Well 2023 is here! (Is that scary to anyone else? – Ed) And if January is anything to go by then it is already shaping up to be a stellar year for heavy metal releases. Keep reading to see which releases were rotating in our office this month. As will no doubt be a tradition, each of our picks feature at least one Shieldmaiden – that’s the rule! So please don’t send us any mail about why the latest music from your favourite male-dominated band did not make the list. We’re just kidding – we would actually love to hear from you.
1. Beyond the Black ~ (self-titled)
This one is destined for a review on our website (spoiler alert: we like it). The self-titled album from Beyond the Black strikes us as a more confident and mature entry than past releases. The song craftsmanship in particular appears to have levelled up to our ears. But one thing that has not changed – Jennifer Haben is still fantastic!
2. Dark Princess ~ Phoenix
Perhaps the most surprising item on this list – not because of the quality – but simply due to its mere existence. The last time this band released a full-length album was back in 2012 with “The World I’ve Lost”. Fans of the earlier albums should appreciate the return of the original vocalist Olga Trifonova this time around. The band definitely sounds reborn here. A “Phoenix” indeed.
3. Walk in Darkness ~ Leaves Rolling in Time
Our resident author (Darth) really liked this album. We’re going to save some time for ourselves here and simply link you to his review. And no, we don’t think that’s cheating. We are also lucky to have a profile for the Walk in Darkness frontwoman Nicoletta Rosellini on our website – be sure to check it out!
4. Temtris ~ Khaos Divine
You may not be as familiar with this band as the others on the list, but if that’s the case then you certainly owe it to yourself to change that. Hailing from Australia, Temtris are the kind of balls-to-the-wall heavy metal band that only Aussies know how to deliver. Genevieve Rodda has been a maelstrom on vocals throughout her career, and this brand new single from upcoming album “Khaos Divine” is absolutely no exception.
5. Dark Sarah ~ Attack of Orym
Yet another band with the word “dark” in their name this month. It’s not a conspiracy, we promise! Ironically, this album has a lot more light than shade, which allows it to stand out from the rest in this article. Think along the lines of Battle Beast mixed with Amberian Dawn (Heidi Parviainen’s previous band), and you’ll have a fair idea of what to expect from the latest Dark Sarah album. The perfect soundtrack for hosting your next party!
6. Atrocity ~ OKKULT III
Okay, we’ll admit – we might be stretching our own rule a bit with this one. But track 6 on the album features not one but two shieldmaidens in the form of Elina Siirala (Leaves’ Eyes; Angel Nation) and Zoë Marie Federoff (Catalyst Crime; Cradle of Filth) both laying down vocals on “Malicious Sukkubus”. Not to mention the guest appearance of Australian talent Misstiq on keyboards for track “Teufelsmarsch”. Worth checking out for fans of death metal.
