If Pawns & Kings nudged open the door to a heavier era, Alter Bridge kicks it clean off its hinges. Not every swing connects, but there’s intent in every blow. Born from Creed’s split two decades ago, and with that band now resurrecting their past on stadium stages, Alter Bridge sound far more interested in what comes next.
With Sleepless Empire, Lacuna Coil dive headfirst into their heavier side – and it works. This is a band that’s unafraid to evolve, to experiment and to hit hard. Gothic metal’s crown isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Scene Queen has lived up to the hype in salacious style with Hot Singles In Your Area.
The Atomic Bitchwax sound like they wanted to be a prog band but their instinct for riff-driven rock got the better of them. Previous albums showed elements of space rock and old-school prog grooves but Force Field heads straight for beer-fuelled party rock.