Weekly Review Roundup: Monday 4th August 2025 – Friday 8th August 2025
From anthemic stadium rock, to synth-infused modern metal, to extreme heaviness, flamboyant goth, and whatever BABYMETAL do. We’ve reviewed some great releases this week, and here’s our weekly reminder of what has been covered. All these releases are out now!
Halestorm – Everest (Atlantic Records)
If you thought this band was big before, just you wait and see what happens once this album is out there. Halestorm have never sounded this focused, and world domination seems to be assured now.
Check out our full review here.
Dreamwake – The Lost Years (UNFD)
An experience like no other, while having so many recognisable parts, Dreamwake do the impossible here. Creating something that is more akin to sensations, where listening to it with multitudes of daily distractions isn’t an option, and a word like unique isn’t hyperbolic in the slightest. There hasn’t been anything like this all year (and longer) and may not be until the next time Dreamwake release something.
Check out our full review here.
Sinsaenum – In Devastation (earMUSIC)
It should come as no surprise to anyone that this is an album that comes with emotion, an aspect that is extremely potent on certain tracks, but what might surprise many is that it’s an album about hope and an album about moving forward. Sinsaenum are honouring the past and those that have been lost, but they’re also focused on the present and future. Proudly displaying more elements to their sound, refining their melodic metal edge, but still delivering a cacophony of extreme noise across ten strong efforts.
Check out our full review here.
Lord of the Lost – OPVS NOIR Vol. 1 (Napalm Records)
Returning to a more melancholic place, boldly so, Lord of the Lost have taken a long hard look at themselves and set out down a path that will prove to be the thing that catapults them to even greater heights. They already can be called stars, but they’re about to go supernova and it’s all because of a more cohesive and focused dark rock sound that distils their extravagant side into something so much more theatrical. Listening to Lord of the Lost was always something special, but this is an experience like no other now.
Check out our full review here.
BLVD HVNNY – IX (Mongrel Records)
Evolution evident throughout IX, alongside the collaborative nature of the band, and while the gloomy gothic-infused post-punk style isn’t going to be for everyone, everyone who gives it a chance will likely come away with something to say. It’s been a long time coming for BLVD HVNNY and all the hard work pays off in undeniably memorable fashion.
Check out our full review here.
Monoliyth – He Who Kills (Wormhole Death Records)
He Who Kills is not for the faint hearted, or the experimental really. It’s old school, fast and heavy blasting death metal on the extreme edge.
Check out our full review here.
BABYMETAL – METAL FORTH (Capitol Records)
BABYMETAL are here to stay, and the metal world is all the better for it. Especially when we get an album like this, an album that I can confidently say is my favourite BABYMETAL album to date. Not just because it features collaborations with some of my favourite (and some of the biggest) bands/artists in the world, but because it’s the distillation of everything great about BABYMETAL, notably their ability to be absurdly anthemic while expertly combining the worlds of J-pop and metal.
Check out our full review here.
