#21 - Top of 2018

Iron Void - Excalibur (Independent)

"Excalibur" is the amazing third full-length concept album by British heavy-doom metal band Iron Void.  First formed back in 1998, they initially disbanded in 2000 but did reform in 2008, before releasing their debut album in 2014. The trio (with Jonathan "Sealey" Seale in vocals/bass, Steve Wilson in guitars/vocals and Richard Maw in drums) explore the tale of Camelot, Merlin and the Knights of the Round Table, starting off with Merlin's incantation of the Charm of Making leading to Excalibur's creation in the first track "Dragon's Breath", pompously repeated by Simon Strange (of The Lamp of Thoth & Arkham Witch). "The Coming of a King" retells the story of Arthur and has one the best guitar/bass riffing combinations of the album while "Lancelot of the Lake" is a heavy metal song with more quick-paced but equally melodic NWOBHM riffs. "Forbidden Love" evokes classic doom metal vibes before speeding up to a quicker guitar solo and finally going back to a slow paced ending. Another song that is definitely a highlight of "Excalibur", is "Enemy Within" with an amazing catchy chorus! The story continues with "The Grail Quest", with its heavy tone matching the lyrical theme and its expected unhappy ending that leads straight into "A Dream to Some, a Nightmare to Others" which recounts the death of Merlin and its effect on the theme of the legend (accompanied with some epic and heavy riffs and vocals). The story gets its epic ending with "The Death of Arthur" (in all its glorious 7 minutes) kicking off with drumming and accoustic guitars before adding heavy doom riffs, all the while recounting the demise of the King and finally closing the tale with the melodic acoustic "Avalon" appropriately slowing the pace for the end of the record as well as the story of Excalibur and Arthur.


94.1/100

Below are the audio tracks of the whole album. If you enjoy it, please consider supporting the band in their Bandcamp page

#22 - Top of 2018

Old Wolf - Faustian Mass (Divebomb Records)

In number 22, we have the honour of introducing Old Wolf, a brand new heavy metal band from Kentucky that released their debut album in 2018. "Faustian Mass" is definitely an astonishing debut  incorporating epic heavy riffs throughout the album, starting with the appropriate scary narration over a thunderstorm in  the"Beyond the Void" intro. After setting the mood, no time is lost with the quick-paced "Executioner's Hymn" which also packs a sing-along chorus and the essential guitar solo interlude in less than 5 minutes! "Divine Heretic" has some more great guitar riffs by Jacob Wilson (lead guitar), while guitarist/drummer Jason Norfleet delivers some great drum beats. The band's skills in melodic paths are further showcased in "Trail of Tears", while the title-song "Faustian Mass" is without a question the highlight of the record with an amazing blend of epic heavy metal guitars and drums that fit perfectly with Ric Langford's appropriately rough vocals.  Follow-up "The Wisdom of the Black Flame" is a more straightforward heavy metal track while "Your Keeper" leans towards a more doom-based approach. The album takes a breather with the acoustic track "Gail" before closing with the heavily drum-based "Howl".
Overall, an awesome heavy metal album from an upcoming band with promising ideas and great heavy metal riffs!


94/100

Below is the music video for "Faustian Mass".

#23 - Top of 2018

Initial Mass - Tidal Force (Initial Mass Records)

Initial Mass is a US based prog rock band,  releasing in 2018 their second full-length album "Tidal Force". The album kicks off with the lyrically engaging "Lights", sporting a very melodic chorus and amazing riffs."The Fountain" brings heavier and darker undertones along with more orchestral vocals that succeed in adding more layers to the song (being one of the most memorable moments of the album). "When It Rains" shows a more mellow side of the band, with a great slow-paced middle-section without missing out on metal sweetness! "Cold Air", a personal favourite, has an awesome intro, heavily based on the lead vocalist's (Mark Baldwin) skills reaching into a catchy chorus that is bound to stick to your mind. "The Shallows" adds a darker tone both lyrically and musically creating a more atmospheric vibe thanks to great keyboards layers. "Beyond the Shore" is an amazing change of pace showcasing again the lead vocalist with minimal music. "The Vessel" is one of those songs that are perfect to listen during a long drive taking you on a journey of its own. "Tidal Force", a behemoth of a title song (reaching slightly over 14 minutes)  starts with the sound of the waves reaching the shore with a great atmosphere developing over a blend of accoustic guitar riffs, great drum tunes and clear vocals! "The Flood" is packed with mellow vocals starting off slowing and building up to a heavilly drum-based ending (by Kevin Robertson) leading to the finale of the more keyboard oriented "Past Remains". An intriguing release from a very fresh band!

93.95/100

Below is the official music video for "Lights".

#24 - Top of 2018

Seventh Wonder - Tiara (Frontiers)

Seventh Wonder were among the best prog metal hopes of the late 2000s, with their latest album "The Great Escape" receiving rave reviews from progsters and metal-heads alike.  Between then and now, the band's singer Tommy Karevik joined power/sympho metallers Kamelot, inescapably putting the future of Seventh Wonder in question. However, the band return last year after 9 years of silence with Tiara. Here, the band continues to  blend their brand of melodic prog sound with more AOR-friendly passages and power metal pinches, creating a worthy successor to "The Great Escape", which while not on equal footing, is still an excellent record for power/prog fans. Highlights of the album include "Dream Machines", "Exhale" and beautiful "Against the Grain". This record truly caught everyone by surprise showing that the band is still alive and kicking! Now all we can do is await their return to guide us to new power-prog adventures!



93.8/100


Below is the music video for "Tiara's Song"

#25 - Top of 2018

Primordial - Exile Amongst the Ruins (Metal Blade)

The sombre sounds of these proud Irishmen echo once more as if hearing the steps of a Republican dissident heading to the gallows. In their 9th full length, the band continues in the same vein of all their previous releases since 2005's "The Gathering Wilderness". To those unfamiliar with the band, they play a blend of doom/black with mostly clean vocals, incorporating folk and post influences. In "Exile among the ruins", there is a certain tendency to re-approach their black metal legacy, with opener "Nail their Tongues" referencing the Lutheran Reformation, while followup "To Hell or the Hangman" has a more folk/punk aesthetic to it.  The rest of the album balances between an energetic revolutionary release and a solemn acceptance of the dark age we find ourselves in, while packing gigantic riffing and of course the -as always- exceptional vocal performance of   Nemtheanga.  Single "Stolen Years" deserves an extra notion, with a more approachable simpler tune, Nemtheanga's vocals almost unrecognisable, sounding as a bonus song from a Lake of Tears album in the late 90s. Overall, this work is as excellent as its 2 predecessors in this decade, and while not re-inventing the wheel, there are hints in it indicating that the next album from the band might be a very different one!

93.7/100

Below are the music videos for the titular track and "To Hell or the Hangman"

#26 - Top of 2018

Refuge - Solitary Men (Frontiers Records)

Rage have always been a household name in European power/heavy metal circles, powered by the uber-manly vocals of Peter "Peavy" Wagner. Refuge are essentially a reunion of the classic 88-93 lineup of the band, whose magnum opus "The Missing Link" included of the most beloved songs of the band, such as "Firestorm" & "Refuge". This reunited line-up of  Peavy (bass/vocals)with Chris Efthimiadis (Drums) and Manni Schmidt (guitars), revives the craftsmanship of the old days of the band,  that some of the contemporary releases of Rage seem to eschew in favour of a more modern sound. Some real gems of the record include , but are not limited to the power anthem "The Man in the Ivory Tower",  the creeping power of catchy Savantage-esque "Living on the Edge of Time", the straightforward power of "We Owe A Life to Death" and the defiant closer "Hell Freeze Over".  This is one of the best releases of Peavy this side of 2010 and definitely a fitting (parallel?) continuation to the legacy of Rage!





93.5/100

Below is the music video for "The Man In the Ivory Tower"

#27 - Top of 2018

The Ocean - Phanerozoic I: Palaeozoic (Metal Blade Records)

After a five year break, following the release of "Pelagial" and having changed their rhythm section with newcomers Paul Seidel (Drums) and Mattias Hagerstrand (Bass), the German collective strike back with a concept album exploring the Phanerozoic geological eon and more specifically its Paleozoic period (between 500 and 250 million years ago). Every song title references the periods in chronological order as they occurred within that framework. The first two tracks reference the Cambrian Era and stylistically are the Post/Prog hybrid that The Ocean have championed throughout their career. Piano samples are central to the melody, expanding into soft and harsh vocal lines as well as post soundscapes that establish the mood of the album. The next song "Ordovicium", which references the next era of the Palaeozoic period, has a more post-hardcore feeling compared with its predecessor, with lyrics mixing personal feelings with the geological occurrences within that era.  "Silurian" is a more prog oriented piece, with fusion elements mixed in for good measure. "Devonian", features guest vocals by Jonas Renkse (Katatonia), and Cello melodic lines prominently within a more doom-oriented and claustrophobic tune . The final duo of songs refer to the "Permian" era, with tunes reverberating the influence of Dillinger Escape Plan blended within a post soundscape.
As with all albums of the band, this is not a straightforward release but a thought experiment that needs to be listened to multiple times before accepting it as a masterpiece in its entirety.


93.2/100


Below you can watch the music video for "Cambrian II: Eternal Recurrence"

#28 - Top of 2018

All traps On Earth - A drop of Light (AMS)

All traps on Earth are, in essence, the spiritual continuation of the  prog rock giants Änglagård. The band was created and is led by Johan Brand (bass), while also including Änglagård members Thomas Johnson (keyboards) and Erik Hammarstrom (drums). All traps On Earth lineup is completed by Johan's daughter Miranda on vocal melodies. The occasional prog listener should be aware that this is not a record for the faint of heart, it is a true successor to Änglagård, where King Crimson, jazzy interludes and mostly instrumental music, with the voice of Miranda acting purely as another instrument in the prog/jazz elegy. Thus, while it is surely not an album for everyone, every single prog purist will find true joy in its twists and turns.
The album is essentially composed of four prog rock suites & a short interlude. It begins with the first suite "All Traps on Earth", a prog journey through jazzy roads, Operatic howls, mellotron echoes and in your face bass-lines. The following composition, "Magmatic Warning" starts by grabbing you by the horns, before becoming quiet, shifting into a jazzy mood and then keeps ebbing and flowing throughout, emulating the signs of volcanic eruption while also paying a small tribute to the great french band Magma. Highlights of the track are the impressive use of wind instrumentation in key moments of the composition, setting the tone of the piece. "Omen" is the most Änglagård song of the album, while at the same time being the pinnacle of the record. Whereas in the previous 2 suites there was experimentation in other styles, here there is a more melodic prog rock vibe that is very much in line with what Änglagård did in the seminal "Viljans Öga", with the vocal colours of Miranda providing an excellent antithesis to the quick paced prog melodies displayed throughout.  "Bortglömda Gårdar" starts with a male voice singing in Swedish accompanied with harpsichord, introducing the theme of the piece, where  vocal led passages are intertwined with instrumentally-led ones. The piece ends with a jazz frenzy directly leading to a stunning synth solo which also eventually subsides, as a more ethereal piano-led melody takes the composition and the album to its triumphant end. 


93.15/100

Below is the audio for "Omen".

#29 - Top of 2018

Haken - Vector (InsideOut)

Over the last decade, Haken have been able to establish themselves among the leaders of the contemporary prog scene. Their 2011 & 2013 albums "Visions" and "The Mountain" constitute undoubtedly some of the best prog rock moments of this decade. However, many fans criticised their 2016 output "Affinity" and the band seemed to be suffering from fatigue at that point. Nevertheless, "Vector" is a certain return to form from the band, easily standing on equal footing to their greatest moments and showing that the band still has what it takes. Songs such as the frantic & erratic "Puzzle Box" and the musically enchanting "Veil" show beyond any shadow of doubt that the band still's "got it". The album is quite short (~45 minutes), but makes up in quality what it lacks in quantity, with the new electronic elements introduced in Affinity more seamlessly blended to the sound of the band. Another excellent record that shows that despite bumps in the road, the band was able to get it together and continue on their prog journey with us tagging along to an amazing ride.

For more Haken, you can check out the review of their best album yet here.

93.1/100

Below is the music video for "A Cell Divides"

#30 - Top of 2018

The Sea Within - The Sea Within (InsideOut)

The Sea Within is the debut album of an international progressive rock super-project consisting of an all-star team including vocalist/ guitarist Roine Stolt (Flower Kings, Kaipa, Transantlantic), bassist Jonas Reingold (Flower Kings, Kaipa),singer/guitarist Daniel Gildenlöw (Pain of Salvation), drummer Marco Minnemann (The Mute Gods) and keyboardist Tom Brislin (Meat Loaf/Spiralling).  Daniel has collaborated with the Flower Kings crew a couple of times in the past, with contributions to 2000's "Untold Future" and "Adam & Eve", as well as worked with Stolt within the context of Transatlantic live performances.  For Brislin and Minnemann, this is the first collaboration with the Swedish power trio. The project was written collectively by the band and crosses over to many aspects of contemporary prog rock music, with tracks such as the opener "Ashes of Dawn" having a more metal edge, while others such as "They know my name" lean on the art rock spectrum of things. Overall a fantastic accomplishment (especially given that it was written in a short period of time), that while may not be the crowning achievement of any of the gentlemen in it, is still a breathtaking piece of prog rock music.

93/100

Below is the music video for "Ashes of Dawn".