Battlecross — War Of Will
★★★☆ This album is a whole lot of fun, with hints of Lamb Of God, Black Dahlia Murder, and a few other high-energy metal acts. Definitely worth another listen. See the rest here
First Listens With Three-Star Ratings
Darkane — The Sinister Supremacy
★★★☆ A breath of fresh air from these Gothenburg veterans. It’s interesting, memorable, and heavvvvvy. See the rest here
Amon Amarth — Deceiver Of The Gods
★★★☆ At worst, this is predictable Amon Amarth (which is still pretty rad). But the highlights of this album are epic standouts. Go on with your Nordic bad selves! See the rest here
Extol — Extol
★★★☆ It takes a lot for prog metal to sound unique these days, but this eponymous album from Extol does just that. See the rest here
Chthonic — Bú-Tik
★★★☆ Just the lightest smattering of synthy power does not at all get in the way of Chthonic’s high-energy blend of speed metal and Taiwanese opera. See the rest here
