Three years after the release of Dreams of Lands Unseen, Ignea have completed a new album. Monumental is the title of the Kyiv-based band’s third full-length, featuring nine new tracks. Monumental continues Ignea’s journey through the wider territory of symphonic metal, with vocalist Helle Bogdanova once again at the center of the action. Tracks such as “Darkness” highlight her... Continue Reading →
Live report THE HU & SKÁLD, Alsterdorfer Sporthalle, Hamburg – October 15th, 2026
Heavy metal from Mongolia? It wasn’t exactly common in the history of rock and metal. The band that put the country on the metal map was The HU. Their breakthrough came in 2018, and a year later, they played their first show outside Mongolia. I got to see them myself in 2020 at a sold-out... Continue Reading →
Review STREAMER “Into the Void”
For a while now, a growing number of Spanish metal bands have been turning their attention back to traditional heavy metal, and Catalonia’s Streamer are happily joining the party. Formed in 2013, the quartet has always had a clear weakness for the sound of the NWOBHM and classic US metal. Their first EP in 2015... Continue Reading →
Review TEMPERANCE “Arcani”
Symphonic power metal has a natural home in Italy, with bands like Rhapsody of Fire being among the genre’s best-known exports. Temperance are another band firmly operating in this territory. With Arcani, the Italians deliver their eighth studio album, adding another chapter to a story that has been steadily evolving since 2014. Tarot is the album’s... Continue Reading →
The FRONTIERS ROCK FESTIVAL will return in 2027
Following another exciting edition in 2026, the Frontiers Rock Festival is gearing up for three more days of unforgettable live music, bringing together fans of melodic rock and hard rock from around the world for a weekend dedicated entirely to their favorite music. Over the years, the festival has established itself as a must-attend event... Continue Reading →
Review FERVENCE “Constructs”
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 →
Review INSOMNIUM “Netherworlds”
The days are getting shorter, the nights are stretching out. Temperatures are dropping, and nature is slowly settling into its winter slumber. The colorful days of summer are gone, replaced by darker shades of gray. And now Finland's Insomnium are ready to provide the soundtrack for this time of year. Netherworlds is the band's tenth album,... Continue Reading →
OPHIS – new album in November 2026
Hamburg-based Ophis return five years after their magnificent album Spew Forth Odium with their sixth studio album. The new record was recorded in spring 2026 at 3RD A. Studio in Holm and produced, mixed and mastered by Jens Ballaschke. The cover artwork was created by drummer Ole Fink himself. You often read statements like: “With this album, they... Continue Reading →
Review AVRAK “Avrak”
When heavy Sabbath-inspired riffs collide with classic hard rock and blackened metal, you get AVRAK. At least, that’s the name of the project formed by Anders Hegna and Ted “Nocturno Culto” Skjellum. Together with drummer Terje Kråbøl and bassist Steinar Gundersen, they make up the lineup behind this new Norwegian outfit. The first ideas for... Continue Reading →
Review ITCHY “Happy Little Accidents”
Itchy hail from Eislingen in southern Germany, and even though I grew up only about 35 kilometers away, it took me until fairly recently to really discover the band. That changed when Itchy opened for Sondaschule. I started digging into their music and quickly realized what makes this trio tick. What really caught my attention... Continue Reading →
Review RICK WAKEMAN “Return to the Red Planet”
Rick Wakeman is one of the key figures in progressive rock, a genre he helped shape during his years with Yes. Whether working with keyboards, synthesizers, or a combination of both, the master of the keys has always had plenty of room for projects outside the band. His extensive solo career has consistently revealed a... Continue Reading →
THE LAST INTERNATIONALE – four shows in Germany in November 2026
The Last Internationale will always be a special band to me - partly because of their brilliant and powerful rock songs, and partly because it was the last show I got to see before the COVID lockdown hit the concert industry hard. It was on February 27, 2020, when The Last International played at the... Continue Reading →
Live report AUDREY HORNE & MOTOROWL, Bahnhof Pauli, Hamburg – October 11th, 2026
Audrey Horne have been part of my musical world for quite some time now, and running into this band - whether at a live show, through a new album, or in an interview - is always a good time. These five musicians come across as genuinely likable, dedicated, and driven by a shared passion for... Continue Reading →
Review SWEET “Live 25”
Sweet have been keeping the live-album tradition alive for quite some time, and Live 25 now adds another entry to the band’s long concert history. This time, the album draws on performances from the band’s recent tour, including material from their latest studio effort, Full Circle. Full Circle showed Andy Scott and his band in remarkably good shape, and... Continue Reading →
Review THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT “New Promise Land Incorporated”
The Temperance Movement is the brainchild of vocalist Phil Campbell, who formed the band in 2011 and ultimately brought the story to a close in 2020 when he left the group. His departure effectively meant the end of The Temperance Movement. There were still a live release and a collection of rarities to follow, but the... Continue Reading →









