Tag Archives: Power Metal

Dialith is an Epic Symphonic Power Metal band from Danbury, Connecticut. Formed in 2015, Dialith made an impact with their 2019 debut album, Extinction Six. Blending Epic Orchestral arrangements with enrapturing Melodeath riffs, Dialith aims to breathe new life into the Symphonic Metal genre with tracks that draw inspiration from varied sources, from Death Metal to Pop music to Arabic and Celtic Folk music. Alter is the continuation of Dialith’s 2021 EP Atrophy, the second in what will be a trilogy of EPs that culminate in a full album. To accomplish these sounds, they use heavy riffing interlaced with delicate lead and fill work, heavy-handed bass, intricate drumming, and Simone Simons’ inspired vocals to craft a special alloy of Metal that is unique to them.

Apotheus is a four-piece Progressive Metal band from Portugal that loves to weave tales to take you on a musical and lyrical journey. Very cinematic in their approach to songwriting, Ergo Atlas is a concept album that is part two of a story Apotheus is writing based on the works of Isaac Asimov. A single concept album can be very difficult to write as it requires thematic elements to carry the story through all the music and lyrics. The musical themes are every bit as important as the lyrical ones. Carrying this across more than one album increases the difficulty and is not something to be tried without a clear vision guiding the project. Apotheus has achieved something few bands dare to try.

Out Of Darkness is a Florida-based four-piece band operating primarily in the Classic Power/Progressive Metal realm, though that is nowhere close to everything they bring to bear on this record. The songs are shaded with Modern and Melodic Metal, bringing a classic sound into the new age. Initially formed in 2020 by Brent and Eric, they have expanded their line-up to include Dan and Bill, rounding out the sound. After releasing their debut EP, Seize The Day, in 2020, Out Of Darkness took time to craft their debut full-length LP and make sure they got everything to sound exactly as they wanted it to. The result is a very solid offering that has everything from gentle, ballad-like tones to a distinct heaviness that will immediately burrow into your brain.

Visions Of Morpheus was originally formed as a solo project by Jeff Pearson but has grown into a full-fledged band. Their debut album, Lost Within, was released in November 2023. Hailing from Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, they join a long line of Canadian Progressive rock and metal bands in exploring vast soundscapes meant to stimulate more than just the ears. This is more of a full-body experience as you wander through haunting melodies and heavy rhythms, influenced by the hyperactive interplay between the guitars and keyboards, supported by nuanced rhythms and wrapped around vocals that range from delicate to bombastic.

Lutharo is a female-fronted Power/Death/Epic Metal band hailing from Canada. Ten years into their career, they’ve released two EPs and two LPs. Chasing Euphoria is the second (soon-to-be-released) LP. Chugging rhythms and frenetic riffs combine with delicate interludes, clean and harsh vocals, and killer compositions to create a massive soundscape that will wash over you, drowning you in glorious noises that sweep you off the shore into the depths of a musical fantasy land. Take a deep breath before the first song ends, you will need it as the rest of the album will work to take that last breath away. The stunning speed and accuracy of the songs will leave you wanting more. This is one of those records that will stick with you for years to come.

Hyloxalus is something heavy music fans have been familiar with for decades; the Canadian Power Trio. One of the key differences is the vocals. The layers of Nina are something out of an Epic Power Symphonic Metal lover’s dream. Her tones are stunning and the way the layers are built creates a soundscape that rivals anything you’ve heard to date. Mike takes on a lot of roles, playing everything except the drums. Danial takes on that task and the three of them show they are all very capable of performing their parts with precision and technicality.

Lower 13 describes themselves as a Melodic Metal Power Trio. After listening to them, I will not be trying to argue anything different as I heartily agree with them, though I’d expand that description a bit to include some additional influences from Thrash, Death, and Power Metal. With a combination of clean and harsh vocals, powerful rhythms, and intricate lead work, Lower 13 blends multiple disciplines into a tasty feast of Heavy Metal that contains something for everyone on the Metal Spectrum.

Olathia is a four-piece Power/Thrash Metal band from Cleveland, Ohio. They add in Melodic and Traditional Metal with hints of Progressive Metal to craft a sound that is expansive and complex. They also like a challenge as you will notice from the cover song on the album, “Hall Of The Mountain King” by Savatage. This female-fronted band will blow you away with the sheer force of the music they write. Their bold choice for a cover track from 1987 by one of the (in my opinion) most underrated bands in Metal shows they are not afraid to push boundaries and test their abilities, an attribute I appreciate in a Metal band.

Weightless World is a Progressive Metal band from Finland formed in 2011. Heavy on the Progressive end of the Metal spectrum, they bring in elements of Power and Metalcore and even edge pretty close to Speed Metal at times. They use clean and harsh vocals, mixed in with the backing vocals to create a larger-than-life set of voices capable of taking their songs to a new level.

Noturnall is a Brazilian Power Metal band that has been around for a decade now and has achieved international fame through relentless touring and creating some EPIC music. Guest performers include Michael Romeo, Mike Portnoy, and Ney Matogrosso just to name a few. With guitar work rivaling DragonForce and a rhythm section that is second to none, the vocals round out a dynamic sound built for speed and rooted in accurate, aggressive compositions. It’s no wonder world-class musicians are joining them on their musical journey.