A fun conversation with Madison, WI, symphonic power metal band Queen of Dreams, including a deeper look at their latest album “Subnivium” and a cool Mad with Power Fest connection! Mad with Power 9 was this past weekend, and while at the fest, I had the amazing opportunity to interview 2/3 of the local Madison, […]
Interview with symphonic/power metal band Queen of Dreams, June 5, 2026 Read More »
Intricate, orchestral and heavy: fabulous cinematic symphonic death metal from Italy! I have always been a believer that symphonic music is a perfect match for metal when executed well. The gravitas and cinematic qualities it brings has the ability to make the compositions so much grander. Symphonic metal can take a variety of forms, though
Nesfastis – Shadows at the Light of Dawn – Album Review Read More »
Artistic, creative, passionate, melodic, and heavy, this is prog rock/metal at its finest! I love it when bands meld various musical styles together, particularly when they are bold in their choices. Many things on paper sound like they should not work, but when both amazing song writing and excellent execution converge, the opportunity for something
Ok Goodnight – stop/go – Album Review Read More »
Amazing power metal invades British Columbia! Alestorm just finished a headlining tour across Canada with support from Sweden’s Twilight Force and Seattle’s Greyhawk. The last stop of the tour was this past Sunday, May 31, in Vancouver, BC, and my son and I drove up for the occasion! The show was at the Commodore Ballroom,
A terrific metal festival in Chicago! I attended my first Legions of Metal at Reggies in Chicago, Illinois, the weekend of May 1 & 2, 2026. In general, I tend to bias more toward smaller indoor festivals, and I had been curious about this one for a few years. The focus tends to be on
Legions of Metal 2026 in Chicago, IL, May 1 – 2, 2026 – Festival Review Read More »
The art of writing a unique concept album and excitement to attend and perform at Mad with Power Fest: An engaging conversation with Ok Goodnight! Mad with Power 9 is fast approaching, taking place June 5 & 6, 2026, in Madison, WI. As part of the lead up to the Fest, the band Ok Goodnight
Mad with Power 9: An interview with Ok Goodnight, May 29, 2026 Read More »
Ludicrous speed and heavy brutality! Vancouver, BC, ludicrously speedy technical death metal band Archspire recently released their new full length, “Too Fast To Die” and have been headlining the Long Roads Big Loads Tour across North America. They live in my PNW zone, and normally I would have seen them in either Seattle or Vancouver.
Technical and melodic, this is the fastest most insane death metal around! Who is the world’s fastest band? It something I have never really thought about, but I would have to believe it rests somewhere in the death/black/grind world. There are clearly plenty of people who love fast and furious given the sheer number of
Archspire – Too Fast To Die – Album Review Read More »
Nerding out over video games and Mad with Power Fest, as well as origin stories and getting deeper into albums: A fun conversation with Jonas Heidgert of Dragonland! Mad with Power 9 is fast approaching, taking place June 5 & 6, 2026, in Madison, WI. As part of the lead up to the Fest, Jonas
Mad with Power 9: An interview with Jonas Heidgert of Dragonland, May 23, 2026 Read More »
A terrific festival goes on indefinite, but hopefully not permanant, hiatus, with a killer lineup for the seventh edition! Hyperspace Metal Festival has been a great power/prog/symphonic/melodeath festival in the Pacific Northwest since 2018, based in beautiful Vancouver, BC, Canada. I went for the first time last year and discovered so many new bands that
Hyperspace Metal Festival VII in Vancouver, BC, April 16 – 18, 2026 – Festival Review Read More »
