Melodic Metal

Serpent God – Denial Review

Serpent God – Denial Review

By ClarkKent on October 29, 2025 in Reviews, Death Doom, Doom Metal, Melodic Metal, 3 comments

“The digital era, where a band can release singles or EPs at a whim, seems to have tossed aside the concept of a B-sides compilation record. These albums consist of tunes that, for whatever reason, just didn’t make the cut on the main LP. This isn’t necessarily because those songs are bad. System of a Down’s Steal this Album! is, in my mind, just as much fun as their regular studio releases, and The Masterplan by Oasis is widely considered one of their best. Denial, the debut from Finland’s Serpent God, owes its existence to such B-side material, albeit from a different band: Se, Josta Ei Puhuta.” Snakes in new/olde skins.

Sölicitör – Enemy in Mirrors Review

Sölicitör – Enemy in Mirrors Review

By ClarkKent on September 18, 2025 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, Melodic Metal, Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, 25 comments

“Sölicitör’s 2020 debut made quite the splash ’round these parts when 4.Öldeneye heaped glorious praise all over it. The five-piece out of Seattle has been quiet since then, releasing an EP in 2022 totaling two songs. Now they return for their sophomore release with a philosophy of more – more songs, more length, and even a couple more instruments (piano, synths). The members wanted to take a more hands-on approach with Enemy in Mirrors, which is why vocalist Amy Lee Carlson lent not only her pipes but her artistic ability in designing the cover art.” Undeath of a salësman.

IHLO – Legacy Review

IHLO – Legacy Review

By Owlswald on September 8, 2025 in Reviews, Melodic Metal, Progressive Metal, 23 comments

“The creation of an album is a long, arduous process—a truth UK prog trio IHLO knows well. After five years of painstaking work, the group has returned with their sophomore album, Legacy. Over the years, IHLO has shared glimpses of their meticulous creative process via Patreon, revealing the humorous temporary names they gave to demos—like “Szechuan Sauce” and “Banana Pants”—while showing just how demanding the journey has been. Unlike their debut, Union, where they admit they “stumbled into” its dark, brooding atmosphere, IHLO approached Legacy with clear intent, determined to bring the same melancholic, emotional core with them and challenging themselves to craft complex compositions that seamlessly blend their progressive metal, electronic, and pop influences.” Long time in the shop.

Heathen’s Eye – Port Inspiro Review

Heathen’s Eye – Port Inspiro Review

By Baguette of Bodom on August 2, 2025 in Reviews, Melodic Metal, 30 comments

“Swedish band Heathen’s Eye is boldly trying to make their mark in these well-traveled lands with their debut Port Inspiro, the Esperanto title meaning ‘inspired by the past.’ Can this freshly formed team of experienced musicians sail through time without getting lost along the way?” I mean, shouldn’t we be worried about the paradoxes more?

Cam Girl – Flesh & Chrome Review

Cam Girl – Flesh & Chrome Review

By Kenstrosity on June 24, 2025 in Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Melodic Metal, Punk, 126 comments

“Every once in a blue moon, reviewing a local band—especially a largely DIY band like Asheville, North Carolina’s Cam Girl—comes with a few extra perks. Because of our proximity, I secured promo months in advance in the form of a sick translucent cyan vinyl and a digital mp3, and gleaned additional insight into how this record was made. Having that much more exposure and access to the band by the grace of locality helped contextualize exactly what Cam Girl aspire to be.” Think brutally, shop locally.

THRÆDS – Impermanence Review

THRÆDS – Impermanence Review

By Owlswald on June 23, 2025 in Reviews, Hard Rock, Melodic Metal, Post-Metal, Progressive Rock, Rock, 13 comments

“Adding to my list of bands with irregular monikers, German progressive post-metal/rock group THRÆDS (pronounced “Threads”) is the latest to fall under the scrutiny of my wide-eyed gaze. Formed in 2019 as a solo project by guitarist Angelos Tzamtzis, THRÆDS has since grown into a multi-national five-piece. Their 2021 Akasha EP garnered the attention of Octopus Rising—an imprint of Argonauta Records—which is now releasing their debut full-length, Impermanence. The promotional material for this Berlin-based quintet bills itself as a seamless blend of progressive post-metal alongside atmospheric rock.” Thread and dread.

Kardashev – Alunea Review

Kardashev – Alunea Review

By Carcharodon on April 24, 2025 in Reviews, Deathcore, Melodic Metal, Post-Metal, Progressive Death, 108 comments

“Kardashev’s return has been the most eagerly anticipated in a year, and so far, it has been full of returning favorites. Since I discovered their stunning 2020 EP, The Baring of Shadows, they’ve been a firm favorite. Their progressive, blackened “deathgaze” was both haunting and beautiful in its ferociously emotive stylings. Although 2022’s Liminal Rite suffered a bit from its production, that didn’t stop me awarding it a 4.5 and placing it at #5 on my end-of-year List, both decisions that I stand by. Upping their progressive tendencies and leaning into longer form storytelling, I hoped the Arizonan quartet would carve their own little niche just a little deeper on fourth full-length, Alunea.” New directions.

Flummox – Southern Progress Review

Flummox – Southern Progress Review

By Kenstrosity on April 23, 2025 in Reviews, Avant-Garde, Black Metal, Death Metal, Experimental Metal, Folk Metal, Melodic Metal, Progressive Metal, 90 comments

“Originally slated to be my main Thing You Might Have Missed feature, Tennessee avant-garde metal quintet Flummox’s fifth LP Southern Progress caught me completely off guard. Attracted to the prompt “their most obnoxious album yet,” I wasn’t sure what to expect from my first exposure to Flummox’s work. I figured it might be weird, but it’s also distinctive, fun, and infectious. Fearlessly creative, deeply detailed, lyrically cutting, and stupidly intelligent, Southern Progress rapidly became my favorite record released so far this year.” Southern fried befuddlements.

Euphrosyne – Morus Review

Euphrosyne – Morus Review

By Iceberg on March 27, 2025 in Reviews, Black Metal, Gothic Metal, Melodic Metal, Post-Metal, 11 comments

“Death is an omnipresent theme in metal, and art in general, but the subject matter is especially poignant when approached by survivors of its trauma. Post-black quartet Euphrosyne tackle the loss of a loved one, in this case songwriter Alex Despotidis’ mother, on their debut LP, Morus. Post-black seems an appropriate style for the Greeks, with a focus on atmosphere, melody, and stillness to balance black metal fury. While the lyrics are credited to frontwoman Efi Eva, all the music was composed by Despotidis, an unenviable but hopefully cathartic duty for someone who just lost a parent.” Healing through music.