Reigning Phoenix Music

The Eternal – Celestial Review

By Steel Druhm on January 16, 2026 in Reviews, 37 comments

“Australian Gothic doom act The Eternal came into my life with their 2018 opus Waiting for the Endless Dawn and caused me much consternation. I loved their depressive Paradise Lost / Sentenced / Katatonia style, but struggled with the sheer length of the compositions, which ranged from 10 minutes upward to 20. I underscored the album despite some amazing material due to its sheer size, and I regret that still. 2024s Skinwalker saw them tone down the running times somewhat, and it was another glum victory with huge moments of sadboi glory. Now The Eternal drop a mini-album/EP named Celestial, and lo and behold, it’s economical in size and scope.” Tears in the eternal void.

Stillbirth – Survival Protocol

By Samguineous Maximus on November 4, 2025 in Reviews, Death Metal, Deathcore, Slam, 12 comments

“I take a seat in a cramped, rusted chair. Across from me sits a gorilla in some sort of crown and a man whose face could only be described as Abbathian. It’s time for my first performance review at AMG Headquarters, and things aren’t looking great. “Atmospheric nü metal/free jazz? German dance music? What are we, discount Pitchfork?” Druhm bellows between frustrated simian grunts. I turn towards the head honcho for mercy, but instead, he fixes me with an eldritch stare. The words don’t pass his lips—they appear directly in my skull like a psychic command: “Brutal death metal.” He hands me a grime-encrusted CD which reeks of beer and seaweed. German brutal death metal veterans Stillbirth are responsible for this fetid package, which lies before me. It’s Survival Protocol, their ninth full-length.” Surviving or thriving?

Record(s) o’ the Month – September 2025

By Angry Metal Guy on October 5, 2025 in Blog Posts, 139 comments

And now you come to me and you say, “AMG, give me the Record(s) o’ the Month.” But you don’t ask with respect. You don’t offer friendship. You don’t even think to call me Dr. Metal Guy or compliment my excellent taste. Instead, you come into my house on the day my daughter is to be married, and you ask me to give you the Record(s) o’ the Month—for free.

Amorphis – Borderland Review

By Steel Druhm on September 24, 2025 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 139 comments

“I’ve been an Amorphis fanboy since I first heard Tales from the Thousand Lakes. That album captured a special kind of magic, and to this day it remains a “desert island” release for Yours Steely. I loved them through their early days of perpetual evolution and was thrilled when Tomi Joutsen brought them new fire and force when he joined for 2006s Eclipse. Tomi’s first 3 albums with Amorphis resulted in what is perhaps one of the most potent trilogies in metal history, and though their output has been less consistently amazing since then, it’s hard to dislike anything they do. That said, I liked but didn’t love 2022s Halo effort despite really wanting to.” Black Swan event at the border?

Primal Fear – Domination Review

By Steel Druhm on September 3, 2025 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 50 comments

“Ever since Ralph Scheepers left Gamma Ray for greener pastures and an ill-fated tryout for the vacant vocal spot in Judas Priest, he’s thrown his all into Primal Fear, and so, every two years or so, like clockwork, we get a new gleaming chrome platter from them. At first, it felt like he was doing Painkiller-esque album after album to show Priest what a huge fuck up they made by choosing Ripper over him. Over time, though, the Primal Fear sound morphed into a more power metal-centric style with Judas Priest no longer the primary influence.” Domination or submission?

Incite – Savage New Times Review

By Spicie Forrest on August 28, 2025 in Reviews, Groove Metal, Heavy Metal, Thrash Metal, 15 comments

“Within metal circles, one does not simply invoke the Cavalera name. Its crest is adorned with more than just the seminal works of Sepultura. There is ambition there that does not sleep. That great name is ever pushing boundaries, creating new sounds. This is no barren wasteland riddled with fire and ash and dust. There is no poisonous fume for inspiration to choke on. Not with 10,000 artists could you accomplish what those brothers have done; it is folly. Thus, it is with great interest—and a little skepticism—that I was assigned Incite’s seventh LP. Fronted by Max Cavalera’s stepson, Richie Cavalera, Savage New Times promises to be the band’s truest-to-self offering yet. Let’s see how deep the roots go.” Family business.

Helloween – Giants and Monsters Review

By Steel Druhm on August 27, 2025 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 138 comments

“Steel was there 3000 years ago when that first Helloween EP hit the streets back in 1985 A.D. It was a rough, oddball dose of metal with a lot of dumb charm. It didn’t give birth to power metal, but it was an inspired start with some compelling moments. It wasn’t until their Walls of Jericho debut hit later that year that jaws were really put on the floor. It was fast, frantic, over-the-top, and most importantly, insanely hooky and memorable. In a time when Metallica and Slayer were burning America down with angry macho man thrash, these crazy Krauts showed that music could be fast, fun, and tongue-in-cheek. The Keeper albums cemented Helloween as a major force and defined the parameters of what would become Euro-power, and the rest is metal history.” Prize pumpkin?

Cold Slither – Cold Slither Review

By Tyme on July 21, 2025 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, 37 comments

“More inclined toward Thundarr the Barbarian or He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, a much younger Tyme was still no stranger to the wily cartoon exploits of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. So, my nerdy interest piqued when I saw Cold Slither writhe up from the sump pit. It seems the inimitable toy makers at Hasbro had teamed up with the folks at Reigning Phoenix Music to bring guitarist/vocalist Zartan (Gus Rios: Gruesome) and his ruthless band of Dreadnok’s—featuring Ripper on guitar (Matt Harvey: Gruesome, Exhumed), Torch on bass (Ross Sewage: Exhumed, Impaled), and Buzzer on drums (Andy Selway: KMFDM)—to life.” No steppy on Cobra Commander.

Brainstorm – Plague of Rats Review

By Steel Druhm on February 25, 2025 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, 48 comments

“Another Brainstorm album is upon us, and that means another opportunity for me to blather on about how they’re the most consistent heavy metal band out there. Since I found them back in 2000 by stalking frontman extraordinaire Andy B. Franck from his Ivanhoe and Symphorce projects, they’ve regularly impressed me with their hyper-hooky and punchy take on the classic heavy metal formula.” Storm in the Rat Pit.

Kilmara – Journey to the Sun Review

By Killjoy on February 3, 2025 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 30 comments

“The 1980s was a decade that is often portrayed with a thick rose-tinted sheen in today’s media. Whether it was a better time during which to live or this idea was born from simple nostalgia I’ll leave to the reader’s discretion. The fact remains that tons of music artists–both inside and outside of the metal sphere–wear their 80s influence as prominently as Indiana Jones wears his signature fedora. Spanish melodic power metal band Kilmara is intent to join their ranks with Journey to the Sun, whose overarching theme centers around video game arcades at the height of popularity.” Mari-OH, or Mari-NO!