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7.0
TARJAFrisson Noir
Tarja's latest offering is a carefully constructed soundscape of gothic grandeur and orchestral metal, but lacks the visceral punch to truly ignite.
7.0
AMBUSHEvil In All Dimensions
'Evil In All Dimensions' delivers a solid dose of modern metal, but ultimately lacks the spark to truly transcend its influences.
7.0
EPICAAspiral
*Aspiral* finds Epica wrestling with weighty themes and expansive soundscapes, delivering a mostly compelling journey despite moments of self-indulgence.
7.0
PARADISE LOSTAscension
Paradise Lost's latest offering, 'Ascension', delivers a familiar blend of gothic grandeur and crushing doom, though its length proves a minor stumbling block.
7.0
DYNAZTYGame of Faces
A valiant effort, but 'Game of Faces' feels like a band treading water rather than forging ahead.
7.0
THE HUHUN
A valiant, if somewhat predictable, second act for Mongolian folk metal titans The HU.
7.0
SINSIDAll That Remains
Sinsid deliver traditional heavy metal with sturdy hooks and clear conviction, even when the songwriting leans heavily on inherited forms.
7.0
ENSIFERUMIron
Ensiferum’s second album sharpens the production and delivers major anthems, though it lacks some of the debut’s raw surprise and cohesion.
7.0
END ALLHAIL MIND
HAIL MIND combines sharp modern-metal production with energetic structural shifts, though several songs confuse constant motion with development.
7.0
INGESTEDDenigration
Ingested deliver a tightly engineered beating, strongest when the grooves are allowed to land without extra ornament.
7.0
RIOT CULTMelodic Death Metal Anarchy, Vol. 1
Riot Cult shape political unease into a cold, melodic record whose atmosphere is stronger than its confused genre label.
7.0
CRYPTIC SHIFTOverspace & Supertime
Cryptic Shift turn technical extremity into a vast, hostile environment, though the scale sometimes obscures the point.
7.0
MOTORPSYCHOThe Gaia II Space Corps
Motorpsycho compress their progressive instincts into a focused, mobile record where arrangement serves momentum rather than excess.
7.0
EDGE OF SANITYCrimson
An ambitious single-piece death metal work whose melodic continuity impresses even when its long-form pacing occasionally loosens.
7.0
ABORTEDThe Archaic Abattoir
A lean, aggressive death-metal record whose sharp pacing and riff-first writing still land with force.
7.0
ALESTORMThe Thunderfist Chronicles
Alestorm balance blunt-force pirate-metal hooks with darker detours and an enormous closing epic on their most ambitious recent album.
7.0
ELUVEITIEÀnv
Ànv balances folk-metal colour with sharp melodic hooks, though its smoother middle stretch lowers the impact of an otherwise focused record.
7.0
IMPELLITTERIWar Machine
A tightly played heavy-metal record with serious riffing power, sharp drumming and just enough excess to slow its momentum.
7.0
ENSIFERUMFrom Afar
A valiant, if somewhat predictable, return to form for Ensiferum’s folk-infused metal mayhem.
7.0
DAN TERMINUSGothic Engine
A dense, cinematic electronic-metal hybrid rich in texture and momentum, though its long runtime blunts the strongest ideas.