Executioner Steel |Rage Of The Thunderstorm |Stormspell Records

Release Date: 28/11/2025
Format: CD
Genre: Heavy Metal
Country: Bangladesh

Executioner Steel comes out of Bangladesh swinging banners soaked in sweat, steel and old school devotion. This is a young horde with clear priorities, heavy metal first, fists up, eyes locked on the classics. Raised on epic tales and ringing steel, they step onto the field with their debut full length, carrying influences worn proudly on their sleeves and no shame about it.

 “Rage Of The Thunderstorm” is built on familiar ground, galloping riffs, heroic melodies, chest beating choruses and a strong sense of battle ready drama. The spirit of Manowar, Virgin Steele, Iron Maiden and Manilla Road hangs thick in the air, not as mimicry, but as a guiding flame. The songwriting stays focused on anthemic heavy metal, favoring memorability over excess. The album sounds hungry, rough around the edges in places, but that raw hunger works in its favor.

There is a clear love for epic storytelling and traditional metal muscle. Tracks like “Rage Of The Thunderstorm”, “Defenders Of Metal” and “Heralds Of The Sword” swing hard on classic hooks and proud refrains, built to be shouted along with a raised fist. Longer cuts such as “Wrath Of Desire” and “Valiant Queen” stretch out into more dramatic territory, adding atmosphere through pacing and melody rather than flash. Nothing here is disposable, even when some ideas repeat familiar paths.

The production keeps things honest and grounded, allowing the songs to do the talking. Vocals aim high and dramatic, sometimes brushing the edge, but they sell the warrior spirit well. Guitars stay rooted in traditional heavy metal tones, favoring melody and rhythm over excess speed. The album holds together as a unified strike, even if a few moments blur into each other during the back half.

“Rage Of The Thunderstorm” earns its place as a solid debut from a scene not often in the global spotlight. It delivers exactly what true metal fans look for when they want steel, fire and battle hymns, without pretending to be something else. Not perfect, not legendary, but honest, passionate and loud enough to matter.

Score: 7.5

https://executionersteel.bandcamp.com/album/rage-of-the-thunderstorm

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Shadow Killer |Sworn To Avenge |Stormspell Records

Release Date: 28/11/2025
Format: CD
Genre: Progressive/Power Metal
Country: USA

Shadow Killer hail from Northern California and have been grinding their own epic metal path for years, stubborn, heavy headed and loyal to their myth soaked vision. This is their fifth full length, and it closes the story they started on the previous two albums. The band comes here carrying real scars, real loss, and that matters, because this album is written from inside the storm, not from a safe distance.

“Sworn To Avenge” plays like a long march through old forests and ruined ground, built on melody, grit and a strong sense of narrative. The atmosphere stays dark and resolute, with songs like “The Haunting” and “Rise Of The Hunter” leaning into tension and resolve without slipping into empty dramatics. There is a steady pulse throughout the album, and it keeps the story moving forward without turning into background noise.

Mid album cuts like “Shadows Of The Sun” and “The Heart Of A Warrior” hit the emotional core, driven by themes of endurance, memory and final stands. The writing favors strong hooks and clear direction, and the vocals stay expressive and grounded, never drifting into cartoon territory. This is epic metal that keeps its boots dirty and its eyes forward.

By the time “Sands In The Hourglass” and “Bellum Sacrum” arrive, the album earns its ending. The closing stretch feels earned through consistency and focus, not excess. “Sworn To Avenge” is not flawless, and a few moments lean familiar, but the commitment and sincerity push it well above average. This is a solid, honest progpower metal album that respects its own story and sees it through.

Score: 7.5

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https://shadowkiller.bandcamp.com/album/sworn-to-avenge

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Iron Brigade |Ill Fated Voyage |Stormspell Records

Release Date: 28/11/2025
Format: CD/Digital
Genre: Epic/Power/Speed Metal
Country: USA

Iron Brigade hail from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a city better known for steel and sweat than fantasy banners. The band formed around a shared hunger for classic heavy metal, pulling inspiration from old school power metal and USPM without turning it into cosplay. “Ill Fated Voyage” is their debut full length and their first real shot fired into the underground, backed by Stormspell Records and a very traditional heavy metal mindset.

“Ill Fated Voyage” runs on fast riffs, big melodies and a clear love for epic storytelling. The guitars push hard galloping and sharp turns, often riding that familiar Maiden style pulse while dipping into speed metal aggression. The rhythm section keeps everything moving at a strong pace, never drifting into lazy cruising. There is a raw energy here that suits the material well, especially when the songs stretch out and let the riffs breathe naturally without collapsing into excess.

Vocals sit high and proud, heroic without going full cartoon, which fits the medieval and battle driven themes perfectly. Choruses aim for fists in the air and usually get there, even if a few lines lean close to familiar territory. Songwriting stays consistent across the album, with long tracks that build momentum through repeated themes and steady escalation. Some passages run longer than necessary, though the band rarely loses focus or intensity.

Production stays old school in spirit, clear enough to catch every riff and vocal line, rough enough to keep the underground blood pumping. The album does not hit maximum impact at every moment, though it keeps a solid level throughout and delivers plenty of replay value for fans of epic power metal. “Ill Fated Voyage” sounds like a band finding its footing and planting a flag with pride, grit and honest heavy metal fire.

Score: 8.3

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https://ironbrigadeofficial.bandcamp.com/album/ill-fated-voyage

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Wolfshead |II: Ravings From The Gutter |Stormspell Records

Release Date: 28/11/2025
Format: CD
Genre: Heavy/Doom Metal
Country: Finland

Wolfshead crawl out of Finland’s underground with boots caked in doom and heavy metal grime. This is a band raised on warped heavy riffs, midnight melodies and street level darkness, not fancy studios or trend chasing. After their debut set the ground rules, this second full length tightens the screws and digs deeper into their own warped alley.

“II: Ravings From The Gutter” sounds like it was written under flickering streetlights, not spotlights. The Mercyful Fate vibe is there in the twisted vocal lines and strange melodic turns, while the doom side keeps things thick and dragging in a way that nods to Sabbath and Pentagram without copying. The riffs come in solid chunks, sometimes familiar, sometimes slightly off angle, which keeps things interesting even when the pace stays steady.

Songs like “All The Colours Of The Dark” and “Granite” deliver straight heavy metal with a dirty edge, while "Mars, The Scourge Of Man" and "Theatre Of Blood" push deeper into doom soaked territory. The writing sticks to simple structures, no excess decoration, no fancy tricks. Some sections circle the same idea longer than needed, which fits the gutter born attitude but also keeps the album from climbing higher.

Vocals are theatrical in delivery but rough in execution, more alley preacher than stage actor. Lyrically it lives in darkness, decay and inner rot, nothing poetic for poetry’s sake. Production keeps things raw enough to avoid shine, though at times the sound flattens out when stronger punch would help certain songs hit harder. This album sits comfortably as a solid second strike. Wolfshead sounds committed to their lane and they stick to it hard. Not every track leaves a lasting mark, but the overall atmosphere and stubborn heavy metal spirit make this an album worth spinning if you like your doom metal dirty, stubborn and slightly unhinged.

Score: 7.0

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https://wolfsheadfinland.bandcamp.com/album/ii-ravings-from-the-gutter

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Slander | Take It To The Grave | Stormspell Records

 

Release Date: September 23rd, 2025

Format: CD (Limited to 300 copies)

Genre: Traditional Heavy Metal

Country: United Kingdom

Slander, the traditional heavy metal force from Lancashire, has a story that reads like a proper British metal saga. Born in 1990 out of a spontaneous gig arrangement and fueled by pure enthusiasm, they quickly went from local heroes to underground legends. Their debut “Careless Talk Costs Lives” became a collector’s gem, their second album “Resolution Defiance” revived the fire sixteen years later, and now, with “Take It To The Grave,” they return once again, uniting their original twin-guitar attack after more than three decades.

This third album doesn’t sound like a band looking back, it’s a band standing proud in its own identity. The riffs are lively, the vocals punch with authority, and the rhythm section drives the songs with the kind of energy you’d expect from a band half their age. “Terrified” opens with the familiar spirit of British steel, carrying that early 80s influence where galloping riffs and twin harmonies ruled the scene. The guitar work of Andy Saxon-Lamb and Andy Gregson is a key part of this energy, weaving melodies that recall the glory of early Iron Maiden and Tygers Of Pan Tang, while keeping things firmly rooted in Slander’s own sound.

The title track “Take It To The Grave” is built for headbangers. The hooks are immediate, and the choruses are built to be shouted live, fists high. Songs like “Rust In My Bones” and “Soul Reaper” hit with a no-nonsense attitude, straightforward, catchy, and proudly traditional. The band’s chemistry, sharpened by years of playing and reforming, shines in how naturally the songs unfold.

Vocally, there’s a raw power that fits perfectly with the sharp edges of the music. The production has that warm, organic tone that gives each instrument space to strike hard, keeping the album sounding alive. The result is a collection of songs that sound made for the stage, beer-soaked venues, and genuine metal fans. After years of silence, “Take It To The Grave” proves that Slander’s fire never faded. It’s honest, energetic, and clearly rooted in the spirit that defined British heavy metal from the start.

Score: 7.8

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Tabernacle | The Iron Tabernacle | Stormspell Records

 

Release Date: September 23, 2025

Format: CD (limited to 300 copies)

Genre: Epic/Heavy Metal

Country: UAE

Tabernacle was formed in 2019 by Rayner (guitars, vocals), Jasper (bass), and Shawn (drums). The trio began with a classic heavy metal sound in the style of Judas Priest and Accept, but soon turned their eyes toward darker horizons. Their evolution came to life in the 2021 demo “Terror In Thrace”, which introduced a more dramatic and historical approach. Drawing inspiration from the epic storytelling of Manilla Road and the atmospheric grandeur of Bathory’s Viking era, Tabernacle took their first true step into the realm of myth and memory with “The Iron Tabernacle.”

The album moves through ancient wars and doomed empires with a storyteller’s tone. “Hannibal’s Crossing” opens the battlefield with rhythm shifts and galloping riffs that echo the sound of marching legions. The production is organic, with a warmth that gives space to the instruments, while Rayner’s voice has a raw, almost bard-like presence. The guitars ring with melodic intent, often bending toward the mystic progressiveness of Fates Warning’s early era.

“On The Bloodies Fields Of Westphalia” and “The Curse Of Akkad” deepen the journey into lost history, each composition unfolding with patience and dramatic weight. The riffs alternate between stoic heavy metal tradition and doom-laden grandeur, while the drums give the songs their steady, ceremonial pace. “The Legacy Of Malik Ambar” expands the narrative into its most ambitious form, an eight-minute tale full of shifting sections and distant melodies that sound like echoes from forgotten lands. The closing “These Crying Seas” has a tone of reflection, as if the wars are over and the ghosts of the fallen are whispering through the tide.

“The Iron Tabernacle” is an album that breathes history and mysticism through the language of epic metal. It sounds like it was forged in a time when stories mattered as much as sound. The influences are clear, but the delivery is personal, sincere, and grand in scope. It stands as a strong debut, not only for what it presents, but for the promise of where Tabernacle might go next.

Score: 7.0

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https://tabernacle-hm.bandcamp.com/album/the-iron-tabernacle

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