Review by JD on January 15, 2012.

In the crucible of the melting pot that makes up metal, Naumachia combines some seriously intense Death and Darkened Black Metal with forceful yet melodic keyboards and smatterings of Industrial and Progressive components throughout. They create sonic aura that is hard to ignore. Naumachia is a band that combines all of these varied ideas and forces them into one metallic blast that is so original and powerfuf it stands out.

Out of the nine songs that had been offered up, most are very good but one stuck out as my favorite one. 'Abreaction' is the total package. I am not a fan of keyboards in my music, but if it had to be there - Naumachia has found the perfect way to do it. It is eerie in spots, yet drove the music without taking away from the wall of guitars and nasty vocals. Children Of Bodom need to study this perfect use of the keys... and use it.

Not much left to say but to buy the damn album. It will make a keyboard beliver out of anyone - as long as it is with this band.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8.5
Atmosphere: 8
Production: 8.5
Originality: 8
Overall: 8.5

Rating: 8.3 out of 10

Review by JD on January 12, 2015.

Hell’s Guardian fell on to my desk and in looking at the cover that stares up at me it seems like I got another European power metal act. Well… I was right and… umm… wrong as well, but all of the info was confusing as hell as well. Lemme explain here.

Formed in 2009 in Italy, Hell’s Guardian seemed to be more than what they were trying to be. Deemed a melodic death metal band by some people and sites, this band seems to be classified way off wrong just because of the vocals. It is more along the lines of power metal mixed with some folk metal and NWOBHM era simplicities along with those nasty blowtorch vocals that ring death metal.

Songs like the sweeping 'Forgiving in the Night' and the Iron Maiden meets power metal of 'Neverland' are catchy and powerful while the explosions of death vocals seem to bring a different flavor to the mix - the results are glorious to behold. Despite being somewhat repetitive in places, the album as a whole is a great work of metallic art.

This is solid music from beginning to end, and I think the next album will be a progression into something even more amazing. With the right producer to fatten the sound up and get the music pointed in the proper position for a kill shot, and a wee bit of maturity only time can give – this Italian band will be a force nobody can ever overlook.

Rating: 8 out of 10