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Symphony X - Paradise Lost Inside Out Music - 79252 - June 26, 2007 by Amanda J. Carlson Good things come to those who wait. Paradise Lost took five long years to create, and it was time well spent by this New Jersey five piece. It was a tall order to beat 2002’s The Odyssey, but they...

Metalium - Nothing to Undo-Chapter Six Crash Music - CMU61193 - Feb. 20, 2007 by Amanda J. Carlson Few bands focus their entire discography on one lyrical concept, but that is exactly what Metalium has done. Each one of their six albums is a chapter in a story about a "Metalian" warrior...

Masterplan - MK II Candlelight Records USA - CDL340CD - March 20, 2007 by Amanda J. Carlson Even after a significant revamping with two new additions on this third release, Masterplan are still as strong as they were on their 2005 album, Aeronautics. Though the super strong and unique...

Machine Men - Circus of Fools Century Media - 77616-2 - February 19, 2007 by Amanda J. Carlson The day the rest of the world discovers what they’re missing by not knowing Machine Men will be a great day. Circus of Fools is their most original album to date, taking their traditional sound...

Conquest of Steel - May Your Blade Never Dull No Face Records - NFRCD006 - 2006 by Amanda J. Carlson As something to tide fans over until their next album, Conquest of Steel has put together this five song EP. With their second full-length album due this year, this five-piece consider...

Tarot - Crows Fly Black Kingfoo Entertainment - KFCD-011 - January 19, 2007 by Amanda J. Carlson Of all the great bands that spawn from Finland, Tarot remains a classic after twenty years of straightforward, all out metal. They've perfected their style, going from primitive simplicity to...

Richard Andersson's Space Odyssey - Tears of the Sun Regain Records - RR111 - November 27, 2006 by Amanda J. Carlson The king of keyboards never stops. Richard Andersson's latest composition of his solo project is the third release of the Space Odyssey collection. Once again his partner...

White Willow - Signal to Noise Laser's Edge - LE1046 - August 22, 2006 By Amanda J. Carlson With four very mellow, woodwind driven albums behind them, number five takes White Willow down a slightly different path. Signal to Noise comprises a more modern sound in comparison to the light...

Falconer - Northwind Metal Blade - Sept. 25, 2006 by Amanda J. Carlson A classic Falconer album has arrived to grace our ears. Original singer Mathias Blad has returned with his elegant, velvety voice that he mainly showcased in Swedish musicals, but the desire of the band to return to a...

SpiRitual - Pulse Sensory Dark - SR3032 - August 22, 2006 by Amanda J. Carlson Goth metal and world music come together as a great couple in SpiRitual's first release, Pulse. Created by Stefan Hertrich (Darkseed, Betray My Secrets, Shiva in Exile), the songs on Pulse explore a wide range of...

Bible of the Devil - The Diabolic Procession Cruz Del Sur Music - cruz20 - July 18, 2006 by Amanda J. Carlson When I see a name like Bible of the Devil and song titles like "Ecclesia Novorum Innocentium" and "Legions of the Oriflamme," I'm thinking this is going to be a deep, dark death...

Frozen - Enemy Soil Self-released - August 19, 2006 by Amanda J. Carlson This band has just proven that you don't need a record label to put out some killer music. Enemy Soil is Frozen’s second self-released album, packed with everything from beautiful acoustic moments to crushing...

Rhapsody - Triumph or Agony SPV - 97582 - Sept. 26, 2006 by Amanda J. Carlson With copyright issues forcing Rhapsody to edit their name, it seems the Italian cheesmasters have also changed much more than that. The speedy power metal style that made them a classic in the genre has...

Bal-Sagoth - The Chthonic Chronicles Candlelight Records - CDL302 - May 16, 2006 by Amanda J. Carlson I was first introduced to Bal-Sagoth a few years ago with the song "Naked Steel (The Warrior’s Saga)" from the album Battle Magic, and was not impressed. It has come time for me to give...

Wolverine - Still Candlelight Records - CDL307 - July 11, 2006 by Amanda J. Carlson For a band with a name such as Wolverine, and that has been compared to Opeth and Dream Theater, this was a bit of a disappointment. Granted, there is a resemblance to Opeth's Damnation, but of course I was...

Twin Method - The Volume of Self Crash Music - CMU61175 - June 13, 2006 by Amanda J. Carlson It's hard for me to take seriously a band with neon-colored mohawks and dreadlocks and tours with Drowning Pool. The good thing is, they're not quite as bad as they look. Despite a nu-metal...

Theatre of Tragedy - Storm Candlelight Records - CDL304 - June 27, 2006 by Amanda J. Carlson Finally a female-fronted mellow metal band that hasn't bored me to death. With lovely vocals, smooth guitars, and a prevalent melodious piano, Theatre of Tragedy stands tall among other bands of this...

Obscurant - First Degree Suicide Woodcut Records - CUT038 - July 12, 2005 by Amanda J. Carlson This Finnish death metal band is not unlike bands I've heard before. There is a strong resemblance to early Amorphis, with the slower-paced, atmospheric songs, and very little diversity between...

Elvenking - The Winter Wake Candelight Records - CDL299 - March 21, 2006 by Amanda J. Carlson You know an album is good when a week after last listening to it, you wake up in the morning with songs from it in your head. That’s what has happened to me with this latest release from...

Scar Symmetry - Pitch Black Progress Nuclear Blast - NB1658-2 - April 21, 2006 by Amanda J. Carlson The alternation between clean and growling vocals is a cool style in metal, and it’s the stellar utilization of it that makes Scar Symmetry a quality band. Their sophomore album, Pitch...