One of my all time favorite bands is coming back in 2023 with more historical excellence and a new writer/guitarist/vocalist to round out this Power Metal band. Serenity is lesser known than its brother band Warkings, but still as bombastic and catchy. The band began in 2004 with Georg Neuhauser leading the charge and honestly they’ve had a rocky road for nearly two decades. There’s something about this band’s melodies and unique storytelling that just engraves in your heart, and now more than even with this new lineup. The talent in this band exceeds its previous renditions and the songwriting is as haunting as ever. Everything Marco Pastorino touches turns into something profoundly greater than gold. Based on the singles, this album is a fresh start for the band and may ignite the forge fires once again. Review coming in November! What do you think of the new singles?
A band I have been listening to for a decade is back in 2023 with half a new lineup and new sound that has utterly stunned me. With the departure of two key components of the band in early 2023, I thought Temperance were doomed. This Italian Symphonic Power Metal outfit that has been a dark horse for too long has pulled through the trials and reinvented themselves with the most powerful lineup I’ve heard in a long time. I am a huge Power Metal fan, and no stranger to the majority of the new characters in the band, and I can say this record will bring them to the top of the game. Original founder and bassist Luca Negro has leveled up with clinical powerful drummer Marco Sacchetto and the smooth vocals of Michele Guaitoli since 2018 (Visions of Atlantis) and guitarist and epic vocalist Marco Pastorino (Serenity). Though, the newest member was a complete surprise to me. Kristin Starkey, an American Professional Opera and Metal dual vocalist has redefined the female vocal role of the band. Her vocals have brought a smokey darkness and smooth contralto vocals with staggering Power Metal screams. Based upon the singles, I knew this might be my album of the year. Temperance has delivered amazing music over the years, but Daruma’s Eyes PT 2 is just exalted beyond all expectations. I am a sucker for concept albums, and this storytelling delight delivers. It is also narrated and features chuggy punching rhythm guitars by the Dutch Wizard of Prog, Arjen Lucassen of Ayreon and Star One.
Daruma’s Eyes PT 2 is a massive wall of sound with melodies swirling through and emotively telling the story. I’m honestly in disbelief of how much they have tastefully crammed into one record. Each vocalist plays a different part, but comes together perfectly and expertly. Daruma opener is an assault of range and operatic vocals the band is known for delivering, but this is just explosive on a whole other level. On slow song, In “Search of Gold”, the range of these vocalists really shines and delivers emotionally profound music. “Welcome to Hermitage” contains many vocalists with Celtic and glaringly high vocalist Fabienne Erni (Eluveitie, Illumishade) and Laura Fella of Faun who brings elvish smooth vocals and a classic folk sound. Fabienne fits the explosive talent so well and brings another octave of vocals that balances everything out so well. The ladies of Switzerland also feature on Join Me, which is just a beautiful melodic track with heavy instrumentation. Epic track after track continues with No Return, Into the Void, and Darkness is Just a Drawing. No Return brings a sea-shanty sing along beat that is excellently catchy and just solid group vocals on the choruses. “Where We Belong” is a piano, vocal, string ballad that has a Meatloaf Rock Opera sound of tear-jerk nature, and it’s simply brilliant. The orchestration on this record is flawless, expertly highlighting each theme of every track and easy on the ears providing melody and a epic vibe throughout. The attention to detail on this record is virtuoso quality. I just can’t find anything wrong with it. I put Power Metal under high scrutiny, and Daruma PT 2 is at the highest level you can go in the genre.
Daruma PT 2 album is one of those Power Metal albums that make you want to get up off your ass and get you working out or just achieving your goals. Temperance have always been about empowerment and self fulfillment, but following Viktor’s journey is a whole other level of beauty and awestruck emotion. I don’t want to spoil too much about the story for those who ordered the book, but it’s incredibly well done. This record is absolutely clinical from start to finish. Each instrument reflects that Italian Classical refinement and the talent is truly unbelievable. I think their sound has bloomed overall into something huge and incomparably. I think the addition of Starkey is a huge attribute to what makes this record a new cornerstone in Power Metal. Her gorgeous tone, her perfect delivery, and style is so unique and stand out through the entire album. I’m hard pressed to find a vocalist at this level and caliber of raw talent. She has brought this band new life and profoundness that it has so long deserved. She works so well with Michel and Marco, every singer really compliments each other and there’s not a single gap or weakness. 2023 is not over, but this is a huge contender for album of the year for me. I seriously cannot wait to see this band continue with Kristin and Marco, because if they continue on like this, Temperance will no longer be a dark horse and become legendary to the likes of Unleash the Archers, Nightwish, and Helloween.
It has been four years since Finnish Symphonic Power Metal band Sonata Arctica have graced our ears with Metal. They’d been on an acoustic tear for awhile, but are coming back with a “Power Metal laden album” in early 2024. I will have that review of the album ASAP, but for now here’s a promising new single to whet your appetite. Listen down below and let me know what you think in the comments!
Frontman Tony Kakko explains: “This is the first power metal song I wrote for the forthcoming album which is laden with them. Its demo title was ‘First In Line’ and I managed to stick with it. The song handles the worry about raising a new generation of people with or rather letting an electronic screen – namely tv, pad or some such – do a big part of raising this generation of human beings. We think that we buy ourselves time with these gadgets, but are these devices the right “nanny” for our kids or should we maybe slow down a bit, read books, teach that happiness can be and often is something we reach by stopping and letting go of constant stimulation of all our audiovisual senses? In ways, we are flying blindly with these things. Things are advancing too fast in many ways…”
I love this concept and totally reflect the sentiment of needing to slow down time in this modern world. I love this band and this song just cements everything I love about them.
My most anticipated release of the year has finally graced my inbox: Bleed Out by Dutch Modern Symphonic Metal band Within Temptation is here after four years since the trailblazing “Resist”, and it is here to ravage you audibly. Some background for those not familiar with Symphonic Metal or this band has somehow evaded their Youtube feeds: Within Temptation is a Dutch Symphonic Metal band with Gothic and Pagan themes forming in 1996 with couple Sharon Den Adel and Robert Westerholt. This band is a mainstay of the genre with repeated hit albums and bombastic melodic singles. They weave complex orchestrals with Operatic vocals and Pop hooks with staggering emotion and deep lyrics. WT has a song for everyone from classics like “Mother Earth”, “Faster”, “Angels”, and “Paradise (What About Us) featuring Tarja”. They’re one of the most successful Symphonic Metal bands of all time. They have several Platinum selling records and continue to sell out big arenas such as Wembley Stadium. This band has nothing to prove to anyone, but continue to shape shift and surprise. They are uncompromising. They are incomparable. “Bleed Out” is a perfect follow up to the modernization of “Resist”. Regardless of numerous lineup and sound changes, this band is a cornerstone of Modern Metal and I find it a travesty how often they are overlooked.
When I first heard the singles from “Bleed Out”, I was severely underwhelmed and disappointed with the recording quality. The guitars were incredibly muddy and over compressed. The singles had promise, but were overshadowed with modern overproduction, a common problem with Metal albums these days. But, upon first listen of the whole album in Ultra High Definition, I was immediately proven wrong and absolutely blown away. This album is insanely well mastered and balanced. While this is the lowest tuned album, it is the absolute heaviest and raw album this band has ever put out. It is very politically charged, which I am not necessarily a fan of, but it reflects the state of the world in a very dark way and it is something not a lot of bands will do. I disagree that politics should have a place in music and media in general, because politics are personal, but whatever fuels creativity can’t be all that bad as long as it is done tastefully and respectfully. I am vastly impressed with the blending of genres, “Djenty” guitar goodness while keeping beautiful and clear vocals, it is something I never expected to hear. And ultimately, the genre bending works very well for them. While it is far from being my favorite album from them, it has some fantastic moments. “Don’t Pray For Me” is just a fantastically well written track with interesting layers of vocals and booming guitars. The slow buildup of vocal power is brilliant. The title track is one of my favorite songs of the year and dumbfounded me with how heavy it is. I never would’ve guessed Within Temptation would go this heavy. It is a new sound for them, as if Resist was taken to the absolute extreme and found Progressive Metalcore. They pull off this sound and sometimes simplistic song structure, because Sharon Den Adel’s vocals continue to dominate 90% of anything else that is out there and in any genre. You simply cannot find a more well-rounded versatile vocalist that can make anything sound special. “Bleed Out” is absolutely worth a listen, because while it is short, it’ll definitely stick in your head for weeks after.
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!
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!
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.
There is so much amazing Metal out this week, it might’ve been hard to keep up. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered with a comprehensive list of new Metal you should probably check out.
Eluveitie is back and with a deep searing passion that needs to be heard. With first single, Aidus, I felt like I was witnessing music history. This new single is no different. It’s aggressive, punchy, multi layered, and intense!
Lorna Shore
Lorna Shore’s highly anticipated full length album is out, and it is setting the Metal community ablaze. It is immensely dark, depressing, and incredibly deep. Who knew Deathcore could be so emotional? Lorna Shore is in a league of their own, and this new record is a testament to that. Pain Remains is out today and here is the bombastic new single to celebrate it. Full review is coming soon.
Epica
Epica’s new collaboration album is a new frontier for the band, and is proving to be just as brilliant as traditional albums. This single lights it up with Symphonic Death Metallers Fleshgod Apocalypse. This song sounds as monolithic as you would expect, The blast beats are superb as well as crystal clear vocals from Simone atop a massive choir. It is a must hear track of the week.
Amaranthe
Swedish Melodic Metal/Synth Pop band Amaranthe are on a new war path this year. I don’t have a lot of details on the new record yet, but I know it’ll be quite different without the presence of the incredible growler Henrik Englund. They said they’re not working on a new album yet, but they’re in the studio? I’m immensely confused by what’s happening with Amaranthe, and unfortunately the new single doesn’t help at all. I love this band and always will, but this is one of the most disappointing singles I’ve heard in a long time. It’s worth a listen to form your own opinion, but I just didn’t feel this one at all.
Borealis
If you like sad boi music and deep soulful tones, Borealis might be what you need in your life right now. These guys came out of nowhere for me and completely shocked me. This is some of the most emotional music I’ve heard in awhile, but also with great musicianship.
Beyond The Black
German Melodic Heavy Metal band BtB are coming back after the bombastic release “Horizons”, with a toned down self titled album with a recurring theme. The new record has themes signaling influences from fandoms like Game of Thrones and Star Wars. I’m anticipating an album of epic nerdom and deeply melodious music.
Ad Infinitum
Symphonic Power Metal Swisses are coming back in 2022 with a new but familiar sound after hit record Monarchy Chapter II. They’re bringing on chapter III with more Metal, more growls, more beats, and more solos. This single took awhile for me to warm up to, because it’s more sing-song and Poppy than I expected, but I grew to love it.
What new music are you listening to? Let me know below!
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!
August has been a fortuitous month for Metal music. There are so many clips coming from Metal festivals in Europe that keep us Americans daydreaming about Wacken and Hellfest. Here are some of the best new videos out now.
Infected Rain “Fighter” at Wacken
This is a fantastic showing of just how good IF is live.
Epica “Illusive Consensus”
Epica is celebrating its 20th Anniversary in September. They have remastered their very first DVD which was created as a promo for Epica. This is truly a monumental in-studio performance. It is one of the most special sets I have ever watched. They are also celebrating the special occasion with a live stream on this Saturday. You can buy tickets and merch for this special stream at epicastream.com
Soen “Trials” Performance
Soen is an emotive mix of Doom, Progressive, and Orchestra that captivates upon listening. This video comes from their tenth anniversary DVD and includes an orchestra. I’m most interested to see their reimagined version of Slipknot’s “Snuff”. You can preorder the Dvd here https://lnk.to/SoenATLANTIS
The 2022 Return of Queensryche
Queensryche is a classic Progressive Metal band from Bellevue, Washington. The legends seem to evolve in every era, and this track is the height of modern Queensryche. I hated that Geoff Tate left, but this new sound contains everything I loved about the original band. Todd La Torre is everything we could’ve hoped for and has become a quintessential addition to the band. This guy has one of the best voices I’ve ever heard. Digital Noise Alliance is out October 7th
“Pale Tortured Blue” by Draconian at Hellfest 2022
This video is sadly the last performance of Heike Langhans with Draconian, making way for Lisa Johansson to make a surprising return to the band. This is an absolutely classic track for Draconian, being the perfect send-off for one of the most beloved replacement vocalists in Metal history.
While I’m not a fan of this new direction so far, Architects seem to keep evolving and changing their sound and not settling in one genre. It’s sounding much less epic and heavy than the previous album “For Those Who Wish To Exist”. But, I honestly don’t expect a redux of that album. That album is so monumentally good, it’s one that there can’t be a sequel.
“King of Nothing” Threshold
One of my favorite British bands of all time is coming back in 2022. It’s weird not to hear the great Damian Wilson leading the gorgeous vocals. But, Glynn Morgan returning has breathed new life into the band and huge sounds. His range is delectable as well as his guitar playing. I can’t wait to hear what they do with this record. It’s sounding heavy and even more Progressive than past releases. You can pre-order the new album and save it here https://bfan.link/dividing-lines.yde
“Pazuzu” Therion
The original Symphonic Metallers are back with catchy Pazuzu off of Leviathan II out October 28th. This album features the epic Israeli choral group Hellscore led by Noa Gruman of Progressive Metal band Scardust. Therion always stacks the deck, putting the most they can into every release. I am not a huge fan, but I actually really enjoyed this song.
Is There Anybody Out There? Beyond the Black
German Hard Rock band Beyond the Black always brings a powerful and catchy chorus with some absolutely sick riffs. This song is completely different from the other single, Reincarnation, and even more different than the previous album “Horizons”.
“Shadowminds” by The Halo Effect at Wacken
The Melodeth Supergroup has a legendary debut at Wacken, helping celebrate the might festival’s 31st Anniversary. This is their debut single live. The mix leaves little to be desired, but it’s always a pleasure watching Mikael Stanne perform.
What are you currently listening to? Let me know below!
Metal Valkyrie 