The modern metal scene is definitely full of emerging bands that try to stand out and young Danish metallers Forever Still worked hard to attract a wider audience with the dystopian themes and passionate approach of the sophomore album “Breathe In Colours”.

On “Rewind” the instrumental framework tends to put the spotlight on the emotional vocal delivery of Maja Shining with a mix of futuristic synths and soothing melodic tapestries that certainly would appeal to a younger crowd.

On “Fight!” guitars acquire crunchy tonalities to build a solid series of heavier grooves around Maja’s harsh vocals yet the song’s somber melodic essence is still very dominant especially in the widely accessible chorus.

On the title track the mood gets pleasantly darker enhanced by moody atmospheric layers,  bittersweet vocals and soft whispers but even if there are loads of melancholic melodies the rhythmic section can pack heavier elements.

“Survive” amplifies a modern heavy approach with galloping guitar riffs and consequent groovy dynamics that once again revolve around the winning blend of harsh screams and emotionally charged vocals.

“Rising Over You” continues to represent the contrasting feeling that characterize the whole album mixing comforting melodic phrases always emphasized by Maja’s harmonious vocals and heavier rhythmic crescendos.

“Embrace The Tide” closes the album amplifying the dystopian aspects through intriguing synths arrangements and darkened guitar melodies in contrast with the glowing vocals and dreamy melodies.

As it becomes harder to conquer a solid spot within the current music scene Forever Still aim to impress the listeners with an engaging modern sonic formula that generates the accessible combo of grooves & melodies of “Breathe In Colours”.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOo0qgHpCac

 

Swedish heavy metal riff masters Grand Magus return with the new album “Wolf God” and this time they decided to jam and record mainly on the first take in order to maintain a genuine approach as close as possible to a live performance.

The title track goes straight to build majestic rhythmic patterns with the band’s signature heavy riffage that gets you ready for battle but the inner somber feelings cannot be ignored and tend to become evident through the mighty passionate vocals.

With a mood shifting from major epic vibes to absolute melancholia “A Hall Clad In Gold” unleashes anthemic guitar riffs, fierce rhythmic blasts and a skillful guitar solo certainly inspired by decades of classic heavy metal while the tasteful melodic passages add a dramatic touch.

“Brother Of The Storm” will please the fans with loads of faster guitar driven grooves that require steady headbanging naturally channeling catchy & triumphant vibes matched by the particularly fervent vocal delivery.

You can perceive the immense passion for epic metal behind “To Live And Die In Solitude” which offers another enjoyable blend of galloping bold guitar riffs and memorable melodic phrases enhanced by the vibrant tonalities of the guitar solo.

“Glory To The Brave” begins with enigmatic borderline trippy bass lines that will hold a dominant role through the intense grooves enriched by the expected epic flavors of the soaring guitar riffs and monumental vocals leading to a memorable chorus that feels like a true battle hymn.

On “Untamed” the whole instrumentation aims to match the title with a series of intense grooves courtesy of thunderous rhythmic segments and glorious guitar riffage that benefit from the extra power provided by the solemn vocals and the flamboyant melodic accents of the guitar solo.

There’s no need for trendy special effects here in fact the fiery strength of “Wolf God” definitely comes from the spontaneous songwriting approach and the excellent musicianship as Grand Magus once again prove to be sincerely devoted to classic heavy metal.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn0o8Ly95UE

The new sonic journey of Bay Area progressive death metallers Fallujah begins with the 4th full-length album “Undying Light” which features new vocalist Antonio Palermo.

“Glass House” starts with luminous atmospheric nuances that will return throughout the song emphasizing melodic undertones but soon ensures a quite heavy rhythmic approach as guitars confidently unleash a ravenous series of riffs with edgy technical accents.  

“Last Light” still holds similar ferocious rhythmic blasts amplified by the massive angered growls as tempo often gets faster inevitably generating loads of harsh grooves until everything slows down drastically and melodic guitars have a chance to craft dreamy polished melodies.

On “Dopamine” guitars shift from detailed melodic passages to evidently aggressive grooves so the song’s structure relies mainly on such contrasting feelings matched by the melancholic vocal delivery versus the chaotic screams and an extra twist is represented by the warmth of the atmospheric finale.  

“Hollow” still offers menacing rhythmic progressions through wild riffage and drumming but the melodic guitar phrases certainly stand out through the delicate atmospheric waves channeling spacey vibes and somber emotions.

“Distant And Cold” almost puts aside completely the previous enraged rhythmic rampage to focus on intricate atmospheric arrangements with evident ambiance textures and lavish guitar melodies leading to a full blown daydreaming mood.

To close the album “Departure” fiercely returns to embrace an extreme metal structure with absolutely merciless drums and frenetic riffs while the prog influenced guitar leads craft some tasteful melodies.

While all the tracks on “Undying Light” tend to rely on fierce extreme metal dynamics Fallujah are always ready to spice up such music formula with the right dosage of technical musicianship and cinematic elements.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8CcxqRPb3Y

Canadian metallers Arrival Of Autumn proudly presents to the world their debut full length “Harbinger” offering an intense mixture of groovy moments and bleak apocalyptic soundscapes.

On “Hurricane On The Horizon” there is a cool blend of polished somber melodies featuring interesting guitar progressions and insanely heavy patterns amplified by enraged vocals as the overall energy is fueled by the evident metalcore attitude.

“End Of Existence” follows a similar groovy music pathway as guitars naturally shift from explosive riffs marching through intriguing rhythmic variations to smooth melodic textures and wild soloing.

On “Witness” brutal guitar driven grooves continue to feel fundamental within the song’s structure leading to steady metalcore dynamics and angered screams yet leaving some space for calmer pensive moments enhanced by hazy atmospheres and clean vocals.

Undoubtedly “Better Off Without” stands out for the charismatic guitar solos and the creepy atmospheric tapestries that evoke the album’s apocalyptic themes just like the grim guitar tonalities and the contemplative clean vocals in contrast with a consistent series of aggressive rhythmic segments enhanced by the ferocious vocal delivery and the crunchy riffage.

While “The Endless” is clearly characterized by a fierce heavy & fast rhythmic core the song benefits greatly from the intricate melodic waves carefully crafted by the impressive lead guitar work and the melancholic atmospheres plus the extra catchy chorus will get stuck in your head.

The album’s grand finale comes with the dismal melodic guitars of “Apocalyptic” that still offers many raw energetic grooves dictated by the belligerent drum blasts but often slows down to rightfully emphasize the dramatic atmospheric textures and the darkened harmonies.  

For a young emerging band like Arrival Of Autumn the main goal is to attract an audience in the chaotic metal scene and the fiery yet approachable soundscapes of “Harbinger” will certainly give them a chance to get noticed.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPZWH6YM1oc

Back in 2017 Cellar Darling shared their powerful music vision with the debut album “This Is The Sound” and now the time has come to embark on a new journey symbolized by the sophomore full length “The Spell” which is also a dark fairytale telling the story of an unnamed girl who falls in love with death.  

The album opener “Pain” aptly puts a spell on you with the magical folk arrangements and hurdy-gurdy melodies accompanied by the elegant vocal delivery leading to peaceful feelings in contrast with the heavier rhythmic momentum fully expressed by the crunchy guitar riffs.

While on “Death” guitars can often acquire heavy darkened tonalities the compelling melodic depth comes from the otherworldly flute melodies and the lavish multifaceted vocal harmonies that shift from the catchy delivery of the chorus to the softer introspective delivery.

The title track features immensely melancholic soundscapes as the whole melodic ensemble craft intricate instrumental passages that benefit from the mixture of daydreaming folk nuances and somber guitar work while Anna’s simply spellbinding vocals render this track particularly sophisticated.  

On “Burn” guitars have a delicious edgy rock mood that leads to heavy and utterly eerie grooves following bold rhythmic dynamics but there are also dramatic moments enhanced by the darkly heartfelt melodies and dreamlike atmospheric arrangements.

“Insomnia” shines for the heavier prog influences of the galloping guitar riffs and the eclectic rhythmic variations without sacrificing the inner pensive melodic nature that once again is intensely emphasized by the impeccable warm vocals and the ethereal piano passages.

“Drown” can feel like an immersive sonic experience as well as a dreamy ballad with subtle atmospheric accents and the calming sound of the sea but also features profoundly darkened themes amplified by the gritty guitar riffage in the background while the hurdy-gurdy obviously adds a graceful folk aura.   

On “Death Pt. II” emotions become an essential part of the song that inevitably acquires a profoundly melancholic mood allowing Anna’s voice to take the spotlight with a particularly moving performance accompanied by the sheer beauty of enchanting piano melodies.  

In just few years Cellar Darling have already developed a unique music style that becomes even more fascinating and complex blending edgy prog elements and magical folk themes on “The Spell” which ultimately confirms that the band has great potential to stand out in the current metal scene.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDV_BeAZIUM