Review: SynaptiK – Justify & Reason

SynaptiK return with their follow-up to 2014’s killer debut, The Mechanisms of Consequences (which was, by the way, re-released recently). This new album, Justify & Reason, is down to its core a progressive metal album, but SynaptiK are not too far removed from heavy/power metal. Upon my first experience of Justify & Reason, I was … Continue reading Review: SynaptiK – Justify & Reason

Review: Riftwalker – Green & Black

Riftwalker came flying out of Vancouver in 2009, and it took them about four years to release a debut EP Wreckage of the Old World in December 2013. Now almost three years later, the band returns with a full-length album Green & Black, which is an amazing effort. Bringing only the finest of elements from … Continue reading Review: Riftwalker – Green & Black

Review: Unprocessed – Perception

Ah, Djent, thou art a fickle mistress. Ever since Meshuggah released their classic Destroy, Erase, Improve, legions of bands have been clamouring to follow in the footsteps of the polyrhythmic metal gods. Though Germany’s Unprocessed do follow in the steps of the mentioned Swedish powerhouse, the quintet from Wiesbaden also showcase a variety of different … Continue reading Review: Unprocessed – Perception

Review: Astral Path – Ashes Dancer

Italians Astral Path are a new name on the melodic death / progressive metal scene, and Ashes Dancer is their debut album. This eight-track release really injects a breath of fresh air into the melodic death metal scene. That’s not to say that this is another Amon Amarth-alike sounding band; in fact I could not … Continue reading Review: Astral Path – Ashes Dancer

Review: X-Panda – Reflections

After coming out of nowhere with one of the best pure prog metal albums of 2011 in the form of Flight of Fancy, Estonia’s X-Panda return with a boatload of expectations and hype for the second outing, Reflections. Right from get-go, it appears the band has taken immense strides in shedding the Dream Theater worship … Continue reading Review: X-Panda – Reflections

Review: Kyros – Vox Humana

Later this week, progressive rock band from London, Kyros will release their second studio album. At over 80 minutes, Vox Humana is a concept album, though it feels more like a collection of short stories with a common theme, as opposed to a novel with a singular story arc. That’s not to say that Vox … Continue reading Review: Kyros – Vox Humana