Melodic metal outfit LUTHARO returns with a cacophony of all that is metal! The Canadian metallers bring forth their signature mixture of traditional heavy metal, melodic death metal, thrash metal and more on their latest effort, Chasing Euphoria, the follow-up to their critically lauded debut full-length Hiraeth. Due out March 15th 2024 via Atomic Fire Records, Chasing Euphoria is as destructive and violent as it is soaring and captivating. Pre-orders are available HERE.
Today the band has also shared a new single and video for “Time To Rise.” The video is an intimate look inside behind the scenes at the band’s practice and rehearsal.
The band elaborates on the album: “We are beyond excited to finally announce our second full length album “Chasing Euphoria” will be released on March 15th 2024! This album is very near and dear to our hearts as it has brought out the most emotion in us to date! We laughed, we cried and we put everything we have into this album. So when you listen to these songs, know you are taking a piece of us with you.”
And of the single, they share: “We are incredibly eager to finally introduce to the world our newest single “Time to Rise”. This one is a doozy. This song is not only one of the most emotional we’ve written but has pushed us FAR out of our comfort zone in so many ways. This song has endless layers to it but its most dominant subject matter is inner child trauma and how it affects us in adult life especially when it isn’t resolved or acknowledged. We hope that through this song our listeners can begin a learning journey just as we have through this writing process. To anybody reading this remember to give yourself some grace, you and the younger version of you deserve it.”
Chasing Euphoria features dynamic production from Lasse Lammert of LSD Studios (ALESTORM, GLORYHAMMER, WIND ROSE, SVARTSOT & more!) and striking cover art from Niklas Sundin (ARCH ENEMY, DARK TRANQUILLITY, DELAIN, & more!), with orchestral arrangements from Elliot Vernon (ALESTORM).
ABOUT LUTHARO: Formed in 2014, LUTHARO strive to sculpt an epic sound that sees aspects of power and death colliding, combining artfully crafted melodies, harmonies and precision with hard-hitting power and force. Members Krista Shipperbottom (vocals), Victor Bucur (guitar), John Raposo (guitar), Chris Pacey (Bass) and Cory Hofing (drums) may have found their groove on this new record, but don’t expect them to fall into a rut. LUTHARO opens the throttle all the way and barrels forward into new territories.
After releasing two EPs, LUTHARO pulled out all the stops on Hiraeth, the debut full-length album that was released on October 15th, 2021. Following their 2018 debut EP UNLEASH THE BEAST, and 2020 EP WINGS OF AGONY, Hiraeth saw the quintet push their compositional and performance skills further than ever before. What Hiraeth brought forth, Chasing Euphoria now amplifies. Expertly balancing hauntingly beautiful atmospheres with raw power and aggression. A fantastically epic journey that needs to be experienced to be believed.
Recorded by drummer Cory Hofing at Coho Studio, with additional recording by Thomas Ireland and mixing and mastering by Lasse Lammert of LSD Studio, Chasing Euphoria is out March 15th, 2024, via Atomic Fire Records. The band partnered with Niklas Sundin for the stunning artwork featured on the cover.
Prepare your necks for a maelstrom of windmills as Chasing Euphoria is certain to provoke headbanging, boisterous pits and chanting singalongs. An aggressive touring schedule will give you plenty of opportunity to join them for an electrifying evening as the riffs and raucous beats pummel you.
Shipperbottom’s earth-shaking vocal performance is impossible to ignore, from her thorny growls to soaring falsettos. – Metal Injection
…The Canadians’ self-released debut album is a primarily traditional metal record with bags of melody, shitloads of muscular power and large amounts of virtuoso musicianship….Bridging the gap between ancient and modern with admirable skill, LUTHARO have dropped one of this year’s most vital debuts. – Blabbermouth
Gatling gun riffage glues the listener to the wall, practically challenging you not to get out of your seat and bang that head, while huge melodies soar and dive in and out of that furious wall of noise. – Metal Observer
Chasing Euphoria Tracklist:
Gates of Enchantment
Reaper’s Call
Ruthless Bloodline
Time to Rise
Born to Ride
Bonded to the Blade
Chasing Euphoria
Creating a King
Strong Enough to Fall
Paradise or Parasite
Freedom of the Night
Lutharo Is: Krista Shipperbottom – Vocals Victor Bucur – Guitars, backing vocals Chris Pacey – Bass Cory Hofing – Drums Jeff Wilson – Guitar (Live)
The very first covers album by Germany’s #1 charting LORD OF THE LOST – honoring favorites by Michael Jackson, Judas Priest, Billy Idol & more!
Exactly one year after the release of their game changing #1 charting album, Blood & Glitter (Official German Album Charts), LORD OF THE LOST are coming back with their first ever covers album, Weapons Of Mass Seduction. The new album is a collection of songs that have inspired the band to bend genres. This double album wraps up the busiest and most successful year in the band’s history so far. In addition to storming the charts with their latest studio album, being invited by the legendary Iron Maiden as special guest on their European tour (again!), numerous sold-out headline shows, and opening gigs for Powerwolf and Amon Amarth, the band represented Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest Finals in Liverpool in May of this year. LORD OF THE LOST made it clear once again that they do not limit themselves when it comes to genre norms and influences. They’re wacky and weird and don’t follow any rules when it comes to music.
Today, the band unveils the opening track of their upcoming offering, an electrifying cover of Billy Idol’s “Shock To The System”! The song arrives with a perfectly fitting music video, underlining its attitude the best possible way. It’s a great cover and I was honestly impressed with the vocals as Billy Idol is an incredible singer. I didn’t expect to like it as I haven’t like their latest releases… but this cover is really well done. I wish the guitars were more pronounced and heavier, but it’s a polished 80’s sound that fits with the original.
Chris Harms on “Shock To The System”: “I remember exactly when I heard this song for the first time. I was 13 years old, it was summer and I was sitting in the back of the Opel Manta convertible in which I drove to the open-air pool with my older sister and her boyfriend. Rarely has the energy of a single song gripped me so much. We’d like to give a little bit of that energy back with our tribute to Billy Idol and this song through our cover and accompanying video.”
While the album is entirely covers, Weapons Of Mass Seduction confirms LORD OF THE LOST’s creative ability to make even unexpected songs their own, and further confirms their status. The covers album comes in various different formats – some of them containing a second CD with 11 covers that are already released or have been played live. The deluxe boxset includes a third CD with 10 acoustic tracks, exclusively available in this format.
Weapons Of Mass Seduction Tracklist: CD 1
Shock To The System (Billy Idol Cover)
Unstoppable (Sia Cover)
Smalltown Boy (Bronski Beat Cover)
Turbo Lover (Judas Priest Cover)
Hymn (Ultravox Cover)
Give In To Me (Michael Jackson Cover)
River (Bishop Briggs Cover)
Somewhere Only We Know (Keane Cover)
(I Just) Died In Your Arms (feat. Anica Russo) (Cutting Crew Cover)
High (Zella Day Cover)
House On A Hill (The Pretty Reckless Cover)
CD 2
The Look (feat. Blümchen) (Roxette Cover)
Ordinary Town (Celebrate The Nun Cover)
Cha Cha Cha (Käärijä Cover)
Judas (Lady Gaga Cover)
Children Of The Damned (Iron Maiden Cover)
Wig In A Box (Hedwig and the Angry Inch Cover)
Bad Romance (Lady Gaga Cover)
The Most Radical Thing To Do (The Ark Cover)
This Is The Life (Amy MacDonald Cover)
It’s A Sin (Pet Shop Boys Cover)
Ordinary World (Duran Duran Cover)
CD 3 – Ltd Deluxe Edition only
Starman (David Bowie Cover)
Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon (Neil Diamond Cover)
The Days Of Pearly Spencer (David McWilliams Cover)
Hey You (Pink Floyd Cover)
I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night (The Electric Prunes Cover)
Where Do You Go To My Lovely (Peter Sarstedt Cover)
Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season) (The Byrds Cover)
In The Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus) (Zager & Evans Cover)
All I Have To Do Is Dream (The Everly Brothers Cover)
Perfect Day (Lou Reed Cover)
Weapons Of Mass Seduction will be available in the following formats:
3 CD Boxset, incl 2 CD 6 pages Digisleeve (Ltd Deluxe Edition) and CD 3 incl 10 acoustic songs, exclusively available in the Deluxe Box + pink Sweatband with black logo, sharped patch and sticker – Napalm Records Mailorder and LORDSHOP exclusive – strictly limited to 1000 copies worldwide
2 LP RECYCLED COLOR Vinyl – Die Hard Edition incl Slipmat, record butler and 12 inch booklet – Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive – strictly limited to 300 copies worldwide
2 LP RECYCLED COLOR Vinyl incl 12 inch booklet – LORDSHOP exclusive – strictly limited to 300 copies worldwide
2LP Gatefold RECYCLED BLACK Vinyl
2 CD 6 pages Digisleeve (Ltd Deluxe Edition), 12p booklet
1 CD 6 pages Digisleeve, 12p booklet
Cassette (PINK w/ Black print) – Napalm Records Mailorder and LORDSHOP exclusive – strictly limited to 300 copies worldwide
Digital Album
Weapons Of Mass Seduction features a wide range of songs from different eras and genres performed in true LORD OF THE LOST style, all surprisingly fitting for the band and hence forming a cohesive collection of covers. Classic heavy metal track “Turbo Lover”, originally by Judas Priest, meets modern pop hits in songs such as Sia’s “Unstoppable”, Bishop Briggs’ “River” and Zella Day’s “High”. Ultravox’ “Hymn”, followed by Michael Jackson’s legendary “Give In To Me” and Keane’s “Somewhere Only We Know”, expand the multifaceted selection even further. With added rougher elements such as heavier vocals, Bronski Beat’s captivating 80s electro pop hit “Smalltown Boy” gets a dark makeover in the hands of LORD OF THE LOST. The unit’s cover of another legendary 80s song, “(I Just) Died In Your Arms“, features a guest appearance from rising singer-songwriter Anica Russo, who also took part in Germany’s ESC 2023 preliminary round Unser Lied für Liverpool (EN: Our Song for Liverpool). An emotional version of The Pretty Reckless’ “House On A Hill” closes Weapons Of Mass Seduction impactful.
A special 2CD edition of the new covers album provides a cross-cut of covers previously released or already covered live over the course of LORD OF THE LOST’s career. Among them are the Roxette cover “The Look” feat. Blümchen – already known from Blood & Glitter – “Children Of The Damned”, a homage to Iron Maiden, with whom LORD OF THE LOST experienced intense times during the last two years, and the cover of the Finnish ESC song “Cha Cha Cha” by Käärijä – sung by Chris Harms completely in Finnish.
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!
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
Metalcore is often a genre overlooked by the elitists. Often the genre is associated with more “Emo” themes. That is simply a misnomer. Metalcore is arguably the most diverse of all subgenres. It is a broad subgenre with millions of possibilities; some bands have a Metal version of Punk Hardcore, some Extreme Metal with Meshuggah-Esque breakdowns. I was originally a naysayer of the subgenre. I expected whiny, high-pitched, off-key screams, and generic guitar riffs stolen from Killswitch Engage and All That Remains. Those derivative instances may exist, but the juggernauts of the new wave of Metalcore are reinventing the wheel. I became educated in Metalcore really fast upon my first listen of “Circle With Me” by budding Vancouver Island Progressive Metalcore band, Spiritbox. From there, my glass house of elitism was shattered forever.
Spiritbox’s Eternal Blue is the album that changed Metalcore forever but seemingly came out of nowhere. Between lineup changes and the pandemic, Spiritbox didn’t necessarily start successfully. They were unable to tour, put the new album together in the studio on the original timeline, and were forced to find a drummer remotely. The strife this band faced was formidable, but they turned it into something immensely positive. Eternal Blue is a true example of “pain turned into art”. It is a masterful record. It is beautiful, angry, tragic, and devastatingly good. It’s not what I expected; Holy Roller was a track that threw me off. It’s dense, abrasive, and completely heavy. It took me months to appreciate it. Once I heard Circle With Me, however, I immediately understood why this band went viral. Now, I can’t stop listening to Eternal Blue. The dramatic, sometimes bipolar, djent down-tuned chugging riffs to beautiful intricate melodies grabs every fiber of my being. I crave their sound to the point of obsession, and I think this album did the same thing to everyone who’s heard it.
There’s a wide spectrum of sound in Spiritbox that I’ve never heard before. It’s an assault of layers upon layers. Mike Stringer is known for maxing out the session data in Protools with these layers: Specifically on the beautifully heart-wrenching Alzheimer’s inspired track, Constance. This is the emotionally heaviest song I’ve heard in nearly fifteen years (Devin’s Deadhead takes the crown for me there). His musical composition is the most interesting I’ve heard since Devin Townsend. The way he aligns heavy guitars or melodic shredding with Courtney’s vocals is nothing short of visionary. Many bands have attempted this sonic chemistry, but Mike and Courtney have a cornerstone on the chemistry that I don’t think will ever be matched. This is why Eternal Blue is one of the greatest Metal records of all time and has brought Metalcore back to the forefront.
Once I became obsessed with Spiritbox, I went on to find other bands that shared a pension for Progressive Metalcore. Below is a list of bands that add to why I think Metalcore is the best subgenre in 2021 and 2022.
This may seem like an obvious name drop, as Architects have been dropping some of the best records in modern Metal for the last ten years. They write relatable, coarse, heavy, and melodic tracks with excellent breakdowns. They sit at the more aggressive end of Metalcore, with screaming and down-tuned guitars while staying accessible. The band has been millions of fans’ entry into the extensive world of Metalcore. Tracks like Minesweeper, Day in Day Out, and Doomsday are blisteringly heavy and coarse with newer addition Sam Carter’s style. His screams and cleans are drastically different from each other, to an almost bipolar level. Their music is catchy, but not repetitive or derivative. It truly sticks in your mind; Whether it’s a riff or a vocal hook, Architects becomes addictive just as well as Spiritbox. Josh Middleton, another newer addition officially joining in 2017, is a driving force on lead guitars. Coming from Progressive Metalcore powerhouse Sylosis, Josh has made his imprint on Architects’ riffs. I think the band has gained success due to the innovation of Sam and Josh’s contribution and unique styles. At least, I’ve enjoyed the band more since Middleton began riffing for them.
For Those Who Wish To Exist is the latest from Architects. Released at the height of Covid on February 26th, 2021, this is one of the most poignant records of the decade. In my opinion, this record is a momentous record for all of music. The album is one of the heaviest records to climb the US Billboard charts in my lifetime. It got the recognition and credit it deserved for tracks like Black Lungs, Animals, and Dead Butterflies all frequenting successful Satellite radio. This record is not what I consider radio-friendly, but it is deeply relatable and tragically accurate for Covid-19’/s terrorist reign on the world. It captures the loss, the loneliness, the falling to addiction, and the rage for stupidity amongst the human race. I unequivocally love this record and find it to be the highlight of Architects’ career.
Talk about underrated bands that seemingly come out of nowhere; the Progressive Metalcore scientists Erra hit me like a god damned truck. These guys put out harsh rap vocal lines over smooth clean choruses, right before obliterating breakdowns. Jesse Cash on vocals and guitars has written some of my absolute favorite riffs of all time. Dancing between Killswitch, Tool, and Meshuggah’s off-beat chugging, it’s a savory ride of guitar flavors that I am always impressed by. It’s impossible to get bored of Erra’s irregular and entropic music. It switches between fast down-tuned riffs, atmospheric interludes, and catchy vocals over blast beats. There’s also melodic shredding underneath the chunky riffs; a contrast I absolutely love. Cash and company compose songs with such deliberation and care so it flows through you like a symphony. I appreciate the music, but the lyrics are even more of a reason to listen to Erra. They eloquently talk about death, astronomy, psychology, neurology, societal issues with technological advancement, mythology, and mental health. Their storytelling and emotional transparency are what sets this band apart from all other Metalcore bands for me.
Erra, the self-titled record, is an astounding mix in a plethora of titillating ways. It’s grinding, blue-collar chuggy, and then refined and technical, and then warm and heartfelt. It’s surprisingly heavy, but the dynamics and smooth changes are what make it an essential Metalcore album. Snowblood opens with speed and breakdown shreds, continuing into equally disjointed Gungrave with an absolutely devastating breakdown at the end, and then it breaks and surprises into Melodic Divisionary. House of Glass is where the Prog shines through and captures me more than the Metalcore aspects. There’s a blinding ode to Tool in this song that is mouthwatering and unexpected. There’s a break in the music and this perfect off-time riff pre-verse that blows my mind every time I hear it. I won’t spoil the rest of the easter eggs in this brilliant record, but it’s a must-listen all the way through.
Essential Tracks: Snowblood, Vanish Canvas ft. Courtney LaPlante, Monolith
I doubt there’s a Modern Metal fan in America that hasn’t heard of Periphery, but just in case you need an incentive to listen to Prog Metalcore juggernauts Periphery, I’ll spell it out for you. Washington D.C may not be progressive these days, but at least it has birthed one of the greats of Progressive Metalcore. I have yet to see a band in the genre with more lineup changes, which is off-putting for me. It can cause inconsistencies and identity confusion, making the music derivative. Not with these guys. They are a band who have only improved with changes and time. The current lineup is a perfect medley of styles, technical ability, and some of the best musical chemistry I’ve ever seen. Periphery IV: Hail Stan is an album for the ages that went nearly viral. It is one of the highest-ranking Progressive Metalcore albums of the century, and rightly so.
While Spencer Sotelo’s vocals took a while for me to warm up to, it was their live videos that grabbed my attention. While some male vocalists in the upper register lose tonal quality and pitch control in a live setting, Spencer is an absolute rock. I am baffled by the lack of reaction videos to Spencer’s live and in-studio performances. His range and steadiness in infinite style changes and emotional dynamics are unbelievable. This is demonstrated best in the song Reptile, one of the craziest songs I have ever heard. His ability to keep up with the virtuoso composition while staying very current is unprecedented. He makes me angry. He makes me smile. And, he even makes me teary. Lune is one of the most beautiful vocal performances I have heard and destroys me every time I hear it.
Are three guitarists too many? Ask yourself that, and then listen to Misha Mansoor, Mark Holcomb, and Jake Bowen. Three very distinctive and different guitarists that ebb and flow and layer over one another flawlessly. The guitar riffs dance over Matt Halpern’s metronomic and catchy beats. Halpern has a pension for creating a perfect and effortless pocket, most evident in songs like It’s Only Smiles, Marigold, and Flatline. This band is one of the most talented bands I’ve ever heard, without being cheesy and neoclassical. Three technical shredding and beautifully melodic, atop a hell of an inventive drummer, underneath one of the most diverse vocalists I’ve ever heard; it’s a recipe for brilliance. This recipe is profoundly shown in Satellites, a song of their career, in my opinion. Not a fan of Metalcore? Listen to these guys, and you’ll be hooked for life.
Essential Tracks: Marigold, Satellites, Reptile, It’s Only Smiles, Alpha
On the heavier side of Metalcore, Monuments brings it hard and groovy. These guys have a lot of similarities to Periphery, but a completely different feel to the music. As a drum nerd, Monuments fills a need that no other band on this list can; a flair for flam. The use of flam on the snare adds urgency and a unique flavor to the music. Mike Malyan has an unexampled take on Metalcore drumming; it’s more of a Punk or Post Rock style that shows exceptional technicality. He can also blast well. The whole band is a quartet of sleepers. You’d never expect the caliber of a technical ability underneath the catchiness and softness of some radio-friendly tracks. Monuments is an interesting mix of styles. I had never truly listened to them until researching for this article, but they have piqued my interest. While they can be blistering and grinding heavy, they can also be almost sweetly melodic. The mix is crazy, but it works on every song I’ve heard so far.
I’ve found that most singular vocalists in Metalcore have bipolar styles. Howard Jones from KSE days had his unique belt and soaring vocals to supreme gutturals and harmonic screams. M Shadows of Avenged Sevenfold is another upper-level example of the range in Metalcore. Andy Cizek, the new addition in 2019 after the sad and unexpected departure of Chris Barretto, is a powerhouse of melodic and rhythmic texture. Andy has a hell of an upper range. It may not be for everyone, as it leans towards a twangy side of cleans, but I appreciate his quick switch from high twang to almost gutturals.
Despite the heaviness and melodic twang vocals, I believe Monuments is a great introduction to Metalcore for people that usually listen to Punk or Rock, which is really what Metalcore is all about. It’s a transition between old hardcore and Modern Metal. Bands like Monuments could bring Metal back to the forefront where it belongs; Celebrated and appreciated. Their new album, In Stasis, drops tomorrow April 14th, and I highly recommend checking it out.
Essential Tracks: False Providence, Cardinal Red, Animus, Stygian Blue
A Deathcore band turned Metalcore, Chicago quartet Veil of Maya, have created their own style of Metal. If Periphery and Lorna Shore had an atmospheric baby, this band would be the maniacal product. Some tracks such as newer Viscera, Mikasa, and Members-Only remind me of European bands like The Unguided and Amaranthe. There are electronic and atmospheric aspects underneath yelling Punk vocals, and then full-on breakdowns with rhythmic screaming. The tracks are pretty chaotic and may be hard to follow at times. This is not your entry-level Metalcore band and is not necessarily my style, but there’s a lot to appreciate with Veil of Maya. Definitely check out Spanish beat-based Danger featuring legendary guitarist Jeff Loomis.
Wage War, the breakout band on Sirius XM Octane, is the quintessential mix of Hardcore and Melodic Metal band that illustrates Modern Metalcore at its height. They have a wide range of tracks that show what they’re capable of. Some songs echo A Day To Remember, some echo Killswitch Engage’s new era, and some echo the heavy breakdowns of Spiritbox. Where technicality may be forefront in the others on this list, Wage War is more brutal and Slipknot with their heaviness. They have no regard for song structure on songs like Stitch. It’s just all-out brutality and searingly slow breakdowns with strings flapping against fretboards, and I love it.
While most of the hit songs are not my desired flavor of Metalcore, deeper cuts are insanely tasty. Yet another American band, hailing from Ocala, Florida, is bringing Metalcore back to the masses. Wage War has already scored a tour with Three Days Grace in July. It’s a huge billing for them and will hopefully gain them even more respect amongst American Metalheads.
Essential Tracks: Take The Fight, Circle the Drain, Relapse, Surrounded
One day whilst browsing Youtube for good covers, I stumbled upon a rugby-player-looking big-necked dude in a black suit beautifully singing Diamonds by Rihanna. I almost closed the browser, until that scream and riffing hit, and my jaw unhinged. German Hardcore/Melodic Metalcore band Any Given Day went viral with this shockingly beautiful but heavy cover, and I fell in love with Dennis Diehl’s smooth delivery. This huge man has the sweetest and smoothest clean vocal I’ve heard since Howard Jones but has wicked gutturals rarely heard in Metalcore. His voice is stunning, mesmerizing on songs like Apocalypse, Home is Where the Heart Is, and Farewell. While very heavy and containing many breakdowns, they are one of the more melodic bands along with Spiritbox on this list.
This band is not a one-trick pony or formulaic, no two songs sound similar to me. It’s a very diverse and emotionally ranged catalog. They have breakdowns, rapping grunting vocals, and down-tuned guitars that echo the Hardcore veins of the band. The Melodic parts are echoing Killswitch Engage, Trivium, and heartful songs from All That Remains. Any Given Day incorporates guitar layering instead of Electronic effects for atmosphere, and that is something I appreciate. I love their flavor of Metalcore and hope they gain more popularity in the states for a North American tour billing.
Essential Tracks; Arise Ft. Matt Heafy of Trivium, Home Is Where the Heart is, Savior
Triosphere, a band that has toured with some of the best Metal bands around, has released a brand new album in 2015. Triosphere is a Norwegian Melodic Heavy Metal band with killer power vocals and excellent low bass lines from Ida Haukland and speedy melodic guitar riffs and solos from Marius “Silver” Bergesen and Tor Ole Byberg. They also enlisted new drummer Kenneth Tarneby from Course of Fate. The band began in 2004 as a trio of musicians, but toured with another guitarist for awhile until making him an official member. All music and lyrics are written by Ida, who has a very unique sound to her voice and bass playing. All these members combined with sublime writing is surprisingly grabbing and catching, pulling you in from the intro immediately. One of the most unique aspects of this band is the guitar work and the gritty but epicly powerful vocals. These aspects sound drastically refined and matured, making their new album “The Heart of the Matter” pretty excellent.
I hadn’t heard this band before their new release and went into the album blindly, not sure what to expect from their listed styles. I didn’t expect a band this amazing or such an addictive mix of sounds that are familiar to Power Metal, but so different from the music I’m used to coming from Norway. The Melodic nuances in Triosphere’s brand of Heavy Metal is unlike anything I’ve heard. The vocals are all over the place with power, technique, and style on “The Heart of the Matter”. There’s so many different vocal styles used from Ida, it is almost like having two different lead singers on nearly every song. The guitars are very mixed bag as well, ranging from speedy technical tapping solos, to shredding, to slow and droning melodic solos. The bass is pretty audible throughout every track and is definitely one of the best aspects to the range of music. I also like how loud the drums are on this album. Normally, loud drums become cheesy and overused, but Triosphere really balances it well. These high quality and remarkable aspects are constant throughout the album and make it very noteworthy in 2015.
Tracks like Steal Away the Light, The Sphere, and The Heart’s Dominion off of the album really stand out because there’s really nothing out there quite like them. Remedy is also a killer melodic track, showing some different styles and breaks in Ida’s voice as well as a different take on guitars. Overall, “The Heart of the Matter” is incredibly solid and really catchy all the way through. There is nothing overused or redundant about the album, which is becoming a limited trait in Heavy Metal these days. As for the power vocals, it is a matter of taste on whether or not you think their cheesy or over dramatic, and I definitely do not have this opinion. The vocals on this album blew me away and I found them spectacular. Triosphere absolutely captivated with this new album and captured everything you could ever want in the melodic side of Metal and Rock.
Overall Album Rating 9/10
Also Check out: Serenity, Nemesea, Kobra and the Lotus, Crucified Barbara, Unleash the Archers
Powerful hardrock and metal band, In This Moment, are back in 2014 with heavy mainstream release Black Widow. The follow up album to Blood, is a mix of different modern metal sounds with extreme attitude. In This Moment and lead vocalist Maria Brink infuse hard rock with poppy hooks, feminist attitude, heavy breakdowns, and melodic vocals with a scream edge. Blood also incorporated more techno and poppy sounds, blending two genres in a very unique way. No doubt there is no band out there quite like In This Moment, and there is nothing out there like their new album Black Widow.
Black Widow has parallels with Blood, but even more attitude and darkness as well as completely new sounds to the band. It is clear the band is going for a mainstream sound, integrating a rap rock and Korn style sound to the new album. They also have tracks that are similar to “The Gunshow” and the entirety of Star-Crossed Wasteland. There is something more shocking and gripping about this album than previous In This Moment releases. I can say honestly this album is heavily targeted towards women empowerment and feminist themes. Obviously Maria Brink is very active in female expression and it has clearly steered their music in new direction. Regardless if you like these themes or not, there is an artistic quality that makes the music desirable. This album is also themed around old film, having this horror movie feel to it. Black Widow is reminiscent of Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson as well.
Every track from “Sex Metal Barbie” to “Infection” to “Big Bad Wolf” is extremely catchy and dark, with beats easy to dance to and words easy to sing along with. These songs are audibly written for shock rock live performances, having an attitude to pull the audience in and memorize them. Then there’s completely new and gripping tracks like “Sick Like Me” and “Sexual Hallucination”. “Sick Like Me” is an epic, dark, melodic anthemic track that is undoubtedly one of their best tracks yet. “Sexual Hallucination” is a power ballad featuring Shinedown’s power house frontman, Brent Smith. This track is reminiscent of “The Promise” with the dark and gloomy weight and melodic bursting vocals from two different vocalists. “Bloody Creature Poster Girl” is a really different track with this traditional pop sound, blended with a couple growls and heavy instrumentation.
Black Widow continues to surprise with a piano ballad with a dark Jazz sound never heard before in the track “The Fighter”. This track features Maria Brink’s amazingly powerful vocals in a stripped down and unedited way. It is a much needed track on this very poppy album. “Bones” is a darker melodic track, staying with the poppy theme of the album, but adding a Five Finger Death Punch like heaviness. If all the tracks were similar to “Bones”, “Sick Like Me”, and “Sexual Hallucination”, I would still label the album as metal and not pop rock however. “Natural Born Sinner” is poppy and heavy like Blood, reminiscent of “Whore” and “Comanche”, containing a slow and dramatic build up with aggression. This track is definitely rebelling against religious figures and themes, a newer influential subject to In This Moment’s writing. The emotion definitely carries it beyond the actual instrumentation. Maria Brink still has one hell of a voice and that’ll never change. “Into The Darkness” is a disturbing and gut wrenching interlude that solidifies the women empowerment theme to it. It tackles the subject of self doubt and inner demons, featuring a sobbing Maria, making it really difficult to listen to. It is moving to say the least.
“Out Of Hell” begins with a beautiful piano intro and soft emotive vocals, reminiscent of the brilliant sound achieved with “World in Flames” of The Dream. This is by far one of the best songs In This Moment has ever put on an album. This track is a much needed artistic track on the album. “Turn You” and “Rib Cage” are back to the Blood sound, bringing the metal and hardrock back to In This Moment’s prized sound. These two tracks are good, but do not stand out compared to other tracks on the album. I expected a more epic closing track to Black Widow, but it seems to end as quickly as it began.
Overall, Black Widow tends to be very disjointed and all over the place, lacking a consistent sound to pull the the album together. The beginning of the album is very shock rock and rap rock themed, while the middle contains a power ballad and more pop-like songs, and the last four tracks tend to be a throwback to In This Moment’s melodic hard rock sound. It sounds like the band are caught in a limbo of mainstream radio and 2000s metal. It’s a different direction for the band, and overall they pulled it off well. However, the first few tracks on the album are terribly executed and have no catching qualities to them. I could’ve done without some of the songs on the album, because they just don’t fit with the other tracks. I liked a lot of tracks on the album, but the shock rock direction of the band is demeaning and dumbing down their sound. Maria Brink is too vastly talented to waste time with these shouty rap rock vocals. Black Widow isn’t disappointing, but it is not the best from In This Moment.
Rating: 5/10 I stand by this review, even if it is against popular opinion.
Dutch Symphonic Metal band, Within Temptation, announce a new stunning and eye catching live DVD/CD release. “Let Us Burn” is visually and audibly exciting for any fan of the band, featuring two concerts in one DVD/CD Pack. The first concert is the 15th Anniversary of Elements show and the other is Hydra Live. Hydra Live was filmed on the last night of the Hydra European Tour at the famous Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam. There is an estimated 170 minutes of live footage on the DVD and 32 tracks on the CD. This is a must have for rock/metal/music fans all over the world. Let Us Burn: Elements & Hydra Live In Concert comes out November 14th.
Swedish mood setting Progressive Metal band, Opeth, are back in 2014 with Pale Communion. Over the years the band has had many lineup changes, but somehow stays the same in its glory and brilliantly composed music. Opeth is famous for their ability to mix Progressive music and Death Metal with a Gothic influence. Their music is some of the most dynamic and interesting music ever written. Thanks to frontman Mikael Akerfeldt, who started the band in 1992, Opeth dares to be unique, powerful, and unmatchable. Pale Communion is a good example of everything this band has to offer. The whole album is a throwback to the 60’s and 70’s, with a slow melodic and psychedelic sound. It is brilliantly composed and played, each song flowing to the next. This album doesn’t sound like anything I’ve ever heard in metal.
Pale Communion is another album from Opeth only featuring clean vocals, but they are as haunting and as beautiful as ever. Eternal Rains Will Come is a perfect example of Opeth’s dark and Gothic side, with a chest piercing organ and brilliant drumming from Martin Axenrot. The song twists and turns from a Gothic sound, to a late 60’s early 70’s sound reminiscent of Led Zeppelin and The Doors. I was pleasantly surprised with that song, but it does not set a tone for the whole album. Each song differs in a virtuous sense, onto heavier songs like Cusp of Eternity and Moon Above, Sun Below. Then it goes into a beautiful ballad, with a possible influence from Simon and Garfunkel, Elysian Woes.Goblin is as enchanting as the tracks before it, with a slow building funky sound to it that is almost indescribable.
Pale Communion continues with a lighter hearted song, River, that breaks the album into a whole new tone and sound. River is a perfectly crafted interlude to the album, with chilling and beautiful vocals. It reminds you of the classic Free Bird by Lynard Skynard, but better than that even. Voice of Treason has all kinds of different sounds and flavors; It’s a little symphonic, a little Gothic, and a little cinematic. These past two tracks prove why Opeth is one of the best bands of all time, because of their ability to write anything and everything with such immense quality. This fantastic album closes with the melodic ballad, Faith in Others, ending the album hopefully with goosebumps on your arms and hair standing on your neck. The album is short, but it delivers a brilliant cinematic collection of tracks.
Pale Communion is a must buy for all Opeth and fans of rock and metal.
Metal Valkyrie 