Bygone - Bygone (2025)

Bygone is an excellent first self-titled album, merging synth propelled space rock and hard rock/heavy metal. It reminds at time Deep Purple and more often Hawkwind, but with also a touch of more recent stoner sound. Epic and catchy songs with great vocals. A strong start, recommended!

 

The BC page. 

 

Rwake - The Return of Magik (2025)

The Return of Magik is the Fifth Rwake album, and we could also say it's a magical return, since Fourteen years after their previous album Rawke are back with their best one, a masterpiece in southern progressive doom (with some aggressive sludge vocals). I love the atmosphere they manage to create with these songs. Their music, somewhere between Crowbar, Mastodon and Neurosis combines nicely heaviness, epicness and melodic subtleties (including the use of acoustic and pedal steel guitars). Warmly recommended!

 

The BC page.

 

Wytch Hazel - V: Lamentations (2025)

Wytch Hazel managed to create their own space in heavy metal, being at the same time very traditional (highly reminiscent of heavy metal from the 80' and even also proto-heavy metal / heavy blues bands from the 70', with echoes of Cream, Mountain, etc.), but also very personal, developing their own sound and otherworldly atmosphere. Their new album V: Lamentations is another masterpiece in old school epic and melodic heavy metal. Highly recommended!

 

The BC page. 

 

Beastwars - The Ship // The Sea (2025)

Beastwars (from New-Zealand) has been around for fifteen years now, and each time they release a new album it's a pleasure to listen to their epic heavy metal with a strong stoner/doom feel, and The Ship // The Sea is again a masterpiece, with again great songwriting and powerful vocals. Somewhere between early Mastodon and High on Fire, with bits reminding also Alice in Chains or Soundgarden as well. But always very Beastwars. Highly recommended!

 

The BC page.

 

Bütcher - On Fowl Of Tyrant Wing (2024)

On Fowl Of Tyrant Wing, like Bütcher previous album, is a fine piece of old school speed/black/thrash heavy metal. With a first half of the album more focused speed and aggression, and a second half, the last three songs, being longer epic songs channeling a nice Bathory vibe. Suitably released by Osmose Productions. Recommended!

 

The BC page.

 

 

Crypt Sermon - The Stygian Rose + Saturnian Appendices (2024 & 2025)

I was about to review Crypt Sermon latest album The Stygian Rose when I found out they have an EP (Saturnian Appendices) coming out this month, so you'll get a review for both at the same time. The Stygian Rose has been hailed for good reasons as one of the best recent release in a heavy/epic doom metal vein, with main influence being probably Candlemass and the other one Iron Maiden, and I also evn hear a touch of Megadeth (mostly because the vocalist reminds me of Dave Mustaine at times, but not only because of that). It is really an album anyone into old school metal could love. And what about the new four songs EP Saturnian Appendices? Those songs are from the Stygian Rose studio session, so it's in the same vein, and doesn't sound like leftovers the quality level as well is similar, and the unexpected Mayhem cover (De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas) is a nice touch, so I totally recommend it as well. 

 The Bandcamp page.

 

Demonic Death Judge - Absolutely Launched (2025)

Absolutely Launched is the seventh album from Demonic Death Judge, and even if my favourite one is still The Trail (released in 2020), this is another good album from DDJ. They keep on producing heavy and groovy stoner/Doom metal, hardened with some aggressive sludge vocals, but softened by a southern rock melodic touch. A nice combination that is really their own and that they get to really master throughout the years. Good stuff!

 

The BC page. 

 

Dragon Skull - Chaos Fire Vengeance (2025)

After an excellent EP in 2022, Dragon Skull, from Greece, are back with an album called Chaos Fire Vengeance. And what an impressive first album it is! I feel this is the heavy metal album to beat in 2025, no less... Taking from traditional power metal and NWOBHM, but with also a heavier and more aggressive edge, often reminding Machine Head, it sounds both like a finely crafted tribute to the glorious past of heavy metal while being totally relevant in today's metal scene. And relevant is not enough, it is vibrant and dominating. I've been playing it every day since I discovered it. Great songwriting, awesome vocals, and an original take on the heavy metal genre while staying rooted in its best traditions. Yes, Chaos Fire Vengeance is a clear contender for album of the year, other bands better sharpen their guitars, the bar have been already raised very high.

 

The Bandcamp page. 

Savage Master - Dark & Dangerous (2025)

Dark & Dangerous is the Fifth album from Savage Master, and they deliver again a finely crafted piece of heavy/speed metal, full of cool riffing, but what really set them apart are the awesome vocals of Stacey Savage. It's released by Shadow Kingdom records, probably the best dealer of traditional heavy metal right now. Recommended!

 

The BC page. 

 

Saturnalia Temple - Paradigm Call (2024)

Released one year ago, Paradigm Call is Saturnalia Temple third album, ten years after the previous one (the also excellent To The Other). And one thing is clear : they lost nothing of their ability to craft quality psychedelic doom. And like previously, they lean on the more epic heavy metal side of psych doom, with parts getting closer to High on Fire than to Sleep. Paradigm Call was worth the wait, thank you !

 

The BC page. 

 

Blind Guardian - The God Machine (2022)

Obviously, anyone into heavy metal knows about Blind Guardian, but maybe not everyone knows The God Machine (released in 2022) is a break from the symphonic direction they had for a long time and a return to a lot more aggressive and heavier music. And it turns out to be a totally awesome album, keeping the excellent singing and lead guitar playing, but putting aside any cheesiness, keeping only the best you can have in a heavy metal album.

The BC page.

 

Usurper - Hand of the Usurper (2024)

After an already excellent first album in 2021 Usurper, from Newcastle Upon Tyne (UK), released a five track release, called Hand of the Usurper and also full of very traditionnal NWOBHM heavy metal, with a strong influence from Iron Maiden (and I guess Powerslave might be their favourite album, and I won't blame them for sure). Heavy and epic, with good vocals and memorable riffing. Not scoring much on the originality scale, but great for everything else. I enjoy it, and I'm looking forward to their second album.

The Bandcamp page.

 

Grand Magus - Sunraven (2024)

It was really worth waiting five years for a new Grand Magus album. The Magus never disapoint, but Sunraven comes very close to perfection, really. Quintessential traditionnal heavy metal through and through, heavy metal in all it's simple but glorious epicness. JB is delivering maybe his best vocal performance and nearly all the songs sounds like instant classics, from the opener Skybound with its awesome chorus to the more subtle Black Lake with its folkish elements. Sunraven is their best album since The Hunt. I've already said that Grand Magus are the best traditionnal heavy metal band of the XXIth century, Sunraven is another shining proof. 

The Bandcamp page.

Brother Dege - Aurora (2024)

The news of the death of Dege Legg known as a musician as Brother Dege really came as a shock to me. Not only because I liked his music (and I loved his music! Still do). I spent a large part of last year translating from English to French his book, Cablog (released in French as Cabdriver) and Dege music was something like the soundtrack of my life at that time. I admired him as a man and as an author as much as I admired him as a musician. I was looking forward to at last meet him at last during his European tour scheduled after the release of Aurora, his new album. He will really be missed. Now, is Aurora living up to the expectancy? Yes, definitely, his garage/blues/psych/southern rock got more personal and emotional, and it's as good and maybe even more memorable than the previous excellent albums. At least Dege left on a very high note. Thank you for that and for all the rest, brother...

The Bandcamp page.

 

The website. 

 

Judas Priest - Invincible Shield (2024)

I'll assume you know who Judas Priest are. But maybe you don't know they recently released a truly glorious album, Invincible Shield. It features everything the Priest have done, from more progressive to more aggressive, and it's an hour of Judas Priest greatness from beginning to end. And, believe it or not, Rob Halford at 73 is still as awesome as he always have been.

Blazon Rite - Wild Rites and Ancient Songs (2023)

The second album from Blazon Rite, Wild Rites and Ancient Songs, released last year, is, from beginning to end, from songwriting to execution, top quality traditional heavy metal / power metal. If that's your kind of stuff, not checking them is not an option. Highly recommended.

The Bandcamp page.

 

Midnight - Hellish Expectations (2024)

The world seems determined to turn into a vile pool of shit, but at least we still can rely on Midnight to get our regular dose of speed, thrashing dbeating, traditional metal, or maybe we could call it blackened speed metal, you get the idea. Their sixth album is Hellish Expectations and we indeed get the hell we expected. And's when it's fun hell coming from Midnight it's great!

 

The BC page.

 

Enforcer - Nostalgia (2023)

Nostalgia is Enforcer sixth album, and we could indeed say say it's rooted in the past, but for the best.  They're burning bright with the hottest traditionnal heavy speed fire, shining in all its cheesiest glory (there's even some hair metal feel at times!). A masterfully executed and really fun album. Recommended!

The BC page.

 

High On Fire - Cometh The Storm (2024)

Already nine albums by High on Fire with Cometh The Storm. As expected it's another fine piece, on the raw, heavy, epic and rocking side of traditional heavy metal / doom, with Matt Pike singing as usual with a voice reminding Lemmy Kilmister (which can't be wrong!). Good stuff, I especially recommend listening to the title track.

The Bandcamp page.

 

The Obsessed - Gilded Sorrow (2024)

Second album after their return, the new The Obsessed album, Gilded Sorrow, is, as expected, a superb piece of traditionnal doom metal, with the unmistakable singing and riffing from the great Wino Weinrich. Maybe not totally as good as previous album, The Sacred, but this last one was so awesome...

The BC page.