The Best Melodeath / Extreme Power / Gothenburg Metal Album - Metal Storm Awards 2025

Allegaeon - The Ossuary Lens

Anchored with one foot in the past, given that the band reintroduced old vocalist Ezra Haynes after Riley McShane's departure, and one foot in the future, The Ossuary Lens doesn't attempt to completely rehash what worked for Damnum. There's an increased sharpness to the sound, something accentuated by the briefer runtime of the entire package. While the overt progginess has been dialed back, guitar melodies still abound, there are occasional orchestral touches through the synths, and there's a newfound sense of aggression, giving some of the songs a thrashy edge.

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Destinity - Ascension

Destinity's journey is a curious one; once pursuing a more unique spin on melodeath, the French ensemble have now transitioned into a band that sounds very much like they rehearse in a Gothenburg postcode. However, the execution of this sound on first In Continuum and now Ascension puts many of their peers to shame; certainly, it's been quite a while since Dark Tranquillity wrote riffs and lead guitar hooks either as well or as consistently as Destinity have managed on this record. Filled front-to-back with irresistible earworms, Ascension is a mouthwateringly juicy tribute to the Gothenburg metal scene.

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Grenadier - Wolves Of The Trench

Death in the trenches was swift and bloody, and so it is when it comes from Grenadier.  Wolves Of The Trench is rabid, raw, and riffy, maniacally paced and little afraid of some flattering sloppiness, and above all it's incredibly melodic - but it's not "melodic death metal" in an In Flames way, nor in an Amon Amarth way, nor even in a Carcass way.  It is simply vicious death metal that is melodic (dare way say Arghoslent without the racism, or perhaps a more brutal and less ancient Forefather?).  Ridiculous concentrations of limber riffs and even occasional clean vocals make Grenadier about as catchy as death metal can be, and they do it all without losing that vulgar edge whose absence so often turns melodeath into power metal.

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In Mourning - The Immortal

In Mourning have been an ever-reliable source of excellent music over the past 25 years, but they have in no way been static with their sound. Instead, they have undergone gradual shifts from record to the next, and The Immortal represents a less gradual evolution for the progressive melodeath band. With expanded use of clean vocals contrasted with a substantial infusion of melodic black metal instrumentation into several tracks, The Immortal is an album that stands out in the Swedes' discography both for its distinctive sonic palette, and also for the quality of its contents, which represent a real high point in their glowing career to date.

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Mors Principium Est - Darkness Invisible

Life for Mors Principium Est after Andy Gillion looks oddly similar to life before Andy Gillion, as the band took the opportunity in the wake of his controversial departure to bring both founding guitarists back into the fold. Darkness Invisible comes with lofty expectations arising from nostalgia for The Unborn, but it is not an attempt to recapitulate bygone days; it is its own beast, bright and grand with lavish symphonic arrangements, and filled with memorable riff and lead guitar hooks. The rapid technicality associated with the band's guitarwork is frequently placed on display, while Mors Principium Est are also able to extract drama and exhilaration from more straightforward riffs; whatever is happening on this album, excitement is guaranteed.

Nephylim - Circuition

Nephylim hail from the Netherlands, but their take on melodeath draws influence from across the Nordics. In one moment, you might be faced with the melancholic melodies and tremolos of Insomnium and their Finnish brethren, while another track will serve up classic Gothenburg-style lead guitar riffs in the vein of Mors Principium Est or Dark Tranquillity. Circuition draws from a wealth of influences, but synthesizes them to spectacular effect; Nephylim are capable of both luring listeners in with sharp-edged driving hooks, and then wowing them with grandiose splendour.

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Nightfall - Children Of Eve

Since their formation in 1991, Nightfall have been waving the flag of Greek extreme metal with pride and dedication. Their 11th album, Children Of Eve, is a dark and epic creation of gothic melodies woven into blackened and melodic death metal, and it is full of memorable hooks. The vocals of Efthimis Karadimas are as compelling as ever, and he is backed by some very talented musicians who excel both on the aggressive side of things and on the more melodic and melancholic expressions. As the years go by, Nightfall don’t seem to be letting up; if anything, they seem to be turning hungrier and stronger.

Omnium Gatherum - May The Bridges We Burn Light The Way

Omnium Gatherum have long stood out in a broadly melancholic Finnish melodeath scene with their uplifting catchiness, and their self-ascribed description of 'adult-oriented death metal' has never felt as apt as on May The Bridges We Burn Light The Way. With shorter and more concise songs than predecessor Origin, this latest record is replete with irresistible AOR-drenched guitar, synth and even clean vocal hooks; however, while the aggresssion is somewhat dialled down, Omnium Gatherum still bare their teeth when needed, and May The Bridges We Burn Light The Way is as full of adrenaline rushes as it is sing-along anthems. For a band that is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Omnium Gatherum sound remarkably fresh and vital.

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Suotana - Ounas II

Ounas I promised Ounas II, and Suotana made good on their promise; they may not have the clout of many of their countrymen, but Finland isn't the land of melancholic melodeath purely because of Insomnium Gatherum.  Ounas II does have the full body and more atmospheric qualities of the recognizable Finnish style, but it also has a leanness and a versatility characteristic of the Gothenburg scene.  The way the keys echo or complement the guitar lines invites comparison to Children Of Bodom, as do some of the snappier leads; the deeper vocal register and epic brass flourishes position Suotana somewhere in between these two recognizable sounds to make them just a bit unconventional, and the album's great songwriting helps it stand out as well.  Not to get greedy, but an Ounas III would be a welcome addition.

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The Halo Effect - March Of The Unheard

It's still hard not to view The Halo Effect as the Ship of Theseus version of In Flames, although that's just because it's so refreshing to feel like there's a way for In Flames not to disappoint us anymore.  The truth is that The Halo Effect isn't really about doing In Flames over again: as they declared on Days Of The Lost, they're bringing old Gothenburg up to speed, and March Of The Unheard carries on that mission.  The deep, rich, dark sound of old melodic death metal becomes full and enveloping, the song structures become focused and accessible, and the performances become tight and polished all without The Halo Effect ever forgetting that at heart they're a death metal band.  If you want punchy lead harmonies, a refreshingly aggressive attitude, and Mikael Stanne's beautiful, ageless growls, it's time to hear the unheard.

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