I first came across the Swedish metal band Eleine in 2022 when they supported Sonata Arctica on their acoustic tour. I recall a show that, despite being acoustic, was very powerful and full of energy. It was an impressive set that raised the bar for the main act. Eleine is now launching a new EP,... Continue Reading →
Update new location: BATTLE BEAST announced European tour 2025
The location changed from Inselpark Arena Hamburg to Fabrik, Hamburg. More infos HERE. Finland’s Battle Beast have announced a massive 36-show European tour as the first leg of their upcoming world tour. Kicking off with a bang on October 17th with their biggest German headline show to date at Hamburg’s Inselpark Arena, the tour will keep the band on the road until... Continue Reading →
Review BLACKBRIAR “A Thousand Little Deaths”
There are plenty of female-fronted bands hailing from the Netherlands. Within Temptation, Epica, and Delain are pillars of the symphonic metal genre, and Blackbriar has been trying to catch up for a few years. Founded in Assen, the Netherlands, in 2012, Blackbriar's 2014 album “The Cause of Shipwreck” marked their debut. I first noticed the... Continue Reading →
“Within Temptation: The Invisible Force” will air on May 6th, 2025
Dutch symphonic metal band Within Temptation will launch a moving documentary called “Within Temptation: The Invisible Force” on May 6th, 2025 exclusively on You Tube. A trailer for the documentary has already revealed and HERE is where you can watch it. This documentary follows Sharon and Robert as they become increasingly involved with the war... Continue Reading →
Review ARION “The Light That Burns the Sky”
Arion is a Finnish melodic power metal band, and the first time I came in contact with their music was when they supported Battle Beast in 2019. At the time, the guys had just released their second album, "Life Is Not Beautiful", and the band delivered a pretty energetic show at the time. Five years... Continue Reading →
Review AVANTASIA “Here By Dragons”
Avantasia started as a side project of Edguy in the late 90's and became a huge success. Today, Edguy is on hiatus while Avantasia has become one of the most successful rock and metal acts. Tobias Sammet, the driving force behind the outfit, found two excellent companions in Sascha Paeth and Miro Rodenberg, who have... Continue Reading →
BATTLE BEAST announced European tour 2025
Finland’s Battle Beast have announced a massive 36-show European tour as the first leg of their upcoming world tour. Kicking off with a bang on October 17th with their biggest German headline show to date at Hamburg’s Inselpark Arena, the tour will keep the band on the road until mid-December.To complete the bill with melodic metal superiority, the band is thrilled to welcome Germany’s metal sensation Dominum as... Continue Reading →
EPICA will embark on a tour with AMARANTHE and CHARLOTTE WESSELS’ THE OBSESSED
Symphonic metal veterans Epica announced a new album called “Aspiral” which will be released on April 11th, 2025. The band will present the songs live on stage a few months later when embarking on a European tour. The “Arcane Dimensions Tour” will start on January 16th, 2026 in Cologne and will end on March 26th,... Continue Reading →
Review MAJESTICA “Power Train”
Former Sabaton guitarist Tommy Johansson founded Majestica in 2019 and premiered the same year with a catchy longplayer called "Above the Sky". Majestica's roots are deeper though, as the band started out in the early 2000s as ReinXeed, a project that never got off the ground, and it was in the aforementioned year of 2019... Continue Reading →
Review MARKO HIETALA “Roses From the Deep”
Most of you know Marko Hietala from his time with symphonic metal icons Nightwish. He was part of the band for many years as bassist and also contributed to the songwriting. Hietala left Nightwish in 2021 and released his first solo album "Mustan sydämen rovio" even before the split. That was back in 2019 and... Continue Reading →
EPICA – new album in April
Dutch symphonic metal outfit Epica announced a new album. “Aspiral” is the title of the next longplayer which will be released on April 11th, 2025 via Nuclear Blast. “Aspiral” will feature 11 songs. “Cross the Divide” is one of these songs and is unveiled already. Cross the Divide Arcana Darkness Dies in Light - A... Continue Reading →
Review NIGHTWISH “Yesterwynde”
A new album from Nightwish is always a moment of excitement and anticipation. The symphonic metal band has delivered many great releases, with "Human. :II: Nature." being one of them. Four years later, Nightwish are back with their latest album "Yesterwynde", and to clarify one thing right now - "Yesterwynde" is a new word that... Continue Reading →
Review WINTERSUN “Time II”
It's not even fall yet and the first winter storm is announced for August 30th, 2024. However, it's a musical winter that helps to cool down the summer heat, as Wintersun unleash with "Time II", the long-awaited successor to "Time I", which saw the light of day in 2012. After taking a bit of a... Continue Reading →
AVANTASIA announced the “Here Be Dragons” tour 2025
Great new for fans of spectacular symphonic rock/metal shows. Tobias Sammet and Avantasia will tour through Europe in March 2025. The show will take place on March 14th, 2025 at Sporthalle, Hamburg and the tour will end on April 12th, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. An exclusive pre-sale will start on July 30th, 2024 through eventim, followed... Continue Reading →
SIMONE SIMONS will release a solo album in August
Dutch singer Simone Simons has been a part of Epica for more than two decades, and her voice is a cornerstone of the epic metal outfit. With a busy schedule and focus on the musical mothership, it wasn't easy for Simons to find some time to work on a solo album, an undertaking that has... Continue Reading →









