It has been too many years since I've heard that unmistakable sound of Finnish melancholic metal/hard rock echo through my mind. I had never expected that release to come from Negative's latest Neon, as I always thought their past production was just too flimsy for my taste, but it seems I have been proven wrong, thankfully! The guys take me on a journey that makes me yearn for that mildly-used 1970s convertible, ready to drive away into the endless horizon with pounding, melancholic metal to throw away my life's disappointments into the wind.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Ivan

Arjen is back with his band of merry men for the follow-up to 2002's Space Metal. Following that album wasn't an easy task, but now eight years on and we have yet another fantastic album with all the Arjen and Star One hallmarks.

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Endorsed by: Dane Train, Susan, Ivor, Ag Fox, Nefarious

24 years after the band's conception, one of the best-kept secrets in the Finnish thrash metal underground has finally released its debut full-length. Needless to say Altars Of Destruction will be kicking ass up and down the scene with this beast of an album.

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Endorsed by: White Winter Sun, BitterCOld

As the genre description above implies (and I suppose the album title itself), Sad aren't leaving their audience with much choice other than to self-mutilate in the most gruesome manner possible. No fancy effects, no thick production - just raw self-loathing in the form of intensely depressive repetition. Get out your razor blades and fill the bath tub with hot water for this one: things are going to get real messy.

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Endorsed by: Ag Fox

It's always a thrill when hyped bands such as Intronaut release new material, but fortunately the band delivers! An album that changes colors every time you give it a listen.

Hop on the Intronaut bandwagon or get out of the way, bitch.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Dane Train, White Winter Sun, BitterCOld, BloodTears

Thirteen years have passed since the latest band's offering, entitled Green, which had exhibited a subdued result.

Anyway Omega Wave marks an attractive return. Indeed Forbidden are back and their amazing thrash riffs too.

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Endorsed by: Thryce, Marcel Hubregtse, Deadsoulman, X-Ray Rod

Helloween are back with their best album definitely at least since The Dark Ride. This is heavier stuff, modern, and certainly catchy without being cheesy. This will be one of the albums of the year for all those concerned.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: GT, Ag Fox

Definitely among the best albums of the year. Rosetta are pushing the boundaries of metal once again, practically raising it to a form of art. Brilliant release through and through!

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Endorsed by: BitterCOld, White Winter Sun, DreamWeaver, Ag Fox, X-Ray Rod

Featuring tons of fuzzed out stoner doom distortion in the basic format of Sleep's Jerusalem - i.e. one long-ass song divided into several parts - these Italians followed up their MS Award winning Idolum with another superb effort. Eve is an enjoyable head-trip for after you've knocked out a couple belts of the firewater.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Thryce, Promonex, !J.O.O.E.!, Dane Train, Marcel Hubregtse, Ag Fox, X-Ray Rod

New War From A Harlots Mouth album! New War From A Harlots Mouth album!
New War From A Harlots Mouth album! New War From A Harlots Mouth album!

Here's the stream link... you know what to do.

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Endorsed by: Deadsoulman, X-Ray Rod

Rarely does an album make me feel nostalgic for the human race at the same time that I forsake all hope in it. Solidly crafted and produced, complete with thoughtful and personal lyrics and melodies, Helevorn offer us a somber experience into the withering of us all.

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Endorsed by: Thryce, Marcel Hubregtse, White Winter Sun

The masters of modern Mesopotamian melodic black are back. Epigensis sees Melechesh continuing to put their stamp on melodic bm by incorporating all sorts of exotic scales and instrumentation foreign to many western ears. All the exotic is piled on to a solid foundation of pounding drums, sneering vocals and ripping riffs to create an album that definitely stands apart from and above the crowd.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Daniell, Marcel Hubregtse, Jeff, GT, X-Ray Rod, wormdrink414

James LaBrie is hands down one of Metal's greatest voices and after five years returns with his newest solo album. When most people think of LaBrie doing a solo album the first thought is a bunch of ballads. But not on this record. A brilliant blend of Gothenburg and Prog, Static Impulse is a hard hitting, kick-ass record that is sure to turn heads and shows Dream Theater's vocalist in a whole new light!

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Endorsed by: Daniell, Ag Fox, BloodTears, Milena

Can you define cool? It's something that's not necessarily brilliant, or inventive, or grounbreaking, or world-changing. It doesn't redefine anything, it doesn't discover new realms. But you love it anyway. It hits this part of your brain that expects simple pleasures, without justifying why they are so pleasant.

That's how I perceive Byfrost's debut album. It delightfully tickles my ears and massages my belly with its groovy, bassy rhythms and riffs. It spellbinds my hands so that I can't take the CD out of my player and I'm forced to press "play" again. Oh, it also sounds great in my car. It makes traffic jams a lot less unbearable. And it makes drivers around me look at me in bewilderment as I rock, jump, and do air-guitar to the sounds of Byfrost.

Do not miss out on those simple, un-pretentious pleasures. Let Byfrost bring you one.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Susan, Marcel Hubregtse, X-Ray Rod

Clear melancholia and pure sadness, the essential Finnish way. Just delightful, isn't it?
And just like that, a little piece of Sentenced lives on. Winter cannot come fast enough...

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