Category: news

A bombastic, retro-futurist glory ride is afoot.

Much like the broader fandom of high fantasy and Sci-Fi cinema, their symphonic power metal contingent tends to be highly amenable to their favorite stories getting a proper sequel treatment. Granted, emphasis should be placed on the continuation being a faithful one and simultaneously expanding upon the core concept of the original while throwing in the occasional twist or subversive element to keep things interesting.

Insofar as U.K.- born 3rd-wave power metal showmen Gloryhammer are concerned, the theme of good vs. evil in an otherworldly context comes with a comedic level of exaggeration and campiness, but this has proven a highly effective approach that has provided a novel spin upon the stylistic template pioneered by the likes of Rhapsody Of Fire and Stratovarius. Led by the compositional vision and quirky storytelling of Alestorm mastermind Chris Bowes, their studio output has been an exercise in qualitative consistency, yet majority sentiment tends to favor their 2015 sophomore outing Space 1992: Rise Of The Chaos Wizards as the best of the bunch and thus the most worthy of a second installment.

At first glance, Space 1993: Wrath Of Kor-Virliath follows the exact same structural scheme as its 2015 predecessor, matching bombastic symphonic glosses and cartoonish effects-steeped voice-overs above a bustling foundation of up tempo metallic majesty. However, a closer inspection reveals an album struck by a slightly darker and heavier tone, almost as if the madcap lyrical storytelling has met with a more grounded sound.

Much of this is owed to acclaimed producer Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Amaranthe, Primal Fear) taking over the engineering chair following a highly consistent 4 album run with Lasse Lammert and balancing out the orchestral flourishes with a denser and more unified guitar and drum presence. One would also be remiss to discount the degree in which vocalist Sozos Michael has gelled with the band since replacing Thomas Winkler, presenting a smoother yet no less charismatic voice for Gloryhammer’s principle character under the new name of Angus McFife II that’s a little closer to the prototypical power metal front man embodied in figures like Michael Kiske and Timo Kotipelto.

Things begin with the usual pomp and circumstance of a Hollywood score-inspired instrumental overture, though “Ultra Portam Astralem” manages to stand apart from previous entries in sheer power, sounding somewhere between a drum-heavy homage to Hans Zimmer and an intergalactic fanfare out of the James Horner playbook. But when the rubber hits the road, Gloryhammer matches grand orchestral flourishes out of the Nightwish playbook with a meaty, aggressive and riff driven assault starting with the driving opening foray “Ultimate Sacrifice”.

Much of the menacing character that gives this anthem and similarly compact crushers like “Warriors Of Auchtermuchty” and “Hammer Of Fate” their rugged, almost German-like quality compared to past entries in this outfit’s catalog is a greater emphasis on Paul Templing’s guitar work, which lands several impressive technical benchmarks but mostly just hits harder, ditto Ben Turk’s drum work that occasionally flirts with thrash territory and definitely channels a strong Thomas Stauch influence.

The theme of sticking with what works but doing it leaner and meaner is a continual theme throughout the entire album, all the while losing nothing in the earworm department. The mid-paced rocker fit for terrestrial radio, “On A Quest For Aberdeen” has a sing-along romp written all over it and matches catchy hooks with flashy keyboard work; meanwhile, the synth-infused “Demonic Devotion” takes a few nods from the retro-80s stylings of Battle Beast and Metalite and goes head on into overt pop metal territory with charming results.

The high octane fury normally associated with the Rhapsody Of Fire school of symphonic power makes a couple riveting splashes with “Die With A Sword In My Hand” and “Starfighters Of Leuchars”, dogged closely by the more down tempo yet lofty blend of Wagnerian largess and riff happy power metal “Pax Galactica”. But for the go large or go home crowd that crave the insanely long epic compositions channeling the benchmarks of Rhapsody Of Fire’s “Gargoyles: Angels Of Darkness” and Luc Turilli’s “Prophet Of The Last Eclipse”, this album closes on a gargantuan 12 minutes plus metallic slough with a comically long title that will be referred to simply as “Final Assault On Battlemoon X-22” for purposes of brevity, arguably one of the most ambitious undertakings in power metal since the 2010s.

In the end, Gloryhammer is a band that knows its own audience and understands the wisdom of a gradual and controlled evolution, and at every point that is what Space 1993: Wrath Of Kor-Virliath delivers. Those whom have been living under a rock since 2013 and are brand new to the zany brand of storytelling that comes with this quintet might find it a little jarring compared to the more stoic and sincere character the subgenre exhibited during its early 2000s heyday, but the majority that are already familiar with Bowes brand of showmanship via this band or Alestorm will invite yet another episode of 80s B-cinema Sci-Fi high-jinks with open arms.

There are zero attempts at reinventing the style to be found here, nor any noteworthy left turns into unfamiliar territory apart from a slightly more forbidding atmosphere in this Scottish space opera’s midst, but the seriousness of the musicianship behind the madness is far from in doubt when the riffs hit the road.

Release Date: October 16,2026
Record Label: Napalm Records
Genre: Power Metal

Musicians:

• Sozos Michael / Vocals
• Paul Templing / Guitars
• James Cartwright / Bass
• Ben Turk / Drums

Guest Musicians:

• Michael Barber / Guitars (Track 3)
• Arnaud Ménard / Vocals (Track 11)
• Christopher Bowes / Narration (Track 2, 8,and 11)
• Zak Glynn / Narration (Track 6 and 11)
• Alex McVittie / Saxophone (Track 9)

Space 1993: Wrath Of Kor-Virliath Tracklist:

1. Ultra Portam Astralem
2. Ultimate Sacrifice
3. On a Quest for Aberdeen
4. Die with a Sword in My Hand
5. Silver Talon
6. Starfighters of Leuchars
7. Warriors of Auchtermuchty
8. Pax Galactica
9. Demonic Devotion
10. Hammer of Fate
11. The Celestial Warhost of the Dundonian Empire Marches to Space Against the Dark Sorcerer (Final Assault on Battlemoon X-22)

Order the album here.

The post GLORYHAMMER – Space 1993: Wrath Of Kor-Virliath (Album Review) appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Texas-based Fervence are still a relatively young band. Formed in 2019, they released their debut album just a year later. Now, with Constructs, the five-piece deliver their third full-length, showcasing a band that has matured and developed a broader musical vocabulary. Lyrically, the album draws on personal experiences and relationships, exploring the emotions that shape our… Continue Reading →

Round one saw giants such as Guns N' Roses, Led Zeppelin, Metallica and Pink Floyd lose. Continue reading…

Pavlov’s Dog frontman David Surkamp has died, aged 73, the band have announced.

The band’s current violin and mandolin player Abbie Steiling paid tribute to Surkamp on behalf of the current line-up on their Facebook page, saying, “It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share the unexpected passing of our creative force, lead singer, and dear friend, David Surkamp, on October 13.

“David leaves behind a legacy of endless creativity, unmistakable artistry, and a body of music that has touched lives across generations and around the world. But anyone who knew and loved him knows that his legacy reaches far beyond the songs. David had a profoundly poetic spirit and a romantic heart that found its way into every note, every lyric, and every performance. His music was deeply emotive, reaching straight into the hearts of listeners, giving voice to longing, to love, to beauty, and to the bittersweet ache of it all.

“He always allowed the musicians around him to shine in their strengths, generous with the spotlight and appreciative of what each brought to the music. No matter what life held for him, he came alive onstage. Even on his hardest days, when the lights came up and the count-off began, he was a consummate performer. If he was playing music, it was a great day.

“As we grapple with the magnitude and shock of this loss, we take comfort in the incredible community that surrounded him: his family, his wonderfully enduring friendships, and the global family brought together through Pavlov’s Dog and the music he gave to the world.

“David’s heart held so much love for his wife Sara, and we hope he has found peace with the love he has missed so dearly.

“There are no words sufficient for a loss of this magnitude. We are heartbroken. We are grateful. We will carry David, his music, and the memories created with us always. Our deepest condolences are with Saylor, Evan, and the Surkamp family, as well as the Pavlov’s Dog family as we walk together through this difficult time of grief.”

Pavlov’s Dog evolved out of High On A Small Hill, which Surkamp formed in 1971, aged 19, with bassist Rick Stockton and two other high school friends.

“I remember hearing those foghorns at the start of 21st Century Schizoid Man – that was it for me,” he told Prog in 2016. “I loved Fairport Convention, too – they were probably my favourite band.”

They released their debut album, Pampered Menial, in 1975, a mix of prog and melodic hard rock produced by Sandy Pearlman and Murray Krugman, who’d both worked with Blue Öyster Cult. Surkamp’s distinctive vocals, which he once described as “a choirboy on speed” made sure the band were noticed. A second album, At The Sound Of The Bell, was released in 1976, but a year later the band disbanded.

Surkamp went on to work with former Fairport Convention musician Ian Matthews in Hi-Fi and also as a journalist, but Pavlov’s Dog reformed in 1990, recording Lost in America before things stalled again.

They reformed again in 2005, this time with Sukramp’s wife Sara on vocals and guitar, and were still a going concern. They released three more new studio albums, Echo And Boo in 2010, Prodigal Dreamer in 2018 and Wanderlust in 2025, along with a career-spanning box set, Pavlov’s Dog Essential Recordings 1974-2018 in 2024.

Original band member Siegfried Carver died in 2009, multi-instrumentalist Doug Rayburn in 2012, bassist Rick Stockton in 2015 and keyboardist David Hamilton and Sara Surkamp passed last year.

They’ll be touring the UK and Ireland this fall.

The post Tortured Demon Sign With BLKIIBLK, Debut “Apocalypse” Music Video appeared first on Theprp.com.

Chained Saint had a big week with their 'Rise to Fall' EP arriving and Ethan Kahn joining Sepultura onstage. Continue reading…

The origins of Pleasanton, CA prog metalers Zero Hour go back more than three decades, though the band was most active in the late ’90s and ’00s. Following a decade-plus apart, founding member Jasun Tipton (guitars) reconvened a new lineup with Erik Rosvold (vocals) and Andreas Blomqvist (bass) to record 2022’s Agenda 21. Now they return with a brand new four-track EP, No Man’s Land, that features contributions from Jeremy Villucci (keyboards) and Roel van Helden (drums). The EP is a rather long one, but uniquely features two epic tracks with vocals—the title track and “Codes of Violence”—as well as instrumental versions of those same songs. We’re offering all of them here for your perusal to soak up the instrumental virtuosity of the musicians and bell-clear vocals of Rosvold.

No Man’s Land was recorded by the band, with the drums recorded by Kai Stahlenberg at Kohlekeller Studio. Mixing and mastering was completed by Matt LaPlant at Madtown Mix Studio. It’s set for release on CD and digitally through the band’s own independent label, CynNormal Lab Recordings, on October 16. Preorders can be placed here.

Guitarist Jasun Tipton reports that initial reaction to its new EP has thus far been encouraging:

“The response thus far has been killer from our listeners. We’re very excited for everyone to hear the EP start to finish. Since releasing the song ‘Codes Of Violence,’ we’ve received numerous requests and quite a bit of interest in the band performing live at some incredible events. It could be a busy 2027 for Zero Hour!”

The post Full EP Stream: Zero Hour –<em>No Man’s Land</em> appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

Only a few days remain until Italian symphonic power metal outfit TEMPERANCE releases its new studio album. Entitled ‘Arcani‘ (review here), the record is released this Friday, October 16th, via Napalm Records. Today’s fourth single, ‘The Fool‘, serves as the final harbinger. The track begins with an instrumental intro that paves the way for vocalist […]

The post TEMPERANCE Release New Single, ‘The Fool’, + Video appeared first on ROCKPOSER DOT COM.

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Veilburner are a black/death metal band from the US and this is their ninth album. Veilburner; an enigma. A tantalising mystery with no obtainable answer. All That Glimmers Is Gloam; a 50-minute riddle, riven with metamorphic grace, yet ripe with transcendent promise. All That Glimmers Is Gloam is an unapproachable, warped slice of otherness. A multidimensional … Continue reading “Veilburner – All That Glimmers Is Gloam (Review)”