Swiss folk metal superstars Eluveitie embark on a brand new epic journey with the 8th album “Ategnatos” which seems to have all the necessary elements to satisfy the devoted fans featuring the band’s signature blend of melodic death metal and magical traditional folk tapestries accompanied by a real string quartet.

Without any hesitation the title track manifest the band’s successful folk metal formula focusing on epic cinematic soundscapes meticulously crafted by traditional instruments such as hurdy gurdy and bagpipes that enrich the recurring lavish melodies but the band never forgets to add some darkened heavier dynamics with intense rhythmic crescendos, bold guitar riffs and ominous growls.

The opulent multi-layered folk arrangements of “Black Water Dawn” tend to steal the spotlight leading to a particularly enthralling melodic ensemble emphasized by the lovely vocals by Fabienne Erni while groovy guitar riffs & soloing channel the expected heavier momentum.

“A Cry In The Wilderness” offers elegant atmospheric textures followed by a more substantial melodic death metal approach with the right dosage of crunchy guitar licks and ravenous growls while the melodic spirit naturally comes to life through the intricate folk harmonies.

“The Raven Hill” favors ancient folk vibes that lead to solemn chants and enchanting harmonies as the instrumental passages can sound absolutely melancholic but also playful following an entertaining upbeat rhythm.

Featuring guest vocalist Randy Blythe of Lamb Of God “Worship” incarnates a darker essence through prominent savage growls and a rather fierce guitar driven assault while the harmonious folk nuances also tend to match such sinister mood with mysterious atmospheres and somber melodic phrases.

“Breathe” is a particularly catchy track where a mix of soothing folk melodies and catchy guitar riffs create a sumptuous soundscape around Fabienne’s glowing vocal performance and a memorable widely accessible chorus.

“Rebirth” maintains major epic vibes and dwells in a classic melo-death sonic realm as it can sound utterly vicious with loads of fast energetic rhythmic segments and massive guitar riffage obviously amplified by the intense growls in contrast with the softer spellbinding atmospheric moments.

“Eclipse” closes the album with a minimalist atmospheric approach that allows the listeners to truly appreciate Fabienne’s passionate & haunting vocal performance.

From beginning to end “Ategnatos” is a majestic opus destined to conquer even more fans as despite some major line up changes Eluveitie appear in excellent shape ready to embrace a new bombastic chapter in their successful career.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubhf4AAL5Hc

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