VV: Gothica Fennica Vol 1 (Heartagram Ltd)
Look at the cover of this EP, you'll see a very familiar symbol on it. A Heartagram. Well a version of a Heartagram featuring a more pronounced VV. That VV means it could only be a record from Ville Valo, the former frontman of HIM. The Love Metal founders hung up their eyeliner in 2017 after a farewell tour but it seems like the urge to goth was too much for that band's frontman/founder as he has launched his solo career with this EP called Gothic Fennica Vol 1. It starts with Salute The Sanguine a track that just oozes HIM coming from the middle period with driving guitars, twinkling synths and Valo displaying that crooning baritone as it breaks down into more industrial tones at the end. Run Away From The Sun comes next and it's a beautifully layered ballad that sounds like Vampire AOR due to the shimmering synths while the final song on this three track EP is the romantic Saturnine Saturnalia which sways as Valo bewitches, this is the most interesting song here as it evolves into fuzzy space doom in it's final moments. Valo is back, praise his infernal majesty. 7/10
Solitary Sabred: By Fear & Brimstone (No Remorse Records)
Cypriot heavy metal band Solitary Sabred have one major influence, it jumps out at you throughout this album but Disillusions gives you the best indication that it's Manowar who this band owe such a debt to. Asgardlord's vocals have that almost schizophrenic Eric Adams quality moving between dramatic spoken word, roars, gritty singing and massive ear piercing screams. It's a great impression throughout going fully cinematic on The Scarlet Citadel (Chronicles Of The Barbarian King Pt.I) and Fyres Of Koth (Chronicles Of The Barbarian King Pt.II) the mini concept piece in the middle of this album, it's on final number Blestem that they move into some doominess to close the record. Big, ballsy speed/power metal songs litter this record as does chest beating machismo you can smell the baby oil and feel the muscles. If you like Manowar then play By Fear & Brimstone (on 10 of course) if not then you won't really find much else here to enjoy. 6/10
Beneath My Sins: I Decide (Pride & Joy Music)
Formed by guitarist Clement Botz and singer Emma Elvaston, Beneath My Sins are a symphonic metal band from France. Now I know what you're thinking female singer, symphonic metal, tours with Kobra & The Lotus, Pokerface and Imperial Age, I've heard this all before! Well yes, yes you have, but you also haven't. When I first pressed play on this record it was Emma's vocals that intrigued me, she has got a natural operatic style that many of the bands in this genre have, but she also has developed her harsher vocals with a vocal coach meaning that she has a expressive range but seems infinitely more comfortable when in full operatic flight like on Your Muse. Musically there are a lot of Celtic/Folk influences throughout and the production of Serenity's Fabio D'Amore makes it come alive. It is however about as generic as it gets and unfortunately Emma's vocals never really sit right. 4/10
Mindtech: Omnipresence (TriTech Music)
Mindtech are a melodic/progressive metal band from Norway. Omnipresence is their second full length record with their first coming back in 2013, though they have made an EP in 2016. Formerly known as Beyond Flames they changed there name and have been producing progressive/melodic metal as Mindtech since 2008. So what does Omnipresence sound like? Well it's the kind of melodic progressive metal that you may have heard before from bands such as Pagan's Mind, Vanden Plas and even Kamelot, the band members are vocalist Mathias Moland Indergård, who has a soulful range that fits the style of music ideally. Guitarists Marius Belseth and Thor Axel Eriksen who switch between heavy and clean with numbers like These Are The Days having those soaring leads along with the crunchy heaviness bolstered on tracks such as Through The Veil by, bassist Ola A Øverli and drummer Ole Devold. Now the issue here is that everything here has been done before, so after a few listens nothing was really retained in my memory unfortunately. It's delivered well but their countrymen Pagan's Mind have been doing this style of music with a bit more charisma and memorability for about as long. Not bad by any stretch but not life changing. 6/10
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