Our writers — Andrea, Joshua, Kevin, and Tamar — deliver comprehensive album reviews on a weekly basis. We cover releases from leading labels including Nuclear Blast and Scarlet Records, spanning everything from melodic power metal to crushing doom. Below is a selection of albums we've reviewed.
Recent Album Reviews
Delain — Apocalypse and Chill
The Dutch symphonic metal outfit returned with a bold, modern statement that balanced heavy riffs with pop-infused melodies and Charlotte Wessels' unmistakable vocals.
Serenity — The Last Knight
A dramatic, historically themed opus from the Austrian band, blending orchestral grandeur with tight power-metal musicianship.
Apocalyptica — Cell-0
The Finnish cello-metal pioneers delivered a fully instrumental album that returned to their heavier, more experimental roots.
Seven Spires — Emerald Seas
A richly layered concept album that showcased Adrienne Cowan's extraordinary vocal range and the band's theatrical flair.
Amberian Dawn — Looking for You
The Finnish band continued their evolution with catchy, keyboard-driven anthems and soaring vocal lines.
Myrath — Live in Carthage
A triumphant live document capturing the Tunisian band's unique blend of progressive metal and Middle Eastern melodies in front of a home crowd.
Black Lilium — Dead Man's Diary
A dark, introspective debut that wove gothic atmospheres with melodic metal sensibilities.
Revolution Saints — Rise
The supergroup's third album delivered polished, anthemic hard rock with Deen Castronovo's powerful voice at the forefront.
Shadowhispers — Mara
A promising release that combined ethereal female vocals with symphonic arrangements and a brooding atmosphere.
Sonata Arctica — Talviyö
The Finnish power-metal veterans offered a winter-themed journey that balanced their classic melodic approach with progressive storytelling.
Insomnium — Heart Like a Grave
A masterclass in Finnish melancholy, blending crushing death-metal passages with moments of breathtaking beauty.
Elvenking — Reader of the Runes: Divination
The Italian folk-metal storytellers launched an ambitious concept series with infectious melodies and pagan spirit.
Crystal Viper — Tales of Fire and Ice
Marta Gabriel and company delivered a fiery slab of traditional heavy metal with sharp riffs and fantasy-driven lyrics.
Epica — Design Your Universe (Gold Edition)
A lavish reissue of the Dutch band's landmark album, featuring bonus tracks and a fresh remaster that highlighted every orchestral detail.
CyHra — No Halos In Hell
The Swedish-American outfit's second album pushed further into modern melodic metal territory with huge hooks and electronic flourishes.
The Dark Element — Songs The Night Sings
Anette Olzon and Jani Liimatainen returned with a sophomore effort full of polished, anthemic power-metal gems.
Ethereal Kingdoms — Hollow Mirror
A theatrical debut from the Danish band that blended operatic vocals with cinematic metal arrangements.
Metalite — Biomechanicals
A futuristic-themed power-metal album packed with driving rhythms, synth layers, and soaring choruses.
Excalion — Emotions
The Finnish band's sixth album delivered emotionally charged power metal with strong keyboard work and memorable hooks.
Visionatica — Enigma Fire
A sophomore release that expanded the German band's symphonic palette with darker themes and more ambitious songwriting.
Edge of Paradise — Universe
Margarita Monet and her band delivered a sci-fi-tinged album of cinematic hard rock with industrial undertones.
Jinjer — Macro
The Ukrainian band's relentless follow-up to their breakthrough showcased Tatiana Shmayluk's jaw-dropping vocal versatility.
Vikram — Behind the Mask I
An ambitious progressive-metal concept piece with intricate musicianship and a cinematic scope.
Ghost — Seven Inches Of Satanic Panic EP
The Swedish occult-rock phenomenon delivered a playful two-track 7-inch that leaned into vintage psychedelic rock vibes.
Seven Kingdoms — Empty Eyes EP
A compact but potent EP from the Florida power-metal crew, packed with galloping riffs and fantasy storytelling.
Eleine — All Shall Burn [EP]
The Swedish band's EP brought crushing riffs and Madeleine Liljestam's commanding vocals to the fore in a concise, powerful statement.
Label Partners
We work closely with several respected labels to bring you timely reviews of their latest releases:
- Nuclear Blast
- Scarlet Records
- Frontiers
- STF Records
- All-Noir
- Jolly Roger Store
Our album review section is the beating heart of Lyrical Spell Magazine, where each week our writers immerse themselves in the latest offerings from the metal scene. From the soaring melodies of symphonic power metal to the crushing weight of doom, the coverage spans a wide spectrum of heavy sound. Releases from prominent labels like Nuclear Blast and Scarlet Records regularly find their way into our review queue, but we also keep an ear to the underground for hidden gems. Whether it's a debut album from a rising Finnish band or a long-awaited return from Dutch superstars, we approach each record with the same critical ear and genuine enthusiasm that has defined our publication since its earliest days.
The reviews you will find here are written by a dedicated team of four writers, each bringing their own distinct perspective and area of expertise. Andrea, Joshua, Kevin, and Tamar share a passion for heavy music that comes through in every paragraph they write. Their collective knowledge spans decades of metal history, from the classic 80s sounds that laid the foundation to the modern innovations pushing the genre forward. This variety ensures that whether you favor melodic death metal, gothic atmospheres, or bombastic power metal, there is a reviewer whose taste aligns with yours. Every review is crafted to be informative and engaging, helping readers decide which albums deserve their time and attention.
The albums we cover represent a broad cross-section of what the metal world has to offer in any given season. Recent months have seen reviews of everything from the return of beloved Finnish symphonic metal acts to the debut of promising new bands from the American and European scenes. Our writers have tackled the latest from melodic power metal outfits, the crushing new album from a legendary British doom band, and the ambitious conceptual works of progressive metal collectives. We also make a point of covering special releases such as live albums, EPs, and reissues that deserve a fresh look. The archive continues to grow with each passing week, building a resource that regular readers have come to rely on.
Beyond the star ratings and track-by-track breakdowns, our reviews aim to place each album within the broader context of a band's career and the metal landscape as a whole. A new release might be compared to a band's earlier work, or held up against the current trends in melodic death metal or symphonic power metal. We consider the production quality, the vocal performances, the songwriting craft, and the emotional impact of the music. Our goal is not simply to judge but to illuminate, helping readers understand why a particular record matters. Whether you are a longtime fan of a band or discovering them for the first time through our pages, these reviews are written with you in mind.
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