Posts Tagged ‘AFM Records’
Posted in Reviews, Reviews › M on Wednesday, March 24th, 2010
As much as I’d like for every record I hear to bring something new to the table, I know it’s just not possible. And in some genres, innovation just simply isn’t part of the game, so you look at how well the bands use the conventions. When it comes to European prog/power, Sweden’s Manimal use […]
Tags: 2010, AFM Records, Fred Phillips, Manimal, Review
Posted in Reviews, Reviews › A on Friday, October 9th, 2009
Well known to European fans of Melodic Metal, Axxis are still somewhat obscure in American metal circles, even though the guys have been keeping their vessel afloat for more than two decades now. Having gone through ups and downs, the band has stood the test of time and remained loyal to its musical credo, which […]
Tags: 2009, AFM Records, Axxis, Igor Stakh, Review
Posted in Reviews on Friday, October 2nd, 2009
Every new release from Germany’s pride and joy U.D.O. is a grand occasion for the fans of the band. Picking up the baton from the great Accept as far back as the mid 80’s, U.D.O. is none other than the very incarnation of everything those Teutonic ironsmiths used to be famous for. The rasping diamond-cutting […]
Tags: 2009, AFM Records, Igor Stakh, Review, U.D.O.
Posted in Reviews, Reviews › E on Sunday, June 14th, 2009
I’ve been trying to get on AFM Records’ mailing list for a while because they do carry several bands that I like. So I finally get three AFM releases in my hands, and after these reviews, I’m afraid my chances may be shot. First there was Elvenking’s latest, then Magica, now Exilia, and unfortunately, it’s […]
Tags: 2009, AFM Records, Exilia, Fred Phillips, Review
Posted in Reviews, Reviews › E on Wednesday, June 10th, 2009
Credit where credit is due, Hungary’s Ektomorf have been playing their version of Soulfly’s 1998 self titled album for nearly a decade now with little sign of letting up of changing style five albums in, even with a label change from Nuclear Blast to AFM Records. At least you know exactly what you are getting […]
Tags: 2009, AFM Records, E.Thomas, Ektomorf, Review
Posted in Reviews, Reviews › E on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009
I can’t honestly recall having heard Elvenking before, and as I understand it, this isn’t a record I should judge the band by as it’s an attempt to do something different from their normal sound. This record, however, sounds like a band in need of an identity. Is it folk? Is it power metal? Is it 1980s pop rock? […]
Tags: 2009, AFM Records, Elvenking, Fred Phillips, Review
Posted in Reviews, Reviews › M on Thursday, May 28th, 2009
I’ve been on a roll of good female-fronted records lately — Luna Mortis, The Agonist, Lacuna Coil (yes, I know it’s poppy and commercial, but I still like it) — so I suppose it was just a matter of time before I got another one of these. Wolves & Witches has a few things going […]
Tags: 2009, AFM Records, Fred Phillips, Magica, Review
Posted in Reviews, Reviews › D on Thursday, December 4th, 2008
Germany’s favorite sons of thrash are back once again with their fifth album (six if you count thrash anthems as an actual album) since their reunions about a decade ago, and they still have it for the most part. The acronym that is the album’s title contains the first letter of each of the ten […]
Tags: 2008, AFM Records, Destruction, Kyle Huckins, Review
Posted in Reviews, Reviews › X on Monday, October 13th, 2008
Being a supergroup of sorts and harboring under their shining fuselage such personages as Nils K.Rue (Pagan’s Mind, Eidolon), Andy La Rocque (ex – Death, King Diamond) and Magnus Rosèn (ex – Jorn, ex – Hammerfall), X World 5 sound like a crew of extraterrestrial cyborgs who flew to Earth for the sole purpose – […]
Tags: 2008, AFM Records, Igor Stakh, Review, X World 5
Posted in Reviews, Reviews › C on Thursday, May 8th, 2008
I’ve got mixed feelings on the latest record from Circle II Circle. On one hand, Delusions of Grandeur has some really good songs, perhaps some of the best in the history of the band. On the other hand, the flatlined mix is incredibly weak and makes those great songs difficult to enjoy. In places, it […]
Tags: 2008, AFM Records, Circle II Circle, Fred Phillips, Review
Posted in Reviews, Reviews › J on Tuesday, April 15th, 2008
With Savatage seemingly on indefinite hiatus between the monster that Trans-Siberian Orchestra has become and the various solo projects of its members, fans are getting a lot of music in a similar style, but not what they really want. Until now. The first two efforts of Jon Oliva’s Pain have been quite enjoyable, if a bit uneven. […]
Tags: 2008, AFM Records, Fred Phillips, Jon Oliva's Pain, Review
Posted in Reviews, Reviews › M on Saturday, June 30th, 2007
I enjoyed Masterplan’s last record, Aeronautics, and was looking forward to hearing the follow-up. Perhaps its because of the loss of vocalist Jorn Lande or perhaps its because I’m listening to it shortly after I’ve been impressed by the chances taken on Sonata Arctica’s latest record. Whatever the case, I’m underwhelmed with what I’m hearing […]
Tags: 2007, AFM Records, Fred Phillips, Masterplan, Review
Posted in Reviews, Reviews › U on Thursday, June 7th, 2007
never was a big Accept fan, largely because the vocals of Udo Dirkschneider grated on my nerves. So it should go without saying that I didn’t give much thought to Udo’s solo albums at all after the first one or two. I still find Dirkschneider’s vocals one step this side of nails on a chalkboard, […]
Tags: 2007, AFM Records, Fred Phillips, Review, U.D.O.
Posted in Reviews, Reviews › A on Tuesday, July 10th, 2001
Edguy vocalist Tobias Sammet has created quite the power metal extravaganza here. For Avantasia, he has wrangled in some big name musicians and a slew of guest vocalists to deliver The Metal Opera; a nearly hour long drama set to pummeling power metal. While some attempts at these types of all-star concept pieces fall short, […]
Tags: 2001, AFM Records, Avantasia, Review, Shawn Pelata