My World of Music – est. 2013
Finsterforst are from Freiburg, Germany, and formed in 2004. Their debut album, Weltenkraft, was released in 2007, and the artwork reflected the band’s sound quite well. The Black Forest is located close to Freiburg and is a popular destination for outdoor activities and recreation. At the same time, the region carries a certain mystical atmosphere, which... Continue Reading →
Do doom metal roots and a punk rock attitude really go together? That was the question many people asked in 2021 when The Limit released their new album. At the time, Billy Liebling (Pentagram), Sonny Vincent (Testors), Jimmy Recca (The Stooges), Hugo Conim (Dawnrider), and João Simmons (Dawnrider) delivered Caveman Logic. Now the band returns with Another... Continue Reading →
A lineup that brings together well-known names from the worlds of rock and metal does not automatically guarantee great music. Iconic is a project featuring iconic veterans of the scene, and the band’s name alone naturally creates certain expectations. With II, the group now delivers their second studio album. Iconic consists of Nathan James, Michael Sweet, Joel Hoekstra,... Continue Reading →
There are a lot of great rock and metal bands coming from Canada, thinking about Voivod, Rush, Anvil and so on. Alongside such established names, younger acts like The Scepter are now setting out to make their mark on the world of heavy metal. Founded in 2018, The Scepter released a few singles early on,... Continue Reading →
Resurgence is already the fourth album from Berlin-based metalcore outfit Future Palace, who formed in 2018. The trio of Maria, Manuel, and Johannes made a strong first impression with their debut album, Escape. They continued building on that foundation with Run and Distortion, before taking the next step with a new record label. Resurgence marks the band's first release through Century... Continue Reading →
Hailing from Karlskoga, Sweden, Allt formed in 2020. After releasing a handful of singles and EPs, the band made a strong first impression with their 2024 debut album, From the New World. Two years later, Ataraxia marks the next chapter in the band's evolution. Their sophomore effort features nine songs and, with a runtime of just 31 minutes,... Continue Reading →
The first time a Sinner album landed on my turntable was almost exactly 40 years ago. Back then, the band led by Mat Sinner had just released its fifth album, Comin' Out Fighting, and what came through the speakers made an immediate impression. Sinner has been a fixture in melodic metal ever since, releasing a long... Continue Reading →
The only thing Wild Rose and V.B.O. have in common is vocalist Francesco Cavalieri. Beyond that, the two projects occupy entirely different musical territory. V.B.O. - short for Vice Business Only - has virtually nothing to do with metal, or even with the melodic hard rock that fans may associate with Wild Rose. That much becomes... Continue Reading →
Heavy metal has enjoyed a long and successful history in Japan. While the country's passionate fans have helped sustain the scene for decades, bands such as Loudness and Anthem have stood among the leading names in Japanese heavy metal since the mid-1980s. Now, a younger generation is carrying that tradition forward. Formed in 2016, Coven... Continue Reading →
Jim Matheos' creative drive shows no signs of slowing down. Beyond his main band, Fates Warning, Matheos has been involved in a wide range of projects over the years. Alongside O.S.I. and with Tuesday the Sky, he has also collaborated with singers he knows exceptionally well. His work with former Fates Warning vocalist John Arch... Continue Reading →
Madball are among the pioneers of New York City hardcore. With roots dating back to 1988, the band has become one of the defining names of East Coast hardcore. Originally formed as a side project connected to Agnostic Front in the late '80s, Madball has grown into a true institution within the scene. Now the... Continue Reading →
When The Transformers: The Movie premiered in theaters in 1986, it did not become the box-office success many had hoped for. The soundtrack also fell short of commercial expectations, despite featuring several memorable songs that would later develop a loyal following. Now, nearly 40 years later, Reigning Phoenix Music and Hasbro revisit the classic with The Transformers: The... Continue Reading →
Ohio-based instrumental post-rock outfit If These Trees Could Talk return with their fourth studio album, The Hidden Hand. Formed in Akron in 2005, the band has built a reputation for crafting thoughtful instrumental records that, in a broad sense, will appeal to fans of bands like Long Distance Calling. The new album features nine tracks and once again... Continue Reading →
For more than two decades, Tasmania’s Psycroptic have been a respected force in technical death metal. Formed in West Hobart in 1999, the band released its debut, The Isle of Disenchantment, in 2001. Now, with The Pulse of Annihilation, Psycroptic deliver their ninth studio album and their first release through Metal Blade Records. Across nine tracks, the... Continue Reading →
The collective is back. With Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp, Joe Perry, and Tommy Henriksen leading the charge, Hollywood Vampires return in great fashion. Recorded at the legendary Montreux Jazz Festival in 2018, Hollywood Vampires – Live at Montreux Jazz Festival captures the band at the height of its powers and stands as an impressive live document celebrating... Continue Reading →
Markus' Heavy Music Blog 