So that new album by A Sound of Thunder is pretty spectacular, which is odd considering they're usually very hit-or-miss.

I think both are great, but I'd definitely take the first over the second; it's just got their absolute best songs and a very, very fitting production.

SO yeah, okay, Dark Quarterer's s/t really clicks now. The epic qualities are overwhelming, really.

Any thoughts here on the band MADD HUNTER? Pretty good stuff from my initial listen.

Interesting, giving them a listen for the first time, the vocals are reminding me a little of Rivera though the band is simpler than Helstar and more aggressive than I would have expected. Definitely some oomph to this band. Good mention of a band I'd never heard of.

Just found this video of Phantom live, had no idea they were playing gigs again.

Falcon Eddie sounds amazing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wjJqlV4lks

Holy fuck, he's not missed a beat. Don't worry, Marty, their Australian tour is coming soon.

So I've been listening to the Hungarian Omen these days again and decided to check their 1994 live album. It's killer.

Been on an early Deris-era Halloween (1994-2000) kick lately. Anyone got any recommendations in a similar vein?

Do you know Heaven's Gate? I'd recommend their first two albums.

I actually tend to associate them more with the Kiske era.

There's now a full track available from the new Heir Apparent album on their bandcamp, and it's pretty awesome tbh. If the whole album is this good, I'll be very pleased.

Very subtle riff work, lots of atmospherics. Much more explicitly Queensryche-esque than their first two, I'd say, but in a good way. Think of the best parts of Rage for Order, and that's basically it.

Thanks for the heads-up! I'll check it out.

Howdy, gents!

I seek your help in finding some old-school 80s sounding true dark sullen epic heavy/power bands similar to something like Italian Domine debut disk, combining best features of Manowar, Manilla Road, Skelator, BattleroaR, early Fates Warning, with distinctive pounding bass, mighty vocals, guts-ripping heavy riffing and overall 'Moorcockian' atmosphere.

Thanks in advance.

I posted this in the doom thread already, but I figure I could post it here as well as these guys have some pretty strong trad elements.

Last night a band called Alms from Baltimore played at a show I went to, and they were great. Their debut is definitely worth a listen - NWOBHM-ish doomy hard rock type stuff. Tasty riffs and harmonies throughout. Very good songwriting.

https://almsbaltimore.bandcamp.com/releases

I apologize for the double-post, but Storrsson's full-length debut album just came out and it fucking slays.

https://storrsson.bandcamp.com/track/king-of-the-blade

Another one down: Just found out Mario Linhares died December 2017 at the age of 45, heart failure apparently.

World class singer in the Halford school, and their 1995 s/t album is seriously overlooked. Too bad they lost momentum after that, they could have made it big. They did continue on and off until his death.
RIP

https://starquake1.bandcamp.com/track/no-more-hate

This Means War syndrome. One of the most shameless thefts ever. It gave me a good laugh.

I'm assuming you're not talking about TANK's "This Means War," because I don't hear it if you are. :V

What I DO hear is an echo of Iron Maiden's "Wasted Years" but that's probably just me.

An echo?! It's the same song!
I don't know what "This Means War syndrome" is either.

It's this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlPToAsLm7o
See if you can spot their inspiration.

And yeah, you would have to be very, very lenient to call that song an "echo". It's the most shameless ripoff since the above link.

Hahaha that shit is amazing, I could literally predict every part of it on first listen. It's a shame, too, their overall sound is pretty decent.

Is everyone keeping their weepy Shelton-thoughts on FB or what?

Best that ever did it. I'm so thankful he got to be a world-touring rock star before it ended.

Oh he gets a legit main page thread! Sorry.

I was playing Manilla Road all day today and yesterday. When people asked me about unique metal bands, one that do not sound like any other I always pointed to three groups - Brocas Helm, Holy Terror and...Manilla Road. "Open The Gates" is such a masterpiece it cannot even be properly described. It takes you on a mystical journey while retaining enough grounding and power not to go away to "power metal-lalalala-land".

As a sidenote - as we discussed in the new albums thread the new Dee Snider album is suprisingly good with a GREAT vocal performance by Dee - the only thing people might not like is the modern rockish production and sometimes some radio-friendly musical choices (although I would just say some songs are simply catchy and hooky).

I named my new internet network (new router) "TheShark". You can guess my password, please don't hack me

Man, the Scalare LP fucking rules. If you don't mind horrendous vocals check it out for some weirdo trad/power metal.

I tried to listen to that one but the vocals beat me. Could not do it.

But I put on that Manacle album and I gotta buy that LP. Those early Fates Warning vibes are really something!

Oh yeah. Manacle are noooooo joke. It sounds like they tapped into that 84 lifeblood.

Does anybody have recs for bands that emulate the Empire-Promised Land era Queensryche sound moreso than their 80s sound? Y'know, more rocky and commercial but with noticeable slick Rush-isms and clean soaring vocals that generally occupy a somewhat deeper/lower register than the 80s counterpart. Fates Warning capture a bit of that vibe on Parallels and Inside Out but I haven't heard many other bands expand on that sound. Bonus points if they have moody ballad tracks like Out of Mind or Lady Jane on there.

Labyrinth are an obvious recommendation, maybe a bit light on the commercial rock front, but they definitely have the same atmosphere of wistful longing those 90s Fates Warning albums have.

I dunno if they really get the vibe of those shitty Queensryche albums, but Labyrinth - or that album in particular - were great. It's like the one post-good Europower album I like. People compare it to that Lost Horizon album, but it's far superior it doesn't have the crappy, MRA activist lyrics, either.

Who had MRA lyrics, Lost Horizon? Maybe it's been a while since I paid attention to them...

Labyrinth's newest, Architecture of a God, is fantastic and might be even more in the vein of what you're looking for, as it's got a few more mid tempo, commercial style numbers here and there.

Maybe Trail of Murder and Project Arcadia, urban breed's projects, too? Similarly sleek vocal melodies and heavy but somewhat commercial metal music.

I dunno, I wasn't paying that close attention but wasn't one of the songs on the debut "You've had your heartbroken - how weak? Welcome someone into your life... but she must kiss the ring". Like, you know, she needs to be in servitude to you or maybe he just wanted her to eat his arse. Sub-Manowarisms at any rate.

Lost Horizon's lyrics are indeed pretty garbage but I still really like their debut.

Lost Horizon's lyrics aren't garbage, but the dude has pretty basic English skills and for what he's working with I think the lyrics have power and are on message. Love both of the albums more than most.

I don't think I've actually listened to their debut in years. I usually gravitated for the second album.

Me too. Something about that second album just seemed more complete, mature and just...better.

Closest I'm come lately to that is this album. Pretty damn good, in fact! Especially the song Wasteland.

Okay bro!!! I got some shit for ya, cause it's my fav style of metal!!!

Fucking classic and original sound. Wrathblade:


Best debut of the last five years.Eternal Champion:


Manacle:


Lethal Steel:


More epic than Maiden! Sellsword:


Closest to Manilla Road as you'll get!Assedium:


Elfspell:


Vultures Vengeance:


One of the best songs I've come across. Avalon Steel:


Gray Wolf:


Absolute classic. Skullview:


This album is amazing. Illegal Bodies:


Possessed Steel:


Terminus:


Stone Dagger: