Sven de CaluwePhil LanzonRoel van HeldenNiilo SevänenJørgen MunkebyBjorn StridMyrkurAsim SearahHenri SattlerFrank SchiphorstFleshgod ApocalypseTommy KarevikCharlotte Wessels
Here are all the announced guests on the upcoming Epica collaboration album! I am pleasantly surprised by the familiar faces and know this will be an absolutely incredible record. According to lead singer Simone Simons, the album is expected to be released this December. This concept is a complete surprise to me, because it’s a very modern approach. It seems to be a more mainstream venture from the band, just based on the guests and new song performed on the 20th Anniversary show with singer and Saxophonist, Jørgen Munkeby from Shining. I listed all the guests in the captions on the photos. Below is a comprehensive list with songs so you can see what each guest sounds like!
Seven Kingdoms is an independently funded and run Metal band from Deland, Florida that has virtually come out of nowhere. Being a band for fifteen years, this band has fought and conquered its way through some hard times, working day jobs and trying to navigate record deals that seemed to be unfavorable. Napalm Records, a record company I often despise, dropped this brilliant fresh Power Metal band. Only just having been signed to small Distortion Music Group, this band has gained its success through an avid fan group, funding any releases by fan-backed Kickstarters. This has allowed the band to explore and shine through their immense creativity and stunning American Power Metal. Seven Kingdoms is not just a band or a business venture, it’s really a community supporting four great musicians and even better people. This band has worked their fingers and nerves to the very edge through blood, sweat, and tears to put out music that people need to hear; And “Zenith” is the pinnacle of that hard work.
The evolution of Seven Kingdoms, from changing singers and being a Fantasy-based band, to “Zenith” is a staggering advancement. Zenith is a Heavy Metal 80’s fusion record with modern Power Metal synths and dirty riffs and vocals so expertly and powerfully delivered by Sabrina Valentine Cruz. The riffs from Kevin and Camden echo those of Iron Maiden, Dokken, and Unleash The Archers with immense speed. I consider SK to be the more heartfelt and accessible sister of Unleash The Archers. Zenith is an emotional roller coaster, full of emotion and gratitude. They took their hardships and compressed them all into a diamond of a record. “Diamond Handed” is a soaring battle anthem with dreamy synths and vocals, mixed with unbelievable speed. When starting this track, my whole family thought they had Youtube on 2x speed. It’s a perfect jaw-dropping start to this record and is maybe one of my favorite songs of all time. And, it only gets better from there.
“A Silent Remedy” is a perfect mix of old SK sound and the refinement they’ve achieved. The sheer melodic sense of this track is impressive; layers upon layers of technically perfect vocal lines contrast the heaviness. This song has some insanely high notes that you’ve just got to hear to believe. This song has a darker feel to it, and it’s a welcome contrast. It’s interesting and takes time to indulge upon. Oh man, but “Love Dagger” is a highlight of epic throwback 70s/80s sound that I can’t get enough of. This song’s quality, rhythmic sense, vocals, and tone just screams 38 Special to me, which is one of my favorite bands of all time. I love every aspect of this song and could see it hitting the radio. It sounds old, but there’s nothing like Sabrina’s voice in any decade. This song is so accessible and relatable, but so high quality and not derivative radio-friendly trash. “Chasing the Mirage” turns up the speed again with a more Thrash riff and dueling stereo guitar melodies. The range Sabrina shows on this record is a span I rarely hear in modern music. Her lower range ins strength and tonal quality remind me of Noa Gruman from Scardust, who is arguably one of the greatest singers of all time. This track is guitar-heavy compared to the others, letting the two guitarists, Byrd and Cruz, do their thing by killing it. The chugging riff is grabbing and crunchy, gets your attention, and then the song just goes off. It’s so progressive and all over the place. It’s such a different track for them, and I love this new sound.
The band pays homage to their infinitely dedicated fan base by including newly mastered favorites. “Valonqar” is an epic Game of Thrones ballad that has impressively long notes and epic thematics. The melodic dueling guitars pull you in, on top of booming bass, and stunning vocals that float over this melancholy feel. The long notes held by Mrs. Valentine Cruz are seemingly endless and pitch-perfect on record and also live. The power of this vocalist is awe-inspiring. “Empty Eyes” is yet another radio-friendly bombastic riff-heavy track that I admittedly have listened to on repeat for hours. The lead riff is a perfect hook into this Heavy Metal throwback. I cannot get enough of this band’s riff sense. These guitarists are some of the best I’ve heard in a long time, without committing musical masturbation. The drums on this track feel so forward and heavy, like a march into battle or just down the street to kick someone’s ass.
“Magic in the Mist” is a cool melodic power track that throwbacks to SK’s fantasy-based days. It’s dreamy, thematic, complex, and strong. Zenith doesn’t seem to quit with the epic soaring solos and perfectly executed rhythmic drums. It bangs right into the Progressive Metal track “Universal Terrestrial” which defines the spacy theme of the album. This song is staggeringly fast and epic, introducing choirs and a melodic. This is not my favorite SK song but has a lot of good things going for it. The backing vocals and vocal runs on some of the outros feel unrefined, almost like an afterthought, which is not up to par with the quality of the song. I feel like a remaster on the vocals would do wonders for this track. The Water Dance is a throwback track and another fan favorite. This is a very strong track with a great groove to it and more juicy Game of Thrones lore. This song is more Thrash based, reminding me of old Blind Guardian or Man O War in the best of ways. The breakdown is cool on this song with some delicious solo work. Life Signs is another brand new track that is full-on Power Metal. It’s a surprising new sound, building on the evolution of Universal Terrestrial. I enjoy Sabrina’s lower range on the verses. This song is well written and epic, the choirs hint at some Devin Townsend influence as well as the guitar work. It’s one of the more musically diverse songs on the record with a fast chord progression. I feel like they pulled out all the stops on this record with progression and using their diverse range of influences and writing techniques.
“I Hate Myself For Loving You” is a song with a long history. Originally written by Desmond Child and Runaways guitarist Joan Jett, it was released in 1988 and became the biggest anti-love song of all time. It was also rewritten for NFL’s Sunday Night Football anthem and covered by Carrie Underwood. Regardless of this song’s history and prowess, I have always had a strong dislike for this song. The key it’s in plus the original vocals make me want to drill any part of my auditory senses right out of my head. When Seven Kingdoms announced they were covering this song, I cringed. However, upon listening to it the first time, I was hooked. The band refreshed this dirty old track and turned it into a complete jam. I love the cover and find it to be the biggest improvement of a song I’ve ever heard.
The only two issues I have with this album are mix and length. I would’ve liked a double album: The first disc should have all-new tracks focusing on the Zenith extraterrestrial theme and the new SK sound. The second disc could be remasters of old SK fan-favorite songs and maybe a couple live versions. I understand budgeting would limit this greatly and probably why it’s reduced to a single album. I just find it jarring and disjointed, because I expected an overall alien theme, and it was GoT references thrown in with older songs. I understand the purpose of the album is to sate fans’ appetites and put out new music to put themselves on the map in US-born Power Metal, but I find it confusing for the direction it’s supposed to go in. Maybe I’m missing information in promotion packets or missed something in the Kickstarter information, but it’s just a strange album to me as far as wondering what it’s supposed to be. Maybe I misunderstood the purpose of the record because I thought it was some kind of concept album, but I would’ve liked a more succinct record. Each individual track is good on its own, but none of them go together perse.
The other problem I have with the record is in the mix. On streaming and Disc format through studio speakers and headphones, I find the mix to be boomingly bass-heavy. Normally, I love a lot of bass in the mix, but there are some parts in the record where the bass is overpowering. It’s as if someone’s using a super low-frequency bass drop sample and randomly placing them in songs like Diamond Handed and Chasing the Mirage. It’s an odd phenomenon, but not uncommon in modern mixes with compression where inconsistencies like this happen when a 5.1 mix is transferred to CD MP3s. I like dynamics, but I don’t think the weird low bass drops are purposeful. The mix on Universal Terrestrial is not my favorite; It sounds rushed and there are some really high frequencies that I would’ve leveled out, but maybe this only appears on certain formats. These issues are easily looked over, however and I am able to enjoy the record regardless.
Zenith is a hell of a unique record, and I hope it skyrockets Seven Kingdoms in popularity. There’s nothing quite like them in America right now, and I feel lucky to have them in my home country.
Highlights: A Silent Remedy, Love Dagger, Diamond Handed
So, 2022 is looking like a feast of tasty Metal fit for the Vikings of Iceland. 2020 was immense with some of the best Metal releases of all time, and 2021 was no slouch either, with too many special albums to name in one article. The past two years have been a testament of strength for any band. We lost many greats during and post-Covid. It’s been the most tumultuous time since the Cold War, and we had amazing releases in music during that time as well. These trials prove that the worst of times can cultivate the most beautiful and complex art.
I consider Metal one of the purest art forms. It has a Classical approach that requires discipline. These musicians in the genre have studies in Music and an appreciation for the highest technicality. The standards of the genre are set extremely high. These musicians, having backgrounds or interests that nurture a high technicality, can tap into a deeper emotion and even rich subject matters that show a vulnerability that Bach may even appreciate. This vulnerability and rawness of the music captivate even those who never expected to like Metal, in the first place. I have seen a great conversion of music fans to the genre of Metal just through the phenomenon of Reaction videos.
The first reaction to come from great tracks like Awakening by Unleash the Archers, Ghost Love Score by Nightwish with Floor Jansen, and Kingdom by Devin Townsend is pure emotion. Whether it is just pure shock, tears of greatness, or speechlessness from the sure speed, Metal is the best genre to grab people by their hearts. And, I believe this reaction is starting to become more common because Metal is continually raising the bar of quality and depth of content. Below is a list of songs released this year that prove there’s so much Metal to be excited about
Arch Enemy
After a long wait, the classic Melodic Death Metal band is releasing a brand new record July 29th. I am a huge fan of all things Arch Enemy, since the days Angela ruled the Legions, but the addition of Alissa White-Gluz and legendary Jeff Loomis has only amped me up. The band has already released four incredibly diverse singles. Sunset Over the Empire is a heavy throwback to long before War Eternal in the beginning with blast beats and chugging bass lines. It showcases Alissa’s signature amazingly low growls and perfect annunciation. Micheal and Jeff really have the guitars dialed in on this record and this track is a great sample of what’s to come on “Deceivers”. The lyrical content has gone back to the apocalypse, and I am living for it. Handshake With Hell is a crazy new catchy track with driving rhythms, but a surprising twist with absolutely brilliant power belting for Alissa. It’s one of the most dynamically interesting tracks they have ever released. I am obsessed with this particular song. It took me a while to warm up to it, “Clean vocals in Arch Enemy? This is just weird.”. Deceiver, Deceiver is another classic Arch Enemy track that’s got that Hardcore Punk rhythm that you find in classic Death and Thrash. Also, House of Mirrors is another incredible track that is a perfect mix of Modern Melodeath and classic. It is reminiscent of Nemesis, but screams Alissa’s usual dynamics. This album, based on three tracks, is going to be the quintessential Arch Enemy. It is one of my most anticipated albums of the year as I think it’ll be way more successful and interesting than the last album.
Full disclosure: I have been a massive Eluveitie fan for twelve years now. I am Scot-Irish and German, so I’m a sucker for Celtic-style music, but Eluveitie is my favorite Celtic band. They flawlessly mix Death Metal and Celtic folk based on ancient Gaulish stories. The music is truly as crazy as it sounds if you’ve never heard it, but it 100% works. It feels like forever since the release of my favorite Eluveitie record “Ategnatos” in 2019, and Aidus is definitely my most anticipated album of the year. Eluveitie is a band of multi-instrument virtuosos. There’s a mix of Metal with blast beats and Thrashy guitars, and a medieval Hurdy Gurdy, impossibly fast Celtic violin from Nicole Asperger, Celtic Harp, and anywhere from Alpine yodeling vocals to fry screams to belts from immensely talented Fabienne Erni, and tin whistles and mandola and eclectic bagpipes. Everything you hear in Eluveitie is played live. The arranging by harsh vocalist, writer, arranger, composer, and pretty much Gaulish all-father Chrigel Glanzmann is spectacular. The new single, Aidus (Gaulish for Fire), is a feat that Eluveitie has never done before. It is a new era of charged dynamics. It is as if Heilung, Myrkur, and Arch Enemy had a very heavy Gaulish baby. It has every aspect of classic Eluveitie, but on utter steroids. I won’t spoil the surprise for you, but check out the vocals from Fabienne Erni. It is unbelievably amazing. It has quickly become one of my favorite tracks by them. If Aidus is any indication of what this record has in store, we’re all going to need time off to be crushed by this record.
Xandria
As you already saw on this page, Xandria is back in the world with a new single Reborn, and a new singer Ambre Vourvahis. It was a complete surprise to fans a week ago, and a great surprise at that. Xandria has been one of the most consistent Symphonic Metal bands for two decades now. Due to poor management and a constant scheduling battle with singers being reportedly overworked, the band went into hiding and lost five members including Dianne Van Giersbergen. Now, Xandria has seemingly figured out their issues after a much-needed break. Reborn is an addictive rhythmic track that throwback to the Middle Eastern timbre of Xandria’s music. It is stunningly rhythmic, layered with choirs and echoing orchestral, and then beautiful vocals that range from sweet and sultry to growls to soaring operatic. Ambre has so much range and style dynamics. From what I’ve heard, she may be the most fitting singer the band has ever had. I hope Ambre is treated with the immense respect she deserves, as previous singers have received the utmost pressure to the point of health issues. If not, Ambre no doubt has the talent to go far beyond Xandria. I am hopeful that Xandria will have this lineup for many years to come, and that another ego in Symphonic Metal doesn’t squelch the talent of a female singer.
I am a huge Power Metal fan, so loving Helloween and anything they release is no surprise. Getting a chance to hear two of the best male vocalists of the past forty years on the same record; It’s impossible not to be excited about. Michael Kiske and Andi Deris have created these mesmerizing dual male vocals, mixing raspy and soaring screams. So far, it’s sounding like a classic late 80’s NWOBHM album mixed with a mainstream catchiness like that of Priest’s Turbo Lover. I have no clue what to expect from the rest of the record, but being Power Metal, it’ll probably be consistent in style. This brand has been pretty consistent since 1984 and the classic release of Keeper of the Seven Keys in 1987. Check out the latest single below, and let me know what you think of this decade of Helloween.
Lorna Shore
Lorna Shore has become one of the biggest and most talked-about Metal bands in the last two years. I never expected a Deathcore band to be on the charts in America, let alone most of the planet. Lorna Shore’s EP And I Return To Nothingness bore the epic and bombastic track To The Hellfire in 2021 that showcases singer Will Ramos’ insane grunt range. This song took the world by wildfire, converting millions into Deathcore fans. While I believe tracks like this only arrive once in a career, that doesn’t mean new tracks will disappoint. No specific word on a new album yet, but they releases Sun Eater last month. The new track showcases more epicness from guitarist Adam De Nicco, possibly this decade’s virtuoso.
One of my favorite bands of all time and great people, Seven Kingdoms, spent their spring killing it on Kickstarter to fund the print and release of 2022’s Zenith. This band has come farther than 99% of the bands out there. It’s a complete evolution from 2007 from a small Power Metal Fantasy act, to an absolutely thrilling Speed Power Metal band with one of the best singers I’ve heard since Ann Wilson. Sabrina Valentine joined the band in 2009, and I think the band has really found its sound since then. The EP Empty Eyes released in 2019 really showed this evolution flawlessly and skyrocketed the band to open for titans Unleash the Archers and Beast In Black. The band has a blue-collar shredding and down-to-business attitude with absolutely gorgeous vocals and 1980’s vibes, working their way into every crowd’s hearts they play to. “Zenith” is my most anticipated album of the year. Tracks like Empty Eyes, Diamond Handed, and Universal Terrestrial is heart-pounding and full of juicy layers (just like a good cheeseburger). It’s shocking how good this band is, and yet even more shocking that no one has ever heard of them. I hope this record skyrockets this band of genuine and talented human beings to the success they deserve. This will undoubtedly be the independent album of the year.
Swedish Melodic Death Metal Vikings have been pounding out incredible albums since 1992. But, the rise in Viking and Lord of the Rings popularity has served this band well in this new millennia. These guys play hard, fast, and with a passion beyond anything, I have ever seen. If there’s ever been battle-ready music, it’s written by Amon Amarth. Berserker in 2019 is possibly one of my top twenty albums (trust me, that’s a big deal). Listening to Amon Amarth’s music is a ritual for me and for the fans out there. It is not unlike Wardruna or Heilung, and yet the music is the complete opposite. It’s transcendent music that takes you to another place, maybe the shores of Iceland with Erik The Red screaming to row your ass off as crows sit upon the boat’s edge. The new track “Put Your Back Into the Oar” is a perfect example of this sound. But, this time we’re rowing our journey to the shores of Great Britain to invade the powerful catholic Englund. I imagine you could watch Vikings whilst listening to this record and have the Viking experience in your own home. “Get in the Ring” is an absolutely sinister track with a more classic Amon Amarth sound than Berserker. The dueling guitars chime in, and I am transported to the 90s where Thrash still reigned supreme. “The Great Heathen Army” is sounding to be an eclectic mix of everything Amon Amarth. It is out on August 5th with Metal Blade Records. It’s a long wait, but always worth it for these guys.
Texas Doom Metal band, Oceans of Slumber have made a unique cornerstone in this Avant-Garde Soul aspect that the world has simply never heard before. It’s old-school Doom and old soul Blues, but such a new take on Metal. Once I heard the first album, Winter, with Cammie Gilbert I was swallowed in this gloomy and moody aesthetic. She is a poet, a songstress, and one of the most unique voices I have ever heard. She captures you like a siren wading up on the shore. Underneath her sultry, emotional, and even belting vocals is a million layers of sound from an eclectic mix of influences. There are blast beats, Death Metal finger bass, howling guitars with delay, intense and passionate piano composition, and driving rhythm guitars. It’s incredibly difficult to put this band in a genre box, and they refuse to be pigeonholed. The New album, Starlight and Ash (out July 22nd), is even different than Oceans of Slumber (self-titled) in 2020. It’s even more Doom-centric with Texas Rock and Soul-laden throughout. It’s an album of a lifetime. Check out the two new singles below.
Dark Sarah
The symphonic Gothic Metal band led by genre veteran Heidi Parviainen is coming back in 2022 with another bombastic album Attack of Orym. The group has put out concept albums that may even make Tuomas Holopainen of Nightwish cry. Every Record this band puts out is a brilliant Symphonic Rock album in the making. This band begs for a full orchestra, choir, and theatrics in a live setting. It’s certainly not for your average Metal listener, but its quality outweighs the ridiculous stigma against Rock Operas. Heidi’s voice is incredibly smooth and light, dancing upon the melodies and the rhythmic chugging guitars. Attack of Orym is a “cinematic Metal” album crowd-funded to 108% on indiegogo.com. It combines orchestral with a horror-themed story. There’s not much more on the album yet, but I bet my ass it’s going to be epic.
Devin Townsend, the creative Progressive Metal madman from Canada, has been working on a project called Lightwork for nearly two years. And when Devin has too much time to think about a project, you know it’s going to take longer than he anticipates. Though, his projects are always worth the wait and reading convoluted descriptions of said projects. I love Devin; He’s undoubtedly my favorite artist of all time. He is a genius and a virtuoso far beyond any normal standard. Empath, released in 2019, was a proving ground of soloist measures for Devin after disbanding DTP. Empath was a concept that was larger than life, big picture themes, along with enormous layers of sound. It is one of the craziest albums I have ever heard and I love everything about it. It was 100% unfiltered and untamed Wild Canadian Boy on speed. But, I truly believe Devin is at his best when he is challenged and dialed back by a producer. This second voice shunts Devin’s perfectionism and musical neurosis, allowing him to relax into the music and not overcomplicate the sound to live up to his unrealistic expectations. Transcendence, produced by the incomparable Nolly Getgood, was an exemplary example of this. However, I expect an even greater example of Devin’s music.
Lightwork, from what I gather, is going to be a mix of Epicloud, Dark Matters (disc 2 of Z2), and Empath. It is going to be heavy, but more friendly and entry-level than Empath. It sounds interesting. I have yet to hear any clips from it or get any succinct descriptions, but I expect it’ll be pretty Riffy and Vocal-centric based on the information Devin has given out. We shall see what he conjures up this time. Out in September
Symphonic Metal Juggernauts are back! We hadn’t heard much from the German band since Dianne Van Giersbergen’s exit after “Theater of Dimensions” in 2017, and I was beginning to worry. The titans led by guitarist, founder, and writer Marco Heubaum was founded in 1994 and has been formidable ever since despite much drama and lineup changes. The band is known for beautiful melodies, heavy riffs, soaring operatic vocals, and epic tales of battle and mental delirium. I’ve been a fan of this band since my European Metal crusade began. I’ve found them to be underrated and unjustly overshadowed by “biguns” like Nightwish. Xandria is one of the best Symphonic Metal bands I have ever seen live (opening for Sonata Arctica in 2014). I fell in love with the music during the Manuela Kraller era, and it broke my heart to see her go, but faith has been restored with “Reborn”.
Xandria’s Marco Release Statement:
Dear Xandria fans, Xandria is finally reborn. It has been quite a journey so far, and a new journey is about to begin right now. There will be a lot to come still, and “Reborn” is just the first sign of life for all of you amazing fans out there. Thank you so much for your patience and support, in this time needed to be coming back to life! We cannot even begin to tell you how much we appreciate the warm welcoming words of many of you in the last days! Thank you all! We truly hope you will be enjoying this new song! It tells you about the time when you feel that something very precious in your life, the passion that you give all your heart into, is about to die – and that you need all your strength for going through a hard time in which you have to painfully sacrifice and leave behind things, to let it be reborn. There definitely was a lot of passion and heart going into this song, too. “Reborn” also introduces our new singer Ambre Vourvahis, who for us is the perfect match for the new Xandria you are going to experience! You will hear something more about her very soon! In this song you can hear already a few of her diverse voice facettes, but she will show you quite some more still, so be prepared for some surprises… As you can see there are also a few other new faces. Their names are: Dimitrios Gatsios (drums), Tim Schwarz (bass) and Rob Klawonn (guitar). You will soon learn more about these both great people and musicians, too! Our former members went on to new musical endevours, and we wish all of them the best for the future, in gratefulness and respect for the times we shared and everything that they have done for Xandria. We want to share a statement of the long time members Philip, Gerit and Marco with you all: “After a long journey together, during which we were sharing great experiences, but as well have developed in different directions, we have decided that it is time for each of us to go our own way. We would like to thank the fans for the many wonderful memories, and wish each other all the best for the future. See all of you soon out there with our new or old projects. The music will be connecting us all still! Philip, Gerit and Marco”
Out of nowhere, successful Metalcore band Architects drop a new single “when we were young” yesterday. I missed the initial release, as I was dealing with having no power or Wifi for most of the day due to a quarter of my town being on fire. I’ve been awaiting something new from Architects but thought they’d ride the wave of the popular For Those Who Wish To Exist longer. I find the track to be interesting, but quite light and radio-friendly. I am hoping it is a soft release for an upcoming assault of a new record just to whet appetites. No other information was released with the track, but expect more from the band very soon. Listen to the new track below and see what you think.
Another exciting and surprise release from the day before was from We Came As Romans ft Brand of Sacrifice. It’s an Electronic and Metalcore mash-up reimagining of their breakout hit Darkbloom. I had never listened to either artist before and was immensely astounded by the quality of what I was hearing. the growls are stunning and deep to the point of Deathcore heaviness at the end. It is absolutely addictive. Check it Out below:
“This list is purely about lesser known Melodeath bands. Obviously, these bands are not necessarily an introduction to the genre. If you want to get into the genre check out the heavy hitters such as Arch Enemy, In Flames, Dark Tranquility, Before the Dawn, Insomnium, Swallow The Sun, Children of Bodom, Wintersun, Ensiferum, Amorphis, and At The Gates.
If I missed any essentials, comment below or tweet me at @ebombmetal on Twitter.”
In Mourning
In Mourning is yet another Melodeath offering from Sweden. But, comparing them to the likes of Dark Tranquility, In Flames, and At the Gates would be criminal. The small town Swedish “sad bois” are not your typical flavor of Melodeath. Of my two decades as a Metal fan, I have never heard such a diverse band. Their layers are endlessly entangled with Doom, Black Sabbath, Power Metal, and Amorphis-like brutality. To say this band is stunning, is a vast understatement. From the saga based lyrics, to the classic riffs, to the depressive overtones of three different growlers, this band had me absolutely mesmerized. Their Weight of the Oceans record is a timeless Melodeath gem that deserves far more press than it has received over the decade. The opening track “Colossus” has the haunting beauty that I look for in Melodic Death Metal. The atmospheric aspect transcends you to the ancient oceans as you await a giant sea creature to swallow the earth.
In Mourning has the most interesting song structure, making every track unpredictable and interesting. Verses last half of songs, preceding three staggeringly good guitar solos, and harmonized brutal growls over unique driving leads.Some songs have so many changes it is hard for me to keep up with at times, but it truly makes the music more interesting. It’s surprising, because you never know what influence the band will throw in the ring next. This band is a permanent addition to my collection and I will long await a North American tour.
Essential Tracks: Colossus, Thornwalker, Black Storm
From the brain of Melodeath legend Markus Vanhala of Insomnium, comes a lighter hearted brother of Insomnium. Omnium Gatherum is Speed meets Melodeath with immensely beautiful atmospheric synths and meanings that make grown men cry in the pit. Omnium is an enigma of brutal growls from Jukka Peikonen and soft lead melodies from Markus with an occasional melancholic clean vocal. Omnium has a “battle ready” feel to it. I find them to be one of the most uplifting Melodeath bands. It’s a great diversion from the “my wife tragically died and came back to throw me in a well” feeling you get from Amorphis and Insomnium.
Seeing this band live twice, I can say they truly play to astound. They put one hundred percent of their passion and practice into each track and play with immense speed. It is shocking to watch the dueling guitars play perfectly together at neck break pace. Their drummer, albeit a different drummer every time I’ve seen them, is a machine of a metronome that keeps everything really tight. Jukka’s guttural growls for a whole set defy and blow me away. His vocal stamina is some of the highest for the difficulty of technique he displays. I also really enjoy the group cleans, as it gives an 80’s arena vibe. This band is fantastic on record but also one of the best live. I cannot recommend their catalog enough, specifically from Stuck Here on Snakes Way (2007) and on.
Essential Tracks: The Unknowing, Fortitude, New World Shadows
For something fresh and completely different in Melodeath, I recommend UK newcomers Countless Skies. If you dig the Progressive aspects of Amorphis and also Devin Townsend, this band is a brilliant bright mix of both. Not to be confused with Pop Atmospheric duo, Silent Skies, these guys are all heavy goodness. If you like bands with bassists that sing, this band is definitely for you. Phil Romeo has one of the greatest voices I have ever heard, effortlessly laying tenor operatic on top of Melodeath speed and epic ballads beyond anything I could have imagined. This band has music that moves; it goes from gloom and doom to heavenly optimistic and heartbreaking. This is a band that deserves an entire symphony behind it (maybe a show at the famous Plovdiv Amphitheater). The music composition is beautiful and flawlessly flowing from orchestration to synth to perfect blast beats. Ross King wails on guitar while executing perfectly dictioned gutturals and soaring screams. Every song builds into something heavier or something immensely melodic and breathtaking.
I may catch some slack from genre sticklers on this one, but I have to include Infected Rain on this list. The Moldovian Nu-Metal band displays a huge range of influences, I have trouble believing they’re among the likes of Korn and Slipknot. This heavy groove based band has a plethora of interesting sounds and progressive nuances. I wouldn’t compare them with any other band on the planet. Lena Scissorhands is one of the most unique vocalists of the past two decades. Her range from cleans to gutturals to harmonic screams. Her fluidity amazes me on every track. Vidick, the sole writer and mastermind, lays down addictive rhythm guitars ranging from Djent to Pantera. It grooves better than anything I’ve heard in twenty years. They’ve been around since 2008, but haven’t hit big time in the USA yet. I could see this band exploding very soon with the tours they’ve been on lately with Butcher Babies and Stitched Up Heart. This band deserves much more credit for quality and innovative Groove Melodeath. Part of me wishes Lena was the new addition to vocaless Fear Factory, but I would hate to see Infected Rain lose her. That’s how immensely good they are. She can scream, guttural growl, sing melodically, rap, and go into operatics occasionally. This band is just staggeringly good.
This doomy brutal Melodeath band from 1998 has been vastly underrated and lost under the radar. I didn’t hear of Kalmah until 2013, after discovering Insomnium live supporting Epica in 2012. Kalmah is a bit slower, more under-stated in its take on Melodeath. It’s not as in your face, but the quality is formidable. Their doomy death metal layered with catchy lead guitars and insane piano melodies sets them apart in the genre. They cover a huge range of emotions and themes throughout every album, but remain solid. Older Kalmah is purer Death Metal with Thrash guitars, atmospheric synth, and chaotic heart pounding blast beats. There’s truly something for every Death Metal fan within the Kalmah catalog. They’re a much heavier version Children of Bodom with Doom layers intertwined throughout. They also show some love for Power Metal with dueling guitar melodies. They’re an unexpected gem, but not surprising being from the most Death Metal country in the world, Finland.
Essential Tracks: For The Revolution, Seventh Swamphony, Blood Rain Cold
If you’re anything like me as a metal head, you’re constantly looking for underground epic bands to discover. I came across Deadtide on Bandcamp in a very saturated list of Death Metal bands. These guys stood out to me, because they offer a more approachable sound to Melodeath. They have the most clean vocals I’ve heard in the genre and some interesting Progressive Metalcore layers. I kno;w I am using a lot of genre jargon to describe sounds, but comparing them to anyone specific is not helpful. Every song i’;ve heard is totally different from the next with Deadtide. They have flavors of In Flames, Dark Tranquility, and Metalcore bands like Born of Osiris and All That Remains. The Ephemeral EP is a stunning sampler of what Deadtide has to offer. Check it out below. We don’t get a lot of quality Melodeath in the USA, so it was a wonderful surprise to discover these guys.
Essential Tracks; The Rabbit Hole, Alteration, Begin the Dream
Metal Valkyrie 