modern Metal

Music has become more important than ever in recent times. As a result, the triumphant return of AMARANTHE feels particularly timely. The Swedish six-piece have spent the last decade establishing themselves as a formidable, positive and fervently melodic force for metallic good. From their explosive self-titled debut in 2011 to the more sophisticated, streamlined likes of 2014’s Massive Addictive and its immaculate follow-up Maximalism (2016), AMARANTHE have masterfully blurred the lines between melodic metal, crushing brutality, cinematic sweep and futuristic sparkle. Led by the endlessly ingenious songwriting of guitarist Olof Mörck and powerhouse vocalist Elize Ryd, their rise to prominence has been a joy to behold.

The Swedish melodic power metal formation Metalite is back! In their luggage they have their fourth studio album "Expedition One", which tells the fictional story of life on our planet in the year 2055.
"Expedition One" is a nuanced and varied offering with a strong melodic backbone to the music that shines not just in the catchy choruses that abound on this record but also in the instrumental interplay between the guitars and drums, or in how the vocals come across. However, it is the way they calibrate the heaviness (especially when it comes to the guitars) and the free-flowing melodies that is the ultimate selling point of their music and the reason for this album’s playability (despite its length). Fans of Amaranthe, Temperance, or Delain will find plenty to enjoy on this record.

Los Angeles native Nita Strauss has become a force in music. After reaching mass acclaim with her first album, Controlled Chaos, she returns with her 2nd full-length on Sumerian Records, The Call Of The Void. Featuring the highly popular "Dead Inside," and "The Wolf You Feed," the album is a combination of melodic sounds and hard hitting riffs that Strauss has become known for, proving time and time again that she has solidified her presence as one of rock's greatest. The new record features a bevy of guest vocalists (David Draiman from Disturbed, Anders Friden from In Flames, Alice Cooper, Lzzy Hale of Halestorm), an example of Strauss not being afraid to try something new.

Whenever you read the biographies of 80s metal bands – given the odd exception, obviously – you are left thinking, “damn, you grunge.” Metal Church’s one reads like most. Massive buzz to start with, popular couple of albums, everyone leaves to go to “other projects” in the 90s, and then they reform in the noughties. You can usually add in the return of a “classic” vocalist too, and later releases should always include phrases like “return to our roots” in interviews.

With a career spanning more than three decades, composer and multi-instrumentalist Arjen Lucassen has firmly established himself worldwide as driving force in progressive rock. While best known for his rock opera project Ayreon, the multi-talented Dutchman also regularly embarks on musical side projects such as Ambeon, Guilt Machine and Star One. These projects all explore different aspects of Lucassen's musical personality. Lucassen strives to keep a consistent cast of vocalists for Star One rather than mixing it up with the ever-changing vocal line-up that characterizes Ayreon. For "Victims of the Modern Age" he reunited the stellar cast of lead vocalists from the first album, “Space Metal” (2002): Russell Allen (Symphony X), Damian Wilson (Headspace, Threshold), Floor Jansen (ReVamp, ex-After Forever), and Dan Swanö (Nightingale, Second Sky, ex-Edge Of Sanity)…

The latest release by Swedish metal act Engel, "Blood of Saints" builds on the sound of the previous album "Threnody". Thus, the listener is treated to modern metalcore-based music in the form of 11 rocking tracks…