Welcome back to The Great Metal Debate podcast, today looking at the new release from Italian symphonic metal act Nocturna, back with their sophomore album Of Sorcery And Darkness.Nocturna is fronted by the insanely talented vocal duo of Grace Darkling and Ren Stillnight. You can listen to my Metal Debate review of Nocturna’s 2022 debut to hear my …

Welcome back to the Metal Debate podcast, breaking down the new release from British metallers Ingested titled The Tide Of Death And Fractured Dreams.The album begins with “Paragon Of Purity.” This song is exceptionally tight and focused, with the band unleashing a healthy helping of slam riffs, but also an outstanding reoccurring melodic guitar le…

Welcome back metal heads to a new episode of The Great Metal Debate podcast. Today will be looking at the third full-length studio release from the Tuscan, Arizona based thrash metal band known as Atrophy. The album Asylum has been long awaited by fans.Thanks to a side link on YouTube, the first song I heard was titled "High Anxiety" and it honestl…

Welcome back to The Great Metal Debate podcast. Today I’ll be exploring the twelfth full-length release from of Finland’s folk metal powerhouse Korpiklaani, titled Ramkarumpu. Despite not having a massed a whole assemblage of performers Eluveitie-style, Korpiklanni manage to split the metalwork evenly among the instrumentalists such that you’re nev…

Welcome back to the Metal Debate podcast. Today we’re reviewing the new album Myths Of Fate from powerhouse Leaves’ Eyes. I’ll touch briefly on each track in the listing, and then on some individual performances and notable elements of the sound.“Forged By Fire” is Myths Of Fate’s opening song, and the album’s first single. This one is dark and dra…

Welcome back to The Great Metal Debate podcast. Its Xander with another underground metal release. Today we will be looking at the Louisville based melodic black metal band Volcandra. This is their 2nd full-length studio album titled The Way of Ancients which comes out on March 1st through Prosthetic Records. For this review, I decided to go back a…

Welcome back metalheads to a new episode of The Great Metal Debate podcast! In early 2020, I recorded my first album review for the previous album titled The Coven by this criminally underrated band from Finland - Torchia. 4 years later we are treated to yet another Torchia album titled Arcane Magicae. Torchia is still signed with Rockshot Records …

Welcome back metalheads to another episode of The Great Metal Debate podcast. Its Xander back with a new album review. Today we will be briefly talking about my thoughts on the new album from Hulder titled Verses In Oath. Those of you not in the loop, Hulder is a one woman black metal band from Washington State.I had heard the name Hulder muttered …

Welcome back to The Great Metal Debate podcast with a new album review, talking about the Nashville based black metal act Obsidian Shrine. This is the band's 3rd full-length studio album titled Dereliction of Divinity.For some reason, my mind went to that Incantation song "A Once Holy Throne" when I saw the song title "A Vacant Throne" but the two …

Welcome back to The Great Metal Debate podcast. Today we’re reviewing the new album Ultrapower from Canadian trad metal crew Striker.Packed into the 41 minute runtime comes an album that very much reminisces the 80s, albeit with a completely modern musicianship and production. The riffs are plentiful, the vocals high-pitched wailing, the drumming f…

Welcome to Metal Debate podcast. In March 2024 Canadian metal clan Lutharo returns with their sophomore full-length album “Chasing Euphoria.” Lutharo kick things off with “Reaper’s Call,” an agreeable track that keeps it pretty close-to-the-vest musically. Lutharo are excellent at creating an aesthetic of anger and aggression but also positivity an…

Xander and Gomthog are back to count down their top metal albums of 2023!Intro music by CONTRA; all tracks used with permission from the artist.https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/great-metal-debate-podcast/id1037874814 http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:66031413/sounds.rss https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLC0ED1Ri2oNwBQW9All3Yw ht…

Welcome back metalheads to a brand new metal album review on The Great Metal Debate podcast. Originally I had planned to review the new album from the Netherlands black metal band Asagraum, but I found something at the last second that completely blew that away.Thanks to the website Angry Metal Guy, I spotted an album cover that intrigued me enough…

Today we’re looking at the new release from US power metallers Immortal Guardian entitled Unite And Conquer. I’ll begin with the album’s first track, “Ozona.” This one is very representative of Immortal Guardian’s approach generally, and would be at home on any of their other releases, as it displays what the band does so well. The flurry of melded…

In this interview Xander checks in with the guys from Fires In the Distance during their Nashville TN tour stop opening for Dawn of Ouroboros!Excerpts from the Fires In The Distance track "Harbingers" (Air Not Meant For Us, 2023) used with permission from the artist.https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/great-metal-debate-podcast/id1037874814 http://…

Phil ‘Landphil’ Hall of black metal upstarts Morbikon to discuss the band's recent debut live shows and much more!Excerpts from the Morbikon track "Consumed By Entropy" (Ov Mournful Twilight, 2023) used with permission from the artist. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/great-metal-debate-podcast/id1037874814 http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soun…

War Curse are releasing a new album “Confession” via Metal Blade Records. I’m going to briefly touch on each of the album’s 10 tracks, and then give a longer exposition of my thoughts. First up is “The Nothing (That Is Me)”, which begins with some light acoustic guitar transitioning into electric and then riffs generated at a stomping pace. It’s no…

Welcome back to The Great Metal Debate podcast. Today we will be looking at the Finish black metal band Moonlight Sorcery. This is the band's first full length debut album titled Horned Lord of the Thorned Castle, released September 29th through Avant-garde Music.Last year's EP titled Piercing Through the Frozen Eternity, we got some noticeable gui…

In this interview we check in with Iowa death metallers Pit Lord following their performance at Full Terror Assault Fest 2023!Cover photo courtesy Marisa Dion Art. Excepts from the Pit Lord track "Butchers From Beyond" (Gallery of Skewered Swine, 2022) used with permission from the artist.https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/great-metal-debate-podca…

Welcome back to The Great Metal Debate. Today we’re bringing you another metal album review, featuring the latest from US metallers Theocracy titled Mosaic. Let’s take a dive into this release track-by-track… Mosaic goes right for the throat with the rapid-paced opener “Flicker” which is reminiscent of Dragonforce in its versing. Here we hear the f…

Welcome back metal heads to another episode of The Great Metal Debate podcast. It's Xander back with a brand new album review. Today, we will be looking at The Enduring Spirit by Canadian death metallers Tomb Mold.I was first introduced to Tomb Mold a few years ago when someone on my Facebook told me to check out their 2018 album Manor of Infinite …

Welcome back metal heads to a new episode of the great metal debate podcast. Did you honestly believe that I, Xander wouldn't talk about the new Dying Fetus album Make Them Beg For Death? Of course I'm going to review the shit out of this one.Those of you who don't know me personally, I am a humongous fan of Dying Fetus and have been since I was 16…

Welcome back metal heads to another episode of The Great Metal debate podcast. It's your man Xander yet again, back with another album review. Today, we'll be looking at the brand new record from Portland based melodic black metalers Uada with their 4th full-length titled Crepuscule Natura.I have been a fan since 2018 when I first heard their 2nd a…

US west coast metallers Greyhawk join the show following their performance at Mad With Power Fest in Madison WI to talk the band's past and future!Excerpts from the Greyhawk track "Steelbound" (Call Of The Hawk, 2023) used with permission from the artist.https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/great-metal-debate-podcast/id1037874814 http://feeds.soundc…

US melodic power metallers Graveshadow rejoin the show prior to their performance in Madison WI at Mad With Power Fest!Excerpts from the Graveshadow track "Damsel's Finesse" (The Uncertain Hour, 2022) used with permission from the artist.https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/great-metal-debate-podcast/id1037874814 http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/so…

Welcome to another Metal Debate album review, checking out the debut full-length release from Indianapolis metallers Graveripper titled “Seasons Dreaming Death.” Graveripper fuse speed metal, thrash metal, and black metal elements into a consistent sound, such that fans of any of those genres will find their music familiar and welcome. Let’s go thr…

In this interview recorded July 15, 2023, Xander checks in with death metallers Vomit Forth at their tour stop in Nashville TN in support of Sanguisugabogg.Excerpts from the Vomit Forth track Seething Malevolence ("Seething Malevolence", 2022; Century Media Records) used with permission from the artist.https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/great-meta…

In this interview we visit with metaller Traveler during their concert stop in Indianapolis IN during their East Coast tour with Savage Master!Excerpts from the Traveler track "Shaded Mirror" (Termination Shock, 2020) used with permission from the artist.https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/great-metal-debate-podcast/id1037874814 http://feeds.soundc…

Welcome back to The Great Metal Debate podcast. It's Xander back with another album review. Today we will be taking a look at the newest album from the band Evil Incarnate titled Lucifers Crown. Some of you might remember last summer when I did my interview with Michael Eisenhower, the guitarist from this band and the band Luna in Sanguinum.This ba…

In this interview recorded July 1, 2023, Xander checks in with Through The Eyes Of The Dead frontman Danny Rodriguez on the band’s final tour stop in Nashville TN!Excerpts from the Through The Eyes Of The Dead track “Hate The Living” (Disomus, 2017) used with permission from the artist.https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/great-metal-debate-podcast/…

Today we’re reviewing the new album “We Shall Remain” from Swedish metal outfit Eleine, who describe themselves as “dark symphonic metal.” Overall description, this album is generally pleasant to listen to and has no obvious filler tracks. The songwriting is on balance competent and the overall effort is well produced and executed. The vocalists an…

Welcome back metal heads to another episode of The Great Metal Debate podcast. It's Xander once again with another album review. Today I will be looking at the Gr1m and kvlt Norwegian black metal band called ... Tiss-juder?Nah, I'm just joking. The bands name is pronounced like "Shoo-der"And this is their 6th full-length studio album titled Helvegr…

Welcome back to The Great Metal Debate podcast. Today we are talking the new album from the Scottish power metal band Gloryhammer - Return To The Kingdom of Fife.Gloryhammer has created their own lore within their fantasy/science fiction themed lyrics. The basic premise is that there is a ruler of a type of people called the hootsman and his name i…

Welcome back mental heads to another episode of The Great Metal Debate podcast. It's Xander once again and today we will be talking about the new album Black Flame Eternal from Atlanta, Georgia's gothic black metallers Cloak.I have enjoyed their music ever since 2019 when my friend and fellow YouTuber Richard Metal Fan introduced me to their 2nd fu…

Welcome back metal heads to another episode of The Great Metal Debate podcast. It's Xander again and today we are going to be talking about the new album titled All Heads Are Gonna Roll from Swedish death metallers vomitory. This is the band's 9th full length studio album that was a bit of a surprise comeback for the group. Vomitory had split up wa…

Welcome back to The Great Metal Debate podcast. Today we are looking at the album Terrasite released on May 12th via Metal Blade Records. A band's overall evolution can go in many directions but I feel Cattle have managed to outdo themselves with my personal favorite album Monolith of Inhumanity and they continued to kick ass with their 2015 banger…

Xander catches up with the guys in slamming death metal crew Devourment during their tour stop in Atlanta GA as they open for Ingested!Excerpts from the Devourment track "Cognitive Sedation Butchery" (Obscene Majesty, 2019) used with permission from the artist.https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/great-metal-debate-podcast/id1037874814 http://feeds.…

In this interview recorded May 13, 2023, Xander talks with singer Chaney Crabb from deathcore tech-proggers Entheos during their tour stop in Nashville TN opening for Whitechapel!Excerpts from the Entheos track "Absolute Zero" (Time Will Take Us All, 2023) used with permission from the artist.https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/great-metal-debate-p…

Xander checks in with vocalist Alex Paul from New Zealand slamming brutal death metal outfit Organectomy during their tour stop in Atlanta GA as they traverse North America opening for Ingested!Excepts from the Organectomy track "The Third Mutation" (Nail Below Nail, 2022) used with permission from the artist.https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/gre…

In this interview Xander talks with metal upstarts Narthex during their recent performance at Springwater Supper Club in Nashville TN!Excepts from the Narthex track "Witch King" (Witch King EP, 2022) used with permission from the artist.https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/great-metal-debate-podcast/id1037874814 http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/sou…

Welcome back metalheads to another episode of the great metal debate podcast. It's your man Xander again and today the Swedish thrash metal band Mezzrow has finally released their second album titled Summon Thy Demons.This long awaited release on Fireflash Records has much better production quality and it is instantly noticeable during the first so…

Welcome back to another Metal Debate album review. Today we’re reviewing the new album “Dreams Of Lands Unseen” by Ignea. Ignea are a symphonic metal band from Ukraine. The material fits in the general mold of symphonic metal, but Ignea provide enough musical twists and tangents to keep things fresh and not be too derivative. Following the intro in…

Welcome back metalheads to another episode of the great metal debate podcast. Today, I will be reviewing a new album from the one man dungeon synth project called Midnight Betrothed with his new album Death ... My Faithful Bride.This just might be the first album we have ever reviewed on this channel that most other metalheads probably wouldn't eve…

Welcome back to another episode of The Great Metal Debate podcast. I'm Xander and today we are looking at the debut album from Haliphron titled Prey. This symphonic blackened death metal band from The Netherlands has given us a new modern art masterpiece.This band may have clearly been inspired by old school acts but I assure you that they have sti…

In this interview Xander talks with Decrepit Birth frontman Bill Robinson at the band's tour stop in Atlanta opening for Vader.Excerpts from the Decrepit Birth track "Vortex of Infinity... Axis Mundi" (Axis Mundi, 2017) used with permission from the artist.https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/great-metal-debate-podcast/id1037874814 http://feeds.soun…

Xander interviews Dan Ratanasit from Malformity at the band's performance in Atlanta GA opening for Suffocation!Excerpts from the Malformity track "Perverse Apotheosis" (Monumental Ruin, 2021) used with permission from the artist.https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/great-metal-debate-podcast/id1037874814 http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud…

Welcome to The Great Metal Debate podcast. Today we are talking about the Brazilian black metal band known as Outlaw with their new album Reaching Beyond Assiah.These guys have a slightly melodic sound to their guitar riffs but I guess not enough to be classified as such. According to the metal-archives, they are a three piece group that formed in …

In this interview recorded on March 11, 2023, Gomthog talks with guitarist Markus Vanhala of Omnium Gatherum on the band's stop in Joliet IL on their tour across North America supporting Eluveitie!Excerpts from the track "Slasher" (Omnium Gatherum, 2023) used with permission from Century Media.https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/great-metal-debate-…

Welcome back metalheads to another episode of The Great Metal Debate podcast. It's me Xander again and today I'm going to be talking about the Finnish goregrind band known as Torsofuck and their new album Postpartum Exstasy - the band's first album in 19 years!In the year 2004, I was between the ages of 12 and 13 years old. At this time in my life,…

Welcome to another episode of The Great Metal Debate podcast. It's your man Xander again back with another album review. Today we will be looking at the brand new album from the melodic funeral doom metal band from Athens, Greece called Ocean of Grief with their 2nd studio release titled Pale Existence.Some of my favorite melodic death metal bands …