AMG ranks the vast discography of Megadeth in anticipation of their farewell magnum opus. Join with us!
Angra
Insania – The Great Apocalypse Review
“One could be forgiven for thinking The Great Apocalypse was another nostalgia ride—a lovingly executed Stratovarius/Helloween tribute made by scene veterans committed to the bit. But the familiarity is a trap. Underneath the Europower surface is something more ambitious.” But is it fun? And does it work?
Athena XIX – Everflow Part 1: Frames of Humanity Review
“Before Fabio Lione rose to prominence with [(Luca) Turilli(/Lione)’s] Rhapsody [of Fire] and Angra, Athena—stylized now as Athena XIX—served as another potential vehicle into the growing European prog/power landscape. Wielding an of-the-time histrionic Dream Theater guitar-driven drama alongside the lightness of chorus-driven power metal, the low-fanfare Italian outfit never quite topped any charts despite respectable musicianship and Lione’s formative pipes on 1998’s A New Religion?. And after another swing at success, sans the Rhapsody-snatched Lione, with 2001’s equally unreceived Twilight of Days, Athena hung up its spurs to ride another day. And now, twenty-six years after Lione had debuted his only full-length recording with Athena, that same line-up has returned.” Lione in winter.
Whom Gods Destroy – Insanium Review
“What more is there to say about a prog supergroup? How about one that exists as a re-tooling of the now-defunct Sons of Apollo. Part of the melodic core of that group remains the same, with Derek Sherinian (Planet X, ex-Dream Theater) and Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (Art of Anarchy, ex-Guns n’ Roses) returning on flamboyant keys and virtuosic fretted and fretless guitar madness, respectively, to helm the adventures of Whom Gods Destroy.” Smote by prog?
Manticora – Mycelium Review
“AMG’s Law of Diminishing Records is a generally reliable metric that a handful of bands continuously defy, and Denmark’s prog-power mainstays Manticora is one of them. It’s easy to see why; looking retrospectively at their nine prior albums, there is no entry where the band could be accused of failing to innovate or experiment in some respect, a decades-long discographic evolution culminating in the towering To Kill / To Live duology. I maintain that the second act of that duology is their best effort to date, and I lowered my expectations for Mycelium accordingly.” Evolutionary side quests.
Angry Metal Guy’s Top Ten(ish) of 2023
What, you thought I wasn’t going to make a list?
Dolphin Whisperer’s and Ferox’s Top Ten(ish) of 2023
Listurnalia continues the plowing towards the year’s inevitable end with two more excellent lists from people who have surprisingly not been fired!
Angra – Cycles of Pain Review
“Ten albums down. This landmark tests a band in many ways—not everyone’s destined to land on Defenders of the Faith after all. That vital quality, consistency, remains part of that longevity. And as Angra Metal Guy has stated before “Consistency has been hard to come by for Angra.” At least that was until Secret Garden fell upon the world and took with it those words.” Angra management.
AMG Goes Ranking – Angra
Angra are back with a new power metal opus this week, so we did our official ranking. You may not agree, but you must study this grand work of metal journalisming.
Noveria – The Gates of the Underworld Review
“Ah, Noveria. When I first encountered this talented bunch on sophomore album Forsaken, the clash between the overt melodrama and the serious subject matter forced me to leave a middling score. But 2019’s Aequilibrium was a huge improvement. It was almost like the band had used my review as a template for what to fix, making strides in songwriting, execution, and production alike.” Peak and Death Valley.
