• New Music Reviews
• |
• Archives
• |
• News
• |
• Submissions
• |
• About
• |
• 
• |
• 

October 2024

• Daytona: Garder la Flamme
• Fate: Reconnect 'N Ignite
• Frost*: Life In The Wires
• Aries Descendant: From The Ashes Of Deceit
• Fans Of The Dark: Video
• Radioactive: Reset
• House Of Lords: Full Tilt Overdrive
• Cleanbreak: We Are The Fire

September 2024

• Sinner's Blood: Dark Horizons
• Serious Black: Rise Of Akhenaton
• Eclipse: Megalomanium II
• SteelCity: Reverence
• Hydra: ReHydrated
• Heartwind: III
• Gabrielle De Val and the Dragonlords: Tiger
• Find Me: Nightbound
• The Nail: The Nail
• Timeless Fairytale: A Story To Tell
• Stryper: When We Were Kings
• Phil Mogg: Moggs Motel
• Pure Reason Revolution: Coming Up To Consciousness
• Jordan Rudess: Permission To Fly

August 2024

• Siege Perilous: Creation's Call EP
• Paralydium: Universe Calls
• Mike Tramp: Songs Of White Lion Vol. II
• Bite The Bullet: Looking For Paradise
• All For Metal: Gods Of Metal (Year Of The Dragon)
• Hammerfall: Avenge The Fallen
• Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 2

July 2024

• Ironflame: Kingdom Torn Asunder
• Spektra: Hypnotized
• (Michael) Palace: Reckless Heart
• Mr. Big: Ten
• Dark Mile: Dark Mile

June 2024

• Kaipa: Sommargryningsljus
• Sunbomb: Light Up The Sky
• Seven Spires: A Fortress Called Home
• Atlantic: Another World
• Xeneris: Eternal Rising
• New Horizon: Conquerors
• Issa: Another World

[ More Music Reviews ]

Bloody Times: On A Mission

Traditional Heavy Metal

3.5/5.0

Website Facebook
Unsigned/Self-released
Released: 18.01.2019
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 09.01.2019

Started as side solo project by bass player Simon Pfundstein, Bloody Times has evolved into a German metal act that features significant guest musicians. The latest and second album from the cooperative, On A Mission, includes metal luminaries such as John Greely on vocals (ex-Iced Earth), Ross the Boss on guitar (Ross The Boss, ex-Manowar), Raphael Saini on drums (ex-Iced Earth), and Simon's own father Rainer, also adding some guitar work.

Bloody Times

Bloody Times musical approach is classic and traditional heavy metal perhaps with a touch of doom metal. You'll find plenty of classic metal elements like guitar harmony leading to ripping and soaring solos. Also significant is the vibrant rhythm section which features Pfundstein's fine bass lines tied to Saini's drum beat and groove. As a vocalist, Greely has a classic metal voice, one that is forceful yet melodic, and easily follows the rhythm and melody of every song.

For the songs, perhaps the best way to describe them would be direct, deliberate, and heavy. The riffs are thick, the pacing steady and heavy and, with some songs almost doom metal plodding. You'll hear some of this with Future Secret, Alliance, and Fort Sumter. The doomish nature rises even heavier within The Warning (Until Blood Oils Part 1). Alternatively, the second part, The Revenge turns more upon riffs and a fast groove. With Operation Focus, the song moves upon the tandem work of definitive bass and drum line which rises boldly at the start. All in all, though I wasn't keen on the doomish element, Bloody Times' On A Mission is a solid and engaging album which should satisfy most fans of traditional heavy metal.

Johnny Gioeli: One Voice

Melodic Hard Rock/AOR

4.5/5.0

Brooklyn rock vocalist Johnny Gioeli is one busy cat. Only five months ago, he dropped the duet album Set The World On Fire which reunited the Hardline vocalist ... [ Read More ]

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

All in all, though I wasn't keen on the doomish element, Bloody Times' On A Mission is a solid and engaging album which should satisfy most fans of traditional heavy metal.

Alphabetical Index

By far, Sweden's Eclipse is one of my favorite bands. Always consistent and always entertaining, Eclipse has been delivering their 21st century version of melodic metal rock since songwriter, producer ... [ Read More ]