"Where others sing, Salo conquers; the complete profile of a vocal eminence of modern metal. Because it's not just vocal power: it's Salo, and that changes everything."

Melodic metal and all its sub genres have been the cradle of many excellent singers throughout its young history. Names like Andre Matos, Michael Kiske, Fabio Lione, Roberto Tiranti, Michele Luppi, Yama-B, Tarja Turunen, and Floor Jansen are just a few of these vocal geniuses, whose talent has earned them a privileged place in the Olympus of Metal. However, there is currently a young artist with a talent rarely seen. Versatile, intelligent, possessed of a privileged voice, as well as an incredible lyricist whose ability enhances any musical project he takes part in. This amazing artist is none other than Mikael Salo.

Originally from Finland, Mikael Salo has been involved in music for 15 years, establishing himself as an increasingly prominent and recognized figure within contemporary European metal. This recognition among his peers and fans owes to a uniqueness rarely found in a single voice, where certain characteristics converge, making him one of the best singers ever; his exceptional vocal technique, his continuous improvement, his chameleon-like versatility, his unmistakable vocal timbre, his incredible creative ability in terms of melodies, vocal lines, and arrangements, and his positive impact and presence in the projects he participates in. All this has led him not only to front renowned bands in his native Finland, but also to collaborate with numerous projects and iconic bands, including his participation as backing vocalist for Stratovarius. Now, let's go over five elements that make Mikael Salo the best singer in metal music nowadays.

Exceptional vocal technique

Finland has given us many excellent singers, such as Tarja Turunnen, Timo Kotipelto, Marko Hietala, and Tony Kakko, to name just a few. However, what sets Mikael apart is his perfect command of a wide range of vocal techniques, such as clean melodic singing, which he executes masterfully; fry screams and raspy vocals, which he uses intelligently to emphasize passages that require more aggression, or when he intends to break the atmospheric scheme of a song, adapting seamlessly to the demands of the melodic and symphonic power genres, and to any subgenre that requires powerful, precise, and perfect voices.

Besides, his control of his vibrato, his brilliant and powerful performance in the high notes, including impeccable passaggios and register changes, allow him to navigate the emotional depths of the songs. In other words, Mikael Salo not only sings but also interprets what he sings, and he does so flawlessly. As we mentioned, there are many excellent singers in Finland, but very few good interpreters of the lyrical soul and spirit of music. And in this sense, Mikael Salo is the best.

Continuous Improvement

As an artist, Mikael Salo is a sublime manifestation of natural talent and passion, cultivated with rigor, sense, and vision. His journey in the world of music has not been improvised, as Salo has dedicated years, effort, and tenacity to the disciplined study of singing. He has explored various forms of interpretation, along with the study and practice of different techniques, resulting in absolute mastery of his vocal instrument in every aspect: the span of his range, transitions, vibrato, power, color, volume, etc. This is why when you listen to Mikael Salo perform, every note you hear is the fruit of countless arduous hours of practice, rehearsal, and musical and artistic reflection.

His work to perfect his powerful natural voice has been so intense and arduous that Mikael has even experienced difficult emotional episodes, pushing him to challenge his limits.Even so, he has always surpassed himself, gaining new knowledge, new strength, and developing an ever more impressive voice. This amalgamation of discipline, refinement, passion, and absolute dedication is what elevates and embellishes his musical projects, making Salo not only an exceptional singer, but a true vocal architect who creates diverse, rich, and complex soundscapes.

All of this makes Salo a vocal expert, which has not only allowed him to become the best living singer in the genre, but also an outstanding vocal coach, helping many new and not-so-new singers find their own voice and get the most out of it.

Chameleon-like versatility

Mikael Salo owns a brilliant ability to navigate different metal styles, which has led him to lead and collaborate with various bands and projects: in classic, epic, and symphonic power metal, with Dragonknight and Metal De Facto; in melodic and modern metal, with Arion, Thy Row, and Averlanche; and in extreme progressive, in his collaboration with the tech death metal band De Lirium's Order.

And not only that. Mikael has also ventured outside of metal. Throughout his career, he has recorded several covers, including pop ("Starchild" by Jamiroquai), video games ("Baka Mitai" - Yakuza 3), and children's movie songs ("Nollasta Pollaan - Zero To Hero", Finnish version from Disney's Hercules). His participation in each of these bands and covers he has recorded demonstrates an incredible musical stylistic adaptation, and a deep understanding of music, allowing him to bring character, excellence, and uniqueness to every project he has been and is a part of.

On the other hand, Mikael is also part of two tribute projects; Night People - A Heavy Metal Tribute, and Finnish Rhapsody - A Tribute To Queen. With both bands Mikael's voice offers powerful, distinct facets. On Night People, he explores and conveys the spirit of the most visceral metalhead, the one who goes to concerts to headbang furiously and sing at the top of his lungs. Here, Mikael shines brightly, showcasing his impressive vocal talent, full of raspy tones, a dark timbre, power, and intensity. Meanwhile, on Finnish Rhapsody, Mikael explores clean, almost angelic notes and phrasings, as well as melodies and ascents throughout his vocal range impeccably, honoring the great maestro Freddie Mercury and the band as a whole.

Unmistakable vocal timbre

Mikael Salo has a clear and recognizable "vocal signature," so much so that if you listen to his playlist just once, you'll always recognize him afterwards. His voice is a compendium of talent, power, emotion, intelligence, and passion, rarely seen in music all together. His tone is warm yet firm, with moments of darkness, and a very histrionic and expressive mid-high range. Furthermore, Mikael has the ability to convey a great deal of emotion through sweet nuances, furious rasps, almost guttural moments, operatic notes, and bright, soft notes, with which he manages to convey, convince, and enchant through his singing, spiritually engaging the audience with the stories he interprets.

Mikael Salo's voice has soul, personality, and a spirit of its own. He has a clear and unmistakable signature, which distinguishes him among the best exponents in the history of metal (and music as such).

Melodic creativity, vocal lines, and arrangements

Salo doesn't just limit himself to singing and writing lyrics; he creates his own vocal lines, melodies, choruses, and song structures in the projects he participates in.

• On Metal De Facto debut album, "Imperium Romanum," Mikael created his own vocal and melodic lines, as well as catchy choruses and anthology-worthy choral harmonies.

• On Thy Row, he created complex vocal lines and arrangements, giving the album "Unchained" a sensitive and aggressive imprint.

• On Everfrost, Mikael Salo created melodic vocal lines and choruses full of freshness, pure, and invigorating, which integrate perfectly with the band's youthful and vibrant aesthetic, elevating the musical narrative to a more tender and dynamic, yet powerful, level.

In Dragonknight, his current project, and under the name Lord Salo Khan, he collaborated on the conceptual development of the debut album Legions (2025), in addition to creating all the lines, choruses and vocal arrangements, including majestic polyphonies that brought great drama and sonic diversity to the epic narrative of the album. In this sense, it's worth noting that, after the release of Legions, some listeners even thought the album included several singers as backing vocals, when in fact all the vocals were recorded by the Finnish giant. This seemingly anecdotal detail reveals something much deeper: Salo's immense interpretive ability, who not only sings, but also constructs atmospheres, characters, and dramatic tensions, using only his voice. His vocal range, and everything it entails, is not only broad but also narrative, histrionic, and multifaceted. In Legions, Mikael fluidly alternates between ceremonial and aggressive lower registers, intense midrange tones, and sharp, velvety highs, full of emotion. Each vocal line is like a brushstroke in an epic choral work, where there is no filler; there is intention, personality, nuance, and great depth.

In short, Mikael Salo is capable of sounding like an entire army, including the Emperor, as if each character in the lyrical tale had its own voice embodied within him. Thus, Mikael is a builder of rich and diverse sonic worlds, crafted with mastery, coherence, and vision. Salo doesn't simply interpret; he embodies legions. In each track, a single voice speaks with many voices, as if melodic, epic, and symphonic metal found in him its perfect medium, its translator, its ultimate instrument.

Impact and Transformative, Positive Presence

Mikael Salo leaves his mark on every band he collaborates with, bringing a unique vocal presence that transforms and enriches their sound. Among them, the following stand out:

After Infinity - After Infinity (2024)

In After Infinity, a Finnish progressive power metal project, Mikael Salo joined as a guest vocalist, alongside other prominent singers, for the band's self-titled debut album. His collaboration on the songs "A Game of Chess" and "Crown of Clowns" enriched the overall emotionality of the album, perfectly blending his voice with the album's epic, progressive, and complex atmosphere, adding depth, impact, and dynamism to the whole.

Arion – Vultures Die Alone (2021)

On Arion's album Vultures Die Alone, Mikael Salo collaborated as backing vocalist on the choruses, contributing his expertise in creating impeccable vocal harmonies. His presence deepened the songs, and reinforced the melodic and emotional atmosphere, giving balance to the overall concept of the album.

Averlanche - The Dark Side of Atlas (2024)

On this EP, Mikael Salo was brought in as a guest vocalist, intending to record alternate versions as a duet with vocalist Rebeca Spörl. However, the band was so impressed by Salo's performance that they decided to include his three versions on the EP as the lead vocalist, contributing his unique vocal style to the alternate versions of those three songs from the band's previous album, Arctic Atlas: "She & the Dark Winter," "Arctica," and "Atlas of Hearts."

Adamantra - Act III: Pareidolia of Depravity (2024)

On this progressive metal album, Mikael Salo collaborated on the song "Treacherous Valour." His contribution focused on crafting intricately crafted choruses, which added a key emotional and atmospheric dimension to the track. Although his role was not a leading one, his presence was felt in the complex harmonies that enhanced the melodic density of "Treacherous Valour."

Mikael Salo's collaboration with these bands has been essential in enriching their sounds, contributing his vocal mastery and unique artistic vision. His presence in each project adds a layer of emotional depth and vocal complexity, transforming and positively impacting the melody and composition.

In a nutshell, Mikael Salo leads a new generation of metal vocalists who not only impeccably master diverse vocal techniques but also understand the art of bringing music to life through the voice, enriching a musical project from within. With an unmistakable timbre, solid technique, unwavering discipline and hard work to polish his voice, anthology-worthy compositional creativity, and his positive and transformative influence, Mikael Salo proves that he is not only the vocal linchpin of ambitious and diverse projects, but also a Conqueror, an Emperor of the melodic realm, consolidating himself as one of the leading exponents of the genre. His unique combination of talent, technique, creativity, and passion, his impressive vocal mastery, his tireless pursuit of perfection, and his ability to adapt to different musical styles catapult him to the top of the contemporary music scene. Every project Mikael Salo is involved in is enriched by his transformative presence, whether as a leader or collaborator, and his ability to create intense and emotional sonic atmospheres is unparalleled.

What Mikael contributes is not just voices, but worlds, entire cosmoses; his voice becomes the vehicle that carries the stories of each album, bringing a unique and profound dimension to each composition. His tireless and passionate work elevates him not only to the status of an exceptional singer, but a true architect of music. By immersing himself in his art, Mikael Salo not only interprets songs, but brings to life entire universes of sounds and emotions, where he embodies a diversity of characters, each of whom finds their own unique voice in his, proving that he holds a privileged place among the Olympus of the greatest. With each collaboration, with each new work, Mikael Salo makes it clear that his legacy is just beginning, and that, without a doubt, he is leaving his footprints, and will mark a milestone in the history of music.

Finally, Mikael Salo, the Finnish giant with the golden voice, doesn't need a striking stage presence or a career spanning many decades to be considered and recognized as the eminence he is: his voice alone, and rightfully so, elevates him to that status.

Mikael Salo Social Media

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Entered: 5/1/2025 11:19:54 AM

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It's back - bigger, better, and with more writers!

Because I wanted to make these monthly top 10 lists as comprehensive as possible for everyone fiending all things heavy, and to give some attention to some styles of metal I tend to ignore, I recruited some faithful MetalBite scribes to give me some thoughts on more music that came out in April - and they caught onto some really cool stuff that I missed myself.

That also means that way more than 10 albums were covered, so for the first time since these lists started, we're including some…

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Corr Mhona - Abhainn
Satanath Records

This album has been a slow-burn success for me, but repeated listening has revealed an enchanting piece of work, which blends elements of Irish folk, doom and death metal into a captivating, mournful sound that is reminiscent of a more riff-based Agalloch, or an alternative take on the kind of propulsive, bittersweet melodic death metal that Insomnium specialise in these days. The band switch effortlessly between growled and clean vocals, but it is the latter that really stand-out, picking out delicate and plaintive melodies, and weaving soaring harmonies to contrast spectacularly with the furious, serrated guitars. An additional layer of romantic mystery is provided by the exclusively Irish lyrics, and the poetic quality of this language compliments the majesty of the musical soundtrack perfectly. The tracks are generally on the epic side, which contributes to the album's status as a 'grower', but it is ultimately difficult not to be drawn in by a release that offers immersive atmospherics, but not at the expense of ripping metallic fury. ~Benjamin

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Nordgeist - Frostwinter
Kunsthall Produktionen

Frostwinter has the same frigid, bleak, monotone atmosphere, but with more of a long-form elegance to the pacing and a cleaner, almost bombastic feel to it, like there's small cracks of light peering through the turbulent winter storm. The actual guitar lines sound like they're coming from a very similar place, sitting at a midpoint between the rawer, Paysage d-Hiver side of things and the more grandiose melodic stylings of Mare Cognitum and early Midnight Odyssey. The drums are an unrelenting blizzard of cymbal and snare that feels programmed, yet subdues itself in the mix enough to add to the atmosphere.

In a way, it feels like it arrives at a similar endpoint as Black Cascade-era Wolves in the Throne Room, haunting keyboard overtones and crescendo riff swells and everything. This is far from an album that grips you immediately or leaves you humming choruses, but leave it on in the background and go do something else for a few minutes and feel how you suddenly find yourself captivated by a simple yet haunting tremolo melody under hale, shrill growls. ~Nate

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Cannibal Corpse - Violence Unimagined
Metal Blade Records

It's a new Cannibal Corpse album.

What else to write here about the band? If anyone thought that Violence Unimagined was going to change anything musically or lyrically, they 1.) do not listen to Cannibal Corpse and 2.) are profoundly mistaken.

If you listen closely, you can recognize the guitar playing of new addition Erik Rutan (Hate Eternal, Morbid Angel, Ripping Corpse), but the technical finesse, the typical Cannibal Corpse trademarks like tempo changes, breaks and everything else,are right where they should be. Cannibal Corpse relentlessly pummel their way through 11 songs, every single one absolutely worth listening to. Violence Unimagined adds to their recent run of very strong albums, everyone who likes A Skeletal Domain and Red Before Black can easily grab this one. ~Michael

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Cathartic Demise - In Absence
Self-released/Independent

While I'll admit thrash is my blind spot when it comes to metal subgenres, I was completely taken aback by the intricate musicianship, sprawling, epic songs, and crisp, tight sound and songwriting displayed by these young progressive thrashers on their debut full-length album. The main issue with the genre for me is that it's really difficult for bands to keep it fresh while still remaining within thrash's boundaries, but that's something that never crosses my mind throughout any of these tracks. If you like the modern fusion of Skeletonwitch mixed with the crisp, technical delivery of Heathen, you'll absolutely love this album. ~Nate

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Universally Estranged - Reared Up In Spectral Predation
Blood Harvest

Despite the recent resurgence of old school death metal, Reared Up in Spectral Predation manages to cover a lot of ground that hasn't been beaten to death yet in that realm. The key is mixing the jagged, squealing guitars with a thrashy backbone that bands like Mithras and Wormed might forget when they draw from similar influences. Lacking a lot of the straight-up speed a drummer like Pete Sandoval can provide, though, they instead choose to lumber in obtuse directions, like Autopsy with a more dead-eyed and serious delivery. This has all those old-school metal nerd influences journalists and critics love to pick at, but never tries too hard to be high art - no need to worry, this still has more than enough raw savagery to sink your teeth into. ~Nate

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Body Void - Bury Me Beneath This Rotting Earth
Prosthetic Records

The kind of crawling, death/doom that US duo Body Void slowly unravel across the course of four lengthy tracks on their third album is prone, in less dextrous hands, to lose a listener's interest as the droning repetition threatens to become monotonous. For every Burning Witch or Primitive Man, there are legions of imitators trying and failing to plumb the depths of human despair in the way that they intend to. Body Void walk the fine line with aplomb, however, creating a truly impressive level of sonic violence courtesy of an astonishingly viscous, feedback-laden guitar sound, and the anguished vocals of the asbestos-throated Willow Ryan. Each track contains just enough variation on the extreme doom sound to suggest that Body Void are capable of carving out their own niche in a crowded genre, inflecting their leaden riffing with subtle hints of death metal and electronic noise, all of which keep their festering sound compelling throughout. At its nihilistic best, the album conjures nightmarish visions of what Gnaw Their Tongues might deliver, were they to construct their horrific soundscapes with purely conventional metal instrumentation, and for a new band to bear comparisons with such hellish luminaries is impressive. In the best possible way, this album sounds like the slow eradication of humanity by an inescapable lava flow, and by the time you get to the end of this hour of harrowing noise, you too will be begging for the sweet embrace of death's cold hands. ~Benjamin

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Helslave - From the Sulphur Depths
Pulverized Records

Crunchy HM-2 Swedish death metal...from Italy! Helslave have a hearty low end that brings to mind Centinex and Demonical, with a crunch to the guitars that pays the appropriate amount of tribute to early Dismember, especially when things lean to the melodic side. The faster, riff-heavy songs like "Unholy Graves" and "Desecration" are furious and fist-pumping and will keep your head nodding for close to the entire duration, and the slower groove songs like "Last Nail in the Coffin" are guaranteed to get stuck in your head, like it or not.

Allegedly Helslave was more of a melodic death metal styled act before this album - I probably could have guessed that based on the efficient, rounded songwriting with all the frills and fat trimmed off, and how these songs are memorable in a way that's comparable to pop songs on the radio - every now and then I'll just start humming an isolated riff out of nowhere, and it'll take me a couple of minutes before I realize where it came from. A lot of Whoracle-era In Flames is basically just pop music in death metal's clothing (no disrespect, I love that album), and Helslave essentially takes that concept and adds a beefy low end and some extra sandpaper. If you dig the Swedeath style you'll be surprised by how much mileage you get out of this, as at least half of these tracks have a section that's gonna make you put them on constant repeat for a few days. ~Nate

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That almost could have been a top 10 on its own in a month like January, which just tells you how stacked this month is. Now, for what you've been waiting for…

METALBITE'S TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE MONTH

10: Unflesh - Inhumation
Self-released/Independent

Whether it's the acrobatic bass-heavy verse in 'Holocaust of Stars', the unusually catchy atonality of 'Inhumation', which evolves into flourishes of beautiful little licks guaranteed to induce air guitaring, or the hook-laden progression of 'Vast Forest of Impaled Cadavers', which throws punchy yet abundantly melodic guitar leads at you one by one, the memorable moments are aplenty. And despite the abundance of skill clearly present in each member of this power trio, the songs never push themselves harder than is required and are more apt to rely on the natural allure of their riffing, with garnishes of the occasional blackened motif on songs such as 'Amongst Horrors Must I Dwell' that evoke auditory images of bands like Inferi and Demon King.

It's hard enough to pull off 6+ minute numbers in the tech-death genre, and Unflesh did it three times on Inhumation; all those songs feel half as long as they are. With the distinct, legible rasp of Beevers and songs that toe a line between melody and technicality with aplomb, Inhumation is simultaneously mindboggling and infectious in that very specific way that elevates an album from good to great – from an occasional stop in the journey to a staple in the listening rotation. ~Nate

MetalBite's Rating: 8/10 (full review here)

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9: Obsolete - Animate // Isolate
Unspeakable Axe Records

Having issued Ripper's sensational Experiment Of Existence in 2016, one of the best thrash albums in recent memory, the excellent Unspeakable Axe Records continue to demonstrate their unerring eye for quality with the release of Obsolete's thrilling debut Animate // Isolate. Obsolete achieves an almost perfect balance between mind-boggling technical proficiency, and taut, memorable song-writing, which ensures that every track is an exhilarating succession of unforgettable riffs and jaw-dropping technicality. Most pleasingly, despite the intricacy of the band's compositions, Obsolete maintain a feral intensity throughout, which ensures that their music never approaches the kind of sterile exhibition of athleticism that tech-metal can fall prey to, and instead the band's ability to delight with unexpected harmonies and snaking, complex riffing is enhanced by the multiplicity of options available to them at any given point. It has been some time since a technical thrash album got its hooks into me so deeply in such a short space of time, and it will be fascinating to see just how far Obsolete can take this. ~Benjamin

MetalBite's Rating: 8.1/10

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8: Throne - Pestilent Dawn
Redefining Darkness Records

Throne exemplifies a type of sound I have been searching for, and have only discovered in occasional bursts. It's deathcore...without the 'core'. There's still a stripped-down, raw anger to this that hearkens to punk-oriented roots and a blunt lack of nuance in the breakdowns.

Nonetheless, when you pick apart the influences in the riffing and song structuring, there's nothing else you can say it sounds like other than the furious maelstroms of bands like Hate Eternal, Azarath, Marduk and Angelcorpse. The key difference is that the delivery is less "mystical incantations" and more "hammers to your skull". Pestilent Dawn has a very ominous atmosphere that creeps around the edges while the band is grinding you into a pulp. ~Nate

MetalBite's Rating: 8.1/10 (Full review here)

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7: Nekromantheon - The Visions of Trismegistos
Indie Recordings

Inculter and Aura Noir are cool bands, yes? Well, check out the new release by Nekromantheon! "The Visions of Trismegistos" is a very strong album after 9 years of absence. This is for those of you who like thrash old-school and without any experiments. This Norwegian group knows how to skillfully mix old Slayer, Destruction and Death Angel influences with their very own entertaining and aggressive style. The melody is technically superb and you will be surprised again and again by breaks and tempo changes. The album is a wonderfully nostalgic trip back to the 80s, when thrash was still mangy and didn't give a damn about trends. Next album please - just not in the 2030s! ~Michael

MetalBite's Rating: 8.3/10 (Full review here)

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6: Wheel - Preserved in Time
Cruz Del Sur Music

A doom metal album I can listen to front to back without having my attention drift off is rare. Wheel have caught my attention here with absolutely masterful songwriting that toes a fine line of keeping you thoroughly intrigued while never doing more than it needs to. The vocals are distinct, with a tone that doesn't hook you right away, but thanks to careful attention to detail and some gripping, emotive melodies you'll find yourself humming the choruses after you hear them once. This is classic Candlemass/Solitude Aeternus styled epic doom fused with modern Pallbearer-esque sensibilities and is the most rounded and efficient album in Wheel's discography. If this doesn't get more people talking about this German group the same way we talk about Khemmis and Spirit Adrift, I don't know what will. ~Nate

MetalBite's Rating: 8.5/10 (Full review here)

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5: Crypts of Despair - All Light Swallowed
Transcending Obscurity Records

April brings us a final unpleasant death metal trip to the depths of Lithuanian cave landscapes, where mold, rot and outlandish monstrosities await the listener. Crypts of Despair present an absolutely morbid OSDM album: cool breaks, insane guitar leads, lots of blast beats and two insane singers make the album a real hell trip. When the band then switches to doomy realms, it makes you shiver with its truly oppressive and hopeless atmosphere. If you like your death metal raw and unpolished like Krypts, Disma etc. and can also do well without keyboards and superfluous things like good mood, this is the right album for you. ~Michael

MetalBite's Rating: 8.6/10 (Full review here)

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4: Bewitcher - Cursed be thy Kingdom
Century Media

On this album, Bewitcher develops from an insider tip to a well-known metal institution. After a casual country-like intro, it goes off and doesn't stop. The band has changed their sound slightly compared to the already good predecessor Under the Witching Cross. Classic heavy metal influences à la Judas Priest come out clearly, but the band skillfully combines them with speed and black metal. You can clearly tell that the guys are having fun with this, and right away it puts you directly in the groove. As a crowning conclusion Bewitcher covers "Sign of the Wolf" by Pentagram, one of my absolute favorite songs by the band - frock out, open beer, party time!!! ~Michael

MetalBite's Rating: 8.7/10

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3: Spectral Wound - A Diabolic Thirst
Profound Lore Records

For a minute there, it looked like there wasn't going to be a lot of black metal on this list, but like always, when Profound Lore puts out something new, it doesn't matter what it is, you shut up and listen. This is a Quebecois project with the brevity and immediacy of Sargeist-type finnblack, with a triumphant, uplifting edge accompanying a raw black metal framework. Right away, the piercing guitar tone with an ear for hooks grabs you by the collar while a noisy but tight drum performance drills into you. Even though this is a black metal band that you could say leans to the more primitive side of things, it immerses you right away and leaves you wanting it over and over again like a drug fix. This has that over-the-top seriousness to its imagery that would seem corny if it wasn't so damn badass.

It's hard to find a lot more to say about this, because it doesn't really do anything that you haven't heard before, it's just so damn good at it that soon enough you'll be singing the praises of this release too, just like myself (and everyone else on the internet, it seems). ~Nate

MetalBite's Rating: 8.7/10

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2: Endseeker - Mount Carcass
Metal Blade Records

The new Endseeker is flawless Swedish death metal...this time made in Hamburg, Germany. HM-2 fans should not miss Mount Carcass. The band was always a bit under the radar until now, but that will change with Metal Blade releasing the new album. Brilliant melodies, cool riffs, catchy songs that had convinced me on the first listen - all this reminds me quite a bit of old Dismember. The songs groove and make quite a good mood, even if the lyrics don't really fit. When the band drops the tempo a bit, it remains heavy and aggressive.

With some of the newer HM-2 bands I always have the impression that things seem a bit artificial, especially when the band in question has already put out several albums (this is Endseeker's third full length). On Mount Carcass, it's the other way around. I wish the new Lik sounded like this - it would find its way into my CD player much more often. ~Michael

MetalBite's Rating: 9/10

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1: Stone Healer - Conquistador
Self-released/Independent

I am not kidding when I say every single track on this is going to blow your mind in one way or another. If you can name a subgenre of rock or metal, chances are there's something sprinkled in Conquistador that will remind you of it. Unlike most albums in this genre-blending style, though, it retains enough structure and hookiness in its songwriting to give you something to draw you back in and doesn't ever use complexity at the expense of memorability - it feels like Dave Kaminsky lets his fingers go wherever his heart guides them and maps out the direction by repeating and returning to motifs. Combined with the drumming that follows the riffs like they came out of the same brain, it's an album that I promise will defy your expectations even after all the hype I've given to it so far. Conquistador is simply spectacular and one of the best albums you'll hear all year. ~Nate

MetalBite's Rating: 9.1/10 (Full review here)

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Thanks a ton to Michael and Benjamin for helping out with this one. Since I'm not really a big thrash guy, for example, it was nice that both of those dudes were able to cover my blind spots. The Albums of the Month list continues to grow.

To catch up on everything from this year, check out the lists for January, February and March. More importantly, buy stuff from the bands you like so that they can continue to make unreal music like this. Keep the metal flowing!

Entered: 4/26/2021 10:34:45 AM

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