Finsterforst is usually a band playing epic folk metal with songs that often revolve around the ten-minute mark. The band's last album even had a track that is thirty-six and a half minutes long. #YØLØ doesn't have anything to do with the band's other releases. Half of it consists of eclectic cover songs while the other tunes are tongue-in-cheek party anthem recalling metalcore bands such as Callejon.

''Auf die Zwölf'' talks about soccer fans partying on a Saturday afternoon while title track ''#YØLØ'' makes fun of trendy hipsters. This idea is also represented on the cover artwork connecting this release to the band's usual style. The other new songs can be described as simplistic but entertaining party anthems with uplifting brass music passages, dynamic guitar riffs and emotional harsh vocals.

The cover songs are just as eclectic as the new songs. K.I.Z.'s ''Der durch die Scheibeboxxxer'' moves away from Viking tales and explores Berlin's gangster rap culture instead which makes for a vivid, unpredictable and intense nu metal experience. Michael Jackson's ''Beat It'' flirts with industrial metal territories as it includes exaggerated samples and sound experiments while keeping the catchy melodies and infectious flow of the original tune.

In the end, Finsterforst's #YØLØ attempts to provoke genre purists and proves that the band doesn't take itself too seriously. The album is surprising at first but won't leave a deeper impression in the long run. However, this release is a perfect party record and offers forty minutes of uplifting escapism that seems to be more important now than ever.

Final rating: 70%

While Finnish quartet Lost Society is an absolutely outstanding live band, its studio records have been far less impressive and No Absolution is certainly another step down the ladder. The record can be described as contemporary thrash and groove metal with melodic death metal vocals. It recalls bands such as Soilwork rather than thrash metal veterans such as Overkill that had once inspired the quartet. Some choruses as witnessed in title track ''No Absolution'' could easily come from an old Bullet for My Valentine record. If a band like In Flames had released such an album, metal fans around the world would compete at criticizing the band at its harshest but since Lost Society isn't as popular, critics and fans have mostly ignored this average album so far.

The groove metal stylistics with melodic death metal vocals and catchy choruses is only interrupted on a few select occasions. The opener ''Nonbeliever'' initially surprises with smooth acoustic guitar harmonies before the track suddenly shifts into predictable patterns that make the entire overture unnecessary.

''Mark Upon the Skin'' features vibrant bass guitar play and even a short solo but the rest of the song mostly consists of emotional screams and trendy sing-along parts. 

Closer ''Into Eternity'' is a collaboration with Apocalyptica and surprises with melancholic cello sounds and enjoyably melodic clean vocals. But once again, the band just can't prevent itself to head into commercial melodic death metal territories as the song progresses. This song exemplifies that this album includes a few great ideas that are buried under the generic song writing.

In the end, Lost Society's No Absolution is recommended to younger audiences and fans of modern metal sounds. Despite a few courageous ideas here and there, this album seems to aim to jump the commercial bandwagon. It wouldn't be surprising if Lost Society were soon opening for tours of bands such as DevilDriver, Disturbed or The NIght Flight Orchestra. This might make sense commercially speaking but the talented musicians here could do so much better if they truly exploited their full potential. Lost Society needs to change its sound for the next record if it wants to remain unique, relevant and credible.

Final rating: 65%

Frost Tears is a symphonic power metal from Taiwan that is best compared to its national genre colleagues Seraphim. The band's first full length album translates to Nine Chapters and is subdivided into three chapters with twelve songs in total about health, emotions and death. The second disc includes one alternative version, three remixes and three music videos as this package offers value for money.

The band convinces on numerous levels. The atmospheric, elegant and symphonic keyboard sounds give the release an epic cinematic atmosphere. The occasional choirs further enhance the band's symphonic soundscapes. The female lead singer sounds angelic, elegant and is always in perfect control of her unique vocals. Occasional clean male vocals and harsh vocals add some diversity to spice up several tracks. The melodic neoclassical guitar solos are executed with care while the rhythm guitar particularly shines in the more aggressive tracks. The drum play is quite dynamic, technical and versatile. The bass guitar also shows promise but could be more present in the production.

One song that exemplifies the band's numerous talents is ''惡-沉默審判'' that combines cinematic choirs and epic keyboard sounds with highly diversified drum play and gripping riffs. The song features the enchanting vocals by the female lead singer, soaring clean male vocals and occasional growls that add an emotional touch to the progressive song writing. The song is so creative, detailed and dynamic that it might need a few spins to grow but it really underlines the band's incredible talent and unique sound. The song recalls the most daring songs by international symphonic metal heavyweights such as Nightwish without ever copying them.

If you prefer a calm, focused and smooth approach, you should check out the melodic ''臨界'' that focuses on appeasing female lead vocals, occasional epic choirs, elegant piano melodies, classical string sections and neoclassical guitar play that make think of a power ballad in the key of Rhapsody of Fire.

One song that really stands out on the album is the quirky ''怒-戰火'' that combines Taiwanese folk instruments and traditional dramatic vocal styles with fast-paced symphonic extreme metal outbursts. This combination between classic cultural elements and aggressive contemporary outbursts might recall bands such as Chthonic.

Another song that needs to be pointed out is the epic ''重生-陽明篇'' that clocks in at nearly eight minutes and convinces with wonderful keyboard harmonies, soaring female lead vocals that send shivers down the spine and an unforgettable chorus that makes the track sound much more concise than it actually is. 

Frost Tears' Nine Chapters is an incredibly creative, diversified and entertaining debut album that deserves to be revisited time and again. Most symphonic metal genre veterans don't develop as much inspiration throughout their careers as these newcomers unleash on their first album. This band has all the components to become international superstars like their colleagues Chthonic. If you like folk, power or symphonic metal, you should definitely keep an eye on this band, listen to its stunning debut and support these artists by purchasing their record and spreading their name.

Final rating: 90%