After an excellent EP in 2022,
Dragon Skull, from Greece, are back with an album called
Chaos Fire Vengeance. And what an impressive first album it is! I feel this is the heavy metal album to beat in 2025, no less... Taking from traditional power metal and NWOBHM, but with also a heavier and more aggressive edge, often reminding Machine Head, it sounds both like a finely crafted tribute to the glorious past of heavy metal while being totally relevant in today's metal scene. And relevant is not enough, it is vibrant and dominating. I've been playing it every day since I discovered it. Great songwriting, awesome vocals, and an original take on the heavy metal genre while staying rooted in its best traditions. Yes, Chaos Fire Vengeance is a clear contender for album of the year, other bands better sharpen their guitars, the bar have been already raised very high.
The Bandcamp page.