Aoria - The Constant (2012)

 

The Constant by Aoria is an excellent album of melancholic and sweeping alternative rock with shades of post-rock.

Listen to opening track below and visit their Bandcamp here

The Gentle Storm - The Diary (2015)

 

Arjen Lucassen has done it again. This is a very complex and utterly beautiful album. The album offers the same set of songs in ‘gentle’ form (acoustic) and ‘storm’ (rock/metal). Anneke’s lyrics are highly emotive and her voice shines through every song fully using her range and textures here and once again demonstrating she’s one incredible vocalist.

The Diary is a complex album that requires a few listens to fully appreciate but what a great achievement this album is. Outstanding!

Neuroticfish - A Sign of Life (2015)

 

I’ve been eagerly waiting for this album since last years excellent EP Limited Behaviour and Neuroticfish have not disappointed me. A Sign of Life is an excellent album of very danceable future-pop, an absolute must for fans of future-pop and electronic music.

You can listen to the album and support the band on their BandCamp page here

Nigthwish - Endless Forms Most Beautiful (2015)

 

I’m happy to say that the worst thing in this album is the title. I understand and agree with the sentiment of it, but it’s certainly an awkward title for an album. The rest? Awesome!

Endless Forms Most Beautiful is a return to form for the band. A wide ranging album with a huge scope that succeeds at every turn. Tuomas was inspired when writing music for this album but best of all Floor Jansen is outstanding, showcasing her huge range and diversity and demonstrating why she’s perfect for Nightwish. 

Excellent album through and through.

Sister Machine Gun - The Future Unformed (2015)

 

This is a very solid EP from Sister Machine Gun. I love industrial, have always loved it and Sister Machine Gun has been a band that whilst never at the top it always succeeded to create solid albums. After a long hiatus this is a welcome addition to their discography and one that I’m already addicted to.

The only complaint? It’s too short. I want more!

You can The Future Unformed through BandCamp here

Atlas - Suspended in a Sunbeam (2014)

 

Atlas’ Suspended in a Sunbeam is a great mix of post rock and metal with some ambient and prog tendencies all self-funded, self-recorded and all music written and recorded by J. Kirk. His previous release, Inertia was great, this release is excellent. 

Check out the Atlas BandCamp here

Moonspell - Extinct (2015)

 

Another excellent album in a very solid career by Portuguese veterans Moonspell. Extinct is Moonspell at its more melodic and romantic. An outstanding gothic metal album with just the right amount of black metal and grunt.

Nocturna - Lucidity (2015)

 

Nocturna have finally released Lucidity, their debut EP. Listen to it and buy it through their BandCamp page. Excellent power/prog metal with some symphonic elements. A perfect blend of European and American influences.

An outstanding release that I hope brings them success. They surely deserve it. 

See the video below for a taste of it or visit their BandCamp page here

Blind Guardian - Beyond the Red Mirror (2015)

 

Blind Guardian’s mix of power metal with a grunt, sprinkled with thrash elements, some symphonic tendencies, complex and intricate vocal lines and a great sense of the epic is unique and instantly recognisable.

Despite a lot of highs and a couple of lows in their discography, BG always deliver quality releases consistently. This is one of them. It may not have instant hits, but every song is excellent and perfectly executed. Another outstanding release from this veteran band.

Tides of Man - Young and Courageous (2014)

 

Great melodies and an excellent post-rock album for a band that didn’t do post-rock before and had a singer in the previous two records. 

You can get it on their BandCamp page here

Catacombe - Quidam (2014)

 

A very classic sounding post-rock album. It’s nothing new but it’s certainly well done and the album delivers some great moments; Lolita being my particular highlight - excellent track!

You can listen and buy the album through their Bandcamp page here

Triosphere - The Heart of the Matter (2014)

 

What an excellent album this is! It absolutely rocks all the way through. A perfect blend of power with some prog elements and attitude with an incredibly versatile female vocalist. In fact she’s blown my mind. She can sing aggressive with a true heavy metal sound, but she can also croon and sound delicate and feminine when the song requires it.

A truly amazing album!

Angra - Secret Garden (2014)

 

The last few months of last year were ridiculously busy and I’m starting to catch up with some releases that I didn’t have time for back then. Secret Garden by Angra has been a very welcome surprise.

This is a great album, possibly Angra at their best (though I have a very soft spot for Holy Land). A very solid album. The band sounds tight. The prog and tribal elements add a lot to their power metal style.

It’s also worth mentioning that Fabio Lione is here at his best and Simone’s (Epica) song is also excellent. But, the duet between Doro and guitarist Bittencourt is the highlight. 

John Carpenter - Lost Themes (2015)

 

Beautiful, moody and at times moving. This may not be music for a movie but the songs have that unique John Carpenter touch. Beautiful and haunting soundscapes from a master. 

Pythia - Shadows of a Broken Past (2014)

 

Excellent release by Pythia. Symphonic metal, with some faster power metal and progressive metal elements here and there.

The Birthday Massacre - Superstition (2014)

Another excellent album from this always consistent band. This album has more growls and more of an edge than their previous outing and it’s awesome to have them back.