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.