splinter

 This time there’s really no excuse not to love Opeth in a prog-rock guise…

 The vigorous orchestral arrangements are perhaps the true revolutionary element of the album.

Opeth’s thirteenth album, In Cauda Venenum, strengthens their prog-rock identity with gritty guitars, powerful orchestration, and renewed melodic balance. The band adjusts rather than overhauls their approach, blending classic prog influences with original ideas. Key tracks showcase a mix of acoustic beauty and robust progressive riffs, highlighting the group’s musical maturity. While not revolutionary, the album rewards repeated listening and affirms Opeth’s evolution. Explore Opeth’s In Cauda Venenum and experience the powerful blend of prog rock and orchestral intensity.

 "Third Degree is a more markedly progressive album."

 "This album contributes to making Flying Colors even more mysterious and difficult to label."

Flying Colors' third album, Third Degree, marks a notable shift towards progressive rock with longer, complex tracks. Balancing prog influences with classic rock and pop sensibilities, the album showcases the band's musicianship without fully abandoning their light rock roots. While some tracks explore extended instrumental passages and varied rhythms, others maintain direct, catchy melodies. The reviewer appreciates this balanced evolution and the band's unique identity amid prog influences. Dive into Flying Colors' Third Degree and experience their bold prog-rock transformation today!

 Billie Eilish imposes herself on the scene as an original and unconventional personality.

 This debut album gets full marks, but I fear she might soon sell out to easy melodies.

The review praises Billie Eilish's debut album for its originality, delicate vocal delivery, and well-crafted production. Influenced by Thom Yorke’s endorsement, the author appreciates its departure from mainstream pop noise and highlights sophisticated experimentation. The album’s variety keeps listeners engaged, while Billie’s unconventional image challenges industry norms. Despite strong support, the reviewer expresses concern about potential future compromises amid commercial pressures. Listen now to Billie Eilish’s debut and explore why it stands out in modern pop music!

 When making a solo album, it’s often done to freely showcase what one can’t always express with their band.

 The main aim of this solo work is precisely to delve deeper, in every sense, to take certain aspects of his own band and push them to the extreme.

Richard Henshall steps out from Haken to deliver The Cocoon, a solo album that pushes his prog and fusion influences to new heights. Blending progressive metal, jazz fusion, and post-rock, the album features top-tier guest musicians and surprising elements like rap sections. The record is technically impressive and emotionally engaging, offering a fresh perspective on Henshall’s creativity. Though not essential, it's one of the best prog releases of 2019 with hopes for a follow-up. Dive into Richard Henshall’s The Cocoon to experience a progressive fusion journey beyond Haken’s sound!

 Fear Inoculum is simply a continuation of a conversation that started with Lateralus and continued with 10,000 Days.

 The band surely knows better than us when to take it—they probably felt that making a bold move after 13 years wasn’t the best option.

Fear Inoculum marks Tool’s long-awaited return after 13 years, continuing the musical journey from previous albums. The band retains their signature dark, psychedelic, and progressive style with long, intricate tracks. While it offers few surprises and some tracks feel familiar, fans will appreciate the craftsmanship and atmosphere. The album balances calm passages with powerful outbursts without venturing into extreme metal. It's a satisfying comeback promising more to come. Explore Tool’s Fear Inoculum—listen now to the long-awaited progressive rock journey!

 Melodies certainly well constructed with delicate guitars and harmonious vocal lines, very delicate and atmospheric keyboard layers, but everything never goes beyond or takes off.

 The main disappointment, however, is Zonder; ... here instead he offers a stingy drumming, overly minimalist, often resorting to fruitless electronic percussion that does not do justice to his name.

Mark Zonder and Gary Wehrkamp's collaborative album 'If It's Real' offers well-constructed melodies and delicate instrumentation but falls short of expectations. The project departs from their progressive metal backgrounds toward lighter, melodic music with minimalistic drumming and dull production. While pleasant and easy to listen to, the album lacks memorable moments and ultimately feels indifferent in impact. Fans hoping for a stronger effort will be left wanting more. Explore 'If It's Real' and decide if this melodic collaboration resonates with your music taste.

 The change of vocalist has incredibly changed things.

 The Verdict is a cheeky album to the max, an album I could define as safe, comfortable, exploiting an obsolete and overused idea knowing that way they can’t go wrong.

Queensrÿche's The Verdict continues the band's return to their classic melodic hard rock sound with new vocalist Todd La Torre. While the album is well-produced and satisfying for fans of traditional heavy metal, it plays safe without pushing musical boundaries. The review appreciates the energy and quality but questions if the band risks stagnation by avoiding experimentation. Overall, it's a solid album but lacks the boldness some longtime fans desire. Discover Queensrÿche's latest album The Verdict and decide if their classic sound hits the mark for you!

 Initially, the album might even seem a bit trivial, but with repeated listens, it will prove to be a true modern gem of technical metal.

 Matheos and his guests offer a masterful performance without excessive showmanship; the power remains at the forefront.

Winter Ethereal reunites Fates Warning's Jim Matheos and John Arch, blending 80s proto-prog metal roots with modern technical prowess. The album demands multiple listens to appreciate its depth and subtlety. Featuring guest musicians and a deliberate absence of keyboards, it offers a darker, more power-driven sound. The project stands apart as a serious artistic endeavor, praised for its musicianship and unique voice choice. Considered one of the top technical metal albums of 2019. Dive into Winter Ethereal and experience a fresh, technical take on classic prog metal—listen now and uncover its hidden layers!

 Rammstein return with an album that neatly condenses a bit of everything the band has been over the years.

 The track 'Puppe' is a decidedly crazy track with Till Lindemann igniting it with a raging and venomous singing like never heard before.

Rammstein's 2019 self-titled album marks their return after ten years with a blend of their early industrial techno style and later alternative metal influences. The album balances simplicity in artwork with a varied sound palette, featuring standout tracks like 'Radio' and 'Puppe'. Although less aggressive overall, the album maintains the band's trademark fiery essence. Some tracks feel less memorable, but the overall return is satisfyingly strong. Dive into Rammstein's fiery 2019 comeback album and experience their evolving industrial metal sound today!

 The increase in game variety compared to the first chapter is remarkable, consequently, the leap in quality is notable.

 Spyro’s reward for his efforts wouldn’t have been fair if it had been just relaxation on a sunbed; beyond the gate, there is indeed an amusement park, an environment full of thrill and fun.

Spyro 2: Gateway to Glimmer builds on the original with more diverse levels, new gameplay mechanics, and engaging challenges. The sequel offers expanded worlds with unique themes and varied environments, introducing new abilities, power-ups, and characters that enrich the experience. The soundtrack and colorful visuals maintain their charm, reinforcing Spyro's timeless appeal. While slightly more challenging, the game remains accessible and fun for its young audience, making it a beloved classic and an improvement over its predecessor. Dive into the thrilling world of Spyro 2: Gateway to Glimmer and experience this timeless sequel’s adventure today!