Crimson Glory - Chasing the Hydra [2026]

Artist: Crimson Glory

Album: Chasing the Hydra
Year: 2026
Genre: Heavy Metal / Power Metal
Web: https://youtu.be/PIPPOXlGTIA / https://www.theofficialcrimsonglory.com / TDC Link
Country: United States
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Redden the Sun

2. Chasing the Hydra

3. Broken Together

4. Angel in My Nightmare

5. Indelible Ashes

6. Beyond the Unknown

7. Armor Against Fate

8. Pearls of Dust

9. Triskaideka 

Witness: -[*]-
New Crimson Glory after 27 years. What will it be like? I am not saying this is great, but for being their first album in more than 20 years and the fact that 3 of the original members are still active, I think it is worthy of a few spins. The first half of the album is the better material, and some of it sounds like it could have been left on the cutting room floor during the Transcendence sessions, but I still kinda dig it. Definitely better than Strange and Beautiful in my opinion.

Destructor - Tales of Glory [2026]

Artist: Destructor

Album: Tales of Glory
Year: 2026
Genre: Heavy Metal / Thrash Metal / Power Metal
Web: https://youtu.be/vRAvF6G_KP8 / https://destructor1.bandcamp.com / https://www.deezer.com/destructor
Country: United States
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Tales of Glory  

2. Shadow Magic  

3. Harbinger of Death  

4. Wolves at Your Door  

5. Death Screams  

6. Fall to Your Knees  

7. Never Take Me Alive  

8. Answers in Blood  

9. Rise to the Call  

10. Victorious Warrior

Witness: -[*]-  
When I saw this release back in June, I immediately wanted to pick it up because I knew it was, at least in some ratio, the same band from 1985 that released Maximum Destruction, an album which I hadn't ever heard until about 6 years ago. I guess I wasn't sure what to expect because while I do like Maximum Destruction- not love, but like- the only other album I've heard was Decibel Causalties, and it's so so in my opinion. Well, I am here to say that I do like this album; at least the old 80s metalhead in me does for sure. I admittedly haven't taken the time to explore many of their other releases, but I may after listening to this one a few times. 

Destructor - Decibel Casualties [2017]

Artist: Destructor

Album: Decibel Casualties
Year: 2017
Genre: Heavy Metal / Thrash Metal / Power Metal
Web: https://youtu.be/VUW3Hh5Jhbw / https://www.facebook.com/DestructorMetal
Country: United States
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Restore Chaos

2. Keep the Faith

3. Metal Spike Deep

4. We Are Ready

5. The Last Days

6. Fiery Winds

7. Metal till Death

8. In Hell

Witness: -[*]-

Destructror - Maximum Destruction [1985]

Artist: Destructor

Album: Maximum Destruction
Year: 1985
Genre: Heavy Metal / Thrash Metal / Power Metal
Web: https://youtu.be/6X5_76U2snA / https://shop-hellsheadbangers.com/destructor
Country: United States
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Prelude in Sledge-Minor Opus 7 1st Movement

2. Maximum Destruction

3. Destructor

4. Overdose

5. Instrumetal

6. Pounding Evil

7. Take Command

8. Iron Curtain

9. Hot Wet Leather / Bondage

Witness: -[*]-
So, some of you may have heard me blabber on repeatedly about how I was a teenage metalhead of the early 80s. About how I spent hours in my local record stores searching through the imports, miscellaneous A-Z, metal sections, and used bins for albums and cassettes. Well, I never saw this album in my local stores back then, and so, when I did see this album 6 years ago at the late great site, DTS-Metal.com (RIP), I grabbed it immediately. The album cover immediately reminded me of Tyrant and their Legions of the Dead album from earlier that same year. In my opinion, this album isn't as good as LotD, but interestingly, it is rated much higher on Metal-Archives at 90% versus 68% for Tyrant. The lyrics and vocal delivery don't work nearly as well here, but it certainly delivers a raw, youthful exuberance that makes it appealing if you are a fan of the 80s style. 

Lex Legion - Lex Legion [2026]

Artist: Lex Legion

Album: Lex Legion
Year: 2026
Genre: Heavy Metal
Web: https://lexlegionofficial.com / https://www.facebook.com/OfficialLexLegion
Country: International
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Sleep Eternally

2. Gypsy Tears

3. When the Stars Align

4. (I Am) The Resurrected

5. Lost Inside

6. Dreams of Darkness

7. Saviours

8. Life Eternal

9. Far Away

Witness: -[*]-
Lex Legion is made up of either current or former members of King Diamond's band, except for the vocalist, who is from progressive power metal fame in Pagan's Mind and Eidolon. At times, he mimics the King's falsetto, and those are probably my favorite moments on the album. Knowing the members of this band, you can expect some good instrumental performances, but overall I prefer their contributions to KD.

Metal Church - Dead to Rights [2026]

Artist: Metal Church

Album: Dead to Rights
Year: 2026
Genre: Heavy Metal / Thrash Metal
Web: https://ratpakrecords.com/metal-church / https://metalchurchofficial.com
Country: United States
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Brainwash Game

2. F.A.F.O.

3. Dead to Rights

4. Deep Cover Shakedown

5. Feet to the Fire

6. The Show

7. Heaven Knows (Slip Away)

8. No Memory

9. Wasted Time

10. My Wrath

Witness: -[*]-
I admittedly have not spent much time listening to the Metal Church releases from the past 3 decades, as I had mostly moved on to more aggressive styles, but I used to love this band back in my favored decade of the 1980s. However, I decided to give this album a listen a few weeks ago, and it kind of grabbed my attention mainly because the growl of the new singer is reminiscent of David Wayne, but I like a lot of the music they have created here as well. It also got me to go back and listen to their classic albums again and give them a deserved spot here in The Chamber.

Metal Church - Blessing in Disguise [1989]

Artist: Metal Church

Album: Blessing in Disguise
Year: 1989
Genre: Heavy Metal / Thrash Metal
Web: https://www.instagram.com/MetalChurchOfficial
Country: United States
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Fake Healer

2. Rest in Pieces (April 15, 1912)

3. Of Unsound Mind

4. Anthem to the Estranged

5. Badlands

6. The Spell Can't Be Broken

7. It's a Secret

8. Cannot Tell a Lie

9. The Powers That Be

Witness: Link removed
The follow-up to this release, The Human Factor, was the last Metal Church album that I listened to with any frequency, but this 3rd album from the band saw them at the pinnacle of their talents. Even though I preferred the first two, this is a very good album, that I used to listen to it a lot.

Metal Church - The Dark [1986]

Artist: Metal Church

Album: The Dark
Year: 1986
Genre: Heavy Metal / Thrash Metal
Web: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialMetalChurch / https://www.plastichead.com/METAL+CHURCH
Country: United States
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Ton of Bricks

2. Start the Fire

3. Method to Your Madness

4. Watch the Children Pray

5. Over My Dead Body

6. The Dark

7. Psycho

8. Line of Death

9. Burial at Sea

10. Western Alliance

Witness: -[*]-
This was the last album with David Wayne as the vocalist until he rejoined the band for a short time in the late 90s, and they released Masterpeace, which I have actually never listened to. These first 2 albums from Metal Church were highly effective and essential at the time.

Metal Church - Metal Church [1984]

Artist: Metal Church

Album: Metal Church
Year: 1984
Genre: Heavy Metal / Thrash Metal 
Web: https://youtu.be/NTiywaTDKig / https://metalchurchofficial.com
Country: United States
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Beyond the Black

2. Metal Church

3. Merciless Onslaught

4. Gods of Wrath

5. Hitman

6. In the Blood

7. (My Favorite) Nightmare

8. Battalions

9. Highway Star (Deep Purple cover)

Witness: -[*]-
I still remember the party I was at when I first heard this album. That was a good night for many reasons ;)  The second half of the album tails off a bit, but side one was/is classic and will always be some of my favorite songs from that time period in metal.

Stormcrown - Echoes of the Impending Storm [2026]

Artist: Stormcrown

Album: Echoes of the Impending Storm
Year: 2026
Genre: Heavy Metal / Power Metal
Web: https://youtu.be/86T20Ol1-Go / https://stormcrownmetal.com
Country: United States
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Oghma Infinium  

2. Edge of the Unknown  

3. Hot Lead High Speed  

4. Hymn of the Road Warrior  

5. X3r0  

6. Black as Night  

7. Stormcrown

Witness: -[*]-
Here is an excellent example of modern power metal from the Blacksburg area of Virginia. I would say this is predominantly on the melodic power metal side, but there are times when these guys inject some grit and venom, and the leads can be both soaring and blistering. Another fun listen if you are into the style.  

Steel Arctus - Dreamruler [2025]

Artist: Steel Arctus

Album: Dreamruler
Year: 2025
Genre: Heavy Metal / Power Metal
Web: https://www.facebook.com/steelarctus / https://steelarctus.bandcamp.com
Country: Greece
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Cry for Revenge

2. Defender of Steel

3. Fate of the Beast

4. Dreamruler

5. Wicked Lies

6. Fires of Death

7. Riding Through the Night

8. Glory of the Hero

9. Will to Power

10. Legend of the Warrior

11. Onar (όναρ)

Witness: -[*]-
Wow, this album is so good! I know the death metal only crowd won't like it, or will ask where it was at 40 years ago, but the people who have more diverse tastes similar to mine will certainly be totally into this band. I want to thank our resident Goa Trance officinato Unbound for the heads up on these guys. Just looking at the album art, I expected something much less intriguing and would have probably never given this album a chance if he hadn't promoted it so strongly. Awesome \m/\m/

Steel Arctus - Fire and Blood [2020]

Artist: Steel Arctus

Album: Fire and Blood
Year: 2020
Genre: Heavy Metal / Power Metal
Web: https://youtu.be/DfHmYEtLFpg / https://steelarctus.bandcamp.com
Country: Greece
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Fire and Blood

2. teel Arctus

3. Hellhammer

4. Doombringer

5. Moira (Μοίρα)

6. Savage Heart

7. Arcadian Lady

8. Fire and Blood

Witness: -[*]-
The Greeks seem to be cultivating an awesome power metal scene with these guys, Sacred Outcry, & Battleroar being just the bands that I am aware of. To me, this style harkens back to my youth and is a nice change of pace from the brutal barrage of death metal. 

Sacred Outcry - Damned for All Time... [2020]

Artist: Sacred Outcry

Album: Damned for All Time...
Year: 2020
Genre: Heavy Metal / Power Metal
Web: https://youtu.be/8irOThfRhaY / https://sacredoutcry.bandcamp.com
Country: Greece
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Timeless

2. Legion of the Fallen

3. Sacred Outcry

4. Where Ancient Gods Are Still Hailed

5. Scared to Cry

6. Lonely Man

7. Crystal Tears

8. Damned for All Time

9. Farewell

Witness: -[*]-

Another band that Unbound turned me onto a few weeks back. Thanks, dude!

Sölicitör - Enemy In Mirrors [2025]

Artist: Sölicitör

Album: Enemy In Mirrors
Year: 2025
Genre: Heavy Metal / Speed Metal

Web: https://youtu.be/CZeSLTL9zS0 / https://www.facebook.com/solicitor.speedmetal
Country: United States
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. The Descent

2. Paralysis

3. Iron Wolves of War

4. Spellbound Mist

5. We Who Remain

6. Fallen Angel

7. Crimson Battle Beast

8. Enemy in Mirrors

9. Black Magick & the Devil's Hand Pt I

10. Black Magick & the Devil's Hand Pt II

Witness: -[*]-
I really liked the band's previous album, but it took me a bit to warm up to this one; now that I have, I am liking it as well. They are building on their songwriting chops and created a more mature-sounding album, and I think they got a better production as well.

Vhol - Deeper Than Sky [2015]

Artist: Vhol

Album: Deeper Than Sky
Year: 2015
Genre: Progressive Thrash Metal / Blackened Heavy Metal / Crust
Web: https://youtu.be/nFFXwoned6I / https://www.facebook.com/vholisvhol
Country: United States
Quality: 320 Kbps
 
Tracklist:
1. The Desolate Damned

2. 3AM

3. Deeper than Sky

4. Paino

5. Red Chaos

6. Lightless Sun

7. The Tomb

Witness: -[*]-
Even though this album is more than a decade old I only stumbled across it a couple of months back, and when I finally decided to give it a listen, my first thought was, damn this is interesting! There are parts of the album that work very well, thrashy and jamming, and then there are other parts that are a bit too progressive, but overall, I really dig it.

Menace - Wheel of Spikes [2026]

Artist: Menace 

Album: Wheel of Spikes
Year: 2026
Genre: Heavy Metal / Speed Metal
Web: https://youtu.be/JEKKxU-bJmg / https://metalonmetalrecords.bandcamp.com/menace
Country: Italy
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Wheel of Spikes  

2. Satanizer  

3. Backhander  

4. Argento Vivo  

5. Shades of Evil  

6. The Haunted Disguise  

7. Burnin' Ash  

8. Death Never Lies  

9. Per Aspera ad Inferi  

10. The Unmerciful

Witness: -[*]-
From the album cover to the band photo, it is plain to see that there is some serious Judas Priest worship going on with this band. From my perspective, that isn't a bad thing because I dig the retro vibe they have conjured up with these tracks. 

Riot City - Electric Elite [2022]

Artist: Riot City

Album: Electric Elite
Year: 2022
Genre: Heavy Metal / Speed Metal
Web: https://riotcityofficial.bandcamp.com / https://www.pulltheplugpatches.com/riot-city
Country: Canada
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Eye of the Jaguar

2. Beyond the Stars

3. Tyrant

4. Ghost of Reality

5. Return of the Force

6. Paris Nights

7. Lucky Diamond

8. Severed Ties

Witness: -[*]-
Anyone who comes to this blog regularly and reads my ramblings in these posts should know that, along with death metal, I still love old-school sounding heavy/speed metal, and I think these guys are one of the better modern bands worshipping the style, with 2 solid albums under their belts. Killer soaring vocals and guitars!

Aggressive Perfector - Come Creeping Fiends [2026]

Artist: Aggressive Perfector

Album: Come Creeping Fiends
Year: 2026
Genre: Speed Metal / Thrash Metal / Heavy Metal
Web: https://youtu.be/z2gGG0z7y0Y / https://aggressiveperfector.bandcamp.com
Country: United Kingdom
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Dead Undead

2. Strange Companion

3. Fiend in You

4. Like a Beast

5. Obscene Cult

6. Denied by the Reaper

7. Harlot's Spell

8. Return of the Axe

9. Gallows' Eve

Witness: -[*]-
I like this one quite a bit, but wish it were a bit grittier and heavier at times. It doesn't matter, as I get older and farther away from my favored times in the 1980s, I'm a sucker for albums like this. These guys are competently repurposing riffs from back in the day, everything from Iron Maiden to a twist on the Detroit Rock City riff from Kiss, and it works.

Nefarious - Addicted to Power [2025]

Artist: Nefarious

Album: Addicted to Power
Year: 2025
Genre: Thrash Metal / Heavy Metal
Web: https://www.nefariousband.com / https://nefariousband.bandcamp.com
Country: United States
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Intro / Mirror Death  

2. Addicted to Power  

3. Master Plan

4. One Nation Enslaved  

5. Day After  

6. Avatar of Chaos

Witness: Link removed

Thrash metal featuring current and former members of Exodus, Dark Angel, Heathen, and Hirax that has its moments, but isn't gritty or heavy enough overall. 

Freedomination - Until the Lights Go Out [2025]

Artist: Freedomination

Album: Until the Lights Go Out
Year: 2025
Genre: Heavy Metal / Thrash Metal
Web: https://www.freedomination.net / https://freedomination.bandcamp.com
Country: Finland
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Sin Road  

2. Heaven Sent  

3. The Raven  

4. Second Chance  

5. Tear Down the Wall  

6. Smoking Gun  

7. Unleash Hell  

8. Down with the Rain  

9. Until the Lights Go Out

Witness: -[*]-
This is an interesting album to me. The band has been active since 2008 with 3 EPs and a demo to their credit, and this is their first LP. These Finns have skillz and talent to spare, and they are labeled as thrash metal, but it doesn't have the grittiness that I want to hear in thrash. To me, this is basically heavy metal with some velocity, and I like it, but I wish that it were heavier at times.