Solitary Sabred - The Return Of Heroes, Monsters And Myths (Alone Records)
Nicosia's premier epic metal act Solitary Sabred are back with their fifth album, having been on a bit of a run of new releases since 2020, though their story begins in 2000 right at the time when fantasy inspired power metal was delivering some of its best work, in the face of grunge/nu metal and the NWOAHM.
Releasing their debut record in 2009, Solitary Sabred have never strayed from the path of the true warrior inspired by the American style of power metal.
There's clear influences of Manowar, Sanctuary, Helstar and from the European side King Diamond, in the glass shattering voice of Petros Leptos especially, as he has a range that is fit for the King, Mr Adams and the much missed Mr Dane.
The Return Of Heroes, Monsters And Myths as I said is their fifth album and it doesn't mess with the formula, giving you 10 tracks of anthemic heavy metal that is build on a muscular foundation of fist-in-the-air riffs which move between hard rock, heavy metal and thrash sometimes all within one song.
This album tells ancient tales of Greek mythology, Egyptian legend, traditional fantasy and the mighty Conan and if you're a bit of fantasy metal nerd you're going to love it.
They have also recorded a song called Solitary Sabred which is inspired by the sword they take their name from and it's so good they've even recorded it in Spanish! So let it not be said that power metal is stupid as it's at least got a linguistics degree!
The Return Of Heroes, Monsters And Myths continues this strong set of recent releases from Solitary Sabred with more might metal power. 8/10
Night Spectre - Night Spectre (Dying Victims Productions)
It's UK might Vs US muscle on the debut from Greek speed metal freaks Night Spectre. Sitting in that gap between NWOBHM and thrash this relatively new band lock into the old school sound immediately with razor sharp guitars and some sneering vocals
Fittingly opening with sound of gunshots and motorbike, Death Contact opens the record with propulsive 'action rock' that Raven would be proud of, retro as it comes but this lean machine is souped up with the latest production methods to make it glisten and gleam without losing that working class, from-the-streets, grit that was at the heart of both the NWOBHM and thrash movements.
For me the guitar playing is what standouts here, given the left channel/right channel treatment the interplay is incendiary, peeling off riffs and solos like mad, but then adding the drama on the chugging, epic middle track To Die In The Ancient Fire and on the adventurous romp that is Crossing The Abyss.
Steeped in tradition but forging their own steel Night Spectre apperate with a petrol powered debut of heavy metal worship! 8/10
Nicosia's premier epic metal act Solitary Sabred are back with their fifth album, having been on a bit of a run of new releases since 2020, though their story begins in 2000 right at the time when fantasy inspired power metal was delivering some of its best work, in the face of grunge/nu metal and the NWOAHM.
Releasing their debut record in 2009, Solitary Sabred have never strayed from the path of the true warrior inspired by the American style of power metal.
There's clear influences of Manowar, Sanctuary, Helstar and from the European side King Diamond, in the glass shattering voice of Petros Leptos especially, as he has a range that is fit for the King, Mr Adams and the much missed Mr Dane.
The Return Of Heroes, Monsters And Myths as I said is their fifth album and it doesn't mess with the formula, giving you 10 tracks of anthemic heavy metal that is build on a muscular foundation of fist-in-the-air riffs which move between hard rock, heavy metal and thrash sometimes all within one song.
This album tells ancient tales of Greek mythology, Egyptian legend, traditional fantasy and the mighty Conan and if you're a bit of fantasy metal nerd you're going to love it.
They have also recorded a song called Solitary Sabred which is inspired by the sword they take their name from and it's so good they've even recorded it in Spanish! So let it not be said that power metal is stupid as it's at least got a linguistics degree!
The Return Of Heroes, Monsters And Myths continues this strong set of recent releases from Solitary Sabred with more might metal power. 8/10
Night Spectre - Night Spectre (Dying Victims Productions)
It's UK might Vs US muscle on the debut from Greek speed metal freaks Night Spectre. Sitting in that gap between NWOBHM and thrash this relatively new band lock into the old school sound immediately with razor sharp guitars and some sneering vocals
Fittingly opening with sound of gunshots and motorbike, Death Contact opens the record with propulsive 'action rock' that Raven would be proud of, retro as it comes but this lean machine is souped up with the latest production methods to make it glisten and gleam without losing that working class, from-the-streets, grit that was at the heart of both the NWOBHM and thrash movements.
For me the guitar playing is what standouts here, given the left channel/right channel treatment the interplay is incendiary, peeling off riffs and solos like mad, but then adding the drama on the chugging, epic middle track To Die In The Ancient Fire and on the adventurous romp that is Crossing The Abyss.
Steeped in tradition but forging their own steel Night Spectre apperate with a petrol powered debut of heavy metal worship! 8/10
Ringlorn - The Queen Of Wildred (Self Released)
Back to Greece now but with more epic power metal from the mind of Gabriel Kouliakis, the Crete based musician formed Ringlorn in 2022 and The Queen Of Wildred is his second full length record for what he calls Teutonic power metal.
Teutonic of course because yes it does sound very German with Blind Guardian an obvious comparison to what they do, as is Primal Fear but I'd say they owe a lot Warlord as well due to the sheer amount of riffs on this record. Gabriel wrote all the music and lyrics on this conceptual offering driving the pace with his bass playing as the foundation of Ringlorn.
The other members have changed from release to release but here he has Spiros Rizos taking all the guitars and Mark J Dexter behind the mic, but that's it pretty much everything else is Gabriel programming, drums/keys/orchestrations, so this is still a studio project not a live one.
Unlike a lot of studio projects though this one is very professional, full production values, well composed and performed songs, dedication to making the most impressive arcane metal they can rich in Carpathian mythology and blood. 7/10
Automaton - Labyrinth (Self Released)
Strap in for this one as like the legendary maze it is named after this is one long complex journey where each song is a monolithic slab of psychdelic doom/post-black metal, ranging from slow burning, introspective atmospheres of tracks such as Black Sails and the rage filled blasts of extremity that come on Minotaur.
Formed in 2012, the Athenian band play the sort of headache inducing paranoia filled progressive sludge of Neurosis and Yob, down-tuned and despondent this third album uses the Greek myth of the Minoan Labyrinth as and allegory for modern life and how it is often a confusing and terrifying place all at the same time.
Automaton's music does well to reflect this inspitstion as it can be disorientating, dirgey and down right devastating, each guitar riff, drum beat, bass thump and growl arranged in a way to create the sort of atmosphere they want to smother you with, which may leave listeners who are not overly familiar with this downbeat and elongated style feels a little overwhelmed.
The major tracks clock in well over 5 minutes, with Black Sails at 12, and while you get breaks from the depressive crush they don't last too long, so unless this music is up your street then it may trample rather than envelope you, enter the Labyrinth of Automaton if you dare. 7/10
Back to Greece now but with more epic power metal from the mind of Gabriel Kouliakis, the Crete based musician formed Ringlorn in 2022 and The Queen Of Wildred is his second full length record for what he calls Teutonic power metal.
Teutonic of course because yes it does sound very German with Blind Guardian an obvious comparison to what they do, as is Primal Fear but I'd say they owe a lot Warlord as well due to the sheer amount of riffs on this record. Gabriel wrote all the music and lyrics on this conceptual offering driving the pace with his bass playing as the foundation of Ringlorn.
The other members have changed from release to release but here he has Spiros Rizos taking all the guitars and Mark J Dexter behind the mic, but that's it pretty much everything else is Gabriel programming, drums/keys/orchestrations, so this is still a studio project not a live one.
Unlike a lot of studio projects though this one is very professional, full production values, well composed and performed songs, dedication to making the most impressive arcane metal they can rich in Carpathian mythology and blood. 7/10
Automaton - Labyrinth (Self Released)
Strap in for this one as like the legendary maze it is named after this is one long complex journey where each song is a monolithic slab of psychdelic doom/post-black metal, ranging from slow burning, introspective atmospheres of tracks such as Black Sails and the rage filled blasts of extremity that come on Minotaur.
Formed in 2012, the Athenian band play the sort of headache inducing paranoia filled progressive sludge of Neurosis and Yob, down-tuned and despondent this third album uses the Greek myth of the Minoan Labyrinth as and allegory for modern life and how it is often a confusing and terrifying place all at the same time.
Automaton's music does well to reflect this inspitstion as it can be disorientating, dirgey and down right devastating, each guitar riff, drum beat, bass thump and growl arranged in a way to create the sort of atmosphere they want to smother you with, which may leave listeners who are not overly familiar with this downbeat and elongated style feels a little overwhelmed.
The major tracks clock in well over 5 minutes, with Black Sails at 12, and while you get breaks from the depressive crush they don't last too long, so unless this music is up your street then it may trample rather than envelope you, enter the Labyrinth of Automaton if you dare. 7/10
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