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LATEST UPDATE: 11-20-09
(latest ratings/reviews added!)



LATEST CD RATINGS, UPDATED 11-20-09:

Arcadia - Flight to the rainbow 3.5/5 (another exciting Japanese power metal CD for fans of the style; their 2nd CD, and it’s a bit better than the debut)
Blazing Dog - Metallic beast 3.5/5 (pounding and aggressive traditional metal debut from Brazil with good songs and fairly rough vocals) - KIT
Brainstorm - Memorial roots 4/5 Brainstorm Review - SEAN
Cage - Science of annihilation 4/5 (awesome 5th CD from this U.S. power metal band that continues to head in the right direction)
Chariot - Behind the wire 3.5/5 (near excellent Pure Steel Records re-issue of 2006 album for fans of Tysondog and Railway; their 3rd CD) - MICHAEL
Chemistry Room - Butterfly effect 4/5 Chemistry Room Review - SEAN
Dedication - The enemy within 4/5 (vastly improved 2nd CD of classy Swedish power metal a la Destynation, Dreamland, Dawn of Silence, etc.) - KIT
Destriers Gate - Hung, drawn, and quartered 3.5/5 Destriers Gate Review - JOHN
Echoes of Eternity - As shadows burn 3.5/5 (2nd CD from this female fronted progressive power metal band; contains many solid songs and a few extra-catchy highlights)
Echoterra - The law of one 2/5 (symphonic metal debut with the vocalist of Dying Daylight and members of Pyramaze/Avian; has an annoying and inexcusable production)
Ethos - s/t 3.5/5 (Spanish/English-language metal debut brimming with youthful enthusiasm and combining traditional, power and thrash, with some modern bits) - KIT
Firestorm - Web of deceit 4/5 (terrific Italian progressive power metal debut like Wonderland, Concept, Helreid, Labyrinth, Night Cloud and Vision Divine; love it!)
Fortaleza - Una luz entre las sombras 4/5 Fortaleza Review
Gaskin - Stand or fall 3/5 (decent NWOBHM with some modern aspects and a new line-up; re-issued through Pure Steel Records) - MICHAEL
Hazy Hamlet - Forging metal 3.5/5 Hazy Hamlet Review - KIT
Holyhell - s/t 3.5/5 (very good female fronted power metal debut that’s lightly symphonic and contains enough speed to satisfy power metal fans)
Ilium - Ageless decay 4/5 Ilium Review - KIT
Illusion Suite - Final hour 3.5/5 (impressive melodic/progressive power metal debut a la Circus Maximus, Pagan’s Mind, Serenity, Pathosray and Seventh Wonder)
Lands of Past - Call of the depths 3.5/5 (slow but beautiful atmospheric/gothic metal debut; features the female vocalist of Penumbra and the male vocalist of Qantice)
Light Bringer - Tales of almanac 3.5/5 (fast-paced female fronted Japanese power metal debut for fans of Alhambra, Area51, Fairy Mirror, Dragon Guardian and Inspire)
Minstrelix - Reflections 3.5/5 Minstrelix Review
Mortician - No war & more 3.5/5 (great compilation in the style of Tyrant (Ger), Noisehunter and Pretty Maids) - MICHAEL
Myatan - Dreams of gods and men 3/5 (2nd CD of Brazilian heavy/power metal with progressive/symphonic elements; contains both average and great songs)
Rebellion - Arise/From Ginnungagap to Ragnarok: The history of the vikings volume lll 3.5/5 Rebellion Review - KIT
Redemption - Snowfall on judgment day 4/5 Redemption Review - KIT
Rosae Crucis - Il re del mundo 3/5 (rough-hewn Italian-language true metal combo remakes old songs from 1992 demo; some good stuff, but a few duds too) - KIT
Rygel - Realities... life as it is 3.5/5 (very promising Brazilian melodic/progressive power metal debut similar to Angra, Shaman, Aquaria, Wizards, Endless, etc.)
Savage Messiah - Insurrection rising 3/5 (updated modern U.K. thrash debut similar to recent Onslaught, Exodus, Testament and Guillotine) - MICHAEL
Sinister Realm - s/t 3/5 Sinister Realm Review - MICHAEL
Sixguns Over Tombstone - Putting revenge on the map 2/5 (messy debut vaguely in the Zephaniah mold, but not nearly as good; great guitars but poor songs/vocals) - KIT
3 Inches of Blood - Here waits thy doom 4/5 (Cannuck metallers' 4th/best CD, with killer guitar melodies; hooray, the annoying extreme-screaming singer is gone) - KIT
Urto - Upside down 3.5/5 (rippin' Italian retro-thrash debut with Bay Area crunch, good writing, extended song forms, strong vocals; one of the best new thrash bands) - KIT
Whiplash - Unborn again 3.5/5 (unique thrashback with all of the old-school qualities, some new experimentation, and a slightly different vocal approach) - MICHAEL


PREVIOUS CD RATINGS, UPDATED 10-23-09:

Altaria - Unholy 2.5/5 (4th CD of melodic metal, but with more hard rock leanings this time that simply don’t interest me; nothing horrible, but nothing special either)
Burning Black - Prisoners of steel 3.5/5 Burning Black Review - CRAIG B
Dark Black - Sellsword 3/5 Dark Black Review - MICHAEL
Delirion - Silent symphony 3.5/5 Delirion Review
Evile - Infected nations 2.5/5 Evile Review - CRAIG B
Fool’s Game - Reality divine 4/5 Fool’s Game Review - CRAIG
Future is Tomorrow - Fit to die (part 1) 3.5/5 Future is Tomorrow Review
Guiltys Law - Total insanity 3.5/5 Guiltys Law Review
Helvetets Port - Exodus to hell 3/5 (Swedish traditional metal debut like Overdrive, Heavy Load, Picture and Helloise; suffers from a poor production) - MICHAEL
Heritage - Crisis of human race 2.5/5 (decent Japanese power metal debut in the style of Prophesia, Azrael, Atomic Tornado, Guiltys Law, Knights of Round, Gravity, etc.)
Hizaki Grace Project - Dignity of crest 3.5/5 (great Japanese symphonic power metal debut that features members of Versailles)
Holy Cross - Under the flag 3.5/5 (debut that’s France's answer to Hellish War, but there are hints of early Heavenly and Agressor present too) - MICHAEL
Leaves’ Eyes - Njord 3/5 (3rd CD of female fronted symphonic metal; I initially liked this a lot because of Liv’s wonderful vocals, but it’s lacking heavy/catchy songs)
Masterstroke - As days grow darker 3/5 (solid 3rd CD of melodic heavy/power metal, but it’s not quite as memorable or catchy as their first 2 CDs)
Megadeth - Endgame 3.5/5 Megadeth Review - CRAIG B
Melodius - Dream on 3.5/5 (symphonic/neo-classical power metal debut a la Gutter Sirens, Skylark and Landguard; has lots of melody and some cool musical segments)
Outloud - We'll rock you to hell and back again!! 3.5/5 (Mark Cross' hard rockin' project with Firewind members; for fans of Twilightning and Thunderstone) - MICHAEL
Southern Cross - Down below 4/5 (killer 2nd CD of dark heavy/power metal with a progressive edge; much better than the debut and an absolute must for Angel Dust fans!)
Status Minor - Dialog 3.5/5 (quality melodic/progressive power metal debut that’s like a blend of Vanishing Point, Masterplan, Serenity, Dream Steel and Kamelot)
Venia - Victory by surrender 3.5/5 (strong female fronted traditional/heavy power metal debut for fans of Crystal Viper, Twilight Odyssey, Phoenix Reign and Seventh Seal)
Violet Moon - Morbid visions 3/5 Violet Moon Review
W.A.S.P. - Babylon 3.5/5 (their best since 'Helldorado', but is still too short with 2 covers, recycled melodies, and too much preaching!) - MICHAEL
Wilde Starr - Arrival 3/5 (overall good female fronted heavy/power metal debut that has some great songs, but some average songs as well)
Yggdrasil - Vedergällning 4/5 Yggdrasil Review - CRAIG B


PREVIOUS CD RATINGS, UPDATED 10-9-09:

Adastra - Death or domination 3.5/5 (2nd CD of Finnish traditional metal; too diverse/uneven sometimes, but "Helsinki 1939" is a killer) - KIT
Bible of the Devil - Freedom metal 3.5/5 (cool twin-guitar 70s metal that’s a hybrid of Thin Lizzy, Black Sabbath and Motorhead; their 5th CD) - KIT
Crush - Kingdom of the kings 3/5 (ultra-cult Greek metal reissue originally from 1992, with Warlord/Omen influences; unpolished, but with some good ideas) - KIT
Dreamland - Exit 49 3.5/5 Dreamland Review - SEAN
Empires of Eden - Songs of war and vengeance 2/5 Empires of Eden Review - JOHN
Harbinger - Doom on you 4/5 (raw but endearing high-octane retro metal debut from Michigan; like Di'Anno-era Iron Maiden meets Savage Grace and Abattoir) - KIT
Hjallarhorn - Iron clad soldiers 2/5 (average run of the mill thrash debut, and I’m amazed it was signed to Pure Steel Records!) - MICHAEL
Hyborian Steel - An age undreamt of 3.5/5 Hyborian Steel Review - KIT
Los Pirates - Heavy piracy 4/5 Los Pirates Review - KIT
Luna Mortis - The absence 2.5/5 (modern metal debut with growled/clear vocals from a chick who excels at neither; for Killswitch Engage/Arch Enemy fans, maybe) - KIT
Ravage (MA, U.S.) - The end of tomorrow 4/5 Ravage Review - KIT
Razor Fist - Metal minds 4/5 Razor Fist Review - MICHAEL
Sacred Oath - s/t 3.5/5 Sacred Oath Review - TOM
Savage Blade - We are the hammer 3/5 (epic-inspired heavy/power metal debut for fans of Saxon, Manowar, Holocaust and maybe Metalium) - MICHAEL
Shadows Fall - Retribution 4.5/5 (awesome "Big 4" type thrash with old-school elements, amazing solos and positive lyrics; their 7th CD) - MICHAEL
Sonata Arctica - The days of grays 3/5 Sonata Arctica Review - SEAN
Sound Storm - Twilight opera 4/5 Sound Storm Review
Tyr - By the light of the northern star 4.5/5 Tyr Review - KIT
Voltax - s/t 4/5 (top-shelf traditional metal debut from Mexico with NWOBHM and thrash elements; screeching vocals are an acquired taste though) - KIT


PREVIOUS CD RATINGS, UPDATED 9-18-09:

Conquest of Steel - Storm sword: Rise of the dread queen 3/5 Conquest of Steel Review - CRAIG B
Dragon Guardian - Dragonvarius 3/5 Dragon Guardian Review
Ensiferum - From afar 3.5/5 Ensiferum Review - CRAIG B
Folkearth - Fatherland 2.5/5 Folkearth Review - CRAIG B
Gate of Sorrow - Enter through the gate 3.5/5 (very promising “beauty and the beast” styled symphonic/gothic metal; a mix of Epica, To Elysium and Tears of Magdalena)
Gravity - Realized 4/5 Gravity Review
Hammerforce - Dice 3.5/5 Hammerforce Review
Hanging Doll - Reason & madness 3.5/5 (strong female fronted symphonic/gothic metal debut with some occasional male/death vocals; maybe comparable to Whyzdom)
Hellwitch - Omnipotent convocation 3.5/5 (2nd CD of techno-thrash with killer hooks and razor riffs; for fans of Pestilence, Cynic, Believer and Atheist) - MICHAEL
H.O.D. - Surge kill steal 4/5 H.O.D. Review - CRAIG B
Inspire - Alive 4.5/5 Inspire Review
Korsika - Apokalipsis afterparty 4/5 (extra-catchy 3rd CD of Russian-language heavy/power metal in the style of Gran-Kurazh and Kipelov, but also Oleg Mishin’s ‘Angel’)
Lick the Blade - Graveyard of empires 3.5/5 Lick the Blade Review - MICHAEL
Marenne - The past prelude 4/5 Marenne Review
M.O.D. - Red, white and screwed 3.5/5 (great comeback that’s more serious than usual, but there’s a cool King Diamond impression on the last track) - MICHAEL
Municipal Waste - Massive aggressive 3/5 (less than 1/2-hour of Suicidal Tendencies meets M.O.D. inspired songs, with more melodies/lead work) - MICHAEL
Olvy - The last sky 4/5 (awesome Russian-language heavy/power metal that’s a very worthy follow-up to their superb debut ‘Darkness and light’)
Shadowside - Dare to dream 3.5/5 (2nd CD of female fronted power metal that continues where the excellent debut ‘Theatre of shadows’ left off, but it’s not quite as strong)
Velvetseal - Lend me your wings 2.5/5 (passable female fronted symphonic/gothic metal debut that doesn’t stand out amongst the many other similar bands)
Vindictiv - Ground zero 4/5 (outstanding 2nd CD of melodic metal with progressive metal, power metal and neo-classical elements; highly recommended)


PREVIOUS CD RATINGS, UPDATED 9-4-09:

Argus - s/t 3.5/5 Argus Review - KIT
Bare Infinity - Always forever 4/5 Bare Infinity Review
Blackguard - Profugus mortis 3/5 (aggressive melody-drenched symphonic metal debut from Canada with out-of-place harsh vocals) - KIT
Crystal Viper - Metal nation 4.5/5 Crystal Viper Review - KIT
Dominici - 03 A trilogy/part 3 3/5 (heavier attitude, more punch and circumstantiated musicianship, but less melody than pt. 2, bringing the drama to a close) - MICHAEL
In Solitude - s/t 4/5 In Solitude Review - KIT
Inmoria - Invisible wounds 3.5/5 Inmoria Review - JOHN
Kings of Modesty - Hell or highwater 3/5 Kings of Modesty Review - MICHAEL
Manimal - The darkest room 3/5 Manimal Review - SEAN
Nomad Son - First light 3/5 (Maltan classic doom metal debut spiced with cool organ touches; a bit too primitive/70s-inspired in spots) - KIT
One Without - Thoughts of a secluded mind 3.5/5 One Without Review - SEAN
Proud - Fire breaks the dawn 3.5/5 (Old Metal Records reissue of overlooked 1984 Swedish traditional metal major-label gem; their only CD) - KIT
Reflection (Grc) - When shadows fall 3/5 (doomy epic true metal featuring the Forsaken singer, but his day-job gig is better; their 3rd CD) - KIT
7th Reign - Fallen empires 4/5 7th Reign Review
Skyclad - In the... all together 3.5/5 Skyclad Review - KIT
Solitaire - Predatress 4/5 (4th CD of uncompromising Finnish melodic speed metal with wretched lyrics; their new singer sounds like the Not Fragile guy) - KIT
Winters Dawn - The winter is dawning 3.5/5 (dramatic Greek metal debut often reminiscent of Crimson Glory or Warlord, but sometimes veering towards thrash) - KIT



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