Yes' 'Aurora' - Album Review

I am really enjoying that fact that so many classic bands are currently experiencing late career renaissances. Jethro Tull have released three strong albums in recent years, which constitute their best work since the 1980s, whilst bands like Uriah Heep and Deep Purple are in the midst of eras which are only marginally behind their 1970s heydays in terms of quality and creativity. I will certainly be covering Deep Purple's latest effort Splat! at some point - but today I instead turn my attentions to Yes, the British progressive rock act that formed all the way back in 1968. Whilst no-one in the current Yes line-up dates back to that 1968 genesis, guitarist Steve Howe first joined the band in 1970 - and during four stints has become one of the most notable contributors to the Yes story, likely third behind original members Jon Anderson and the late Chris Squire. Squire would still likely be in the band had he not died in 2015 - and drummer since 1972 Alan White also sadly died in 2022. Some criticise the legitimacy of Yes these days, but I think that Howe has every right to lead the current line-up - and since the band reformed without Anderson in 2009 Howe has essentially spearheaded Yes (along with Squire until his death) to create five more studio albums. 2011's Fly from Here is genuinely excellent, and remains a favourite of mine, but 2014's Heaven & Earth certainly felt less vital - even if I seem to like it more than most. It took the band a few years to recover from Squire's death, though, but since the pandemic Yes have been a creative force once more. The three albums that have now been released by the band in recent years feel like something of a trilogy - and they see a pretty stable and well-oiled version of Yes, comfortable in what they are trying to achieve, writing Yes-like music that certainly harks back to the 1970s but also feels a bit more accessible overall. 2021's The Quest (which I reviewed here) was one of my favourite albums that year - and it is one that I still return to. It was a release that exceeded expectations, as I did not really expect too much from Yes following the gap in albums and Squire's death - but the tight songwriting and retro sound certainly worked for me. It was the last album with White, too, although due to his poor health during his last few years I do wonder how much he actually contributed to it. Two years later, the band dropped Mirror to the Sky (which I reviewed here) - the first album by the band's current line-up, even if drummer Jay Schellen had contributed percussion to The Quest (although, as I said, his contributions may have been more than that). I really liked Mirror to the Sky, too, but it did not reach the heights of The Quest for me. Public opinion seems to suggest that the opposite is the case - with many preferring Mirror to the Sky. Either way, both albums saw Yes sounding strong in my opinion - and I hoped that Howe would find time for at least one more. Those wishes came true earlier this year, then, when Yes announced that their latest effort Aurora would be released in June. As such, I have had this album for just over a month at this point - and I have, unsurprisingly, been enjoying it. It really feels like the continuation of the band's recent era - with the current line-up's more simplistic approach to the classic Yes sound well entrenched at this point. Those who feel that Yes have not done anything worth listening to for years will not have their mind changed by Aurora, but those who enjoy the smooth and melodic take on the classic Yes sound that Howe and his colleagues have been pushing of late will find plenty to enjoy here.

As has been the case of late, the two main driving forces here are Howe and frontman since 2012 Jon Davison. The others all contribute of course, and this is the first album of this trilogy where all five members of the band get at least one writing credit, but Yes is very much driven by Howe and Davison these days - and the two of them wrote the kick-off title track. Opening with some ringing piano melodies and dramatic strings from the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, Aurora is one of the longer pieces here. At around seven and a half minutes, the title track crams a lot into its runtime  - and lots of classic Yes tropes are covered here. The piano intro has a majesty to it, especially given the orchestral backing, and some of the bombastic motifs from this intro return elsewhere, but once Howe's spiky guitar lines kick in the first verse moves along in a much more jaunty manner. Upbeat guitar melodies, shimmering synths, and simpler drum grooves back Davison as he starts to sing - but that classic Yes mysticism is present despite the hooks, and the song transitions nicely into an easy-on-the-ear chorus with subtle vocal harmonies and melodies that lodge in the brain from the off. There is certainly a lot of prog in this track, though, especially from Howe. Davison actually adds some additional guitar here, likely the simpler rhythms, whilst Howe deviates in his trademark manner - adding meandering, jazzy leads throughout; as well as some juddering melodies during the chorus. A lengthy solo is later included, which starts in a laid back manner before some harder rock tones take over for something with a bit more bite. Elsewhere, Geoff Downes uses synth melodies to great effect - with some warm, retro leads cutting through towards the end of the song; whilst both he and Davison add organ throughout. The orchestra, utilised here and on one other song, adds an extra dimension to the track - and the piece is big and bold thanks to the string backing. Turnaround Situation, written by Davison, pulls back from the slight bombast of the previous track somewhat - with the song instead going for a floaty, atmospheric rock sound. Davison has the perfect voice for Yes in my opinion, and he continues to impress throughout this album - his ethereal melodies floating nicely through the verses. He is actually responsible for quite a lot of instrumentation here, too. The ever-present acoustic guitars come from him, whilst the subtle organ riffs and occasional piano melodies are also his creations. He showcases his talents both as a songwriter and a musician here, then, but the song is very much Yes-coded - with Howe's jazzy leads cementing that retro feel, with both another meandering guitar solo and some classical guitar interludes. Howe and bassist Billy Sherwood also add some trademark vocal harmonies, too, which further cements the classic Yes approach. Love Lies Dreaming feels much more Howe-coded early on, with a relatively lengthy intro that features a mixture of fast-paced guitar motifs against a sombre groove from the rhythm section and occasional synth flourishes. A lot of the keyboard work here again seems to actually come from Davison, but Downes does lay down the piano during the verses - which often form the only real backing for Davison's floaty vocals. The verses are quite stripped back at times, then, but the song as a whole feels bigger - with the guitar approach from the intro returning quite a bit, whilst a poppy chorus sees some surprisingly bouncy melodies. Sherwood's bass playing stands out, too, and it is the first song where I can truly say that - which is quite rare for Yes.

Countermovement is the album's real centrepiece. The 13-plus minute epic is the most progressive expression of Yes on the album - and it opens in a dramatic manner with quite a lengthy instrumental section. All five members of the band are credited with writing parts of the song, so it is a true collaboration - but Howe really dominates early on. The instrumental opening, grounded by Downes' organ playing, is a real guitar showcase. Both aching lap steel melodies and jazzy lead guitar melodies feature - with Howe moving back and forth between the two styles. The keyboards and the kinetic energy of the rhythm section keep this intro moving for a couple of minutes - before the second part of the song opens up and Howe starts to sing. This first vocal-led section largely sees Howe taking the lead vocally, his deeper, wispy voice working surprisingly well - whilst Davison adds subtle harmonies and creates an ethereal backing. I am not always a fan of Howe's voice, but his singing works well here in my view - and the contrast between this approach and when Davison takes over properly later on is part of what makes the song tick. The guitar presence from the intro is largely retained, too, with plenty of busy lead guitar runs between vocal melodies. Howe also throws in some mandolin later on, with the final section of this second part feeling quite folky and upbeat. The third part sees Davison dominate vocally, albeit with Sherwood providing a counterpoint this time, whilst Downes creates a groove with his piano playing. There is something a bit more overtly rocking about this section. It was co-written by the rhythm section, so there is something percussive about the overall groove - with Howe's guitar largely relegated to a supporting function aside from his lead showcase moments. The piano and the drums do much of the heavy lifting here, then, despite some scrappy riff-led moments adding some bite. There are some relatively fiery instrumental moments here, too, with both Downes and Howe trading solos back and forth - flashy synth flourishes and lengthy guitar runs working well against a similar groove laid down by the rhythm section. This then leads into the closing section of the song, which is also instrumental save for a closing vocal reprise, which is largely focused around lap steel melodies and a sombre overall groove. This part of the song is very traditional prog in its atmospheric approach - with Howe's melodies essentially driving everything whilst Downes' synths add depth. The lengthy track is one that improves with each listen - and it has become a real favourite of mine. Ariadne follows, and sees the return of the orchestra. They kick things off, with some string flourishes, and they also form the main backing behind the verses as Davison starts to sing. Following the lengthy and guitar-heavy previous song, there is a floaty vibe throughout this track - with the orchestra and Downes' keyboard playing driving much of the song. The rhythm section adds some bite when needed, but this is quite a dynamic piece - with the rhythm section stepping away during parts of the song to allow the orchestra to really dominate. This is one of the few songs that Howe did not co-write, so it is perhaps unsurprising that the guitars feel less important here - although some riffier sections do kick in later on, and there are some lead showcases, too, even if the keyboards from co-writer Downes generally feel more important. Sherwood also co-wrote the song, and his harmony and counterpoint vocals also do a lot of heavy lifting here - with some key bass passages from him also.

By this point, though, the album has largely said all it has to say. The final three tracks, which are all on the short side, feel less vital than what came before. That being said, there is something quite fun about the jaunty and surprisingly hard rocking All Hands on Deck. A Howe composition, the juddering main guitar patterns, backed by some Jon Lord-esque organ playing from Downes, give the song a driving, hard rocking feel - even if there remains a jazzy overall vibe thanks to Howe's guitar playing style. Davison sings the song in a bit of a lower register than usual, with Howe adding some vocal counterpoints during the chorus. The chorus is pretty hooky, but in truth the vocal sections of the song feel like something of an afterthought. The groove of the instrumental sections, including some flashy synth melodies later on, feel like the main point of this track - and perhaps it would have worked better as an instrumental, even if some of the vocal hooks are quite fun. Outside the Box is another somewhat strange piece. Whilst not instrumental, it has no lyrics - as the only vocals throughout are wordless vocal melodies. The opening part of the song sees Davison, Howe, and Sherwood all harmonising together whilst Howe adds a delicate guitar backing - whilst the main bulk of the song later on feels like something of a studio jam, with the rhythm section laying down a tight groove whilst Downes plays with different synth sounds and melodies to essentially create something of a keyboard showcase. Davison carries on with the wordless vocals on occasion, but it all feels a little strange - and Howe largely steps back here to allow Downes to dominate. There are a few lead guitar moments present here, but this second part of the song is essentially a synth workout, with occasional vocal interjections, and it all feels a bit superfluous. It reminds me a bit of those shorter solo pieces on 1971's Fragile, but expanded into a full song that adds little to the album overall. The album the comes to a close with Emotional Intelligence, a Davison-penned piece that is largely an acoustic-based number. The big Yes grandeur is largely absent here, but following two largely instrumental pieces there is something welcome about hearing Davison sing again - laying down those classic Yes-like vocal melodies. He drives the song with his acoustic guitar playing, whilst occasional organ and guitar motifs add depth. At first it does seem as if the song is going to be a wholly acoustic piece, which would not be out of character for Yes, but the rest of the band do join in towards the end - with the rhythm section adding a bit of a kick and Howe laying down quite an emotive guitar solo. The overall vibe of the piece does not change significantly, though. It remains laid back and acoustic in nature - and I do like the way that it closes out the album. I just feel that the album has lost a little steam by this point - and Emotional Intelligence would have likely hit harder had it acted as a coda to see things out following an epic number preceding it. Overall, then, there remains a lot to like here for Yes fans, at least those who remain open minded regarding the current era, but the album is front-loaded and feels weaker the closer it gets to the end. Countermovement is likely the band's best epic-length track for sometime, and there is a lot to like during the first two-thirds of the album. No-one expects perfection at this point, though, and Aurora is a worthy addition to the Yes catalogue in my opinion - sitting nicely alongside the last two.

The album was released on 12th June 2026 via InsideOut Music. Below is the band's promotional video for Aurora.

Cyhra's 'Requiem for a Pipe Dream' - Album Review

It is always a shame when a band that seemed to hold a lot of promise seems to fizzle out creatively early on - quickly failing to capitalise on the aforementioned promise and instead becoming a weaker overall prospect. One band that I was really quite excited about early on is Cyhra - the Swedish pop metal supergroup that was originally put together by frontman Jake E and guitarist Jesper Strömblad when the two decided to join forces after originally agreeing to work on each other's solo albums. I am not sure exactly when the band was formed, but their debut album, Letters to Myself (which I reviewed here), dropped in 2017 - and it was an album that I enjoyed from the off. Given that E had recently left the pop metal act Amaranthe and Strömblad is a legend of the Gothenburg metal scene, most notably as a member of In Flames, Letters for Myself felt like a real combination of those two worlds. The focus might have been more on E's past, given the hooky and accessible nature of the material, but Strömblad's riffs and sense of melody are both recognisable from a mile off - and there was enough of the latter's influence to ensure that there was still quite a bit of bite. Cyhra could have been a bit of a one-off, but they became a going concern - with No Halos in Hell (which I reviewed here) dropping in 2019. Looking back, I think that Letters to Myself is the stronger album - but No Halos in Hell saw the band smooth out their sound and really showcase their own, distinct approach. It was also the first album to feature guitarist Euge Valovirta as a full-time band member and songwriter. Valovirta's influence certainly reduced the band's reliance on Strömblad's distinct style - but No Halos in Hell did not contain any real warning signs. During the next few years I ended up seeing Cyhra live three times: once in 2019, once in 2020, and once in 2022. They impressed each time, and their 2022 set at Bloodstock Open Air saw a new song played - which warmed me up for 2023's The Vertigo Trigger (which I reviewed here). Reading my review back now, I was fairly positive about the album at the time - but my view on it has soured. It is an album propped up by a handful of strong songs - but there are also quite a few bland numbers included and, in truth, it was the start of a decline. Despite being credited as the band's bass player on the album and as part of group songwriting credits, reading the CD's booklet in more detail revealed that Strömblad did not play on the album nor co-write any of the songs. Strömblad's has rarely played live with the band, as has been typical of his general involvement in his various projects over the past decade or so, but his complete lack of involvement in the third album was strange - especially as the band seemed to try and bury this information. Three years on, then, and we come to album number four - with Requiem for a Pipe Dream dropping last month. I have to say, I had no idea this album was coming out until about two weeks before it was released. I had not been keeping up with the pre-release singles, as the first one that dropped without any reference to a new album did little for me - and I started to accept that Cyhra were, perhaps, no longer for me. I had to give the new album a go, though, and I was pleased to see when I got the CD that Strömblad was actually involved this time. It seems guitar and bass duties were shared throughout between him, Valovirta, and Marcus Sunesson - Strömblad's live replacement who has since become a full-time band member. Strömblad also co-wrote five of the songs here - so I had higher hopes for something more akin to the first two albums before my first listen.

Sadly, though, a few Strömblad co-writes does not save this album. Requiem for a Pipe Dream is certainly not terrible, but it is easily the weakest Cyhra album so far - and it lacks the handful of standout tracks that made me stick with the last album despite being quite the step down from what came before. There is no real bite here, with the guitar riffs largely buried in thick layers of synth - and overall there is relatively little to write home about. There are a handful of decent tunes here, though, and opening cut Bleed with Pride is one of them. The song's opening riff certainly harks back to the melodic style of those first two albums, but there is a strong synth presence over the top of it which does round off some of the edges. Melody-wise, though, the song is on the stronger side. The guitar harmonies and riffs do recall that melodic death metal edge that Strömblad brought to the band originally - and there is a bit of crunch to the verses. The chorus is typical of the album's overall approach, though, as it is a bit bloated with too much synth, formless guitar rhythms, and vocal harmonies. The last album did not feel that well produced from memory, unlike the first two, and this album is similar at times - with an unclear and stuffed mix sometimes that fails to let any nuance shine through. The chorus vocal hooks are decent, though, and E sounds fine vocally - so the combination of this and the decent riffing gets the album off to a reasonable start. Superman follows, which was one of the singles released prior to the album being released - but sources online suggest that it, and some of the other singles, have been re-recorded. I think that this was the song that turned me off when I heard it last year, but it has grown on me somewhat - even if it lacks in any real metallic moments. There is very little riffing here, with crunching guitar rhythms about as metal as the song gets, although the drumming from Alex Landenburg is quite hard hitting and punchy at times. Mix-wise, this song sounds a bit clearer. E's voice sounds much clearer, and he sounds pretty good during the chorus - even if there is a lack of weight generally throughout. Some of the chorus melodies do stick in the brain after a few listens - and the use of subtle harmonies and pop refrains largely works well. A riffier approach would have been welcome, though. Miss Me When I'm Gone opens with a chiming synth melody - under which a bassline, which also sounds like it comes from a synth, rumbles away. Whilst the rest of the band later kick in during the chorus, this opening verse is pure pop. Occasional programmed drum beats later join in, and E starts to sing - his vocal melodies pure modern pop with a hip-hop edge. This is not really what I want in my metal, even in a pop metal song such as this, and overall this song is one that gives me cause for concern going forward with Cyhra. The chorus is weightier, but none of the flash of the first two albums is found in the riffing or melody approach - and a later instrumental section, which is a little heavier, just consists of some very processed, groovy guitar riffs. It feels like a token inclusion - and sadly quite a bit of the album is like this.

Ghostbound is a bit more like it, though, as it opens with a pretty hooky harmony lead guitar motif which harks back to the early days of the band. I do not need Cyhra to sound like In Flames, but that melodic approach, especially when considering guitar leads, was a big part of the band's core sound - and so much of this album lacks such. This song is one of the best cuts, though, as it has some energy to it and actually fuses a proper metallic approach with the band's pop sensibilities. The opening guitar melodies are hooky as detailed, whilst there is generally some bite and a heaviness throughout. The verses are chunky, with percussive drumming and strident vocals from E, whilst the chorus ups the pace - introducing some proper double bass drumming and vocal hooks which recall power metal somewhat. The chorus sticks in the brain, and is one of the album's strongest moments, whilst the guitars are ever-present - going back and forth between heavier riffing and melodic leads. This song shows that Cyhra can still write strong songs like they used to - but it seems that this is a sound that they no longer wish to focus on. In the Center of a Miracle returns to a much more overtly poppy sound - with synths and effects-heavy piano melodies dominating early on. The song is something of a ballad, albeit a bit chunkier in places, but E's vocals are very emotive and ballad-coded - especially as the verses are largely just the aforementioned piano, some programming, and vocals. There is some crunch to later verses, but they never feel truly metallic - whilst the guitars feel a bit lifeless during a somewhat amped-up chorus, even if E's vocal melodies here are decent. It is certainly not a bad song, but everything feels so processed and overproduced - and it is another cut that has a bit of a muffled mix at times due to too much happening at once. Skin from Bones is a bit heavier again, as the song opens with a groovy riff, backed by some stop-start double bass drumming, and overlaid by an industrial-sounding guitar lead. Whilst certainly not a song that is going to compete with the best that Cyhra have done in the past, compared to many of the blander cuts here, Skin from Bones at least has some life to it. The main riff is quite memorable and the grooves are a little tech metal-inspired - but then the song adopts more hip-hop influences during the second verse, during which E adopts a semi-rapped approach vocally. It sounds so awkward and somewhat ruins the song for me - although there are still parts of it that I like. The chorus is decent - but another instrumental section that consists of a slow-moving, effects-heavy guitar riff also acts as a let down. Ghost I'm Meant to Be opens with some more harmony guitar melodies. Strömblad's melodic approach is very much evident here - and this is another song that overall I like quite a bit. There are clear links back to the older albums - with a good mix of guitar leads, overall weight, and pop hooks. The verses are not the heaviest, but a strong bass presence and a strident E vocal suits the stripped back arrangement - and it always clearly one of those songs that builds towards its chorus, which ends up being cinematic and smooth with big vocal hooks. There is even something of a guitar solo towards the end of the song - something of a rarity on this album.

Mark of My Sins continues in a fairly crunchy manner. There might not be plentiful guitar leads and melodies here, but the riffing throughout is quite strong. There is some energy here, too, even if the pace is not all that high. The riffing throughout has something of an industrial feel, with the riffs having something of a danceable feel at times - but the vocal melodies throughout are not all that memorable in my opinion. E has a history of writing really strong vocal melodies, both for Amaranthe and for Cyhra, but they are lacking on the whole throughout this album I think. There are some standout moments as I have already indicated, but his choruses do not pop as they usually do too often here - and I also feel as if he is generally singing in a less powerful way, perhaps in attempt to sound more pop than metal. This is a song with some of the right ingredients, then, but I think it is let down melodically - particularly from a vocal perspective. Venom in Me opens with some flashy guitar melodies, and overall this is a song which gets more right than it gets wrong. The chorus is another with a stuffed mix, and I wish that some of the synths were stripped away, but E sounds much better here - with some more intricate melodies and he throws in a few tricks, including a higher-pitched section, to make the chorus pop. The song is pretty weighty throughout, too, with some pretty decent riffing at times - even if the harmony melodies from the song's intro end up having less of an impact as they should, with synth melodies dominating later on. The album then comes to a close with Box with Spirits, which feels more subdued than the last couple of numbers. There is some quite busy guitar riffing throughout the verses, which is nice, but it is largely mixed into the background - with synths and the bass taking a more prominent role. A few In Flames-esque harmony guitars are thrown in, which again are welcome, but this is another song that never really feels like there is enough bite here. So much of this album, even when there are riffs churning away in the background, just feels quite lightweight - and the overt heavier sections, particularly instrumental moments, rarely feel like proper metal. There are some better riff-led moments here, though, but there are also more of those effects-heavy riffy sections that go nowhere - although there is a proper guitar solo here which is certainly welcome. Again, this is song with some good ingredients - but a lack of real conviction, and it is perhaps fitting that the album ends in this manner as it sums up the album's overall character. It is a shame, really. I do not hate this album, but I cannot see it having any real staying power with me - especially as the previous one did not either and that was better overall. There are a few decent songs here, but nothing rivals the band's best work of the past - with even songs like Ready to Rumble on the previous album a step up compared to what is served here. Cyhra are certainly a band that I have much less interest in now than I once did - particularly given than I only genuinely like about half of their catalogue by this point. Requiem for a Pipe Dream may be where I get off the Cyhra train - but I still hope that the future can bring the bite back to this band.

The album was released on 5th June 2026 via Reigning Phoenix Music. Below is the band's promotional video for Superman.

Evergrey's 'Architects of a New Weave' - Album Review

I am not sure that too many bands over the past decade or so have been as prolific as the Swedish progressive/power metal act Evergrey. Between 2014 and 2024, during which the band's longest-standing line-up of frontman Tom S. Englund, guitarist Henrik Danhage, bassist Johan Niemann, keyboard player Rikard Zander, and drummer Jonas Ekdahl operated, Evergrey released six studio albums: from 2014's Hymns for the Broken (which I reviewed here) to 2024's Theories of Emptiness (which I also reviewed here). A new Evergrey album generally has dropped every couple of years, or even in consecutive years, of late - and much of the band's strongest work has come during this era. Looking at the band's live setlists in recent years, and I have ben lucky enough to see them a few times during this period, very few songs from the eight albums released before this recent run have been included - so it is clear that Evergrey really consider that their best material has come more recently. I would, largely, agree. I am certainly more familiar with the band's more recent work - but I do find some of the band's older albums to be on the patchy side, despite plenty of excellence to be found. There has been plenty of variety of late in the band's catalogue, too. The first three albums of the six-album run felt like a genuine trilogy - with influences as diverse and Anathema and Gojira bolstering the band's core gothic-tinged progressive/power metal sound. The two albums that followed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic felt warmer and more old-school in nature - harking back somewhat to the band's older albums, as well as their progressive and power metal influences. Theories of Emptiness, the final album of the run, was perhaps the odd one out - with a shorter run time and a more condensed, heavy sound seeing the band feeling much more metallic. It also turned out to be the end of an era - as it was the last album to feature both Ekdahl and Danhage. Ekdahl had left the band before the album came out, and Danhage stopped playing live with Evergrey last year - only to be officially replaced earlier this year. I was sad when both Ekdahl and Danhage left. They had both been veterans of the band prior to their 2014 return - having previously left in 2010 after serving since 2003 and 2000 respectively. It was initially hinted that Ekdahl would still work with the band in a production capacity, but that has not transpired to be the case - and it seems Danhage just stopped turning up. This is a real shame, but it makes fifteenth album Architects of a New Weave an interesting and exciting prospect. Englund, Niemann, and Zander return - with drummer Simen Sandnes (Shining; Temic) making his studio debut with the band here. Stephen Platt (Collibus; Ghost Keeper; Devin Townsend; Scar Symmetry) has since replaced Danhage, but he did not contribute to this latest album - making Architects of a New Weave something of a transitional album, as well as the band's first album as a four-piece since 1999's Solitude, Dominance, Tragedy. The album feels a bit different, too, in the sense that around half of the material was written by the band as a whole; with the other half written by Englund and his Silent Skies/Redemption bandmate Vikram Shankar - who also produced the album. With only one guitarist in the band, too, lead guitar duties are split between Englund and Niemann - with the latter impressing with some shredded solos. It may follow only two years after Theories Of Emptiness, but Architects of a New Weave is very much a new-look Evergrey - and likely a prequel to the next era.

Sound-wise, the album is very much typical of the band's core approach - but it pulls back on some of the overt heaviness of the last album, instead returning to the warmer sound of the two albums before it. In truth, there is a bit of every Evergrey era here - but the melodies are very strong. Englund is as good as ever vocally, but it is perhaps Zander's playing that stands out the most. Perhaps the lack of two guitarists during the creative process allowed his playing to feature more - and keyboard melodies feel much more prevalent this time. Opening with a spoken word piece, Welcome to the Pattern is a short, dark number with dramatic narration and dense strings. I do not recall the band doing something like this before - but it works well, and it segues nicely into The Shadow Self. A grinding, heavy riff kicks off The Shadow Self, reminiscent of the groovier approach of the aforementioned trilogy of the previous era - but dense keyboard textures add depth. There is a great mix of big guitar riffing and keyboard tones throughout this album, and The Shadow Self is a good example of such. The heaviness of the verses come from the guitars, whilst Englund sings with a real urgency and Sandnes immediately showcases his talent with a shuffling double bass drum groove, but there is a dynamic approach taken - with slower, piano-led pre-choruses and a soaring chorus that pushes the keyboards to the fore, both shimmering atmosphere and piano hooks. Subtle harmony vocals really make the latter half of the chorus pop melody-wise - and it feels pretty anthemic overall, whilst retaining the band's core darkness. Englund and Niemann later trade guitar solos, too, and the song feels like a perfect album opener - and a song that is likely to become a live favourite. The title track follows, opening with a strident mid-paced guitar pattern, underpinned by a warm synth melody and hard-hitting, groovy drum pattern. Some of the heaviness of the opening track is reined in here, with a much more atmospheric approach taken throughout - despite tough guitar rhythms and some double bass drumming. Snappy riffs act as links between song sections, but Zander's keyboards perhaps dominate during the verses - despite a pulsing rhythm and Englund's emotive vocals. The later chorus also feels quite anthemic, with Englund backed by some subtle gang vocals and a hypnotic synth melody to create something of a shout-along moment. Evergrey never really go for a full-on anthemic approach, but both choruses so far have felt full-bodied and hooky - and it is clear that this album is prioritising hooks. The chorus just continues to repeat as the song fades out - and this melody is one that really sticks in the brain long after the album has come to a close. The World Is on Fire returns more to the groovy vibe of the The Shadow Self, with a juddering main riff that recalls those occasional Gojira influences that have infiltrated the band's sound of late - whilst the verses here feel somewhat off-kilter, with progressive grooves, stop-start riffing, and vocal melodies that do not always follow traditional patterns. Following two somewhat more anthemic pieces, this song feels a little different and takes a few listens to fully appreciate. The riffing really grabs hold, though, given its undulating patterns, but the vocal melodies take time to bed in - even if the chorus takes a smoother approach thanks to some prominent synth atmospherics. The chorus feels like a bit of a contrast to everything else, but the combination works well - and is typical of Evergrey's approach of late.

Heaven picks up the pace, bursting out of the gate with a fast-paced, tougher power metal riff that is backed by some old-school stop-start double bass drumming from Sandnes. There is little of the band's modern, groovier approach here - with the song instead harking back to the band's older work somewhat. The arrangement is a bit more straight forward, then, going for that darker, gothic-tinged power metal sound that made Evergrey famous in the first place - whilst injecting a sense of pace and urgency. Englund sounds a little grittier here vocally, especially during the verses, whilst the riffing throughout is fast-paced and kinetic. Even the chorus, which does slow down somewhat compared to the verses, still feels pretty energetic - with something of a pace retained early on, even if the latter half of the chorus is more anthemic and mid-paced thanks to some more shout-along melodies. Guitar-wise, things are a bit more overtly melodic, too, with some twin guitar leads at times, a flashy melody sitting beneath the chorus, as well as another excellent solo trade-off between Englund and Niemann. The Script feels like it is going to be another pretty heavy track, given that it opens with a barrelling, juddering heavy guitar riff - but the song overall is much more dynamic overall. There are strong ballad-esque strains during the slow-moving and emotive song, but it never feels like a true ballad due to some heavier moments - even if Zander's piano does a lot of heavy lifting and Niemann's bass cuts through the mix quite a lot. There is a dense and emotive tone throughout the while piece. Englund, perhaps given the relative lack of heaviness, really dominates vocally - his trademark, deeper vocal delivery sounding as powerful as ever. Zander also does a lot of good work here, with piano melodies and hypnotic synth leads largely providing the main hooks - with occasional heavy guitar riffing to provide overall accents. A big guitar solo would have been welcome, but this is not really a song for the guitarists. Leaving the Emptiness ups the pace, and it is one of those somewhat rare songs that Evergrey write that feels surprisingly upbeat. The band are known for their emotive and quite downbeat vibe, but occasionally they put something together with a bit of a bounce to it - and this song is one such example. The main guitar and synth riffs early on are pretty energetic, whilst the cinematic expanse of the verses, thanks to some snappy drumming, keeps the energy levels high. Niemann's bass playing drives the verses nicely, whilst the keyboards shimmer away in the background, but the intro melodies later form the basis of a hooky and power metal-tinged chorus - with lots of strong Englund vocal hooks. Both Niemann and Englund later solo, too, with Zander also joining in - doubling up some of their melodies to really boost that power metal vibe. Longing returns to a much more dense sound following the relative bombast of the previous song - with subtle drum programming and synths the only backing for Englund's vocals early on. Following The Script giving ballad vibes, Longing is a true ballad - with little heaviness, even as the song progresses. Spacey synth melodies and rumbling bass playing dominates the song - whilst subtle guitar melodies and proper drumming do join in later on, with the overall arrangement and percussive nature of the piece reminding me somewhat of U2 of all bands. Some later chorus renditions do feel a little heavier, and there is a riffy bridge section later on - but Englund's guitar solo soars, keeping the song's emotive nature locked in.

A Burning Flame ups the pace again, and is another song that feels a little more upbeat than is often the case for Evergrey - at least early on. The main riff, again backed by synth leads, is pretty infectious - although the verses that follow are a bit more stripped back with a big bass presence and a lack of real heaviness. Mikael Stanne (Dark Tranquillity; Grand Cadaver; The Halo Effect; Cemetery Skyline) is featured on the song, but in truth I am not 100% sure what he does here. I think he adds some harmonies to the chorus and perhaps sings part of the second verse - but his contributions do not really stand out, which is a shame as he is a dynamic vocalist. Perhaps utilising his harsh vocals a little might have helped him stand out more - but this is a more overtly melodic song so that may not have worked. Despite this, there are hooks during the chorus - and a lengthy Englund shredded solo adds a lot to the song overall. Call Off Your Lions is more typical of the core Evergrey sound, although it perhaps lacks some of the core heaviness - instead going for a slower-burning gothic sound, with tougher riffing a little more in the background and big keyboard textures. The verses do grind along in a groovy manner, but the guitar riffing is a little more muted than it sometimes is - whilst the chorus, packed with emotion, feels like something of a lighters in the air moment despite the song not feeling like a ballad. There is a tough yet emotive feel here that is very much representative of that core sound Evergrey have channelled since the beginning - and the song sticks in the brain thanks to this vibe and some easy on the ear melodies. Zander gets a chance to solo here, too, his warm, retro synths giving a strong prog vibe to the piece. Chains of Shame picks the pace back up again, with another groovy riff kicking things off - which is very reminiscent of the band's last era. The riffing is quite fast-moving, though, so there is a strong energy here despite a groovy approach. The verses do slow the pace a little, with snaking bass playing and guitars crashing in and out continuing the groove - but the chorus feels energetic thanks to big keyboard stabs and an urgent Englund vocal. Clean guitar melodies later do something a bit different, creating a warm bridge section alongside a plodding rhythm and shimmering synths, before the core heaviness returns and the song speeds away to a tight finish. The album then comes to a close with the big-sounding The Prophecy. Opening with a rendition of the song's chorus, the slow-moving, yet fairly epic, piece is another with ballad-esque vibes without ever truly feeling like such. That being said, some of the album's most stripped back moments appear here, with Englund at times singing just against Zander's piano, but there is enough toughness here thanks to some doomy riffs and a dense arrangement to ensure that the song feels big and cinematic. Strings and other keyboard textures are often used elsewhere to aid this big sound - whilst crushing riffing adds to the doomy feeling, particularly during later chorus renditions. Melody-wise, the song is not one of the hookiest on the album - but it does go for a huge scope that reminds me of album closers past. It is a song that definitely takes a few listens to fully appreciate, and I do feel that it is another piece that would have benefitted from a truly soaring guitar solo, but I do like the way that the sombre, doomy piece closes out the album with a mix of dense piano and tough guitar riffing - even if there are stronger songs elsewhere. Overall, then, Architects of a New Weave sees Evergrey continue to do what they do best - despite the long-standing previous era having now ended. The line-up changes have not impacted the overall quality of the material, and I like that this album channels a few different vibes from the band's past. It will be interesting to see what Platt brings going forward, but this transitional album is another strong effort - and one that will likely really work live.

The album was released on 5th June 2026 via Napalm Records. Below is the band's promotional video for Leaving the Emptiness.

The 69 Eyes' 'I Survive' - EP Review

The EP seems to be something of a dying art, especially in today's digital world of regular single releases - with often up to half an album being released online in the form of singles prior to it being officially released. Given the little and often mindset that many bands now seem to operate in, it is perhaps surprising that EPs are not more popular. They are not, however, and I tend to only pick up a handful of new ones each year - with the album as a format still remaining hugely popular, especially in the hard rock and metal worlds. As such, it is nice to occasionally get to review a new EP - and a bite-sized chunk of music can sometimes be welcome. My music consumption almost exclusively consists of listening to albums (and EPs) from start to finish, as the artist intended, so EPs can sometimes provide a nice bit of respite from the lengthy album format - and there are some EPs out there that are just as important to bands' catalogues as albums. The band that I am covering today, though, is not exactly known for EPs - and, as far as I am aware, it is not a format that they have truly embraced before. That band is the Finnish gothic rock five-piece The 69 Eyes - who can trace their history back to 1989 and have had the same line-up since 1992. Following starting out as more of a glam/hair/sleaze metal (use whichever term you are comfortable with) band, The 69 Eyes soon transitioned into more of a gothic hard rock sound - whilst retaining a little of the grit and groove of their early hair metal sound. The 69 Eyes have rarely been an atmospheric and moody gothic rock act in the vein of the big, mainstream bands of the 1980s - but have instead mixed their gothic rock with a riffy hard rock sound, as well as throwing in influences as diverse as The Doors and Elvis Presley. As such, The 69 Eyes generally rock pretty hard, having flirted with more metallic sounds at times, whilst also retaining a sultry and layered sound - mixing big riffs, dense keyboard textures, and the baritone vocals of frontman Jryki 69; the latter of which is a huge part of the band's core sound. They have been pretty prolific over the years, releasing 13 studio albums - alongside a live album, a collection of early singles and other recordings that almost gets treated as a fourteenth studio album, and a few compilations. In my opinion, too, much of what they have released over the years has been very strong. I have not heard all of their earlier albums, as many of them are out of print and quite hard to find - but I have everything from 1999's Wasting the Dawn onwards, and there is not really a bad album to be found. The band's last album, Death of Darkness (which I reviewed here), came out in 2023 - and it was another enjoyable slab of their trademark sound. Following a focus on an even riffier sound during the late 2000s/early 2010s, the band's last few albums have returned to a core sound of hard rock with gothic atmospherics - and I listened to Death of Darkness quite a bit when it dropped. I saw the band live for the first time in many years last year, too, and I had a great time - and during the gig Jyrki hinted that new music was on the way. I was hoping for a new album, but an EP was what he was referring to - partly, it seems, as a result of signing to a new label and wanting to get something out there. As such, the four-track EP I Survive is the band's first release in three years - and, as far as I can see, it is a stand-alone release. I do not think that it is a teaser for an upcoming album - with the three original songs and one cover here showcasing the band doing what they do. Given that the title track is a collaboration and one track is a cover, it makes sense for this to be a stop-gap before the band's next proper album.

The opening title track is the collaboration - as the band wrote the song with guitarist Steve Stevens (Billy Idol; Jerusalem Slim; Vince Neil; Deadland Ritual), who also played on it. The song is easily the best cut here, as it mixes the band's usual gothic hard rock sound with a strong party vibe - certainly harking back to the sound of albums like 2007's Angels. There is a somewhat cinematic quality to the main guitar rhythms, over which a simple lead is laid, whilst Archzie's pulsing bass playing drives the hypnotic verses. The chorus feels more raucous, with gang vocals and tougher riffing backing the deep vocals of Jyrki - whose vocal melodies are as hooky as ever. The tougher chorus and more atmospheric verses are a good combination - with chiming clean guitar melodies and the percussive drumming of Jussi 69 also doing plenty of good work in the lead up to the room-filling chorus. Despite Stevens' presence, including an excellent solo from him, the band's guitar duo of Bazie and Timo-Timo sound as tight as ever - with Stevens adding a touch of class, both in terms of the solo and in a songwriting capacity. Cold Sweat follows - a cover of the Thin Lizzy song from the Irish band's final album Thunder and Lightning from 1983. Cold Sweat is likely Thin Lizzy's heaviest song and, as such, it has been covered by quite a few bands. I am not sure that I needed a version by The 69 Eyes - but the band's take on the song is fun. It is a pretty straight cover, and the band do little to tweak it, but the main riff does feel a little more staccato which is more in-keeping with The 69 Eyes' approach - whilst the deeper vocal from Jyrki provides another point of difference, especially during the snappy pre-chorus section. Bazie proves that Stevens is not needed full-time during a fun guitar solo section. It might not be as molten as John Sykes' on the original, but all of the classic tapping runs are included - and the overall take is a fun one. Two more originals round out the EP, with In the Misery following. The mid-paced, strident rocker treads quite a familiar path for the band. The song somewhat fades into view, and hits with a strong mid-paced riff - over which some chiming guitar melodies are laid. There are nice hooks from the off, then, before a more restrained verse sees subtle guitar chugs and a prominent bass presence backing the gothic tones of Jyrki's vocals. As is often the case, the chorus feels a bit chunkier - with the opening riff somewhat reprised, whilst subtle harmony vocals help to really push the band's core gothic romanticism. A strong guitar solo is included and, whilst the band have done better songs in this style, there is plenty to like here. Devil's Rose closes out this bite-sized chunk of music, and the tougher, riffier piece ups the heaviness. The main guitar riff feels like the most metallic moment here, although parts of the verses follow that bass-led sound that the band often opt for - even if the verses feel bigger as they go along. A few screaming guitar leads are thrown in - with Ed Mundell (Monster Magnet; The Atomic Bitchwax; The Ultra Electric Mega Galactic) adding some additional lead guitar throughout. There is a rawness to the song, then, which is a bit different to the band's core sound - with organic organ textures used instead of gothic keyboards, alongside a shout-along chorus. As with much of this EP, the song is a fun one - and it is good to hear the band letting their hair down a bit here. Overall, then, I Survive is certainly not an essential release - but it is always good to hear more from The 69 Eyes and there is a level of fun throughout this EP which is perhaps not always present in their sound. I am sure the band are already working on their next album, but I Survive gives the fans something to enjoy in the meantime before the next big stage of their career.

The EP was released on 5th June 2026 via BLKIIBLK Records. Below is the band's promotional video for I Survive.

Jayler's 'Voices Unheard' - Album Review

It is always great to get to talk about a debut album. So many bands are formed, but only a few, even in this day and age where DIY recordings and releases are much easier than they have ever been, release anything of note - so whenever a band releases their debut album it often feels as if they have properly blossomed, entering the world properly for the first time. It is even better when a debut album comes from a young UK rock act. I love music from all over the world, and the UK has birthed no shortage of excellent bands over the years, but the hard rock landscape these days seems to be dominated by names from abroad - and so many of the UK bands that have broken through over the past decade or so are hugely influenced by US-based post-grunge sounds. Today's band, though, certainly cannot be accused of sounding like something that would have been heard on US mainstream rock radio in the 2000s. Instead, today's band really hark back to the burgeoning British hard rock scene of the early 1970s, both in look and sound - casting off the sounds of Creed and Shinedown that influence so much of what the UK has produced of late to look much closer to home. The band that this piece covers is the West Midlands-based four-piece Jayler. They seem to have formed in 2022, and released their debut EP A Piece in Our Time in 2023 - but I did not become aware of them until last summer. I heard the band's single Riverboat Queen on Planet Rock, which was my first exposure to them, and soon started spotting the band's shirts at gigs occasionally - especially when I was in Birmingham and Wolverhampton. I started to pay a bit more attention, and ended up seeing the band live in Wolverhampton just before Christmas. I already had plans in Bilston the weekend before Christmas to see Mostly Autumn - and Jayler then announced a headline show at KK's Steel Mill the night before. Given how cheap the tickets were, and the fact that it tied in with my existing plans, I decided to see what all the fuss about - so I headed up to Wolverhampton a day earlier and took in Jayler live. I picked up the EP, which I enjoyed, and I also enjoyed the band's show - even if it was a bit of a strange one. The combination of the show being on the Saturday before Christmas and cheap tickets gave the evening a bit of an end of term vibe - with many seemingly not all that interested in the band and using the opportunity for a pre-Christmas night out. There was a good turnout, but the atmosphere never really felt like it was totally directed at the band - and a late start meant that the show went on until past 11:30pm, by which time quite a few head left. Jayler put on a confident show, but I cannot say that I was blown away. Some of the songs really stuck and some of them did not - but I saw enough to know that their debut album would be worth checking out. Announced earlier this year then, and released back in May, Jayler's debut album Voices Unheard is now here - and I have been able to digest it over the past month or so before penning this piece. I have an overall conflicted view when it comes to Jayler. I like quite a lot of what they do, but I cannot help but also feel a little cynical. This is because the band blatantly model themselves on Led Zeppelin - perhaps even more so than Greta Van Fleet. Frontman James Bartholomew, who certainly has a great voice, clearly thinks himself a Robert Plant, even down to the stage moves and jacket style, whilst the band's brash, bluesy, organic hard rock at times really just sounds like Led Zeppelin. I already have Led Zeppelin II, so why do I need Voices Unheard?

Well, I am not sure that I need it, but I have certainly been having fun with it. I do wish that the band's look and sound was not so close to Led Zeppelin's, especially as, like so many that try to 'do the Zeppelin thing', their sound does not capture the breadth or understanding of musical genres that made Led Zeppelin so interesting, but the songwriting is generally strong - and Voices Unheard is a well-produced album thanks to George Perks. As if to showcase from the off that nothing on this album sounds modern, the brief Intro that kicks things off has that crackly, distant sound that bands utilise when trying to sound like a 1930s blues recording, with Bartholomew singing and laying down some brief bursts of harmonica in an old-school manner. This vibe only sticks around very briefly, though, as soon the band launch into Down Below - and the full-blown Jayler sound is on show from the off. A fast-paced hard rocker, Down Below is pretty typical of Jayler's core approach. A juddering, bluesy main guitar riff from Tyler Arrowsmith whips up plenty of energy early on, whilst bursts of slide during the verses add to the overall groove. The hard-hitting rhythm section carry the main groove, though, keeping the energy going, whilst Bartholomew is heard here for the first time properly. He has a great voice, but he really does sound like Robert Plant at times - with occasional bursts of very early Geddy Lee, too. His high-pitched delivery and bluesy mannerisms suit the song, though, screaming above the bluesy cacophony - whilst adding some cutting harmonica bursts during parts of the song. A lengthy harmonica workout is actually utilised here instead of a guitar solo, but this suits the overall bluesy, energetic nature of the song - and the album gets off to a high-octane start as a result. Riverboat Queen, the song which properly introduced me to the band last year, follows - and it retains a similar overall sound whilst not feeling quite as energetic. The song is more mid-paced, with brash bluesy chords and a bass drum-heavy drum groove from Ed Evans. The clacking bass drum sound even reminds me of Led Zeppelin, and this song is another that has a strong Led Zeppelin feel. The cinematic approach to bluesy guitar chords is very much reminiscent of their approach - whilst the chorus here feels like the first true hook of the album. The first song had a chorus, but the song was driven more by its energy - whereas this one feels hookier overall. Another harmonica solo is thrown in, as well as a few other bursts of the instrument later on, and it does add to the song's brash nature quite nicely. Need Your Love moves away from the overt Led Zeppelin vibes of the previous couple of songs to go for something a bit smoother overall sound-wise. The main guitar riff is high-energy and memorable, with strong melodies throughout, whilst the rhythm section is much more strident and less groovy this time - going for a fatter overall hard rock sound. The song still has a strong retro feel, but the style is not especially close to one particular band - which is welcome, and I do hope that Jayler do push towards forging their own sound in the future. The chorus, with its simple and long-held vocal lines is very memorable, with a slight pop edge to some of the hooks, whilst the first guitar solo of the album is thrown in here - with some busy lead playing later sitting over some percussive drumming.

The Getaway largely keeps the pace moving, and the song is another pretty high-energy piece with choppy verse guitar rhythms and a slightly more restrained vocal from Bartholomew. He still lets rip with some higher-pitched moments throughout, but he delivers a smoother vocal overall I think - with the verses in particularly feeling less brash than usual. It is the first song here that really showcases the playing of bassist Ricky Hodgkiss, too. The slightly more subdued approach during the verses guitar-wise allow his bass playing to really pop - and his busy grooves are a big part of what keep the song moving. The chorus is a bit more typical of the band's core sound, though, with Bartholomew reverting to a higher-pitched delivery and a rawer overall approach - whilst another fast-paced guitar solo also adds some powerful blues to the piece. Early Rush and bands like Zebra are certainly referenced here, alongside the ever-present Led Zeppelin, and the energy created here is quite infectious. Bittersweet is the first real change of pace here, with the acoustic-led ballad stripping out all of the band's heaviness to deliver something folky. Delicate acoustic guitar melodies initially back Bartholomew's vocals, which are much more restrained than usual - allowing for some high-pitched and wistful melodies. The song does expand sound-wise as it moves along. Gentle piano chords and occasional melodies are later thrown in, courtesy of Hodgkiss, whilst the occasional electric guitar chords, mixed into the background, act in an almost percussive manner. Led Zeppelin certainly had their folk side, and this is a song that has clearly been influenced by the overall approach taken on Led Zeppelin III. As mentioned before, though, Jayler never cover the breadth of influences to truly 'do the Zeppelin thing' - which is more than bluesy hard rock and the occasional folky ballad. That being said, Bittersweet is a nice change of pace - even if, melody-wise it does not really grab hold all that much. Hate to See It End opens with a big drum barrage from Evans - and the song returns to a bigger hard rock sound after the respite that the previous song provided. That being said, there seem to be more of a cinematic approach taken this time - with an expansive sound thanks to the way the guitar chords are arranged and some keyboard work to fill out the sound. Hodgkiss adds some organ during the verses it sounds like, swirling around behind the riffing, whilst the stop-start nature of parts of the verses allows the vocals and guitars to shine separately. There is quite a brightness conjured up here, then, whilst another chorus that features quite long-held vocal lines allows for quite a hooky approach. The song is one of the stronger cuts here in my opinion as a result - and is another that does not just sound like Led Zeppelin. Jayler are starting to develop their own sound, and I hope that this progresses, even though the song still sounds retro thanks to some Hammond organ and another busy guitar solo. Over the Mountain, following a big count in, returns to the overtly Led Zeppelin-influenced sound that kicked the album off. This mid-paced hard rocker is brash, bluesy, and slightly mystical in classic Led Zeppelin fashion - with the turnaround-style guitar playing channelling the classic blues approach, with all the key changes in the right places, whilst Bartholomew returning to his Plant impression. The chorus feels a bit more expansive thanks to a higher-pitched vocal delivery and a bit more of a cinematic approach - whilst this cinematic approach is later continued during a bridge thanks to some subtle keyboards.

Alectrona, named after the Greek goddess, is more of a mid-paced piece - with a slower-moving bluesy guitar pattern and a shuffling drum groove that gives the song more of an overall deliberate feel. It is not a lumbering piece, but there is less energy here and there is more of a heartbeat feel in the song's delivery. There is also a bit more of an airiness to the arrangement. The slower riffing allows for some space in the mix, whilst some subtle keyboard textures are sometimes utilised to allow for a bit more of an atmospheric feel. Jayler rarely go for keyboards in a big way, but when Hodgkiss does occasionally turn away from his bass his keyboard playing does add quite a bit to the band's sound - and it would be interesting to hear a bit more of this going forward (even if having a bass player that also plays keyboards is another tick on the Led Zeppelin checklist). The song mixes bluesy rock and a more atmospheric sound together quite nicely without ever really giving over to the latter - and it does provide a subtle change of pace as a result. Lovemaker returns to something much more typical - and the vibes of the early numbers on the album return in a big way. The harmonica is also brought back out for a few bluesy bursts here and there, providing links between the chorus and future verses, whilst a slightly more overtly grooving drum beat creates a hip-shaking mid-paced vibe. The return to the early numbers does mean a return to Led Zeppelin vibes in a big way, though, and the main guitar solo here, likely from Arrowsmith, is very Jimmy Page-influenced in that stop-start bluesy way. I know that Bartholomew also plays some of the guitar solos, so it is unclear who plays what here - and I did think when I saw the band live that this arrangement might end up causing issues down the line, especially as Bartholomew is very much the frontman and him also trying to be the lead guitarist would disrupt that classic frontman/lead guitarist duo and lead to friction. The album then comes to a close with the tougher The Rinsk, a song which I remember from the gig as it turned into a bit of a late set centrepiece with lots of jamming and soloing. It feels a bit more restrained in its pure 'song' form here, but it nevertheless feels powerful with tougher overall riffing than has been heard on the album up to this point. The band have not morphed into metal or anything like that here, but there is a stronger hard rock edge thanks to some molten riffing - as well as Bartholomew really letting rip vocally at times, especially as the song closes out. This is another song that diverts from the Led Zeppelin playbook somewhat and does something a bit different from the band's core sound, whilst still sounding retro. The lumbering, powerful chorus is a big part of why the band turn the song into a centrepiece live - and the lengthy solo section, whilst relatively svelte here compared to live, still feels like the band cutting loose somewhat. The album ends on a real high as a result - hinting at a sound bigger than is sometimes the case on this album. Overall, then, I do like much of Voices Unheard - and it is a fun, well-written, and well-produced listen. I cannot quite get over my cynicism relating to this band, especially as their Facebook/YouTube comments sections are always full of older people saying things like: "I've not listened to anything new since the 70s but you boys are great as you sound like those days"; but there remains a charm here, even if some of the material is, perhaps too blatantly at times, derivative of better things.

The album was released on 29th May 2026 via Silver Lining Music. Below is the band's promotional video for Down Below.

Metallica - London Review (Night Two)

Despite having a great time away in London this past weekend, I am glad to be home. Going to three big gigs in four days was certainly tiring, even having a seat at them all, and the warm London weather combined with quite an old hotel meant that the nights were fairly restless. It was worth it, though. Def Leppard and Extreme were excellent as usual, and finally getting to see Metallica was a real treat. As I have already said, Friday's show was excellent - and it was clear that the band still have the energy and desire to deliver after many years in the business. Friday was only half the experience, though, and it was somewhat strange leaving the London Stadium on Friday, and making the thankfully well-managed walk back to Stratford station, realising that I would be doing it all again on Sunday. I was glad of a day in between the two shows with no real plans. Had a decent gig cropped up I would have taken the opportunity - but a slow evening on Saturday was welcome. I ended up having a bit of a lie in on Saturday morning due to sleep coming in fits and starts, although watching the Argentina vs Cape Verde match before trying to sleep likely did not help, so much so that my breakfast plans were somewhat scuppered - before heading down to Lambeth to visit the Imperial War Museum. It had likely been close to twenty years since I last visited the museum - so I was keen to return and also see a part of London that I rarely get to. I enjoyed my afternoon in the museum, spending a couple of hours looking around the main exhibitions covering the two world wars and the Holocaust. Following my museum visit, I made my way back to my Snaresbrook base slowly, had a hour or so rest, before heading back out to nearby Wanstead to check out an Indian restaurant I had earmarked. It was nice to go out for something to eat properly in London without any real time pressures, and The Coriander certainly delivered - with a reasonably-priced chicken patia going down nicely. I had not properly been out for a curry for quite some time, so I enjoyed the experience, before settling in for a quiet night with the TV. Sunday was, of course, busier, but with the stadium not opening until 3pm (earlier than it had on Friday due to an earlier Sunday curfew) and the music not starting until 5pm, there was no need to rush down to Stratford. I got up on time on Sunday, enjoying an all-you-can-eat breakfast in the adjacent pub, before heading over to Brick Lane for a look around the market and some nearby record shops. The shops did not really provide me with anything, but I picked up a couple of LPs and CDs in the market - so the trip out was worth it. It was then back to the hotel for a little while before heading back out to Stratford. The weather in London throughout the weekend was warm. It certainly was not has hot as it had been recently, but warm enough to need plenty of fluid and breaks in the shade - for me anyway. The two-day ticket was also for the same seat at both shows - so there was no need to rush down as I knew exactly where I needed to go. It was also best to let the initial rush die down - meaning less time standing around in the sun and more time sitting in a nice, shaded stadium. I have to say, too, aside from some initial confusion as to which entrance I needed to use given my confirmation email saying one thing and my actual ticket in the app saying another, the whole thing seemed really well run. I know that gigs at big stadiums happen regularly, but getting in and out was easy on both nights - with the walk back to the tube well managed to enable a controlled and still relatively fast (given the number of people) exit.

As much as I had enjoyed Gojira's set on Friday, I think that it is fair to say that night two had the better support acts - at least in my opinion. Kicking things off on Sunday, then, were Sweden's Avatar - a band that has been around for a surprisingly long time. I do not know much about them, but I had only really started hearing about them in recent years. As such, I assumed that they were quite new - but they formed all the way back in 2001 so have been around for 25 years at this point. They have also released 10 albums, too, meaning that they are very much a veteran act. They must be starting to get quite a bit more well-known, though, as I have certainly been familiar with them in name and image for a few years - but this show was my first time properly engaging with them. As was the case with Knocked Loose on Friday, Avatar had around 40 minutes to play with - and they made count with a pretty enjoyable set. I doubt that I will be rushing out and buying all 10 Avatar albums, but the five-piece's sound was interesting - and there were certainly songs played that I liked. Sound-wise, the band are often described as a mix of melodic death metal and groove metal. In some ways I agree, but I am not sure that they sound like melodic death metal in the traditional Swedish sense - whilst there are certainly grooves to be found. There was a mix of vibes on display, though, from heavier sections which featured harsh vocals and almost nu-metal-esque riffing to more melodic sections with almost gothic keyboards and cleaner vocals. There were certainly a few hooks on show, but I did think that the nuances of the band's sound were likely not always filtering through. They certainly did not have a poor sound mix, but I did feel that the sound mixes overall throughout the second night were not as good as they were for the first night - so the symphonic and electronic elements of Avatar's sound were likely less obvious than they might otherwise be. There was also a bit of a Lizzy Borden vibe visually, I think - not that Avatar really sound like Lizzy Borden. Frontman Johannes Eckerström just came across in a pretty similar, theatrical manner - and visually there was certainly a vaudevillian theme going on that was likely a bit lost on an 'in the round' format without any trappings. Whilst I was not blown away by Avatar, I certainly found their 40 or so minutes on stage entertaining - and I would not mind checking them a bit further going forward.

Outside of Metallica themselves, of course, Sunday's main support act Pantera were easily the biggest band over the two nights. Whilst Gojira are pretty big, Pantera arguably launched the whole groove metal genre throughout the early 1990s - and are a legendary band in their own right. Since reforming in 2022, largely as an ongoing tribute to their late bandmates, bothers Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul, Pantera have become a world-wide touring force again - taking stages by storm again for the first time properly since their 1990s heyday. Given that Pantera went away for so long, I think that it is easy for younger metal fans to underestimate their importance in the history of metal - but Pantera spearheaded so much of what become popular during the 1990s, and their place in metal history is long assured. I have only ever really been a casual fan, but I saw the band live last year and enjoyed it. I was quite content not to see them again, though, but when they were announced as a part of this line-up I certainly was not disappointed - and for the next hour or so the four-piece filled the stadium with their mid-paced, riffy, hard-hitting brand of working class metal. They probably suffered from the worst sound of the weekend, though, with frontman Phil Anselmo sometimes quite low in the mix, but the power of their riffs shone through - and there was a strong atmosphere during their set. The setlist was essentially a condensed version of what they played on tour last year - with the big hitters from both 1992's Vulgar Display of Power and 1994's Far Beyond Driven largely dominating. The grinding A New Level and the slightly thrashier Mouth for War got the hour off to a fine start - and there was certainly was quite a lot of singing to be heard during the first one. Perhaps in an effort to seem humble, Anselmo kept making reference to those in the crowd who had no idea who Pantera were - but I would be surprised if there were that many in attendance that did not have at least a passing knowledge of the band. There was certainly plenty of singing during the bigger numbers - although the crowd was not intense as it was during the band's headline set last year. Strength Beyond Strength and I'm Broken were both early highlights, with the latter including a snippet of By Demons Be Driven, whilst both the more potent and shout-along 5 Minutes Alone and This Love saw gang vocals from the crowd and band alike. As I was last year, I found myself impressed by Rex Brown (bass guitar/vocals). His bass sound and high-attack playing is a huge part of Pantera's sound, and he kept everything grounded - grooving away beneath the riffs of Zakk Wylde (guitar/vocals). Despite the atmosphere being strong throughout, the levels picked up as the set progressed. The fast-paced Fucking Hostile would have acted as a wake up call to anyone not paying attention, whilst Walk had the whole crowd jumping along to the infamous riff and shouting along with the chorus. Perhaps due to the anniversary of the band's performance at the last Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne show last year, it segued into a portion of the former's Fairies Wear Boots - with Wylde getting into the bluesy riff nicely. A mash-up of Domination and Hollow followed, an arrangement that dates back to the 1990s, before the evergreen Cowboys from Hell rounded things out. It is a shame that it was the only song from the 1990 album of the same name played properly, as has been the case since the band reformed as far as I am aware, as it is easily my favourite - but the band's anthem rounded at a strong hour nicely. The setlist was:

A New Level

Mouth for War

Strength Beyond Strength

Becoming/Throes of Rejection

I'm Broken/By Demons Be Driven

5 Minutes Alone

This Love

Fucking Hostile

Walk/Fairies Wear Boots [Black Sabbath cover]

Domination/Hollow

Cowboys from Hell

As was the case on Friday, there was around 45 minutes between Pantera's set and Metallica kicking off - so there was a chance to stretch the legs and use the facilities. Being the second night of a 'No Repeat Weekend', the setlist was totally different, with no repeated songs, but everything else about the show was essentially the same. The stage set-up was the same, with drummer Lars Ulrich again making use of four different drum kits to move himself around the stage, and the 'show' itself was largely limited to the screens on the speaker towers and some occasional pyro. Metallica are certainly more about the music, though, and as they took to the stage they turned the clock back to the beginning for Whiplash to kick things off. Overall, I think that the first show was the stronger of the two nights. That may just have been my excitement in seeing the band live for the first time, but I did feel that the sound mix was not quite as good on night two - and I think that, overall, the setlist for night one was stronger. There were still plenty of excellent songs on night two, though, with early classics like For Whom the Bell Tolls and the fan-favourite Ride the Lightning hitting the large crowd with real force. For Whom the Bell Tolls certainly brought the best out of bassist Robert Trujillo, with his lead playing early on impressing, whilst James Hetfield (vocals/guitar) sounded great again vocally - even if at times he was a little buried in the mix. As was the case during night one, too, it was great to hear a couple more songs from the excellent 72 Seasons (which I reviewed here). The title track was one of the overall highlights of the night for me, as it is a really powerful song in my opinion, whilst the snaking grooves of Screaming Suicide also did a lot of heavy lifting - with Trujillo delivering some big backing vocals during it, too. The weakest moment of the night, again, though, was Trujillo and Kirk Hammett's (guitar/vocals) strange little covers showcase. Perhaps Hetfield and Ulrich really do need a mid-set break these days, but I am not sure what these 'doodles', as the setlist websites call them, really add to the show. They just seem a bit scrappy and under-rehearsed - but at least this time we got a bit of Black Sabbath's Electric Funeral, again in recognition of that final show last year. Thankfully, though, this segment of the show was short - and the rest of the band were soon back for the gargantuan and epic The Day That Never Comes. It is likely one of the band's strongest slow-burners, regardless of era, and it provided some respite during the quieter moments that were rarely seen again. The guitar interplay here between Hetfield and Hammett was especially good, even if I thought that some of the latter's solos during the night were a bit on the sloppy side. The rest of the set was largely packed full of classics. Simpler anthems in the form of Wherever I May Roam and the doomy ballad The Unforgiven certainly entertained the casuals, whilst the lengthy instrumental piece The Call of Ktulu allowed everyone to showcase their instrumental prowess - with solos for both Hetfield and Trujillo, alongside Hammett. I would have preferred another original cut instead of the band's version of Whiskey in the Jar, even though their version is quite good, but the fast-paced Blackened made up for any fleeting disappointment. It was another overall highlight for me, and it showcased that Ulrich is still a better drummer than many give him credit for. One last newer number in Moth into Flame was then wheeled out, which large sections of the crowd enjoyed, before it was time for the last two cuts of the weekend. The lengthy One was a powerful moment, with lots of pyro and a heartfelt Hetfield vocal. Some of Hammett's best soloing during the night was featured here, too, and the proggy track was another overall highlight. It was left to the big riffs and stadium-filling chorus of Enter Sandman to bring the night to a close - ending an excellent weekend with one last big sing-a-long. The setlist was:

Whiplash

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Ride the Lightning

The Memory Remains

72 Seasons

Screaming Suicide

Electric Funeral [Black Sabbath cover]/Holidays in the Sun [Sex Pistols cover]

The Day That Never Comes

Wherever I May Roam

The Call of Ktulu

The Unforgiven

...And Justice for All/Whiskey in the Jar [Traditional Irish folk song]

Blackened

Moth into Flame

One

Enter Sandman

From not having seen Metallica live a few days ago, I have now seen them twice in quick succession - where they played pretty much all of their big hitters over the two nights, whilst throwing in some fan-favourites and newer cuts, too. Both of the shows were excellent, even if I felt the first night was the strongest overall, and I am really pleased to have finally seen Metallica live after nearly 20 years of regular gig-going. I somewhat feel like I have now had my Metallica fix and probably do not need to seem them live again, especially as they do not come around too often and sell expensive tickets, but a gaping hole in my gigging history has now been filled - and the long weekend away was certainly worth it.

Metallica - London Review (Night One)

Whilst Def Leppard the previous night had certainly been a spectacle, and it had been great seeing both them and Extreme live again after a few years, the main reason for my trip to London over the past weekend was to see Metallica. Given that I have been to many hundreds of gigs over the past 20 years (I went to my first proper gig in September 2006), that fact that I had never seen Metallica live until this past weekend would likely shock some. Given my love of all things rock and metal, one would have likely assumed that I would have seen them before - but for various reasons I had not. One of the reasons likely is that, despite the band's popularity, they do not visit the UK that often. They are not a band that turns up on tour every other year meaning opportunities to see them are plentiful. They might only play some traditional headline shows once every five or so years - whilst perhaps throwing in a festival appearance in the meantime. Not counting their appearance at Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's final show last year, Metallica's last UK appearances were at the 2023 Download Festival - whilst their last headline shows were back in 2019. As such, it had been a six year gap between headline shows here in the UK - and such gaps have not been uncommon in more recent times. Another reason for not making the effort before was likely that I have only ever really been a casual Metallica fan. I would say that my fandom has increased over the past two or three years, but they have never been one of my favourite bands - meaning that the overall cost of going was harder to justify. Metallica's tickets are not cheap, so seeing them was not something that I wanted to do just to say that I had. My love for the band has grown, though, as I said - so when I saw that they would be bringing their 'No Repeat Weekend' format to London as part of their on-going tour in support of 2023's 72 Seasons (which I reviewed here), it seemed like the time to finally make the effort. As part of this tour, in some cities, the have played two shows - each featuring a totally different setlist and support acts. The idea is that fans go to both shows and get a full-on weekend with Metallica - with many of the tickets covering both nights. This made for a pretty expensive weekend, but it seemed to make sense - as I would get all my Metallica needs sated in one go, as well as getting to see some well-known support acts. The day of the first night was a bit of a transition, as I had to move hotels which meant carrying my travel bag around with me all day. As such, after a bit of a lie in at my first hotel and breakfast nearby, I headed up to where I would be staying for the rest of the weekend and had some late lunch/early dinner at a nearby Toby Carvery. This certainly filled me up for a long evening of metal and, following an hour or so in the hotel to unpack and rest, it was soon time to head to Stratford and the London Stadium. Currently the biggest stadium in the EFL Championship, the London Stadium was built for the 2012 Olympics and is currently the home of West Ham United. I had been once before, to see Guns N' Roses back in 2017, but this time the show was set up 'in the round' - something I had not experienced before. The view from my seat was pretty good, but views from down on the floor would have likely been quite compromised a lot of the time. I was glad to get to my seat, too, following more walking around the site than was necessary due to conflicting information regarding which entrance I needed to use - alongside internet-related issues logging into the app. Despite this, though, once I found where I needed to go, getting in was easy - and I was soon in my seat and ready to enjoy what was to follow.

That being said, I cannot say that the first act of the night, the Kentucky-based hardcore band Knocked Loose, did all that much for me. Hardcore has never really been a favourite genre of mine, whilst Knocked Loose's more death metal-inspired brand of hardcore was just not really for me. One thing that I did notice from the off, though, was how good the sound was. I had reservations regarding the sound for 'in the round' shows, due to the potential for conflicting sound origins and sound bouncing all over the place, but all three bands had pretty good sound throughout - and Knocked Loose certainly did not suffer from typical support band muddiness. Given that they went on at 5:30pm, though, earlier than most venues even open, they were not playing to a huge crowd given the size of the venue, but there were a few thousand already in and there was a decent atmosphere settling in already. Many of those who turned up early were clearly Knocked Loose fans, as from my vantage point in the seats I could see plenty of movement around the stage - with quite a few mosh pits breaking out early on. The heat and the prospect of a lot more music to come did not seem to deter those down on the floor - and Knocked Loose certainly received a strong reception from those that turned up early. The band's mix of a more typical hardcore vocal style from frontman Bryan Garris and a more death metal approach from Isaac Hale (guitar/vocals) ensured an interesting sound - whilst the riffing was very chugging and clearly focusing on being heavy rather than offering anything technical. For me, the songs started to blend into one after a while - but the heaviness was welcome early on and the band got things underway nicely.

There was only about 20 minutes to wait following Knocked Loose's set finishing and the French progressive/avant-garde metallers Gojira taking the stage. I have a bit of a strange relationship with the French four-piece. I first saw them live back in 2007, on a bill topped by Trivium, and have run into them occasionally throughout the years without ever actually making the effort. It had been quite a few years since I had last seen them live, though, which was back in 2018 when they headlined at that year's Bloodstock Open Air. I think I missed the first couple of songs, but I remember being pretty impressed. I have never loved Gojira but I certainly respect them - and I have enjoyed listening to their albums on occasion. No-one sounds like them, and for the next hour the French band impressed again with their brand of off-kilter grooves, knotty riffing, and varied vocals. Whilst the live sound was decent, it probably was not quite clear enough to allow all of the band's nuances to shine through - but the unique band still managed to give a good account of themselves, with a bigger crowd to impress and plenty in attendance familiar with their music. The band's somewhat more melodic and atmospheric material such as set-opener Born for One Thing and The Cell sat nicely against much heavier material from the band's early days. I remember songs like Backbone and Flying Whales from that show with Trivium nearly 20 years ago now - but the progressive death metal that the band put out back then has morphed significantly over the years. Mario Duplantier (drums) is often considered one of the best drummers in metal currently, and his fast footwork and intricate grooves were on show all throughout the set - with two drum kits, one at either end of the stage, which he moved between. Joe Duplantier (vocals/guitar) is a master riff-writer and varied singer - with the band's frontman often swapping back and forth between hazy, semi-clean vocals and ferocious death growls that shook the stadium. As such, there was quite a lot of variety on show, despite Gojira certainly having a core sound. The band's piece for the 2024 Paris Olympics, Mea Culpa (Ah! Ça Ira), saw Swiss opera singer Marina Viotti take to the stage to sing with the band - and she also later joined them again for a rousing version of The Chant, with Viotti leading the crowd in the first big sing-a-long of the night. It was left to the The Gift of Guilt, with its snaking lead guitar melodies, which Joe and fellow guitarist Christian Andreu teamed up to perform, to round out the set - with Gojira having certainly done their bit to warm up the crowd before Metallica. The setlist was:

Born for One Thing

Backbone

Stranded

The Cell

Flying Whales

Love/Remembrance

Mea Culpa (Ah! Ça Ira) [Traditional French revolutionary song w/ Marina Viotti]

Silvera

Amazonia

The Chant [w/ Marina Viotti]

The Gift of Guilt

Metallica were meant to come on at 8:00pm, but it was around 8:15pm by the time anything started to happen. In truth, this meant that there was plenty of time to use the facilities and be back in my seat ready not to miss a moment. The 'in the round' format meant that those of us in the seats were closer to the action than is typically the case at stadium gigs - but it did mean that there was little in the way of a show. There were big screens on the speaker towers which alternated between showing footage of the band and visuals to go along with the song playing, but really this was a no-nonsense metal show. Drummer Lars Ulrich did make use of four drum kits, however, which rose up from beneath the stage throughout the night - to ensure that those on the floor got a good view of him for at least part of the night. There was very little standing on ceremony, then, and as the band took to the stage they launched into the fast-paced and anthemic Creeping Death - with the thrash classic really setting the tone for what was to come. Sound-wise, everything pretty much sounded great. James Hetfield (vocals/guitar) generally powered through the mix, but occasionally Kirk Hammett (guitar/vocals) was a bit too low - meaning that some of his soloing was a bit muffled. That aside, though, the show was great. The 16-song setlist covered most of the band's albums, and without the pressure to play all of the hits in one go the band felt more free. Creeping Death aside, the first part of the set consisted of well-known but not exactly ever-present songs; including the mid-paced groove of Harvester of Sorrow and two cuts from 1991's self-titled release, where Holier Than Thou particularly stood out. Given that 72 Seasons is already over three years old at this point, it is easy to forget that this show was still a part of its touring cycle. The band pulled two songs from the album to showcase on Friday, with the short, NWOBHM-inspired Lux Æterna sounding powerful and ferocious, proving that the band can still thrash, and the longer and more groove-focused If Darkness Had a Son showcasing where Metallica are currently. These newer cuts received pretty strong receptions, and it was great to see new material getting such - as all too often when long-established bands play new songs the bars get busier.

The only real weak moment in the set for me was Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo's little showcase - which consisted of snippets of songs associated with London. This seems to be something that they do every show. I get that it is meant to be fun, but it just seemed a bit scrappy and pointless - so I was pleased when Hetfield and Ulrich came back and the pseudo-power ballad Fade to Black was wheeled out. Given that I had not seen the band live before, I was not really bothered what they played - and as they generally change up the the setlists somewhat between shows it was nice just enjoying each song as it came. Some of the big hits were played on Friday, including the big ballad Nothing Else Matters and the ever-present Sad but True - but there were also some deeper cuts including the relatively newer Cyanide and the snaking instrumental piece Orion, dedicated to the late Cliff Burton. The latter has never been a particular favourite of mine, but it came across really well live - especially when the spotlight was turned over to Trujillo and he took the lead on the bass. The rare inclusion of Hardwired, a song not played too often since the last album's touring cycle, allowed for some big energy to make its way back into the set - but most of the final quarter or so of the night was made up of big hitters. Fuel saw the first real use of pyro during the show, and the riffy hard rocker conjured up plenty of mosh pits, whilst a somewhat elongated Seek & Destroy, complete with a mid-section sing-a-long, saw huge balls thrown out into the crowd. Metallica do not really do encores these days, so it was left to Master of Puppets to bring the curtain down on what by that point had been essentially two hours or hard-hitting, live heavy metal. This last track was a real overall highlight, with another big chorus sing-a-long and some great harmony guitar work. The setlist was:

Creeping Death

Harvester of Sorrow

Holier Than Thou

Of Wolf and Man

Lux Æterna

If Darkness Had a Son

Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll [Ian Dury cover]/The Guns of Brixton [The Clash cover]

Fade to Black

Cyanide

Orion

Nothing Else Matters

Sad but True

Hardwired

Fuel

Seek & Destroy

Master of Puppets

Given all the bands that I have seen live over the years, Metallica have always been a huge omission. I am sure that I would have enjoyed previous shows, but my level of fandom is now at a point where I feel that I can truly appreciate seeing them live - especially over this expanded weekend format. Night one was a great mix of hits, newer songs, and deeper cuts - but it was only half of what the band had in store, and the rest would follow on Sunday.