metal

Power Metal Isn’t Cheesy, The Riffs Are Just Better Than Yours

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Mad With Power Fest Badge Cress

One huge problem I have had with the Metal community for the past fifteen years is the disparagement against Power Metal and the wonderful people behind this immensely talented genre. I keep seeing the haters referring Power Metal as “cheesy”, “lame”, “boring”, and “derivative”, which couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s one thing to dislike certain sounds or a vocalist’s tone, but undermining an entire genre is sacrilegious and immature. Metal is supposed to be about community, acceptance, and rebelling against any kind of authority. In a society where everything divides us, Metal can unite us. Letting one basement dweller alter your view of a sub-genre that goes back four decades is the equivalent of letting some snobby reviewer keep you from watching the new Star Trek. You’re only giving into suggestion, instead of educating yourself and forming your own opinions. There is a niche Power Metal band for everyone, and my mission is to promote these bands until they get the credit in the community that they deserve.

The Power Metal genre is attributed to Ronnie James Dio and his brilliantly written fantasy lyrics and the whole new universe with Rainbow and solo projects. To disparage Power Metal is ignorant because Dio is a founding father of Metal. He invented the symbol of “the Horn” and united us all with emotive and powerful lyrics that would charge tens of thousands into battle. This world of Fantasy combined with the screams, fast music, and dual guitars of Judas Priest promoted Power Metal. Manowar brought this whole new universe of Metal to America in 1980 when they were inspired by Canadian act Thor. The New Wave of British Heavy Metal also inspired Power Metallers like Accept, Blind Guardian, and the almighty Helloween Power Metal IS original Metal along with Black Sabbath. And, the new wave of Power Metal hasn’t fallen far from the original tree that Dio planted so long ago. Whether you like it or not, Power Metal is quintessential to all Metal. To disparage it is to discount Dio’s influence on Metal, which would get you your ass kicked in any mosh pit in the world.

Power Metal has come back with a vengeance and more talent than ever with bands like Battle Beast, Beast In Black, Lords of the Trident, Seven Kingdoms, and the band who inspired this article, Unleash the Archers. These bands have worked tooth and nail to give this genre and an awakening too prove it is the best genre of Metal. It is a place where media distractions and inspiration meet to create an all inviting community. This unity is ever present at North American festivals like Mad With Power, curated by “nice Metal bud” Ty Christian of Lords of the Trident, and the hugely successful Prog Power in Atlanta. These festivals are huge meet ups for the all accepting “nerds” of Power Metal. Unleash the Archers, one of the most successful and highly regarded bands of the genre, have created and inspired this absolutely incredible community of nerds who wish to return Metal to the forefront. Brittney Slayes, who is considered a Dio successor, has created an entirely new fantasy world inspired by Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Star Wars, and Mad Max. She is an eloquent direct writer, has nearly a four octave range, and embraces where Metal and nerdom/geekdom meet. Her brothers in arms, Andrew Kingsley on Guitar, Grant Truesdell on guitar, Nick Miller on Bass, and husband and drummer Scott Buchanan have created a unique blend of Power Metal, Prog, Death Metal, and Neo Classicism that has stunned audiences all over the world. There is a magic quality to this band that mirrors Iron Maiden, especially in a live setting, and their brother bands are no different. Unleash the Archers is unarguably one of the best bands of the century and the company they keep mirrors this brilliance and exalts the talent within the genre.

Unleash the Archers at Mad With Power, Photo by Kyle Finlan Photography
Unleash the Archers at Mad With Power 2023. Photo by Kyle Finlan Photography

Watching Mad With Power, which Unleash the Archers headlined for their first show in nearly two years, on stream this year reminded me of the scope and the importance of Power Metal. These bands are the best talents you can ever see live. The music is brave, technical, emotional, and provides an escape from a difficult time in society. Powerglove brought the nerdom to life as well as newer Symphonic Power Metal outfit Shield of Wings. They debuted a cover of “The Final Battle” from Elden Ring that stunned the video gamers in the crowd. Bostonian Death/Prog/Power Pirates Seven Spires absolutely dominated the first night bringing Neo Classicism and utterly devastating riffs. You just have to experience this band live to understand the unending talent. The second night, Floridian Power Metal band Seven Kingdoms took the stage and brought a work horse speed metal vibe with singer Sabrina Cruz belting into the rafters. The speed of this band is unbelievable. They are undoubtedly one of my top five live bands and just the nicest most inspirational people you will ever meet. Lords of the Trident come humble but completely destroy the stage with song after song emotive Neo Classicism that screams of Yngwie and Van Halen. Headliners Unleash the Archers, I mean I’ve already exalted and honestly drooled over this band, but their set at MWP Fest this year was truly something to behold. I can’t believe the talent we have in North America, and UTA is the finest example of that talent. If you have never heard or seen this band, go see them live, and I promise you will leave with your jaw dropped, tears in your eyes, a smile, and a sore neck.

NWONMB New Wave of Nice Metal Buds Patch Lords of the Trident


Mad With Power is built around Ty Christian’s ideology, “New Wave of Nice Metal Buds” of trying to build an all accepting community. It’s where everyone can like Metal, Games, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, 80’s Music, and Synthwave all in one amazing festival and all the bands inspire each other to be authentic. Being a part of this community myself has utterly changed my dingy view of American Metal and an all too hateful society. I found like minded people who want to keep echoes from the past alive. This is why Power Metal is so pertinent to the Metal Community, it provides an absolute escape from daily stresses and trials and brings people together while keeping the music to the highest standard. This festival is the event of the year. If you like Power Metal, you cannot miss this festival. Ty Christian and friends have created the best festival in North America but also brought a new family style feel to Metal that we have needed all along. Mad With Power proves we are in the second wave of Power Metal, and it gives me hope that people will once again return to original Metal and honor where it came from.

Whether you like it or not Power Metal has the best riffs, the best solos, the best vocal lines, the best screams, the best lyrical content, the best fans, and the best merchandise. This genre combines everything that made us love Metal in the 80s and the media that has combined new fan groups. There is nothing cheesy or derivative about inspired music and immense musical proficiency. There are infinite possibilities and you are bound to like something in this vast technical prowess filled genre. So, here’s 20 essential Power Metal Bands you must hear. Maybe these awesome picks will expand some feeble minds and cast out the ignorance to this supreme genre.

This list is not in any order of best or age, it’s merely a sampler playlist you can use to check out some of the GOATS in Power Metal

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Tales From The North- Bloodbound Review 2023

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Released July 7th AFM Records

Swedish Power Metallers, Bloodbound have cemented themselves in the realm of Classic Power Metal exhibiting heavy riffs, huge hooks, and powerful vocals. This band holds steadfast out to prove Power Metal is not dead, and I am a firm believer in this notion. Power Metal is the single handed most under rated sub genre in the Rock and Metal word; It’s almost criminal how talented these bands are, and yet they are overlooked constantly. Power Metal is considered cheesy and repetitive to stubborn elitists, but the genre shield walls and prevails with albums like Tales of The North.

Tales of The North is a Viking Folk inspired Power Metal album that infuses speedy riffs that would make Amon Amarth proud. This album piles up on double bass, melodic leads, and catchy hooks that remind me of classic Gamma Ray and Helloween. The vocals from Patrik Selleby are cleanly sublime with a soothing pitch and perfectly clear diction. This album is bound to stick in your head and fuel you to battle that 5:00 rush hour traffic. It sends you back in time, but keeps with the modern Power Metal sound. From drinking songs, to pillaging songs, to tributes to Odin this album holds true to the Viking theme without being pretentious or cheesy. Odin’s Prayer is a perfect track for those big arena or festival shows, along with sing along songs like Drink With The Gods and The Raven’s Cry. Tales of The North is and was set out to be a classic Heavy Metal brought to Modern Power Metal and refined for a full listening experience, and they’ve achieved an epic album. Is this the Power Metal album of the year? Time will tell.

Rating: 8/10

Tales From The North track listing:
01. Tales From The North
 02. Drink with the Gods
 03. Odin´s Prayer
 04. The Raven´s Cry
 05. Mimir`s Crystal Eye
 06. Between The Enemy Lines
 07. Land Of Heroes
 08. Sail Among The Dead
 09. Stake My Claims
 10.Sword And Axe
 11. 1066



BLOODBOUND is:
Tomas Olsson – lead guitar
Fredrik Bergh – keyboards
Patrik Selleby – vocals
Henrik Olsson – rhythm guitar
Anders Broman – bass
Daniel Hansfeldt – drums

For More Info Visit:
www.bloodbound.se
www.facebook.com/bloodboundmetal
www.instagram.com/bloodbound_official
www.afm-records.de

New Video Out Featuring Killer Femme Metal Singers

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Man, is it just me or are women in Metal absolutely dominating the vocal world right now? With bands like Spiritbox, Entheos, and Crypta all coming out and conjuring the most brutal music right now, it’s hard not to feel like we are in the New Renaissance of Music right now. I love foaming about female singers in Metal, so a couple of years ago I started making compilation videos of them hitting absolutely insane high notes. You can watch all three below from the links. But, I need help for the next episodes! Please send me videos containing super high notes hit by any singer in Metal LIVE and I will feature them!

Send me the videos or clips to Metalvalkyrie@yahoo.com or comment links below on this post!

Part One:




Part Two:

Part Three:

The Surprising New Album By Saturnus

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Danish Death Doom band, Saturnus, has done something incredible this year.  They have put out an album that has left me speechless, which is a feat since I never shut up about music.  My reviews have been sparse lately, as I think reviews are becoming more and more trivial.  This is not a formal review, but a write-up to honor one of the year’s best albums.  I don’t listen to a lot of Death-Doom, but Saturnus is one of my exceptions.  I decided to write about this band and album as I don’t see many posts about them and I have no clue as to why they don’t have more listeners.  

Saturnus began in Copenhagen as Asesino in 1991 by vocalist Thomas A.G. Jensen and bassist, Brian Hansen as a typical Black Metal band.  In 1993, their sound changed and their name became Saturnus to match their switch to Gothic Doom Metal with a Melodeath twist.  This sound has been marinating with classic albums like Veronika Decides to Die and Saturn in Ascension.  Their records have solidified their sound and made them incredibly underrated in the Death Doom genre which has exploded with hundreds of new bands since Paradise Lost blazed a new trail.  Now, we have bands like Saturnus mixing old Death Metal, Doom, and Melodeath like Insomnium creating a whole new sound.  They have come a long way since 1991, 32 years ago, believe it or not, and their latest short but epic record, The Storm Within, is a testament to their growth and building legacy. 

The Storm Within is a fifty-nine-minute journey through the human condition or psyche.  It is a provocative, emotional, and daring feat that is all-consuming.  Those fifty-nine minutes will either seem to last mere minutes or a lifetime.  It is not just an album, but a Doom movement.  I say this because of the reflective breakdowns of spoken word, emotive, piano, and gorgeous melodic guitar lines right before crushing guttural growls.  It is poetry in Doom.  The title track opens and sets the entire mood, but you never know what to expect next.  You can settle into it as a mood, but the music can throw you off and surprise you in an instant.  It builds, crashes, and plummets into the depth of despair, and then lifts you into a higher consciousness.  It changes but effortlessly flows together.  This is the exact sound that any new and upcoming Death Doom band should strive for.  

Truth is the final track of the album, marking the end of the journey, but showing more growth than ever.  Whoever played the piano on this record is simply genial.  It fits Death Doom perfectly while sounding so classical on Truth.  There is something very Draconian about this track and the acoustics building into this guttural chest-rattling growl with arpeggios on keys is a shocking moment in music I may never forget.  I don’t know much about this band and their influences or history, but this song tells me everything I need to know about how brilliant they are.  

If you listen to this record all the way through, you will come out of it a changed person.  Genres be damned, this album is perfection.  I love everything they did with it.  I love the departures and the classic Saturnus sounds.  I love the drum sounds, they remind me of Summoning’s folk style with massive reverb.  I love the different influences, almost some Bardcore in there which is unexpected.  I love the guttural aspects and distortion but the refinement of it.  It is a Death Doom record that is a must-hear this year.  

For fans of Paradise Lost, Agalloch, Insomnium, and Swallow the Sun.

Home

#NewmusicFriday 3/31/23

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I was on vacation last week and didn’t have time to update the blog. My family and I went to Las Cruces, New Mexico for a week off. It was a much needed break filled with nature and relaxation. Before that, I attended Eluveitie, Omnium Gatherum, and Seven Spires in Denver. I planned to write up a review on it, but honestly words fail to describe how musically perfect, emotional, and spiritual that show was. Eluveitie now stands as the best band I have ever seen live. They were note perfect, despite missing three members (Chrigel, Nicole, and Kay). So for now, here’s new music you must hear this week.

Scar Symmetry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9yi6jDmezc

Ad Infinitum Album Release, Chapter III- Downfall

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3onA_XzUu8k

Listen and order to the new album here: https://lnk.to/ChapterIIIDownfall

New bombastic song from Power Metal legends BLOODBOUND

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6kZKuIezAg

Frozen Crown Single from Call of the North

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqNVklVPj4A

Order or listen to the full album here https://bfan.link/call-of-the-north-4NEW Lyrre Album (Solo project from ex Eluveitie member Michalina Malisz)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMoQc5pa6OI Order from the USA: https://ancestore.eu/en_US/c/Merchandise/48/1/full

Thrash Power Band Burning Witches is back!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mA3koz5alQ

Deathcore legends After The Burial bring amazing guitarwork

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9GUUqDFfBM

Death Thrashers Sworn Amongst Return!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNm_rWY-fqk

#NewMusicFriday 3/3/23

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This year has already brought us so great much music, I can hardly keep up with it all.. Below is most of the awesome releases that dropped for new music Friday! Have a merry metal weekend!

Omnium Gatherum

Haken- New Album Fauna

New Elvenking

Unearth

Cradle of Filth

This is the best COF song I’ve heard in 10 years.

This is absolutely brutal

Extreme and Nuno are back!

New Deathstars, Finally!

Foregone by In Flames Review

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I am a huge fan of all bands Melodeath; From Dark Tranquility, In Mourning, Arch Enemy, Omnium Gatherum, and all bands alike, I cannot get enough of this dichotomy of music. The chugging guitars, brutal screams, blast beats, all broken up by melodic singing and beautiful guitars just hit me soul deep. It took seeing In Flames live in 2019 to fully understand their impact on this growing genre. I had never listened to them, assuming they were hard on my ears like At The Gates, but seeing them live absolutely blew all my expectations away. This band is anything but hard on the ears. This band is a masterclass in Melodeath composition. Recently, the band has taken the more Melodic elements as well as sick riffs and made them even more catchy. The criticism of the band “changing their sound” has been a hot topic since album “Sirens” and has ultimately but stupidly hurt the band’s credibility in the world of Melodeath. For me, new In Flames is more than just them trying to get more radio play or new fans, it is a testament to the band’s resilience and ingenuity. They took this quintessential sound and brought to to modernity and kept it absolutely mature, heavy, and absolutely unique.

In Flames has blended their old Thrashy sound with new and fresh Melodeath luster and turned it into an absolute masterpiece with 2023 release “Foregone”. This is a youthful yet profound venture for the band, not compromising quality for emotional depth. Anders Friden repeatedly shows his range and depth on songs like “Pure Light of Mind”, “Meet Your Maker” and both parts of the title track. This man took a vocal blowout and completely reinvented himself into one of the greatest dual voice front men of all time. This album is a complete testament to this band’s tenacity to not give up or give into the defeating aspects of the music business. While there’s so many new qualities, they manage to throw us back to old In Flames with searing tracks like “The Great Deceiver” and “State of Slow Decay”. They flawlessly blend old influences of Hardcore Punk and Thrash with modern Melodeath dual track guitars. It is an all encompassing sound that works so well in an arena setting. They’ve always been a heavy band you can sing along to, but every song on this album seems to stick with me. “In The Dark” is a perfect example of heavy ear worms on this record. Lyrically, this album is one of the most profound since “Clayman”. Riff wise, this may be the most full album they’ve ever put out. Bjorn and legendary Chris Broderick are relentless on Foregone. Tanner Wayne is an absolute beast on drums, holding everything together even when it seems so chaotic. The chemistry of this band is what makes this album musically perfect. Plus, the bass solos on Cynosure are deliciously interesting and tastefully done, making it impossible not to headbang. Every beat, every note, every bend is so synchronized that it feels computer generated without being over produced. “Foregone” is another new age Melodeath hit and deserves every positive recognition it can get.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Redemption- I Am The Storm Review

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Album comes out March 17 via AFM Records

Very few front men in the Prog genre are as highly regarded Tom Englund of Evergrey, Redemption, and a hundred other projects. He is a chemist of blending heavy guitar tone with emotional melodies. Redemption is one of the most popular Prog acts of the last two decades, but has not managed to become stale. Englund and guitarist Nick Van Dyk don’t focus on being diverse or reinventing themselves, and yet the music doesn’t become repetitive like some Prog bands tend to have a formula. It’s crazy Progressive Metal, harrowing from the classic Prog bands like Genesis. Me being the least fan of Genesis, I have never listened to Redemption before. I love Prog, but I am extremely picky with the genre (and all music to be honest). So 2023 album, I Am The Storm, is my introduction into the massive world of Redemption. My expectations for this album were nonexistent as I expected utter musical chaos like Genesis, Dream Theater, and Symphony X. As much as this album is typical musical masturbation, it is also filled with the melodic genius of England and keyboardist Vikram Shankar.

“I Am the Storm” is a bombastic, passionate, technically astounding album that is not to be digested with one listen. This is an emotionally and musically complex album that demands your attention. Van Dyk and Englund command the airwaves with every note either punching you in the face or soaring through your gut. It combines Iron Maiden, Genesis, Power, Prog, and Thrash all blending seamlessly throughout each track. Songs like the title track and “Seven Minutes From Sunset” hammer down with heavy Prog Metal guitars and rhythmic sections, breaking down into virtuoso guitar and keyboard solos. “Resilience” screams Petrucci amd Portnoy chemistry into “shreddy” soloing and a catchy vocal line. Englund might not have an enormous range, but his utter power into a tone heavy vocal can become so addictive. The highlight of the album, for me, is not the crazy guitar solos or loud technical prowess, it is the ballad of the album. “The Emotional Depiction of Light” is a hugely complex emotional track that is a must listen track of 2023. There is something so immensely haunting and grabbing about this track with the piano intro and soft vocals, building into an absolutely wailing track. To build up a song such as this takes immense restraint and musical ambition. It is pure emotional expression, and that is what I like to hear in Prog Metal.

Overall, this album is absolutely another Prog masterpiece that Redemption probably always puts out. It has everything a 10/10 Prog Metal record should have. “I Am The Storm” is musical mastery and emotive complexity perfectly. Does it show ingenuity or invention? No, in most ways it is what Dream Theater has been doing for almost four decades as well as dozens of other Prog Metal bands. Musically, while the technicality is vastly impressive, the musical masturbation is a huge turn off for me. Musical Masturbation is a term my brilliant older brother came up with to describe bands like Dream Theater where every break from vocals is a solo. It’s where subtlety and airiness die in music, allowing no time for the listener to digest and feel something other than an onslaught of notes. If this is not your thing either, Redemption is not for you. If you can’t get enough of virtuoso abilities and crazy musical changes, this album is going to absolutely blow you away.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Composition: 7

Mixing: 6

Lyrics: 4

Technicality: 10

New Album by Demons Down Review

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Newly signed to Frontiers Records, Hard Rock band Demons Down is bringing back old 1980’s hooks and Arena sized reverb with brand new album “I Stand” (out March 10th). Frontiers Records strives to bring back the catchiness and epic sounds of 1980s Hard Rock and Metal one band at a time. Demons Down is a sign that this wide stereo sound is here to stay forever. Fronted by Chilean born multi faceted vocalist, James Robledo, the band has planted into its roots with Iron Maiden, Queensryche, and Quiet Riot. He has the vibrato of Bruce, the heavy and aggressiveness of Kevin Dubrow, and the clean soars of Jeff Scott Soto. The band has its influences coming from former Quiet Riot bassist, Chuck Wright, who was partially responsible for Bang Your Head in the 1980s. This band maybe new, but their chemistry is ancient history.

“I Stand” sounds like its right of the 1980s and early 1990s with uncompromising heavy metal themes made to pump you up. It is simplistic yet massive in sound. The solos, vocals, bass guitar, and ringing rhythms fill up the space without playing musical masturbation. As far as Debut Albums go, Demons Down has made an enormous statement of who they are and what they plan to accomplish with their music. Songs like I Stand, Disappear, and Follow Me come in hot and hard with Arena sound that is making its way back to popularity. This album is very Melodic, which is not what I expected. I would’ve liked some more crunch in the guitars and some bigger drum fills to break up that nostalgia and stay modern. If you’re looking for grit or chuggy guitars, this album is not for you. But, if you want straight up Hard Rock to sing along to, these guys really deliver. I am interested to see what their live performances bring and what they do with follow up albums.

Rating  6 out of 10

Composition: 8

Mixing: 9

Lyrics: 7

Technicality: 4

Insomnium Anno 1969 Review

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The Melodic Death Metal titans hailing from Joensuu, Finland have been putting out heavy poetry since 1997 now; So you’d think we would know what to expect, but every album turns out to be more surprising than the last. Generally, if you haven’t heard Insomnium before, you can expect the Nihilistic Finnish downtrodden Death Metal sound but with a modern twist. Insomnium added melody to this classic angry and sad boy sound, converting experienced Death Metal fans and new to the ways of melodeath. Guitarist Markus Vanhala and Bassist/Vocalist Niilo Sevanen along with founder Ville Friman put out brutally epic music that’s a storyboard of Finland throughout the ages. We had ancient Viking history with Winter’s Gate, which is one of the most successful Death Metal concept records I’ve ever seen. We had modern to futuristic trials with Shadows of the Dying Sun.  And now, we have a historical journey of Christianity making its way to Finland with Anno 1696, mixing with the local Mythology Insomnium has always kept true to, and it truly feels older.  

This album blends classic Insomnium sounds that Friman and Sevanen built with melodeath touches from Markus, and then reverberated modern drumming. It feels like a 1990s Death Metal record in a nostalgic yet not derivative way, but with echoey pounding drums. I didn’t expect such a huge modern drum tone from Insomnium, but it works. Insomnium’s DNA of their sound is fine-tuned on this record. It is tighter, more well-composed, and a whole thought than 2019’s Heart Like A Grave.  This album is a perfect example of the quintessential Insomnium sound with some new sounds. Anno 1696 is a mastery of melodeath and shows what Insomnium is truly capable of when they take their time. The tracks White Christ, the opening track, and The Witch Hunter blend their acoustic guitar breaks, melodic on-the-nose leads, distorted vocals, and beautiful folky-clean singing in the tightest and interwoven ways I have ever heard. This album may not be their best, but it is Insomnium straight through the vein.  

Rating  8 out of 10

Composition: 8

Mixing: 6

Lyrics: 8

Technicality: 7

Links:

https://www.insomnium.net/