Suffering so you don't have to!
Elyna Kahn
Avantasia‘s tenth studio album, Here Be Dragons, is here! Featuring 10 tracks, artwork by Rodney Matthews, and bombastic production by the renowned Sascha Paeth, this album retains the band’s signature essence: masterful choruses, Symphonic Metal elements, and creative sounds. Following its release, the band will embark on a highly anticipated European tour, much to the excitement of its dedicated fanbase.
Elyna Kahn
BRAINSTORM, a name that evokes power and creativity, is a German metal band with over two decades of experience. Soon, it’ll release Plague of Rats. This album is being hailed as a career milestone, revisiting the band’s fascination with Indu culture, a theme it first explored in 2003’s release, Soul Temptation. With high expectations, I dove into the album, listening to it multiple times to fully absorb its energy. The first thing that struck me was the “Live-in-Studio” sound, which gives the record an electrifying, concert-like atmosphere. Each of the 11 tracks bursts with energy, making it feel as though you’re standing in front of the stage, surrounded by flames and a roaring crowd.
Elyna Kahn
It is the year of our Lord 2013. The world bid farewell to Nelson Mandela, the South African leader who championed the fight against apartheid and racial injustice. In Southeast Asia, Typhoon Haiyan wreaked havoc, claiming over 6,000 lives in the Philippines. Meanwhile, in Bangladesh, the tragic collapse of the Rana Plaza building resulted in more than 1,000 fatalities. Right, the Metal…
Elyna Kahn
Time flies! 2024 is almost over, and what a year it has been for Metal music. It’s been intense, with countless excellent releases—both from iconic bands and hidden treasures in the underground scene. Yet, I won’t lie. I don’t consume an overwhelming number of albums every year. I prefer to discover them on my own terms, without any pressure. I believe music is best enjoyed when you choose to dive into an album at the right moment, when you’re truly in the mood for it.
That said, I’m bringing you my personal top picks—no cap. The albums on this list have earned a special place in my heart—and in my obsessive, on-repeat listening habits that defy human understanding. Let me clarify: there’s no ranking here. Each of these masterpieces hits differently, yet all of them pack an equally intense punch and deserve your full attention. Let’s get into it!
Elyna Kahn
After reviewing several promos in my inbox, I stumbled upon a title that caught my attention: The Eclipse of Worlds by Within Silence from Slovakia. It was my first encounter with a Slovakian band and another “Within”—aside from Within Temptation. I didn’t know what to expect. I only review music that stirs something deep within my heart. So, after listening to several other bands, I clicked the link without high expectations. I downloaded the tracks and started listening. At first glance, it seemed like a generic Power Metal album. On the second listen, I realized it’s pure Power Metal—in the best sense of the term.
Elyna Khan
I’m not gonna lie, I had never listened to Tungsten before, beyond knowing the name. However, in my experience, Tungsten is one of those bands whose name pops up in random conversations, and you immediately associate it with a specific genre. In my case, Stoner. I don’t know why, but anything that “smells like gasoline” to my ears makes me think of Stoner. By the way, if you’re curious, “smelling music” relates to a phenomenon called synesthesia.
Elyna Kahn
Ensiferum will release its highly anticipated album Winter Storm soon! Renowned for its Melodic Death Metal sound, the band has built a successful career since forming in 1997. The 2020 album Thalassic achieved significant success, propelling Ensiferum to world tours before the pandemic ruined everything. Now, four years later, the band is back with Winter Storm, an album that promises to captivate fans with its powerful blend of Viking Folk Metal and evolved melodic elements.
Elyna Kahn
Today’s journey takes us back to 2010, a year marked by a memorable musical landscape. Epic albums like The Wicked Symphony by Avantasia, At the Edge of Time by Blind Guardian, What Lies Beneath by Tarja Turunen, and The Frozen Tears of an Angel by Rhapsody of Fire emerged, becoming essential cornerstones in Power/Symphonic Metal. At the same time, 2010 saw devastating natural disasters. On February 27th, a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake followed by a mega tsunami claimed hundreds of lives in Chile. Just two weeks later, Japan was struck by another powerful earthquake, leaving destruction in its wake.
I‘m happy to announce that Elyna Khan is going to deal with a lot of the Power Metal we’ve got here (since I can’t stand it and bands deserve a fair chance). Good luck!
Hello. How are you? I hope you are all OK. Remember my controversial love story with Virtual XI? Well, today I want to share another love story that just emerged in my life. It was love at first sight—or at first listen, to be precise. A few days ago, I came across an album by a band I had never heard of. Ok, yes, this may seem like heresy to a Melodic/Yymphonic Power Metal lover, but it’s never too late to redeem yourself! So, without further ado, let’s talk about Powerwolf and its album Wake Up The Wicked.
You know what time it is! It’s that time of the week when we check your submissions and decide whether to be ruthless or merciful, depending on how much nonsense we’ve had to put up with during the rest of the week. As usual, we have a wide range of submissions, from Power Metal to Brutal Death Metal. So, we have something for the whole family. In fact, we’ve signed up your whole family to our socials and blog. We’ll keep them all furious with our poor reviewer judgment, so much so that they’ll leave you in peace for a while. Think about it! Now, to the bands!
Metal Eclipse Reviews 