The Halo Effect - March of the Unheard (Nuclear Blast Records) Out January 10
"When we started doing this as teenagers in Sweden, no one wanted to play the heavy stuff we wanted to do," declared Mikael Stanne at the 2022 Milwaukee Metal Fest, a mile wide grin on his face. "And now, thirty years later, we are here with you having a good time, and for that we are so thankful!" This sentiment came just a few months before Stanne and the rest of The Halo Effect released their debut album, Days of the Lost to critical acclaim.
Flash forward two and a half years later and the band, comprised of Swedish metal royalty by way of former members of Dark Tranquility and In Flames, are set to drop their sophomore opus, March of the Unheard.
As pioneers of the Gothenburg sound, songs such as "Conspire to Deceive", "Our Channel to Darkness" and "Forever Astray" are melodic death metal masterclasses served by those who helped write the book on the sub-genre. The epic build up of "A Death That Becomes Us" and the fantasy vibes of "Cruel Perception" bring additional elements to the band's formula, showcasing their exceptional songwriting skills.
Having spent so many years together as friend and bandmates, it's no surprise to hear another powerhouse of excellence coming from camp Halo Effect. Each track finely crafted with melody and intensity while remaining unique from one another.
Scheduled to tour Europe in January and February before heading to multiple summer festivals, North America audiences are no doubt anxious to hear of news of a spring tour to celebrate the new album.
Grave Digger - Bone Collector (RPM Roar) Out January 17
With a nearly 45 year long career and 21 albums to their name, legions of bands in the speed and power metal sub-genres owe much to trailblazers Grave Digger. Entering in as their twenty second release, Bone Collector is nothing short of top shelf German engineering, sleek, deadly and roaring with might.
Kicking off with the title track, the album reaches Mach One in just a few seconds, with vocalist Chris Boltendahl's soaring voice leading the charge over molten guitar and bass work and whiplash inducing drums. Giving way to "The Rich, The Poor, The Dying", the track is sure to incite massive circle pits around the world with its anthemic chorus and driving instrumentation.
Releasing three singles from the album to date, "Kingdom of Skulls", "Killing Is My Pleasure" and "The Devil's Serenade" are all superb examples of what has made Grave Digger a legacy among metal fans, the latter truly bringing to life a modern twist on 80s power akin to contemporaries Accept and Motörhead.
Closing with the haunting "Whispers of the Damned", a six minute track fans of Paradise Lost will love, the tour-de-force known as Grave Digger is as unstoppable now as it's been since 1980. Celebrating their forty fifth anniversary with a tour through German, with one exception for a show just over the Swiss border, 2025 will be an immense year for the masters of speed.
Harakiri For the Sky - Scorched Earth (AOP Records) Out January 17
On two distinct occasions at shows reviewed in 2024 by The Metal Mayan, the name Harakiri For the Sky was brought up. The first was in Brooklyn when Decapitated performed at the Warsaw, and the second was at the Milwaukee Metal Fest. Both were nearly identical with a concert goer spotting a patch bearing the band's name on someone's battle vest and asking who they were; and in both cases, the answer was "the greatest".
Though staying busy on the road since 2021's Mære, the Austrian post-black metal heavyweights have returned with a brand new opus of masterful melancholy music with their new album, Scorched Earth. Releasing singles "With Autumn I'll Surrender" in October, and "Heal Me" in November, the bar was already set high months in advance, with both songs emerging as introspective reflections on life and meaning.
Crafted by the enigmatic duo of vocalist J.J. and multi-instrumentalist M.S., the rest of album is a strong dose of pain and passion. Songs such as "Keep Me Longing" and "I Was Just Another Promise You Couldn't Keep" paint with the bleak palette wielded by the likes of Panopticon, Paradise Lost and Opeth. Picking up the tempo, "No Graves But the Sea" stands out as a track sure to get crowds moving with its mosh worthy beats and progressive rhythms.
Returning to North America in February on tour with Swallow the Sun before returning to Europe for an April tour, fans new and old won't have to wait long to hear cuts from Scorched Earth performed live by one of today's most important bands in the extreme music community.
The Big Deal - Electrified (Frontiers Music s.r.l.) Out January 17
Flying the flag high for the Serbian hard rock and heavy metal scene, the dynamic quintet known as The Big Deal are set to take the world by storm with their second album, Electrified. Formed in 2021, the band has already accumulated many accolades with their symphonic stylings that is mandatory listening for fans of Ad Infinitum, Delain and Xandria.
Releasing "Survivor" and "Like A Fire" as the lead singles, vocalists Ana Nikolic and Nevena Brankovic are as enchanting as they are empowering, with the latter handling keyboard duties including solos sure to impress fans of Children of Bodom.
Weaving in infectious choruses in "Better Than Hell", guitarist Srdjan Brankovic delivers searing solos that fit impeccably with the bass and drum work of Nikola Mijic and Marko Milojevic respectively. Dialing in Epica vibes, "Broken Wings" is a tremendous number that will have heads banging at every show without question.
Though still new to the scene, The Big Deal bring nothing short of high caliber melodic metal to the table with exceptional song writing, immense vocal talent, and the unique element of dueling keyboard and guitar solos. Scheduled to play in Italy at Frontiers Rock Festival, 2025 is wide open for more shows in Europe and beyond to introduce new audiences to incredible music.
ONI - Genesis EP (Independent/Ironshore Records) Out January 24
Steadily releasing singles throughout 2024 and hitting the road supporting Crown the Empire, and then Bad Wolves and Pop Evil, it was nothing short of a busy year for ONI. Bringing together the singles released to date along with two new songs, Genesis is the cumulation of all the hard work mastermind Jake Oni has put into making the band both a success and heavy hitting sensation.
As The Metal Mayan called it in a review last July, "Control" is a track forged in fury and striking with passion and precision. Jump forward to early September, The Metal Mayan referred to "Walk Away" as another winner that reflects the band's growth and identity, especially with the guest spot from rapper lil aaron which added a unique twist to an already tremendous track.
Emotionally charged and driven by lush electronics and low tuned guitars, the EP's two newest offerings - "Realign" and "Erase" - are each examples of excellence for modern hard rock and metal. "Realign" conjures up textures for fans of Sleep Token with its melodies and Jake Oni's immense vocal range and power. "Erase" is an ensnaring trip through deep places of the mind molded in part by Periphery and Deftones, but standing out as its own individual creation.
Entering a new year with a wide open tour schedule and new material, The Metal Mayan has yet to be wrong when we have stated 'expect big things from ONI' in previous articles. However based on the footage captured on tour that was used to make the music video for "Realign", the correct phrase is now without question to expect massive things from the band.
Thundermother - Dirty & Divine (AFM Records) Out February 07
Following a sensational year promoting their fifth album, Black and Gold, the start of 2023 was a bittersweet end of an era for Swedish rock queens Thundermother as all members except founding guitarist Filippa Nässil exited the band.
This event, however, marked the beginning of a new and exciting chapter as Nässil was quickly joined by vocalist Linnea Vikström Egg, drummer Joan Massing, and returning bassist Majsan Lindberg. Together, the quartet will kick off 2025 with sound and fury through the band's sixth release, Dirty & Divine.
Opening with the anthemic "So Close", the very best elements of hard rock merge to create a song that demands repeat listening at high volume. Moving into the AC/DC influenced "Can't Put Out the Fire", the band may hail from Scandinavia, but the tones are absolutely 'red convertible screaming down a California highway'.
Releasing the latest single "Bright Eyes" just after the start of the new year, the attitude of Joan Jett & the Blackhearts meets the energy of Mötley Crüe. If somehow the rush of these songs isn't enough, buckle up for the force of "I Left My License In the Future", "American Adrenaline" and "Speaking of the Devil".
Set to begin their "Goddess of the Road" tour in Europe from February through April, Thundermother will celebrate their sixteenth year with grace and style. While no North American shows have been announced yet, the band's last run through the U.S. and Canada supporting Scorpions and Whitesnake in 2023 introduced them to new audiences, who surely wait with anticipation for their chance to here cuts from Dirty & Divine live.
Advanced copies courtesy of Hardman PR and Secret Service PR
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