Got the chance to see an EXCELLENT band, arguably not all that heavy but GREAT nonetheless in Ballyhoo! from Aberdeen, Maryland. Alex got the chance to check them out at the Ranch in Fort Myers, GREAT show!!!!

Support these guys!!! -- https://www.ballyhoorocks.com/

And if you are in the South Florida area - Catch a live show at the Ranch. https://theranchfortmyers.com/

On August 15th our very own Phil Collins took the treck into Philadelphia to see My Chemical Romance put on what seems to be one helluva a show!!!!

See if you can hop on this tour! - https://www.mychemicalromance.com/#tour

Mega-Anthem Arena Rockers Ghost are the subject of this latest concert review where Alex and Phil BOTH got to see these Swedish studs in person in Baltimore, Maryland in July 2025. What a GREAT show and a GREAT band!

Support these well known heavy legends; https://ghost-official.com/

A truly UNIQUE set of albums in this episode of the GREAT heavy music podcast with Alex reviewing Outbound by Keldian and Phil reviewing Destrier by Agent Fresco.

Support these amazing bands - https://keldian.bandcamp.com/

Agent Fresco - https://www.agentfresco.is/

Phil's Honorable Mentions:

Changeling - Changeling - https://changelingofficial.bandcamp.com/album/changeling

Sleep Token - Even in Arcadia - https://www.sleep-token.com/

Allegeaon - The Ossuary Lens - https://www.facebook.com/Allegaeon/

Cryptopsy - An Insatiable Violence - https://www.facebook.com/cryptopsyofficial/

Ghost - Skeleta - https://ghost-official.com/

Phil's Top Five =

5 - And Oceans - The Regeneration Itinerary - https://www.season-of-mist.com/bands/and-oceans/

4 - Rivers of Nihil - Rivers of Nihil - https://riversofnihil.com/

3 - Fallujah - Xenotaph - https://www.facebook.com/fallujahofficial/

2 - Labyrinthus Stellarum - Rift in Reality - https://labyrinthusstellarum.bandcamp.com/album/rift-in-reality

1 - Buried Realm - The Dormant Darkness - https://buriedrealm.bandcamp.com/album/the-dormant-darkness

Alex's Honorable Mentions:

Glare - Sunset Funeral - https://glaretx.bandcamp.com/

Messa - The Spin - https://messa.bandcamp.com/

Crawling Chaos - Wyrd - https://www.instagram.com/crawling_chaos_band/?hl=en

Lik - Necro - https://www.metalblade.com/us/artists/lik/

Thornhill - BODIES - https://thornhillmelb.bandcamp.com/album/bodies

Bleed from Within - Zenith - https://www.bleedfromwithin.com/

Magnolia Park - VAMP - https://www.magnoliaparkband.com/

Nightfall - Children of Eve - https://nightfall.gr/

Nydvind - Tetramental I and II - https://nydvind.bandcamp.com/

Nechochwen - Spelewithiipi - https://nechochwen.bandcamp.com/music

Buried Realm - The Dormant Darkness - https://buriedrealm.bandcamp.com/album/the-dormant-darkness

Tomarum - Beyond Obsidian Euphoria - https://tomarum.bandcamp.com/album/beyond-obsidian-euphoria

Valhalore - Beyond the Stars - https://www.valhalore.com/

Fractal Universe - The Great Filters - https://fractaluniverseband.bandcamp.com/album/the-great-filters

Beholder - In the Temple of the Tyrant - https://beholderblacklion.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-temple-of-the-tyrant

Cave Sermon - https://cavesermon.bandcamp.com/album/fragile-wings

Absolva - Justice - https://www.absolva.com/band

Top Five for Alex =

5 - Labyrinthus Stellarum - Rift in Reality - https://labyrinthusstellarum.bandcamp.com/album/rift-in-reality

4 - Rivers of Nihil - Rivers of Nihil - https://riversofnihil.com/

3 - Ghost - Skeleta - https://ghost-official.com/

2 - In the Woods... - Otra - https://www.facebook.com/inthewoodsomnio/

1 - Allegaeon - The Ossuary Lens - https://www.facebook.com/Allegaeon/

Take a listen to a relatively recent concert review for Coheed and Cambria in Ft. Myers, Florida with Mastadon and Periphery that Alex saw and the Wolves in the Throne Room and Emperor show that Phil saw in PA!

We hope you have gotten out for some summer shows this year!

Phil layoued out the Dan Swano classic Witherscape - The Northern Sanctuary and Alex offered up Sum 41 - Chuck. Take a listen and see which one you like more!

And as always - support these great bands - https://www.sum41.com/

https://centurymedia.bandcamp.com/album/the-northern-sanctuary

Quarter one of 2025 has BLOWN by and now we have some rankings to dish out!

Alex's list:

Honorable Mentions:

Dawn of Orobouros - Bioluminescence - https://dawnofouroboros.bandcamp.com/album/bioluminescence Drudkh - Shadow Play - https://drudkh.bandcamp.com/album/shadow-play Aversed - Erasure of Color - https://aversed.bandcamp.com/album/erasure-of-color Saor - Amidst the Ruins - https://saor.bandcamp.com/album/amidst-the-ruins-2

List Proper 5 - Judicator - Concord - https://judicatormetal.bandcamp.com/album/concord

4 - Deafheaven - Lonely People with Power - https://deafheavens.bandcamp.com/album/lonely-people-with-power

3 - Dream Theater - Parasomnia - https://dreamtheater.net/discography-item/parasomnia/

2 - The Halo Effect - The March of the Unheard - https://thehaloeffectse.bandcamp.com/album/march-of-the-unheard

1 - Coheed and Cambria - The Father of Make Believe - https://link.fans/fatherofmakebelieve If you want to know Phil's list...well then, turn on the episode and listen!!! But it's also pasted below:

Honorable Mentions

Deafheaven - Lonely people with power - linked above

Majestica - Power Train - https://majesticametal.com/blogs/majestic-news/posts/7525126/power-train-is-here-all-aboard

Night Flight Orchestra - Give us the Moon - https://thenightflightorchestra.bandcamp.com/album/give-us-the-moon

Dynazty - Game of Faces - https://shop.nuclearblast.com/products/dynazty-game-of-faces-pre-order?srsltid=AfmBOoo20wSSAhVzzpYU0JSX54CZuUr7P_ULyxBhqb3qRiwM8ldlJWPa

Nite - Cult of the serpent sun - https://nitemetal.bandcamp.com/album/cult-of-the-serpent-sun

List Proper

5 Bloody Wood - Nu Delhi - https://bloodywood.bandcamp.com/album/nu-delhi

4 The Halo Effect - March of the Unheard - linked above

3 Faithxtractor - Loathing and the Noose - https://faithxtractor.bandcamp.com/album/loathing-the-noose

2 Spiritworld - Helldorado - https://spiritworldprophet.bandcamp.com/album/helldorado-24-bit-hd-audio

1 Judicator - Concord - linked above

What a GREAT heavy band - ENSIFERUM from Finland. Time to hear about how GREAT that damn band is!!!!!

We're back on track and only 3 months into the year! Episode 26 proper Phil reviewed Relentless Mutation by Archspire and Alex reviewed The Black Halo by Kamelot.

Be sure to support these two excellent and very different bands at their respective websites - https://kamelot.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/archspireofficial/?hl=en

Two GREAT heavy albums on the GREAT heavy music podcast!

Next up, Witherscape's - The Northern Sanctuary and Chuck by Sum 41