BAD TASTE! LOUD RIFFS! TOO MUCH CUM!
Avantasia
A sprawling, theatrical odyssey, *Here Be Dragons* offers moments of genuine grandeur but ultimately feels like a retread of well-worn fantasy tropes.
The HU
A valiant, if somewhat predictable, second act for Mongolian folk metal titans The HU.
At The Gates
The Gothenburg titans return, but 'The Ghost of a Future Dead' feels like a spectral echo of their former glory.
Mortem
Mortem’s return is a murky affair, steeped in atmosphere but lacking the visceral punch of their prime.
Marco Garau's Magic Opera
A soaring, bombastic journey through Italian power metal, 'The Final Flight' delivers a thrilling experience with moments of genuine brilliance.
Into Darkness
A patient, cosmic death-doom voyage that turns planetary distance into crushing atmosphere and disciplined tension.
Moonspell
Moonspell sharpen gothic grandeur into a focused, memorable record whose strongest songs balance menace, melody and dramatic restraint.
Psycroptic
Psycroptic remain technically formidable, but this compact set is strongest when precision creates momentum instead of merely displaying control.
Sinsid
Sinsid deliver traditional heavy metal with sturdy hooks and clear conviction, even when the songwriting leans heavily on inherited forms.
Armored Saint
Emotion Factory Reset offers sturdy heavy-metal craft and strong vocal character, but too few songs create lasting urgency.
Motionless In White
Decades balances gothic spectacle and polished metalcore with strong hooks, uneven pacing and occasional emotional weight.
AS IT IS
A polished pop-punk album weighed down by predictable pacing, soft-edged production and too many interchangeable hooks.