#30 - Top of 2019

Bloodbound - Rise of the Dragon Empire (AFM Records)

Just as we reach the top 30, we find the Swedish power-metallers, Bloodbound, with their 8th full length album, a worthy follow-up to their 2017 release, War of Dragons. Kicking off with the uplifting and melodic "Rise of the Dragon Empire" which sets the tone of epic storytelling about dragon battles, the album promises an amazing journey with catchy tunes and interesting choruses with songs like "Slayer of Kings" begging for a sing-along! Although Patrick J Selleby's vocals are distinctive and powerful, what elevates the songs is definitely the way his vocals are blended with manly sing-along choruses adding a more imposing element to the songs. The record is quite diverse changing pacing between quick-paced Sabaton-like tunes such as "Giants of Heaven" to the Hammerfall-like "A Blessing in Sorcery" and Edguy/Avantasia-reminiscent tunes as heard in "Skyriders and Stormbringer", never failing to amaze and always delivering awesome melodies and fantastic lyrical tales. Just in case you had any doubts about them being influenced by George RR Martin's Song of Ice and Fire, you can check out "Blackwater Bay" and "Balerion" which are direct references to RRR Martin's Westeros mythos. It sounds like Bloodbound have found the secret recipe in successfully mixing all the awesome cheesy elements of power metal with tales about dragonwars!


93.7/100

Below is the music video for the song "Rise of the Dragon Empire".

#31 - Top of 2019

Gloryhammer - Legends from Beyond the Galactic Terrorvortex (Napalm Records)

Gloryhammer are back from the legendary plains of Scotland with their third full length album, a worthy continuation of their chaotic intergalactic saga (for the previous chapter see their Top 2015 entry). Between the catchy choruses of "The Siege of Dunkeld (In Hoots We Trust)", the imposing Rhapsody-like "The Land of Unicorns" and the keyboard-based "Power of the Laser Dragon Fire" reminiscent of Stratovarius, Angus McFife XIII, Crown Prince of Fife acts as a narrator of epic tales comprising the fictional history of Scotland! Of course, the album is also packed with memorable tracks like "Gloryhammer"which describes the Heavy Metal Darklord Crasher wielding history of the band and the quick-paced tongue-twister "Hootsforce" describing the fight for Fife! The closing track, "The Fires of Ancient Cosmic Destiny" is by far the more theatrical and symphonic song of this album spanning over 12 minutes and blending electronic with orchestral elements while providing a fitting closure to the interdimensional struggles of the brave prince of Fife against  Zargothrax, leaving us to wonder where will the next chapter to this story find Angus McFife and Gloryhammer?

93.6/100

Below is the music video for the song "Hootsforce".

#32 - Top of 2019

Howling Sycamore - Seven Pathways to Annihilation (Prosthetic Records)

Howling Sycamore are in a way, an underground super group with members from Ephel Duath, Watchtower and Necrophagist joining forces back in 2018 in order to add their unique voice to the modern scene of extreme progressive music. With a heavy backlog on their backs - mainly Grossmann and McMaster - from their tenures at Necrophagist, Obscura  and Watchtower respectively but also with the valuable contribution of Davide Tiso from the Italian avant-garde band, Ephel Duath, the band released in quick succession two excellent albums, the self-titled debut in 2018 and their sophomore effort "Seven Paths to Annihilation" in 2019.
Here, the band impresses newcomers by combining extreme guitar and drum elements  with theatrical/over-the-top vocals by McMaster,  creating an "uncomfortable" and at the same time hauntingly beautiful atmosphere. Tiso, as the band's mastermind, develops the sound he started with Ephel Duath, softening several of the elements from Howling Sycamore's debut, which contributes to the better overall tightness of this record compared to its predecessor. There are no "radio hits" to be found here, as the album is quite "cerebral", requiring concentration from its audience to perceive the multi-layered compositions presented here. This is a labour of love from these musicians, attempting (and many times succeeding) at pushing the boundaries of prog music and showing how to intergrate new elements in it, keeping it  fresh and interesting for the challenges of the future!


93.5/100


Below is the official audio track for "Mastering Fire"

#33 - Top of 2019

Candlemass - The Door to Doom (Napalm Records)

Between disbanding back in 2012, regrouping and releasing 2 great EPs with singer Mats Leven, and finally reuniting with original singer Johan Längquist, a lot has happened to Candlemass between releasing the great "Psalms for the Dead" and the newest "The Door to Doom". News of reuniting with the voice behind the original versions of "Solitude" and "Under the Oak" brought a great amount of anticipation for a new record with the reunited line-up. So how does the Door of Doom fare against the back-log of the band? Overall the album is great. The band is in form and Leif is pounding the audience with riffs like there is no tomorrow. Tracks like "Astrolus", "Black Trinity" and "The House of Doom" are truly worthy of the Candlemass Hall of Fame and are sure to be valued additions in Doom Metal Playlists for years to come. Through this the bands succeeds in reaffirming their return and initialise potentially a new phase of their career (akin to 2007's "King of the Grey Islands").
 

93.4/100

Below is the music video for "Astorolus - The Great Octopus"