BLACK MAJESTY - In Your Honour

This is the new album of the band from Australia, and for sure it's gonna be a blast for the fans. This is their fourth album, and in a way, their best so far. Playing Melodic Power Metal and enriching it with touches of Progressive here and there, this album is an instant hit. The music is catchy, and makes you want to move your head along with the rhythm. Very good guitar lines, harsh and well worked vocals, and memorable parts to sing along, are the characteristics of their latest release. The majority of the songs are very good, with nice ideas which the band explores to the best possible way. Slightly heavier than their previous works, this one still has what it takes to be considered as Melodic Metal, but being a bit more complex than before, needs some extra effort to explore their music. The production is very good, and was done by Ronald Grapow at his studios. Black Majesty once again have released an album that will please both new and old fans. It's fast, Heavy, Melodic, catchy, and well worked. What more a fan could ask?

9/10

SPELLBLAST - Battlecry

This is the second release of the Italian band, following the 2007 release of their debut "Horns Of Silence". The band is playing Power Metal, although they don't follow some of the trademarks one could think they would. What makes them different is the use of more traditional instruments, such as accordion or violins, which gives a more folk touch to their music. If you count this, the Epic atmosphere of the music, and the concept that is based on the Norse mythology, you get the whole picture. Plus, the guest appearance of Fabio Lione, is also a big plus to the already good vocals, and gives some extra good points to the result. The songs are very good, some closer to Epic and folk, and others closer to the classic Power Metal forms, with enough keyboard lines, and great guitar melodies. The production is good enough, and was done from the band themselves. In conclusion, the album is good enough, having some basic Power Metal forms, and leaving room for the band to explore their music as much as possible. The use of the instruments mentioned above, only makes things better, and enriches the Epic atmosphere the band wants to achieve. So, if you are a fan or well played music, then check them out.

8/10

IRON MAIDEN - The best of IMTV

IMTV takes on the road with Iron Maiden! We look back at the highlights of the Somewhere Back In Time Tour...

Jorn - Song For Ronnie James (Official video)

Taken from the album "Dio". Out on July the 2nd 2010

THIS OR THE APOCALYPSE - New track and album artwork

THIS OR THE APOCALYPSE have revealed the track "Charmer" taken from their upcoming album "Haunt What's Left" to be released on July 5th in Europe (June 22nd in the U.S. through Goodfight Music).

Checkout "Charmer" on the band's Myspace profile:
www.myspace.com/thisortheapocalypse

EXODUS - Exhibit B: The Human Condition

It's really hard not to shiver with anticipation when new releases from bands that remind you of your youth reach the surface. Exodus has always been a big chapter in Thrash scene, although they had their ups and downs, and followed the decline of the genre in the early 90's. But always a favorite in the hearts of each and everyone Thrash Metal fan, when they emerged again, they got an instant recognition, like no time has passed. Exhibit B is a pure Thrash Metal album, and although there are only two founding members, this album is 100% Exodus. It's fast and has excellent guitars, vocals that kill, a perfect rhythm section, and surprisingly, enough melodies here and there, to make things even more spicy. What's more interesting is the band experimenting with a slower, relatively speaking, song, with oriental melodies, slightly reminding the  Seasons In The Abyss style. There's not a weak point here, nor a thing that can make you think of pushing the forward button. Everything is well worked, and the same goes for the production as well, which was done by Andy Sneap. What's more impressive is that, after 28 years of existence, and 10 albums, the band continues to surprise fans, and deliver exactly what promises. After all, as with any good Thrash album, your neck will be the ultimate proof.

10/10    

ENFORCER OFFERS FREE DOWNLOAD FROM “DIAMONDS”

Diamonds, the sophomore album from Swedish metal powerhouse ENFORCER will be released in Europe by Earache Records on May 24th and the rest of the world on Heavy Artillery Records on May 25th. HEAVY ARTILLERY is offering a free MP3 download of the track “Roll the Dice” from the ENFORCER Last FM page at:


http://www.last.fm/music/Enforcer

Additionally, Diamonds can be streamed in it’s entirety from the label’s web store at http://store.heavyartillery.us The album will be available on CD as well as a limited edition of 500 Picture Disc LPs in a die-cut jacket with a bonus eight page 12” booklet.

Diamonds picks up where its’ predecessor left off; with a pure old school heavy metal album.

PRO-PAIN - Absolute Power

I was always fond of Pro-Pain, considering that energy and power were the characteristics of their sound. So, given the usual style of the band, and an album with such a title, was enough to intrigue me. Featuring a new guitarist, and a new drummer, and considering that I haven't heard their last work, this album seems to find the band in the same top shape as ever. Performing their well known mixture of Thrash and Hardcore, a style groovy and aggressive enough, the band returns with an album that justifies it's title. The songs are heavy enough, the guitar riffs are melodic and edgy, the rhythm section sounds like a heavy machine, and the vocals are simply perfect. Like all Pro-Pain albums, the songs are very catchy, and have a very sticky groove that makes you bang your head with the rhythm. On the other hand, I found welcome some semi-brutal vocals here and there, and some blastbeating moments, which add some more heaviness, and make things even more interesting. The production is very good, as heavy as it should be, and clear enough, and was done by V.O. Pulver, than the band themselves. There's also a guest appearance from Schmier, but also from other artists as well. This album is a must have for a Pro-Pain fan, but also a guarantee for numerous headbanging hours.

10/10