November 28, 2020 by A.S. Van Dorston

Sometime in the last few years, there’s been a subtle but noticeable shift. Patronizing variations of the “new old wave of traditional heavy metal” tag were abandoned for simply “heavy metal,” or sometimes “epic heavy metal.” Power metal is mentioned without sneer or irony, and magazines like Decibel have finally started acknowledging the greatness of bands like Eternal Champion, Spirit Adrift, Haunt, Megaton Sword and Cirith Ungol. Hell’s Heroes III in Houston was scheduled for a killer lineup on April 18th, including Candlemass, Satan, Slough Feg, Night Demon, Eternal Champion, Haunt, High Spirits, Magic Circle, Gatekeeper, Smoulder and Traveler. Damn. Alas, it wasn’t to be. I was looking forward to it, because these smaller metal fests are a great time, a tight knit community of passionate metal fans. I experienced this at the Doomed & Stoned fests which started in Indianapolis in 2016, and even Roadburn in the Netherlands, which has grown, but is still in that magical sweet spot where it’s not a hassle to get into the rooms, and it’s more about music than money. Either way, the great albums continued to roll out, and with some luck, all these bands will rock stages later in 2021. Hails!

1. Spirit Adrift – Enlightened in Eternity (20 Buck Spin)

The highly anticipated fourth album, Enlightened in Eternity, from Spirit Adrift is a big success. Originally a solo project for Nate Garrett to work through issues as he meditates atop an Arizona mountain, they are now a fully formed unit of metal shaman passing down their musical nuggets of enlightenment. Starting with a traditional doom base on their first album, they have gradually introduced other elements along the lines of labelmates Khemmis. Garrett, who also served in death doom band Gatecreeper, revealed his diverse interests as early as Curse Of Conception (2017), including DIO, Bauhaus, Waylon Jennings, Tangerine Dream, Neil Young and, of course, Iron Maiden. That could result in a confounding mess, but those influences only subtly color the music, giving what remains basically traditionally heavy metal just a bit more depth and dimension.

Garrett sounds more confident than ever in pounding out raised fist anthemic choruses, his vocals rising to the task on “Astral Levitation,” aided with some epic power metal riffs. That and “Battle High” match well with the dramatic into battle glory cover art. I bet they could do some convincing power pirate metal along the lines of Running Wild without cheesing us out. “Cosmic Conquest” is chock full of soaring guitar pyrotechnics, as Garrett proclaims his desire — “All I want to be / One with everything.” That’s something previously only the likes of DIO could get away with convincingly, but he pulls it off.

The album wraps up with the 10:48 “Reunited in the Void,” revisiting their doom roots with it’s funereal pace picking up at the end with some great riffing that would do doompapa Tony Iommi proud. Between High Spirits, Butterfly, Unleash The Archers and the upcoming Pallbearer, Wytch Hazel, and Eternal Champion, it’s looking like a great year for heavy metal, with Spirit Adrift sitting imperiously on a throne atop the heap.

2. Eternal Champion – Ravening Iron (No Remorse)

Austin’s Eternal Champion debuted in 2016, which was such a strong year for metal, they perhaps didn’t get the attention they deserve. I know I was preoccupied with Khemmis, Spirit Adrift, Wytch Hazel, Hammers Of Misfortune, Brimstone Coven and Sumerlands. Any disappointment over Sumerlands not having a followup since is tempered by the fact that Eternal Champion, who share three members with Sumerlands, have ascended into a gleaming, powerful epic metal machine. Arthur Rizk, known for his production and mastering work with Power Trip, Tomb Mold and Cirith Ungol, moves from guitar to drum duties, with Blake Ibanez (Power Trip) and Nujon Powers handling guitar duties. While Phil Swanson was a major draw as Sumerland’s vocalist, Jason Tarpey ably handles the vocals and songwriting, his vocal timbre sometimes recalling 80s era Ozzy Osbourne.

Tarpey is no mere epic fantasy fanboy (the band’s name refers to Michael Moorcock’s multiverse where a reincarnated hero lives many lives in an epic interdimensional struggle for cosmic balance between the forces of law and chaos). He’s a blacksmith by trade who forges actual swords, among other things, and has also written his own fantasy novel, The Godblade, as J. Christopher Tarpey. The album art by Ken Kelly (Kiss, Rainbow, Manowar, Conan the Barbarian) has raised eyebrows and hackles, and for sure it could seem tone deaf in 2020. Cheesy as the nudes are, it is an authentic style of pulp/epic fantasy art used since the early 20th century. There’s no misogynist content in the lyrics that I can tell, unlike dozens of other albums in genres like country and trap.

The tighter arrangements and catchier riffs and vocal hooks are exemplified by the title track, e.g. hungry swords, thousands of them, “…and no one can take them from me.” Talk about hording! “War at the Edge of the End” taps into that gallop Iron Maiden perfected in the 80s, which tracks like “Coward’s Edge” contains a bit of thrashy crunch. While some elements can be attributed to power metal, and doom on “Banners of Arhai,” overall it’s simply epic heavy metal done extremely well. The only slight disappointment is “The Godblade,” named after Tarpey’s novel, is just a two minute ambient interlude, rather than an epic teaser to the story. At only just over 37 minutes, it seems a lost opportunity to dig deep and make the album more epic. Nevertheless, Ravening Iron is a raving success.

3. Witchwood – Before The Winter (Jolly Roger)

Italy’s Witchwood reaches back to the murky early 70s era where proto-metal (Deep Purple, Uriah Heep) and prog (Jethro Tull and obscure Italian prog bands) mingled like lumbering dinosaurs. On their third album, they approach the heights of early Witchcraft in terms of an enchanting brew of engaging melodies, hooks and dynamics. “Feelin'” and “Crazy Little Lover” also throw in some shades of boogie and Southern rock. They also cover Tyranasaurus Rex’s 1968 tune “Child Star” on a bonus track.

4. High Spirits – Hard To Stop (Professor Black)

One of the privileges of living in the same metro area as Chris Black pre-pandemic was being able to see his various hard rock and heavy metal incarnations live with some regularity, including one fun showcase as Professor Black that included songs from all his projects, including Dawnbringer. High Spirits has been the most frequent live vehicle in recent years, and he clearly has the most fun with this band. As do we. There’s a handful of bands, especially in Scandinavia, who do a pretty good job of taking the good parts of 80s AOR rock, losing the overwrought fat and leaving in the good parts informed by Thin Lizzy, UFO, Scorpions. But no one does it as consistently as High Spirits on their fourth album. High energy, triumphant major key rock with hooks, concise solos, and sing/shout-along choruses. We need dis.

5. Haunt – Flashback (Church)

It’s no surprise that there are three Haunt albums this year. When Trevor William Church announced he was retiring his Beastmaker project, I was prepared for an onslaught of Haunt product. However, went Haunt album number three, Mind Freeze, came out in January, the sound was a bit disappointing. It did not sound as good as previous albums, as if it were just another thing to toss off like the ten Beastmaker EPs he unloaded onto the world. In July, this was corrected with Flashback, which also introduces synths. It’s a nice balancing act between referencing 80s metal and AOR production, and the charmingly raw production, exemplified by the stellar lead title track. “Electrified” features some up-front vocal hooks worthy of High Spirits, while “One With The Universe” ups the tempo, but continues to pile on the melodic riffs and vocal hooks like they’re trying to make room for the neverending tunes. The second half flies by rather quickly, the concise eight songs totally barely over 31 minutes, which for some bands would be considered an EP. “Sweet Embrace” stands out from that batch, and closer “The Great Beyond” sports a memorable chorus.

If you’re craving more, there’s plenty more Haunt available, including the third album that emerged in September, Triumph. While Church doesn’t consider it new because it’s re-recordings of songs from the EPs Luminous Eyes (2017) and Mosaic Vision. But really, it’s a perfect introduction to the band, featuring their latest synth-augmented sound, and the songs are arguably better than the two newest albums.

6. Valkyrie – Fear (Relapse)

Brothers Jake and Pete Adams are not exactly prolific, even after Pete quit Baroness to focus on Valkyrie. This is just their fourth album in fourteen years, but at this point, we should be lucky to be gifted with new music from one of the major bands to revive twin lead guitar harmonies. This sounds quite different from Shadows (2015), with more progressive, complex arrangements that kind of brings them full circle to the direction Baroness began with Red back in 2007. No complaints though, I’ll stay on this cyclical Ourorobos of a ride into the hazy red sunset.

7. Wytch Hazel – III: Pentecost (Bad Omen)

Per the III in the album title, this is the Lancashire renaissance fair metal band’s third album, and it fine tunes the Angel Witch meets Thin Lizzy and celtic folk influences to about as close to perfect this side of Slough Feg as one can get. While some may think there is dissonance in the fact that these are good Christian boys, I say bible bangers can rock just as hard as lovers of Satan. Black Sabbath were pretty god-fearing themselves, at least in the beginning before the mountains of cocaine. In “I Am Redeemed,” this sinner’s ears only hear “Blah blah blah Lucifer, blah blah blah Lucifer.” Works for me. As long as those sweet twin guitars keep on coming, they can dress up in their medieval outfits and sing about whatever they want.

8. Butterfly – Doorways Of Time (High Voltage)

Melbourne, Australia seems to have a new great band pop up every week. This time it’s Butterfly, offering up a smooth mix of 70s and 80s style traditional heavy metal, with just a touch of doom and proggy proto-metal, complete with twin lead guitars. Their relatively more relaxed tempos and extra attention to their tones and textures sets them apart from the pack this year. They can still get raucous, such as with the staccato AC/DC riffs that kick off “Climbing A Mountain,” and a super-fun stuttering tempo of a chorus.

9. Ironflame – Blood Red Victory (Divebomb)

I just realized that six albums in the top 13 feature a sword either in the cover art, or referenced in the title as in Eternal Champion’s Ravening Iron and Megaton Sword. The dude in the cover art for Unleash The Archers really could use a sword. Maybe he could borrow one from their metal brethren. When Andrew D’Cagna told me about his studio solo project in 2016, my interest was piqued because I was a huge fan of Brimstone Coven, who he contributed bass and harmonized vocals. Little did I know that this homage to classic metal (Priest/Maiden/DIO) would grow from an homage to a band that I’d love even more than Brimstone Coven. D’Cagna still plays all the instruments except for a couple soloists, and assembles a band for live gigs. While not quite as prolific, his talent certainly compares with Chris Black and Trevor William Church, and for fans of any of the above albums, the third Ironflame album is essential listening. Annoyingly, those who buy the vinyl get an enticing bonus disc of covers of “In Trance” by the Scorpions, along with Uriah Heep, Styx and Roky Erickson. I don’t do vinyl, but somehow, this will be mine.

10. Megaton Sword – Blood Hails Steel – Steel Hails Fire (Dying Victims)

This Swiss band made pretty big waves in the underground metal world with their debut EP Niralet. While it sounds like their EP may have been influenced by the first Eternal Champion album, the album sees them embracing European power metal like Germans Running Wild (yar!) and Gamma Ray, and Portugal’s Ironsword. There’s no shortage of European power metal, but on their official full length debut, Megaton Sword are already a polished and sharpened Swiss blade. And with a singer named Uzzy Unchained, and songs taking place exclusively in a magical land where rivers flow with beer, you can’t go wrong with this one.

11. Unleash The Archers – Abyss (Napalm)

While some of the above bands have dabbled in power metal, Canada’s Unleash The Archers reveal them to be just that, dabblers, in terms of that subgenre. Given how much I like the first ten albums, this is not a bad thing. But over the course of five albums in eleven years, lead by one of the most powerful voices in metal, male or female, in Brittney Slayes, Unleash The Archers now epitomize power metal in it’s most finely tuned form. So much so that it might take a mental adjustment after listening to most of these bands, even the polished Megaton Sword, because they might sound a bit too tight and shiny. But after adjusting your brain to the flawless to a fault production (think Queenrÿche), layered vocals and synths, you’ve got to give them props as one of the most talented, accomplish metal bands around. On top of that, Abyss is a space metal opera (Slayes has a four octave range from C♯3-D6) that continues a story established in Apex (2017), The Immortal awakens after a few thousand year slumber to find himself under the thumb of the villain of Apex, The Matriarch. An epic clash aboard a starship/space station ensues. There will be shredding.

12. Haunt – Triumph (Church)

See #5 entry above.

13. Cortez – Sell The Future (Ripple)

Formed outside of Boston in 2006, Cortez may have fairly humble beginnings as a hard stoner rock band with leanings toward Thin Lizzy, but they have crossed over increasingly to heavy metal with the kind of hybrid that first got me into Castle, Christian Mistress and Valkyrie. “No Escape” gallops out of the gates with high energy and ripping solos, while the title track is appropriately doomy and gloomy. Album highlight “Faulty Towers” mix up the fast and slow with a psychedelic intro, leading into a metal breakdown and chorus. They flip between fast and slow pretty consistently throughout the album, and it works. Who doesn’t love a rollercoaster? Cortez is a band that’s well known regionally who would benefit from hard touring. Since that’s not possible right now, hopefully this album will get some notice via word of mouth.

Best of the Rest

Ironflame – Blood Red Victory (Divebomb) | Bandcamp
Megaton Sword – Blood Hails Steel – Steel Hails Fire (Dying Victims) | Bandcamp
Unleash The Archers – Abyss (Napalm) | Bandcamp
Haunt – Triumph (Church) | Bandcamp
Lör – Edge Of Eternity (Lör) | Bandcamp
Pallbearer – Forgotten Days (Nuclear Blast) | Bandcamp
Dark Forest – Oak, Ash & Thorn (Cruz del Sur) | Bandcamp
Pale Divine – Consequence Of Time (Cruz del Sur) | Bandcamp
Night – High Tides – Distant Skies (The Sign) | Bandcamp
Rough Spells – Ruins At Midday (DHU) | Bandcamp
Lady Beast – The Vulture’s Amulet (Reaper) | Bandcamp
Superlord – Vs. Gargantuan (Gargantuan) | Bandcamp
Brimstone Coven – The Woes Of A Mortal Earth (Ripple) | Bandcamp
Freeways – True Bearings (Temple Of Mystery) | Bandcamp
Traveler – Termination Shock (Gates Of Hell) | Bandcamp
Godthrymm – Reflections (Profound Lore) | Bandcamp
Meurtrières – Meurtrières EP (Nameless Grave) | Bandcamp
Warbringer – Weapons of Tomorrow (Napalm) | Bandcamp
Haunt – Mind Freeze (Shadow Kingdom) | Bandcamp
Lightmaker – Lightmaker (Lightmaker) | Bandcamp
Molten Chains – Torment Enshrined (Molten Chains) | Bandcamp
Septure – Betrayed & Exiled (Blown To Dust) | Bandcamp
Spell – Opulent Decay (Bad Omen) | Bandcamp
Sölicitör – Spectral Devastation (Gates Of Hell) | Bandcamp
Kryptograf – Kryptograf (Apollon) | Bandcamp
Zakk Sabbath – Vertigo (Magnetic Eye) | Bandcamp
Cirith Ungol – Forever Black (Metal Blade) | Bandcamp
Bütcher – 666 Goats Carry My Chariot (Osmose) | Bandcamp
Devastator – Baptised In Blasphemy (Clobber) | Bandcamp
Midnight – Rebirth By Blasphemy (Metal Blade) | Bandcamp
Galactic Superlords – Freight Train (Rock Freaks) | Bandcamp
Smoulder – Dream Quest Ends EP (Cruz del Sur) | Bandcamp
SpellBook – Magick & Mischief (Cruz del Sur) | Bandcamp
King Witch – Body Of Light (Listenable) | Bandcamp
King Gorm – King Gorm (King Gorm) | Bandcamp
White Magician – Dealers Of Divinity (Cruz del Sur) | Bandcamp
Abduction – Killer Holidays On Planet Earth (Impeto) | Bandcamp
Swamp Lantern – Phantasms (Swamp Lantern) | Bandcamp
Armored Saint – Punching The Sky (Metal Blade) | Bandcamp
Raven – Metal City (Steamhammer) | Buy
Dark Quarterer – Pompei (Cruz del Sur) | Bandcamp
Ape Skull – Fields Of Unconscious (Ape Skull) | Bandcamp
Purification – Perfect Doctrine (Purification) | Bandcamp
Häxan – Aradia (Haxan) | Bandcamp
Black Spell – Black Spell (Black Spell) | Bandcamp
Wolftooth – Valhalla (Ripple) | Bandcamp
Evangelist – Ad Mortem Festinamus (Evangelist) | Bandcamp
Vestal Claret – Vestal Claret (Vestal Claret) | Bandcamp
Majestica – A Christmas Carol (Nuclear Blast) | Buy
Malsten – The Haunting of Silvåkra Mill (Malsten) | Bandcamp
The Wizar’d – Suberranean Exile (Cruz del Sur) | Bandcamp
Sorcerer – Lamenting Of The Innocent (Metal Blade) | Bandcamp
White Dog – White Dog (Rise Above)
High Priestess – Casting The Circle (High Priestess) | Bandcamp
Testament – Titans Of Creation (Nuclear Blast) | Buy
Legendry – Heavy Metal Adventure EP (Non Nobis) | Bandcamp
Tau Cross – Messengers Of Deception (Heretical) | Bandcamp
Oath – Computer Warrior (Church) | Bandcamp
Midnight Dice – Hypnotized EP (Hoove Child) | Bandcamp
Druids – Druids Vol 1 (Doom Bell) | Bandcamp
Lords Of Illusion – The Great Tribulation (Lods Of Illusion) | Bandcamp
Delain – Apocalypse And Chill (Napalm) | Bandcamp
Kingnomad – Sagan Om Rymden (Ripple) | Bandcamp
Nite – Darkness Silence Mirror Flame (Creator-Destructor) | Bandcamp
Tyrant – Hereafter (Shadow Kingdom) | Bandcamp
Mountain Witch – Extinct Cults (This Charming Man) | Bandcamp
Slow Phase – Slow Phase (Fuzzy Mind) | Bandcamp
Early Moods – Spellbound EP (Dying Victims) | Bandcamp
Firewind – Firewind (AFM) | Buy
Century – Demo MMXX EP (End Times) | Bandcamp
Khemmis – Doomed Heavy Metal EP (Nuclear Blast) | Bandcamp
Isles Of Mars – Isles Of Mars EP (Isles Of Mars) | Bandcamp
Diabulus In Musica – Euphonic Entropy (Napalm) | Bandcamp
Wayward – Wayward (This Charming Man) | Bandcamp
Metallica & San Francisco Symphony – S&M2 (Blackened) | Buy
TDW – The Days The Clock Stopped (Layered Reality) | Bandcamp
Communic – Hiding From the World (AFM)
Possessed Steel – Aedris (Temple Of Mystery) | Bandcamp
Glacier – The Passing Of Time (No Remorse) | Bandcamp
Demons & Wizards – III (Century Media) | Buy
Alcatrazz – Born Innocent (Silver Lining) | Buy
Seven Spires – Emerald Seas (Frontiers) | Buy
Fairyland – Osyrhianta (Massacre) | Buy
Cruthu – Athru Crutha (Dystopian Dogs) | Bandcamp
Grave Disgrace – Rest In Peace (Grave Disgrace) | Bandcamp
Bone Church – Acid Communion (Ripple) | Bandcamp
Ozzy Osbourne – Ordinary Man (Epic) | Buy

Extreme Metal

I do like a sampling of the subgenres that have come up since the 80s – thrash, death, black, sludge, death doom, technical death metal, prog metal, etc. Coming out next week is Irish Thrash/Speed heads Gama Bomb’s Sea Savage, a concept album about a crew of a ship searching for a yeti, and instead losing their minds on the high seas. It has references from Moby Dick to Terminator 2. The yeti is allegedly Snowy, the “Gamabombinable” snowman, the band’s mascot.

Sweven – The Eternal Resonance (Van) | Sweden | Bandcamp
Gulch – Impenetrable Cerebral Fortress (Closed Casket Activities) | USA | Bandcamp
Oranssi Pazuzu – Mestarin kynsi (Nuclear Blast) | Finland | Bandcamp
Emma Ruth Rundle & Thou – May Our Chambers Be Full (Sacred Bones) | USA | Bandcamp
Cryptic Shift – Visitations From Enceladus (Blood Harvest) | UK | Bandcamp
Imperial Triumphant – Alphaville (Century Media) | USA | Buy
The Ocean – Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic | Cenozoic (Metal Blade) | Germany | Bandcamp
Ulcerate – Stare Into Death And Be Still (Debemur Morti) | New Zealand | Bandcamp
Omnivortex – Diagrams Of Consciousness (Concorde) | Finland | Bandcamp
Grayceon – Mothers Weavers Vultures (Translation Loss) | USA | Bandcamp
Gama Bomb – Sea Savage (Prosthetic) | UK | Bandcamp
Huntsmen – Mandala Of Fear (Prosthetic) | USA | Bandcamp
VoidCeremony – Entropic Reflections Continuum: Dimensional Unravel (20 Buck Spin) | USA | Bandcamp

Posted in: Bandcamp, Features, Listicles, Reviews, Videos/Singles

Tagged: 2020 heavy metal rundown, Butterfly, Cortez, doom metal, epic heavy metal, Eternal Champion, Haunt, heavy metal, High Spirits, Ironflame, power metal, proto-metal, Spirit Adrift, Unleash The Archers, Valkyrie, Witchwood, Wytch Hazel