New Music Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal, AOR, Alternative Rock, Alternative Metal

2011 was another banner year for all things melodic hard rock and heavy metal, progressive rock and metal. However, after reviewing more than 400 albums, and listening to nearly 200 more submissions, it’s hard, sometimes, to recall what truly stood out, what real cream rose to the top ... [ Read More ]

Any Known Sin: Lust (EP)

Modern Hard Rock

3.5/5.0

Making their push in the Denver (CO) indie music scene is Any Known Sin, a trio of players delivering some heavier modern hard rock. Their debut EP, Lust ... [ Read More ]

Oz: Burning Leather

Heavy Metal (NWOBHM)

3.0/5.0

If you recall Oz, one of Finland's early contributions to the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, from back in the day, then treat yourself to a six-pack of your favorite ... [ Read More ]

Riotgod: Invisible Empire

Heavy/Stoner Rock

4.5/5.0

Who better to revisit classic heavy stoner rock, and breathe new life into it, than Bob Pantella and Jim Baglino, both of Monster Magnet fame. Their 2009 self-titled ... [ Read More ]

Wolfen: Chapter IV

Heavy Metal

4.5/5.0

German heavy metal is alive and well with Wolfen and their appropriately titled fourth full-length disc, Chapter IV. The genius of Wolfen is that effortlessly ... [ Read More ]

Krossfire: Learning to Fly

Melodic Heavy Metal

3.5/5.0

Hailing from Bulgaria, Krossfire re-releases their debut album, Learning to Fly, for international distribution on Germany's Pure Steel Records. To musical ... [ Read More ]

Moor, The: The Moor (EP)

Progressive Metal

3.5/5.0

A good promising start describes the debut EP from Italian prog metallers, The Moor. The band was formed by vocalist/guitarist Enrico Longhin and guitarist ... [ Read More ]

11th Hour, The: Lacrima Mortis

Doom Metal

3.0/5.0

Veteran death metal artist Ed Warby (Gorefest, Hail of Bullets, Ayreon, Star One) returns with his The 11th Hour project: Lacrima Mortis is another ... [ Read More ]

Iron Fire: Voyage of the Damned

Power Metal

4.0/5.0

If you have any familiarity with Iron Fire, then you know Martin Steene and company do nothing small. Their seventh studio project, Voyage of the Damned ... [ Read More ]

Mass: New Birth

Melodic Hard Rock/Metal

4.0/5.0

Despite good intentions of the plethora of those Eighties hard rock and metal bands that 'made it,' and those that didn't, many need not be revisited, let alone ... [ Read More ]

Ancara: Chasing Shadows

Melodic Hard Rock/AOR

4.0/5.0

Chasing Shadows is Ancara's third studio album, and my second experience with this Finnish band. It's been an interesting and good listening experience ... [ Read More ]

Beyond The Bridge: The Old Man and ...

Progressive Rock/Metal

4.5/5.0

Here's a few words of first impression of Beyond the Bridge's debut The Old Man and the Spirit: ambitious, grand, and sweeping. The work is a monolith ... [ Read More ]

Sixty Miles Ahead: Blank Slate EP

Modern Melodic Hard Rock

4.0/5.0

Coming from Italy, upstart modern melodic hard rock band Sixty Miles Ahead offers a strong debut EP with Blank Slate. With roots in both classic melodic ... [ Read More ]

Case In Theory: Cinematic

Melodic Alternative Rock

4.0/5.0

After several EPs, upstart Bay Area alt rock band Case In Theory debuts its first full length album, Cinematic. CiT blends the edge of the ... [ Read More ]