When Greek trve metal heroes Triumpher drop a new magnus opus, it requires 2 reviews to cope with all the glory. Will Piercing the Heart of the World impale you on the lance of majesty and honor?
Manowar
St. Unholyness – Through High Holy Haze Review
“As a non-musician, writing music and playing an instrument is always impressive to me, but I am in awe of the successful solo artist. The knowledge and skill required must be staggering. St. Unholyness, hailing from Pfarrkirchen, Germany, is essentially one such project. Aside from conscripting Mac Carrigan to play bass, debut Through High Holy Haze is the singular vision of guitarist/vocalist Christina Earlymorn. As far back as 2008, Earlymorn has been playing in various black metal projects, mostly solo, but Through High Holy Haze is a much wider-ranging affair.” One cowgirl from Hell?
![Memories of Old – Never Stop Believing [Things You Might Have Missed 2025]](https://www.angrymetalguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Memories-of-Old-Never-Stop-Believing-01.jpg.webp)
Memories of Old – Never Stop Believing [Things You Might Have Missed 2025]
“Sneaking in at the end of a crowded 2025, Memories of Old released their sophomore record, Never Stop Believing, hoping to fill a Fellowship-sized hole in your heart.” Don’t stop!
![Dragon Skull – Chaos Fire Vengeance [Things You Might Have Missed 2025]](https://www.angrymetalguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/cover-1.jpg.webp)
Dragon Skull – Chaos Fire Vengeance [Things You Might Have Missed 2025]
“Greece is a surprising hotbed for power metal-adjacent sounds, providing recent gems such as Sunburst last year and Sacred Outcry’s 2023 masterpiece. Dragon Skull is a newcomer to these fields of glory, introducing their burly heavy/power style on their promising self-titled EP as recently as 2022. Now, three years later, they were finally ready to unleash their debut Chaos Fire Vengeance on the world. And oh my, what an entrance it is.” Wengeance is best served on fire.
![Dolmen Gate – Echoes of Ancient Tales [Things You Might Have Missed 2025]](https://www.angrymetalguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/dolmen-gate-2-echoes-of-ancient-tales-squarecrop.png.webp)
Dolmen Gate – Echoes of Ancient Tales [Things You Might Have Missed 2025]
“You can never have too many swords. This has always been the truth, and Portugal’s Ravensire was well aware of it, following in the triumphant heavy metal footsteps of fellow countrymen Ironsword for three albums. Even when fate would strike down Ravensire in 2020, drummer Alex and guitarist Nuno remained undeterred. They formed a new lineup under the Dolmen Gate banner and got to work immediately.” Sword hoarders.
Steel Arctus – Dreamruler Review
“Brothers, you need power metal in your life. No, you do. You need authentic positivity shot straight into your cynic-rotten hearts, now. Most fortunate for you, Greek power metallers Steel Arctus have graced this year of 2025 with their third album Dreamruler, marking the third entry into the chronicles of their titular hero Steel Arctus. 2020’s Fire and Blood detailed the origins of Steel Arctus and his girlfriend the Arcadian Lady, 2022’s Master of War saw him delve into the fires of Hades and now Dreamruler sees him challenge the titular Dreamruler in his evil world of dreams to rescue his bodacious muse.” Steel, love, and wizards.
Starlight Ritual – Rogue Angels Review
“Deep in the protozoic slime that sits at the center of Steel Druhm’s rusted metal heart, there’s a discreet region that craves early-to-mid 80s classic heavy metal. It’s an undying hunger that can never be slaked, and it drives me to look for turbo love in all the wrong places. Thus did I come to Starlight Ritual’s Sealed in Starlight debut back in 2021, dragging Kenword R. Spongewell along for moral support. What I found was an energetic young group of ne’er-do-wells who love the olden ways as much as I do. They delivered a punchy platter of nostalgia-core as they sought after the perfect blend of Mötörhead, Rainbow, Judas Priest, and lesser-known 80s metal fiends like Cities and Jag Panzer.” Angels with hairy axes.
Feanor – Hellhammer Review
“Within the sprawling cosmos of heavy metal, there are those who shy away from “cheese.” The self-serious arbiters of credibility who cannot fathom the spectacle of a Jørnlike figure, clad in frills, golden mane cascading, arms outstretched as soliloquies of passion pour forth in gloriously ESL-stained accents. Yet for those of us who have dared sail the seas of cheese, who have cast aside the brittle armor of irony, such bombast is not an embarrassment but a revelation, a childlike ecstasy born from grown men shrieking about dragons or Tolkien over galloping power chords as though their lives depended on it. It is precisely for this rapturous abandon, this embrace of the sublime absurd, that we turn to a band like Feanor.” Cheese is the new kale.
Under Ruins – Age of the Void Review
“Some metal aficionados may remember German prog-power act Lanfear. They released some killer material in the mid-aughts, with The Art Effect and Another Golden Rage being especially tasty, and I stamped a mighty 4.0 on their 2012 effort, This Harmonic Consonance. It’s been almost 11 years since they’ve released anything, and it appears they are finished, but here comes Under Ruins, a new project made up of members of Lanfear and Them. On their Age of the Void debut, they offer prog-infused epic metal with an interesting blend of influences that run the gamut from Manowar to Fates Warning.” Don’t fear the void.
Judicator – Concord Review
“Seven albums into their career, Utah’s Judicator are back with another platter of American power metal designed to raise both your horns and your calorie load. Originally the epitome of Blind Guardian worship, Judicator began moving away from their Hansi-centric style with the departure of founding guitarist Alicia Cordisco in 2022. This coincided with the release of The Majesty of Decay, an album that saw Judicator adding prog to their power core, a move that satisfied the Eye of Holden but didn’t sit so well with resident power metal maven Eldritch. Their latest LP, Concord, has Judicator tackling the American West, a mythos that’s rightfully earned its reputation as good, bad, and ugly.” Cheesio Leone.
