• Patrick Saad’s Top Releases of April 2011

Highlights: Lilith and 1413.

Positives: With “Magnisphyricon”, Sons of Seasons come out as a band who has dramatically improved from their previous sound on “Gods of Vermin”, adding several transition songs that glue the album together along with a clear progressive song flow and heavy downtuned riffs. With thousands of power metal bands emerging all around the world, this album will solidify Sons of Seasons’s place amongst the genre’s main representatives.

For fans of: Metalium and Kamelot.

Highlights: G.U.T and Mindsteps.

Positives: “Transhuman” is Believer’s adventurous leap into modern metal after their history of experimenting with thrash/avant-garde/death metal. This album shows a different type of ‘technical’, one related to complex yet memorable songs, time changes that naturally blend in rather than being forced into the songs and an overall feel that supports the ‘industrial’ feel of this neuroscience concept album. An early contender for 2011′s most innovative album!

For fans of: Experimental Progressive Metal.

Highlights: Deus Vult and Sweet Opium.

Positives: Arkan’s “Salam” is a perfect mix of death metal and oriental music. With no genre solely dominating, Arkan’s winning formula of midtempo crushing songs and eastern scales shaped the album into 2011′s reigning oriental metal release.

For fans of: Orphaned Land.

  • Rami Rouhana’s Top Releases of April 2011

  • Ulver - Wars of the Roses

Highlights: September IV and England.

Positives: Ulver keeps pushing the boundaries of experimental ambient rock art -call it what you want- music. Yet another album of undefined fresh musical experience.

“Perdition City” (released in 2000) is also a highly recommended album.

P.S: Such music is highly enjoyed with high quality soundcard and headphones which boost the 3D ambiance effect.

For fans of: Arcturus / Karl Sander’s “Saurian Meditation”.