Among the several interesting Swedish bands Troubled Horse has a rather clear music pathway where classic heavy metal and retro rock ‘n’ roll are naturally mixed as you can tell immediately listening to the new album “Revolution On Repeat”

“Hurricane” relies on an energetic retro rock groove where loads of tight catchy guitar riffs and unrestrained raspy rocker style vocals take the lead but the memorable bold guitar solo also deserves attention.

“The Filthy Ones” features understated energetic grooves in the midst of a gloomy yet rebellious mood with vibrant psychedelic rock moments and captivating guitar solos.

“Peasants” has a well constructed steady rocking groove that feels like partying all night long and again owes its inner charismatic strength to the intense catchy guitar dynamics.

“The Haunted” is a monumental piece of music with a compelling series of moody old fashioned doom oriented guitar riffs, subtle psychedelic accents and melodies that naturally culminate in intricate melodic guitar solos.

“Desperation” holds a melancholic soul with a sad acoustic intro and a particularly passionate vocal delivery while guitars and keyboards successfully maintain a melodic sorrowful mood.

Lovers of the unstoppable retro rock scene will certainly embrace the warm 70’s vibes that characterize Troubled Horse’ music and “Revolution On Repeat” is definitely loaded with irresistible exquisite nostalgia.

Featuring beloved Nightwish’s guitarist Emppu Vuorinen Finnish AOR band Brother Firetribe embarks on a catchy nostalgic trip with newest full length “Sunbound’ which contains an explosive collection of radio friendly melodic rock tunes with evident 80s influences.

“Help Is On The Way” could have become a hit in the 80s but today it just sounds like a homage to the distant golden era of melodic rock as Brother Firetribe just follows a simple music recipe of catchy guitar harmonies & solo supported by layered keyboards melodies.

“Indelible Heroes” doesn’t bring any astonishing innovations but the guitar riffs and leads manage to create a dirtier rocking groove in contrast with the over-polished chorus.

The lead single “Taste Of A Champion” is another guilty pleasure with big guitar sound, loads of focused melodic hooks and shimmering keyboards arrangements.

On “Give Me Tonight” a crunchy guitar driven rhythm leads the way while the extremely radio friendly happy chorus is surrounded by loads of bright keyboards layers.

With smooth emotional vocals and simplistic guitar riffs/solo “Restless Heart” is another example of what melodic rock for the masses sounds like.

“Big City Dream” truly feels like a 80s throwback with cheesy choruses and old fashioned energetic rock guitar & keyboards melodies that can be easily comprehended and enjoyed by large crowds.

In terms of songwriting “Sunbound” certainly sounds cohesive and entertaining as the whole album is meant to please a nostalgic audience but some picky music connoisseurs might find Brother Firetribe’s enthusiastic signature style quite dated or repetitive.

Featuring renowned Soilwork’s vocalist Björn Strid and guitarist David Andersson supergroup The Night Flight Orchestra is ready to guide you through a timeless flamboyant music/space journey with the third album “Amber Galactic”.

“Midnight Flyer” immediately channels a consistent vintage style with dominant happy & catchy synths melodies culminating in a wild 80’s inspired keyboards solo while guitars follow familiar classic rock themes with impeccable clarity.

On “Gemini” Björn Strid delivers multifaceted clean vocals with falsetto and radio friendly choruses over balanced electronic layers and a disco friendly rhythmic crescendo.

“Domino” favors a shimmering smooth 80’s rock & pop combo focusing on simplistic melodic keyboards while guitars hide in the background and are allowed to shine only to deliver brief classic melodic accents.

“Space Whisperer” offers more guitar dynamics with intense rock groove and a compelling wild guitar solo while layered keyboards continue to follow easy up-tempo melodies.

“Saturn In Velvet” carries a deep sense of nostalgia with slower melodic arrangements that soon give way to another round of danceable vibrant grooves amplified by confident dazzling vocals.

Those in the mood for classic rock with palpable 70’s and 80’s vibes will find “Amber Galactic” quite enjoyable as The Night Flight Orchestra proves to skillfully master this nostalgic music style.

American black metal act Nightbringer has unleashed a brand new brutally dark opus entitled “Terra Damnata” which fiercely explores the enigmatic depths of extreme metal.

“As Wolves Amongst Ruins” focuses on brutally fast rhythm, thick relentless guitar riffs and solemn vocals/growls but its true inner strength can be found in the intricate melodic guitar work that effortlessly embrace the atmospheric sinister orchestration.

“Misrule” continues to follow the darkest music pathway with creepy haunting classical orchestrations that seamlessly gain the spotlight in the midst of an insanely chaotic guitar driven rhythmic crescendo.

“Let Silence Be His Sacred Name” features deeply melancholic piano melodies followed by a vicious sonic attack with a scorching fast paced guitar riffing and drumming combo while melodic guitars also have a chance to create exquisite slower passages with decadent doom and gothic nuances.

“Inheritor Of A Dying World” delivers slower intricate guitar and bass dynamics that naturally craft powerfully cathartic melodies while somber vocals feel like ancient ritualistic incantations channeling highly dramatic vibes.

Instrumental track “The Lamp Of Inverse Light” immediately evokes the forlorn desolation of a pitch-black soundscape with slow and super heavy tormented melodic guitars surrounded by otherworldly atmospheric orchestrations.

Nightbringer doesn’t necessarily break music boundaries but skillfully combines traditional black metal anthems and rather compelling darkened melodies as “Terra Damnata” successfully re-confirms the band’s established status in the underground elite circles.

Ajattara has been considered the most dangerous black metal band to emerge from Finland and, after a six years hiatus, the long awaited new full length “Lupaus” is ready to re-conquer the music scene with a ferocious sonic assault.

“Saatanan Sinetti” ensures great impact with relentless guitar riffing that holds the right dosage of darkened mood extremely amplified in the cathartic guitar driven breakdown.

“Suru” delivers a more melodic approach with moody gothic atmospheres and slower tempo variations enriched by intense clean vocals.

“Ave Satana” still holds traditional black metal vibes with venomous growls and subtle atmospheric darkness but also a more modern approach with catchy tight guitar riffs that build a cohesive groove.

“Uhrilahja” showcases multifaceted instrumental dynamics and the sinister chanting vocals evoke a realm of never-ending darkness even when the guitars begin to craft smoother melodies.

The title track doesn’t deviate from the album’s general mysterious mood and offers another consistent round of grave guitar riffs, thunderous drums and merciless growls surrounded by desolate melancholic atmospheric arrangements.

Finnish veterans Ajattara demonstrate to own a pure blackened creative force and “Lupaus” combines a balanced mix of melodic and primordial black metal in grandiose obscure fashion.

 

Dutch black metal band Dodecahedron returns with the newest enigmatic work of music philosophically entitled “Kwintessens”, a blistering soundtrack for those inevitably attracted to alienating darkness.

“TETRAHEDRON – The Culling Of The Unwanted From The Earth” focuses on horrific fury constantly amplified by intense enraging growls and dissonant instrumental passages. Through the thick bleak soundscape occasional atmospheric darkened melodies emerge through the vigorous wall of raw guitar riffs.

“HEXAHEDRON – Tilling The Human Soil” is all about fierce blackened wrath with impenetrable guitar riffs and chaotic rhythms but a frail light seems to appear through ambiguous harmonies.

“DODECAHEDRON – An Ill-Defined Air Of Otherness” delivers nightmarish textures with cold desolate guitar melodies and absolutely desperate growls/screams as feelings of utter hopelessness and decay dominate the atmospheric arrangements.

“ICOSAHEDRON – The Death Of Your Body” blends raw black metal roots and avant-garde dissonance in the creation of an inescapable obscure chaos surrounded by an insane crescendo of primordial guitar riffing and perennial mystifying atmospheres.

Dodecahedron proudly and fearlessly decides to craft an overwhelming asphyxiating collection of songs with rather unique titles and “Kwintessens” offers complex dramatic nuances that at times might sound repetitive or uneasy to the average listeners.

Industrial rockers Davey Suicide proudly return with the brand new full length “Made From Fire”, a charismatic collection of groovy tunes that feel like a strong declaration of intent and will to rise from the ashes.

“Rise Above” holds dear many renowned industrial elements and, like the majority of the album, bears the influence of early Marilyn Manson’s style. Davey Suicide focuses on crunchy guitar riffs and electro accents to create a slightly heavy catchy rhythm naturally amplified by borderline rebellious vocal deliveries and choruses.

“Dancing With The Reaper” features another round of catchy choruses and rhythm embellished with both eerie and futuristic electro accent.

“No Angel” mellows down with slower dramatic electro moments, traditionally melodic guitar solo and an emotionally charged radio friendly chorus.

“Too Many Freaks” is a fun hit song that would certainly appeal to a rebellious young crowd. Besides the super groovy danceable rhythm this song gains variety with the addition of Twiztid’s hip hop performance.

Featuring William Control, “Paralyzed” successfully combines softer electro melodies and darker rock melancholic nuances while focusing on highly passionate vocals.

The title track brings back some loud energy with industrial oriented raw guitar riffs but also delivers melodic vibes particularly palpable in the polished guitar solo.

We have already enjoyed multiple incarnations of alt/industrial rock and “Made From Fire” might not deliver extremely complex songwriting or astonishing music innovations but Davey Suicide proves to be capable of creating a cohesive trendy album full of hooks and entertaining grooves.

English band Alunah returns to the music scene with the enchanting fourth album “Solennial” which shines for the harmonious blend of retro doom grooves and vivid melodies.

“The Dying Soil” opens the album with dramatic aesthetics and ethereal melodies surrounded by the mystical aura of nature worship.

“Feast Of Torches” runs on melancholic guitar melodies and soft vocals before gaining stronger dynamics with a groovy guitar riffs crescendo amplified by darker overtones and pagan folk accents.

“Fire Of Thornborough Henge” is all about traditional doom guitar riffing and memorable melodic leads bearing lovely vintage tones while Sophie Day delivers soothing angelic vocals that match the mellower “enchanted forest” vibes and evoke the eternal beauty of nature.

“Petrichor” features magical melodies that effortlessly give way to strong doom riffing and rich melodic guitar leads with scattered psychedelic accents while cellos in the background create additional exquisite harmonies.

With “Solennial” Alunah proves to be a quite interesting band delivering a particularly spellbinding retro sound that combined with folklore vibes and a strong spiritual celebration of nature will definitely delight the listeners.

Based in Finland, John Richardson is an experienced songwriter and university professor who decided share his music creativity in the album “The Fold”.

The title track features an elegant acoustic groove enhanced by eclectic electric guitar phrases, additional textured instrumentation and soothingly warm vocal duets.

“Birdman Of Bognor” offers dramatic intricate acoustic melodies, emotionally charged vocals and quite flamboyant folk inspired rhythms.

“Sanatorium” introduces darker atmospheric layers with compelling multi-instrumental arrangements that naturally build a slower yet powerful acoustic rhythm.

“Riptide (Three Broken Screens)” unfolds with dreamy darkened textures particularly amplified by an intensely charismatic string and brass instrumental crescendo.

“Brushfire” combines delightful cello and acoustic guitar melodies surrounded by somber undertones and poignant vocals.

With a laid back minimalist rock core and shimmering progressive elements, “The Fold” includes several pleasant moments that tend to rely on a moody melodic approach suitable for a wide audience.