Sacramento symphonic power metal band Graveshadow emerged in 2014 with their debut, self-titled EP. Fast-forward to 2022, and we find Graveshadow releasing a new album – The Uncertain Hour – with a revamped lineup. Let’s take a peek at the new incarnation and tease out what changes and similarities are evident in the new music.

The album opens with “Soldier of 34” – a song that starts subtly then moves into strong riffing supported by furious drumming. The verses have alternations with one line in clean singing followed by another using harsh vocals in a call-and-response fashion. The chorus is a more mid-paced. It’s not a bad track, but personally one didn’t really do it for me.

Track two is “Gwynnbleidd,” the first song released featuring the band’s new line-up well over a year ago. The guitars have a nice sound to them on this song, and while the chorus is again a bit restrained for my taste, overall the song is well-executed. New singer Rachl ‘Raxx’ Quinn sounds strong and capable here as she does throughout the album – she’s more than a capable replacement who brings her own style while still delivering the classic Graveshadow sound.

You get even more of a feel for new vocalist Quinn’s vocal approach and prowess on the next one - “Sea of Apparitions.” This is a nice, rollicking track – uptempo, strong and bouncey. There’s some great riffs hidden in there. And I really like the pre-chorus section that builds the song’s energy into the crescendous chorus. An excellent track.

“The Swordsman” – which is also one of the pre-release singles from the album – has a pleasant, cohesive feel. The vocal melody doesn’t always quite do it for me on this one, but the instrument-work and overall composition more than make up for that. This one also features a guest harsh vocal assist by Chelesea Murphy of Prosthetic Record’s Dawn of Ouroboros.

Back to the tracks: “Vengeance of Envy” is an energetic, mid-paced rocker with an amazing chorus.  Quinn’s voice really shines here, successfully selling out on her high notes and melding perfectly with the guitars. This one gives me mid-80s era Judas Priest vibes. The next song, “A Beautiful End,” really harkens back to the older Graveshadow sound in its riffing and pacing, so much so I wonder if Walker and Robitsch developed it from ideas unused from a previous album. Regardless, it evokes some nostalgia for me. The kitwork of new drummer ‘bones’ really pulls this track together.

Working through the later tracks: “The Betrayer” has some nice flourishes, including letting the keys show themselves at a bit higher level in the mix. It’s another solid rocker. “Shadow Battles” is another song that for me evokes memories of previous Graveshadow songs. In fact, this track would have been right at home on their debut record. I really like the ability here for the guitars to create some brief fits of sonic frenzy while still keeping a consistent melody rolling.

Perhaps the biggest surprise on the album is the pentultimate track “The Two Lived,” which has a very different feel to it, albeit still recognizably Graveshadow. It’s a bit slower tempo, and the clean singing plays more of a support role to the growls which do most of the heavy lifting. There are hints of Insomnium on this one. A nice change of pace and approach; I hope they do more of this in the future.

The finale is “Damsel’s Finesse,” which at seven minutes is the longest track on the album and one of my favorites. The keys are fresh and visible, the guitars crisp in their attack, and the singing colorful. I really, really love the vocal melody on the verses and the build-up to the glorious chorus. An absolute gem of a song and one I’d love to hear the band play live!

Given their significant lineup changes, I’m impressed and happy that The Uncertain Hour has retained so much of the magic that makes Graveshadow one of my favorite bands. This album met my own high expectations, and so I can only recommend it highly to others.

The Great Metal Debate

Album Review - The Uncertain Hour (Graveshadow)

Malström

Alfa Omega

Alfa Omega(single)

Heretic Shadows is a melodic death metal song that has been in the works for a few years now. It has finally come together thanks to the collaborative effort of some amazingly talented musicians and artists.

Heretic Shadows

Beauty and femininity are great power💚
Power that lives in every look, voice, touch
Beauty bewitches, fascinates and protests.
She can drive you crazy⛓🔮
True beauty can be meaningful or fatal.
So should we wish for it to be eternal?

Nymphs' Song

Nymphs` song

Today we have another glorious album review talking about the new release from German power metal group Victorius. Between the absolutely stellar lead singer David Bassin and their lead guitarist Dirk Scharsich, this band will keep you from skipping a single track on this record.
Without further ado, let's talk pick this album apart track by track. As expected with 99% of all metal albums, there's an intro track called "Saurus Invictus Lazerus". This intro includes the sounds of: metallic blades clanging, laser guns, wooly mammoths, robotic hydraulics and snarling dinosaurs followed by a bombastic musical score. That pretty much sums up what you're in for when the first song begins.

'Dinos arise, stand up and fight!' is the first thing you hear in the song "Victorious Dinogods". If that immediately doesn't get you excited for the impending nerdgasm, you're probably not ready for the epic opening guitar solo. Those of you still with me, let us march on with this battle hymn of a sound track. If this song doesn't make you feel like you're listening to the theme song of a Saturday cartoon, then you might have missed out during childhood.

The next song was the 2nd single that dropped prior to the album's release. The song is titled "Mighty Magic Mammoth" and its every bit as triumphant as it sounds. In fact, there is a lyric in the song that says "triumphant elephant lead us to the promise land". When I heard this song for the first time I found myself singing along before it was over due to the catchy-ness. The winding guitar riff will stay in your brain for a few days. The next track is hilariously titled "Jurassic Jetfighters". If you're not imagining a transformer from the 90s TV show Beast Wars, you might just lack the ability to vibe with this style of power metal. The song is literally about robot pterodactyls that shoot laser beams and it's FANTASTIC!!!

The next song is yet another catchy earworm and was the first single put out for this album. It's called "Dinos and Dragons". You know, I could be wrong; but I'm almost certain that any of the guys in the band could whoop my ass in a Yu-Gi-Oh duel or a game of Magic The Gathering. "Dinos and Dragons" is yet another slapper that will have you singing along and saying "whoa-oh" after each chores.

"Katana Kingdom Rising" focuses more on the perspective of the ninjas in the war against the Powersaurs. The guitar riff in this one is much more galloping and will entice the listener to bob their heads for the entire duration. "God of Roar" is an obvious parody but still an enjoyable listen, especially with the face melting solo. It's one of the shorter and more repetitious songs which creates a good balance.

The 3rd single for this album is the next track called "Night of the Nuclear Ninja" which had a lyrical video. "Triceps Ceratops" is a comically written song with some funny and completely rediculous lyrics. It's about the strong and powerful tricep muscles on a triceratops that are capable of "running faster and faster until you reach the speed of light".

"Tyrannosaurus Steel." Imagine if the monster card called 'Cyber Dinosaur' were to come to life and some how begin flying through outer space. This album is every geek's wet dream and is an all around nerdgasm. Onto the topic of ninjas, "Shadow of the Shinobi" is another brief cutaway from the Powersaurs but is still a kick ass song nonetheless. This glorious album concludes with "Powerzord". Its the only song that seems to describe a humanoid robot that is colossal in size. Its so cool how every song has its catchy choruses.

Dinosaur Warfare pt. 2 is definitely my new favorite Victorius album and is also one of my top favorite albums of the year! So I'm going to give this one a well deserved 9.8 out of 10!

Album Review - Dinosaur Warfare Part II (Victorius)

Legion (2018)

The SCP foundation meets The Shape of Water. Be confused as Andri presents to you a love song about a creepypasta creature from the darker part of the internet. This song is part of the Synthwave x Power Metal EP that doesn't have a name yet, where we bring you for a joyride before throwing you back into the dark depths of despair.

SCP - 173

Tears of Everything and Nothing

Everylasting Cycle

Melodic Metal instrumental created and performed by Goth Daddy

A Journey

Let us frolic in the meadows of trepidation,
While the sun smiles a scorching smile,
Upon our last parade.

Bright Meadow Of Our Undoing

This song was tracked in february 2022.

Guitar: A generic single coil telecaster tuned to drop C
Bass: A cheap Ibanez gio.
Keyboard: Arturia Keystep 32
Drums: EzDrummer2
DAW: Cubase 11 Elements
Mixed and mastered by me


Enjoy!

Man of the Sand Realm

Paul New Project song needs Vocals. Mix 1

Remixed by Vikram Shankar (Black Bear Audio, Asheville NC).

Used with permission by Elm Street and URM Academy. The original production and mix were done by Ermin Hamidovic. This new mix is an unofficial version and not on the actual release.”

Band URL: www.facebook.com/metalelmstreet/

Mix Practice

Elm Street - Kiss The Canvas - Unofficial Mix/Master (Melodic/Extreme Metal)

Timelapse (Modern Day Babylon Melody Bass Cover)

Dancecore Macabre

Wait Test Mix

The official EXILE OF HEAVEN brand new Single "No Anchor Strong Enough" (2022)

No Anchor Strong Enough

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9WPc9lCPSA

The Touch of Withered Petals

Orion 42 - The Touch of Withered Petals

Hey! My name is Vikram Shankar, and I'm a keyboardist, composer, and producer from Cleveland, Ohio.

Just a dude with a guitar and a laptop (basically).

Traditional Art✍🏻
Session Bassist - Guitarist🎸
🌊🍃🍂🍁🗻

Official "Exile of Heaven" Band Soundcloud Page.

Genre: Melodic Heavy Metal

Members:
Vocals, Rythm Guitars: Ilias Kytidis:
Drums and Percussion: Thanasis Pliatsios

Hometown: Kozani, Greece

Самостійний музика-починавець з україни

Podcast where Brian and Gomthog engage in a lively debate of heavy metal music as well as interviewing artists and talking to fans.  Occasional explicit language.

BIRMINGHAM BORN/PAUL MCCAMERON/P2TEN/GRUEL/CRAZY/A* GRADE MUSIC 2001/GUITAR SINCE 96/PROBABLY SLIGHTLY AUTISTIC/EVERYTHING FROM POST ROCK TO BRUTAL METAL/UK

Driving with conceptual poignancy and the heavy fuzz of distorted synths and hypnotic rhythms united – electronic rock’s Goth Daddy brings an edge of the deeply personal to contemporary sound-design. 

Eerily blending the Goth and Vampire qualities of timeless alternative production, singles like ‘Amnesia’ promise distinct vocals of short, alluring lines– the sort that pierce through the weight of the soundscape with a clear sense of humanity and longing. 

Aptly crafted for the insomniacs, the late-night contemplations that keep the mind wandering, Goth Daddy’s music brings heavy-metal tendencies together with the delicacy and escapism of electronica. 

The single ‘Death Without A Funeral’ makes for a fine introduction to the creative sound-play and experimental approach of the artist - a provocative, intriguing track, within which the Goth Daddy voice is unmistakable; a bold degree of identity stands tall in everything from lyric, to tone and arrangement. 

Stylishly combining the power of instrumental manipulation with the softness of thoughtful writing and raspy, tired yet expressive vocal outpourings, Goth Daddy’s music proves euphoric and compelling. 

From unpredictable structures to fragments of angst and mysterious production details, by way of equal parts spoken word and melody, Goth Daddy’s sound is consistently recognisable, yet always refreshing in subject and style. The music embraces its audience; the voice connects and screams out on behalf of uncertainty, anger, longing and isolation. 

The long-time guitarist come songwriter and producer Goth Daddy injects a welcomed level of purpose and character into the modern scene. With dark wave elements and often theatrical performances, intertwined amidst hip hop and alt-pop instances alike, the sound rings out as free from the confines of genre and industry expectation. 

An artist paving his own way, fusing work ethic with a defiant passion for the process – delivering music that fearlessly holds true to this intention.

Welcome to the mysterious world of wanderings and fantasy’s.
Metal band
Based in Kyiv

New tracks tagged #melodic metal