This week’s Heavy Music HQ reviews include releases from Ashes Of Ares, Attack Attack!, Aversions Crown, Babymetal, Blackbraid, Cemetery, Halestorm, Liv Sin, Lord Of The Lost, Malthusian, Sinsaenum and Volur & Cares.
The ratings are on a 5-star scale.
Ashes Of Ares – New Messiahs (Rock Of Angels)
Formed from former Iced Earth members including vocalist Matt Barlow and guitarist/bassist Freddy Vidales, American power metalers Ashes Of Ares are seeking to expand their established style with the release of their fourth album New Messiahs.
Despite the tonal difference from their last album Emperors And Fools, this album sounds a little on the generic side in the end. There are some noteworthy guitar solos in tracks like “Keep On Walkin’” and “Two Graves,” but outside of that it is mostly unremarkable and teeters on being boring. Despite the generic feeling, from a production standpoint New Messiahs is well made, no one instrument or vocal drowns out the rest.
Rating: 3
(Dalton Husher)
Attack Attack! – Attack Attack! II (Oxide)
It’s been a minute since metalcore veterans Attack Attack! released a full album. Since their reunion in 2020 they have issued numerous singles and a few EPs, but Attack Attack! II is their first full-length since 2012’s This Means War.
Their lineup has changed significantly since their early 00’s glory days, but Attack Attack! still write catchy, accessible metalcore songs that also pack a punch. Their sense of humor is also evident with tracks like “One Hit Wonder” and “I Complain On R/Metalcore.” The album is packed with radio-friendly numbers like “Dance!” which features Lorna Shore’s Will Ramos, “Chainless” and the earnest “Without You.” While their recent EPs were successful, Attack Attack II! shows Attack Attack! still have no problem writing enough quality songs to fill a full-length.
Rating: 3.5
(Chad Bowar)
Aversions Crown – A Voice From The Outer Dark (Nuclear Blast)
The COVID-19 pandemic thwarted Aversions Crown’s attempts to hit the road internationally in support of 2020’s Hell Will Come For Us All. The Australian deathcore outfit has been rather quiet since, but recently recruited a new vocalist and returned to make plenty of noise via three-track EP, A Voice From The Outer Dark.
Although several vocalists in, frontman Alex Teyen (Black Tongue) brings plenty to the table. From the Job For a Cowboy-infused title track, his guttural attack nudges the group further into the world of pure death metal. He’s so full of fire he could have spat lava at any moment, and urges the rest of the band to raise their game. Which they do. There may not be many surprises to the experienced campaigner of this style. But the musical attack is a torrent of blast-beats, technical riffs and punishing beatdowns that rarely lets up, with well-placed flickers of atmosphere infused. Boasting an enticing new lineup, A Voice From The Outer Dark is a brutally efficient affair, and perhaps some of Aversions Crown’s heaviest material yet.
Rating: 3.5
(Brendan Crabb)
Babymetal – Metal Forth (Capitol)
Over the past 15 years the Japanese band Babymetal has grown from what some saw as a novelty to a global force and major concert draw. Their fifth studio album is Metal Forth, and it will add even more rocket fuel to their ascension. They’ve recruited some heavy hitting guests on the record, with “From Me To U” featuring Poppy and “Ratatata” with Electric Callboy cracking the top 10 of the U.S. rock chart.
Spiritbox, Bloodywood and Polyphia also lend their talents to the record. The album’s ten songs expertly blend the crunch of metal with the accessibility and hooks of pop/rock. “Song 3” with Slaughter To Prevail is one of the record’s heaviest, “Metali!!” featuring Tom Morello has a tasty groove, and “Algorism” mixes in harsh vocals that contrast the catchiness. Metal Forth‘s ten songs fly by, delivering everything Babymetal’s legion of fans are looking (and listening) for.
Rating: 3.5
(Chad Bowar)
Blackbraid – Blackbraid III (Self)
The success of their first two albums has made upstate New York’s Blackbraid an attractive artist for labels, but the band’s founder Sgah’gahsowah has rebuffed all offers and prefers to remain independent. Atmospherics are prominent on Blackbraid III, with acoustic guitar making an appearance on tracks like “The Dying Death Of A Sacred Stag,” but they are mostly showcased on the several instrumental interludes.
Traditional black metal is front and center on songs such as “God Of Black Blood,” “Tears Of The Dawn” and the nearly 10-minute epic “And He Became The Burning Stars,” the album’s most dynamic and varied track. They end the album with a cover of Lord Belial’s “Fleshbound.” The interludes are anything but throwaways, adding depth and texture along with interesting musical moments. They provide contrast to the black metal songs, which unfold deliberately with new revelations on each subsequent listen. Blackbraid III is the band’s most ambitious album so far, and also their most potent.
Rating: 4.5
(Chad Bowar)
Cemetery – Thoughts On Life… And Death (Self)
Thoughts On Life… And Death, the sophomore release from the German band Cemetery is a compelling death metal album with an old school flavor akin to bands like Cynic and Atheist. It has the right amount of power to capture your attention and is truly a raucous death metal experience. There is a rock and roll type aspect similar to Entombed circa Wolverine Blues at times and others a flashier Atheist type style.
In terms of musicianship this is a very strong performance. There are powerful guitars that really capture the old school flavor of the music quite nicely. Everything is capped off with the epic 11 minute closer “Thoughts On Death.” There is a lot to like on Thoughts On Life… And Death and it shows through.
Rating: 3.5
(Adam McAuley)
Halestorm – Everest (Atlantic)
Everest is an apt title for Halestorm‘s sixth album. For the past 15 years the hard rockers have been steadily climbing the musical mountain, garnering Grammy nominations and numerous number one singles along the way. This time around they worked with producer Dave Cobb, known for his albums with country artists like Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile and Jason Isbell. Though the producer is different, Halestorm’s sound remains consistent.
They know what works, and have the songwriting skills to deliver it. There are anthemic singles (“Fallen Star,” “Darkness Always Wins”), soaring ballads (“Gather the Lambs”), in your face rockers (“Watch Out”) and a memorable closer (“How Will You Remember Me?). Along with the tried-and-true, Halestorm also push in different directions, such as the bluesy “Like A Woman Can.” That track shows why Lzzy Hale is one of rock’s best vocalists, displaying emotion, power and versatility throughout the album. Everest is a step forward from 2022’s Back From The Dead, with Halestorm getting even closer to matching the energy and vibe of their potent live shows.
Rating: 3.5
(Chad Bowar)
Liv Sin – Close Your Eyes (Seek And Strike)
For more than two decades, Swedish singer Liv Jagrell has been delivering the metal as part of Sister Sin and Liv Sin. Close Your Eyes is Liv Sin’s fourth album.
Like their previous albums, this is straightforward heavy metal, with an emphasis on the heavy. The riffs are powerful, with Jagrell utilizing harsh vocals alongside melodic singing. Liv Sin do a good job combining the catchy and the crushing on tracks like “Close Your Eyes” and “Raven.” Jagrell’s vocals are compelling throughout the album, but a couple of less interesting tracks dilute the impact of Close Your Eyes. Still, there’s plenty for traditional metal fans to dig into.
Rating: 3
(Chad Bowar)
Lord Of The Lost – Opvs Noir Vol. 1 (Napalm)
Dark rockers Lord Of The Lost have a high profile in their home country, representing Germany in the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest and their last three albums landing at either number one or two on the German chart. They try to keep the momentum going on their latest album, Opvs Noir Vol. 1.
It’s the first record of a planned trilogy, embracing symphonic atmospheres with more melancholy goth. They do that without sacrificing any of the catchiness, evident on songs like “My Sanctuary” and “I Will Die In It.” The album is filled with guest artists, such as Within Temptation’s Sharon den Adel on the engaging “Light Can Only Shine In The Darkness” and Deathstars’ Whiplasher Bernadette on the industrial “Damage.” Tina Guo’s (Hans Zimmer) cello brings a different approach to “Ghosts,” as does the acapella group Stimmgewalt with “Moonstruck.” Feuerschwanz and Tales Of Time’s Anna Maria Rose also guest on the album. Lord Of The Lost pull out all the stops on Opvs Noir Vol. 1, setting a high bar for the trilogy.
Rating: 4
(Chad Bowar)
Malthusian – The Summoning Bell (Relapse)
The Summoning Bell, Malthusian’s first release under Relapse Records, has the foursome from Ireland in a state of perpetual wrath propelled by blackened death metal. With a few exceptions, songs like “Between Dens And Ruins” and “Eroded Into Superstition” breathlessly wiz by.
The 15-minute “Amongst The Swarms Of Vermin” will push the typical listener to the brink, and saving it until near the end of The Summoning Bell is a twisted move on Malthusian’s part. It seems in control with its doom-influenced first few minutes, but spends the remaining dozen minutes in and out of some of the nastiest riffs written in 2025. Nothing about The Summoning Bell is comfortable, creating great value for those into the cantankerous side of metal.
Rating: 3.5
(Dan Marsicano)
Sinsaenum – In Devastation (earMusic)
Since their 2018 album Repulsion For Humanity, Sinsaenum have faced profound challenges: the global darkness of the pandemic, the loss of Frédéric Leclercq’s father, and the passing of Joey Jordison. These struggling experiences of grief and anguish fueled the creation of In Devastation, potentially the band’s finest work to date.
In Devastation marks a significant milestone for this supergroup. The album showcases a sharpened focus on production, with a clear and unified songwriting vision. The tracks are seamlessly cohesive in both musical context and structure, moving away from the band’s earlier black/death metal roots toward a sound rich in groove and melody. Drummer André Joyzi, formerly a drum tech for Joey Jordison, At the Gates, and Cradle Of Filth, steps into Jordison’s role, his playing style shaping the band’s desired groove. Also featuring Frédéric Leclercq, Stéphane Buriez, Attila Csihar, Sean Zatorsky, and Heimoth, In Devastation is the band’s best album, their most cohesive, utterly powerful, and strikingly unified.
Rating: 4
(Arash Khosronejad)
Völur & Cares – Breathless Spirit (Batke)
Völur have collaborated with a multitude of musicians in their career, and Breathless Spirit has the radical doom metal group teaming up with Cares (the alias of musician James Beardmore). Cares’ proficiency at ambient soundscapes using keyboards is a great inclusion into Völur’s classically aligned music. Those who still don’t believe that a violin can be as heavy as a guitar should queue up “Death In Solitude” or the title track.
The two-part “Windbourne Sorcery” reaches into folk, noise and death metal for a sound that teeters from gentle harmony to withering terror. Völur are adept at collaborations with almost anyone, much in line with a band like The Body. Breathless Spirit also includes two bonus tracks depending on the version, including a wonderful instrumental “Flutterby Number” featuring the strings group Bowed Arts.
Rating: 4
(Dan Marsicano)
