QUEENSRŸCHE Digital Noise Alliance | Weekly Heavy Metal Album Review

Released by Century Media Records on October 7th, 2022

Quick Background

Queensrÿche is an American heavy metal band. It formed in 1980 in Bellevue, Washington. The original lineup consisted of guitarists Michael Wilton and Chris DeGarmo, drummer Scott Rockenfield, bassist Eddie Jackson, and legendary lead vocalist Geoff Tate. From 2012 to 2014 the band split into two due to a lawsuit with Geoff Tate, who was replaced by Todd La Torre then-frontman of Crimson Glory. The band has released 16 studio albums and having sold over 20 million albums worldwide. They received worldwide acclaim after the release of their 1988 album Operation: Mindcrime, which is often considered one of the greatest heavy metal concept albums of all time.

Digital Noise Alliance

Their 16th studio album features 11 new tracks in 56 minutes plus a cover version of "Rebel Yell". It's already the 4th album to feature La Torre on vocals and the follow-up to 2019's The Verdict. Overall Digital Noise Alliance is not very different from the La Torre era albums. High quality and well written progressive metal in a condensed form where most of the songs are around the 4 to 5 minute mark with a couple of more adventurous ones (e.g. "Tormentum" and "Behind the Walls"). La Torre continues to sing impressively reminding us of his predecessor but often adding some Bruce Dickinson and Rob Halford flavors to it. Queensrÿche are considered one of the leaders of the progressive metal scene of the mid-to-late 1980s, and often referred to as one of the "Big Three" of the genre, along with Dream Theater and Fates Warning. Intentionally or not, the song "Out of the Black" is pure Fates Warning and it's a really cool song except that I don't like the chorus that much.

The album opens with the powerful "In Extremis" and then follows with the melodic but heavy "Chapters" which features a memorable chorus. The 80's like riff takes us into "Lost in Sorrow" which is very similar to classic era Queensrÿche. So is the longer mid-tempo "Nocturnal Light".

"Sicdeth" exemplifies how the band can be progressive and concise at the same time. The song is less than 5 minutes. But it's super dynamic from the moody intro to Priest-like first verse to a catchy chorus and slower tempo bridge. Many songs are adventurous like that and those are my favorite moments on this album. Take the closer "Tormentum"  for example, 7:30 minutes of progressive Judas Priest of sorts. "Realms" is also on those veins and features a very nice guitar work. The band is a not a virtuoso guitar hero band, but instead the guitars support the overall experience rather than taking the spotlight. With that said, there are some pretty cool arrangements. The typical prog metal clean and pristine production is once again credited to Chris “Zeuss” Harris

The Picky Guy

There's also a lot of more mid-tempo / ballad territory songs which to me drags the album a bit too long. Surprisingly, the band has been focusing on those songs as singles. Take "Hold On" for example after a very prog somber start we go into this moody verse  so far so good, but then the chorus is very poppy-like to my taste. Still an OK song, but then we also have "Forest" which is a full-on 80's ballad, it's nothing for me. Really can't listen to it. On the bright side, the proggy single "Behind the Walls" saves the day with its 80's Rush meets Iron Maiden sound.

Wrap Up Opinion 

Queensrÿche has found their modern sound without loosing their roots. With the 4th album with La Torre on the vocals the band kept their compositions and sound very consistent. There's heaviness, progressiveness and ballads spread across the album to keep different fans happy. I'd prefer to have less ballads and more progressiveness and that's why the album looses some points with me.  Still, it's a good album and it won't surprise long time fans. 80/100 and worth checking it. 

SCORE: 80/100

Genre: Progressive Metal

Released by Century Media Records on October 7th, 2022

Rating System

99 - 100 Perfect
94 - 98 Excellent
87 - 93 Great
82 - 86 Very Good
77 - 81 Good
66 - 76 Mixed
58 - 65 Bad

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STRATOVARIUS Survive | Weekly Heavy Metal Album Review

Released by earMUSIC on September 23rd, 2022

Quick Background

Stratovarius is a Finnish power metal band that formed in 1985. Since their formation, they have released fifteen studio albums. In its history, the band has gone through many lineup changes, and after founding guitarist Timo Tolkki's departure in 2008, there are no founding members left. However since then, the line up has been quite stable. Currently, the longest standing member is singer Timo Kotipelto, who appeared first on Fourth Dimension (1995), the band's 4th album. Episode (1996) and Visions (1997) are my favorite albums and I remember when they were released, so as you can see I am long time fan. They have been very important for power metal and specially Visions is considered a milestone in power metal music. 

Survive

Seven years after the release of their last album Eternal, Stratovarius return with one hour of new power metal music in the form of Survive, their 16th studio album featuring 11 songs in just under one hour. 10 of them being straightforward power metal as we come to expect from them. But the closer "Voice Of Thunder" is a bit different as it is an eleven-minute epic. The title track opens the album with a very heavy guitar tone and riff, I was quite surprised. While the heaviness is somewhat muffled by the production values as the keyboards and vocals join in, it is still a quite dynamic and catchy song. 

"Demand" is a fast tempo and catchy track with one of the coolest choruses, it is a very Helloween-like song. "Firefly" is on the same veins, it's a super up lifting and fun 80's like song. "Frozen In Time" goes a bit more progressive which I really appreciate. It closes the 1st half of the album with a flavor of Visions and some very nice melodies. It is one of my favorites on the album. Talking about Visions "Glory Days" intro really bring us back to the 90's with a cool guitar and keyboard duo riff. The big and epic chorus is another love letter to the band's past. 

As we have seen in some of their other albums, again Visions included, Stratovarius close the album with a long epic song, namely the 11-mnute long "Voice Of Thunder". It's a nice song that gives you the feeling even in the first listen that you have heard it before. Epic and anthemic.    

The Picky Guy

It's a long album for power metal and my problem with it is that the album is not consistent from begging to end. Some choices do not always work for me. For example "Broken" has some good movements, but the mid tempo and overly sugared chorus are a barrier for me to enjoy it fully. "World On Fire" is about climate changing destroying the planet, while that's not the kind of lyrics I expect in power metal, the song is quite ok. But it's really the ballad "Breakaway" followed by "Before The Fall" that makes the album loose points with me.

Wrap Up Opinion 

A comeback album from one of power metal’s most seminal bands, Survive is Stratovarius as we know it. And actually the strong points of the album are when they stay truthful to their 90's roots. Melodic, with strong drum beats, the heavy guitar and keyboards duo, and high pitched vocals singing catchy vocal lines. It's mostly fast tempo and direct power metal anthems, but there's also some progressive touches and dynamic moments with mid tempo songs. It's nothing new for long time fans and while not as good as their classic album, it's a good sample and maybe their best album of this new era of the band. 79/100 and worth checking it out. 

SCORE: 79/100

Genre: Power Metal

Released by earMUSIC on September 23rd, 2022

Rating System

99 - 100 Perfect
94 - 98 Excellent
87 - 93 Great
82 - 86 Very Good
77 - 81 Good
66 - 76 Mixed
58 - 65 Bad

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BEHEMOTH Opvs Contra Natvram | Weekly Heavy Metal Album Review

Released by Nuclear Blast Records on September 16th, 2022

Quick Background

Behemoth is a Polish extreme metal band formed in 1991. They are considered to have played an important role in establishing the Polish extreme metal underground. Specially since 1999's Satanica  the band sound is by most considered to be Blackened death metal. Last albums have received critical acclaim and the band has grown to a position to headline festivals. Behemoth was formed as a trio, with Adam Darski, a.k.a ‘Nergal’ on guitar and vocals. The frontman and lead songwriter is the only found member left and continues to be the brains and driving force behind the band's success. With that said the line up continues to be a trio but with the fourth member being a session guitarist. This formation has been stable since 2004. 

Opvs Contra Natvram

It's their 12th studio album following 2018's I Loved You at Your Darkest. The new effort brings us 10 tacks in 45 minutes. The Album title means going against the current.

Behemoth take their time to get started as the intro track," Post-God Nirvana" is about 3 minutes of sound effects, screams, spoken words and some tribal chanting. It creates the mood and it can certainly be used to open their concerts. The very short and voracious "Malaria Vvlgata" follows. it's a punch in the face, almost a punk song. "Off To War!" which already became a live favorite is another super fast tempo and aggressive song, but more dynamic. Another aggressive song is "Disinheritance" and what I love about it are the drum fills during the intro! "Once Upon A Pale Horse" is another song with very cool drumming, but the hallmark here is this power metal-ish vibe, but since it is still death metal, it makes me think on Amon Amarth. Even the guitar solo is quite clean and melodic. It's a nice touch to the album. 

"The Deathless Sun" has plenty of aggression and melody, a combination that the band has mastered, and to me it sounds like a bridge between the 2014's masterpiece The Satanist and the band of today. It's one of my favorite songs on the album. "Ov My Herculean Exile" was the first single out of the album and follows the same veins as the previous track. But even more epic and midtempo with a long build up intro. 

As the album approaches the end we get one more super fast and aggressive song "Thy Becoming Eternal" featuring several vocal layers and choirs specially in the mid section interlude. It paves the way nicely into the album closer "Versvs Christvs". The longest song on the album with 6:30 is a dynamic one, with voice over piano, choirs, and a slow build up leading to blasting riffs.  It closes the album in a very high note.

Production is great and performances as well. No surprises that Nergal is signing particularly well on this album and also the drums are quite engaging. Guitar work is not their highlight but it does an excellent job wrapping up the package. 

The Picky Guy

Honestly I don't know what to complain here. "Disinheritance" is the only song that doesn't completely appeal to me as the rest of the album does. For the rest it is a perfect modern Behemoth album.

Wrap Up Opinion 

Opvs Contra Natvram is a heavy album and a natural evolution from The Satanist and Loved You At Your Darkest, it's super aggressive but also epic and melodic. It's also dynamic showing several influences from death metal to black metal but also very melodic moments. I didn't expect much from this album and I thought I'd brush it off quickly, but the truth is I found myself addicted to it and I came to the realization that it's a very fucking good album. 83/100 and potentially higher as I continue to listen to it.  If you like this phase of the band you gonna love this. Check it out. 

SCORE: 83/100

Genre: Death Metal

Released by Nuclear Blast Records on September 16th, 2022

Rating System

99 - 100 Perfect
94 - 98 Excellent
87 - 93 Great
82 - 86 Very Good
77 - 81 Good
66 - 76 Mixed
58 - 65 Bad

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BLOODBATH Survival of the Sickest | Weekly Heavy Metal Album Review

Released by Napalm Records on September 9th, 2022

Quick Background

Bloodbath is a Swedish death metal supergroup from Stockholm. They began life as a humble tribute. Formed by Jonas Renkse and Anders Nyström (both of Katatonia), Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth) and Dan Swanö (Edge Of Sanity) in 1998. Today the group consists of Martin Axenrot (ex-Opeth) on drums, Anders Nyström on guitars , Jonas Renkse on bass, Nick Holmes on vocals (Paradise Lost) and Tomas "Plytet" Åkvik – guitar .

Survival of the Sickest

It's their 6th studio album and already third with Nick Holmes on vocals and the follow-up to The Arrow of Satan Is Drawn (2018). This time we are delighted with 11 pure death metal tracks in just about 45 minutes. With this release they went in true old school fashion. Think Morbid Angel, Death, Deicide and Obituary. And the lyrics? Well pure gore and death metal, the titles say it all, and the artwork reflects that. 

The single "Zombie Inferno" opens the album with some suspense as it takes 30 seconds for the fade in to take shape and the sick and fast tempo guitar riff starts. A strong punch in the face of a start, if you ask me. “Putrefying Corpse” feat. Barney Greenway of Napalm Death follows and it's one of the best songs on the album, a gory video is also available for this one. The groovy "Carved" feat. Luc from Gorguts is another highlight. Luc is also on another groovy but brutal song titled "Born Infernal". The third guest is Marc from Morgoth on the sludgy "To Die". "Dead Parade" is another heavy song but also on the mid tempo / doomy region. But songs like "Malignant Maggot Therapy", "Tales of Melting Flesh" or "Affliction of Extinction" keep the fast tempo classic death metal side of the album very much alive. 

The Picky Guy

The only song to break the 4 min mark, "No God Before Me" closes the album in a mid tempo and sludgy fashion. While not a bad song at all, it departs too much from the album overall direction and alienates me a little bit. Another point, if you are not bothered by the fact that it's a pretty safe album offering nothing really new, I have nothing to complain about it.  

Wrap Up Opinion 

Bloodbath, Sweden’s undisputed masters of old school death metal, are back doing what they know best. This is a return to 90's death metal within the boundaries of the genre with a little flirting into death doom in the best Obituary veins. Old fans of the band or of the legends Morbid Angel or Death will have a great time with Survival of the Sickest. A very good death metal album deserving a 82/100 and a sore neck.

SCORE: 82/100

Genre: Death Metal

Released by Napalm Records on September 9th, 2022

Rating System

99 - 100 Perfect
94 - 98 Excellent
87 - 93 Great
82 - 86 Very Good
77 - 81 Good
66 - 76 Mixed
58 - 65 Bad

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