Avantasia's A Paranormal Evening with the Moonflower Society continues the project's streak of imaginative hard rock, heavy metal and power metal music with an inspiring lyrical concept and a selection of interesting guest musicians and singers. However, this output offers a few fresh and welcome changes to avoid repetition and remain relevant.

First of all, this album is enjoyably short and the songs get to the point. Fifty-four minutes of running time and eleven songs offer a perfect balance with one epic tune and all others being between three and five and a half minutes in length. This album also avoids unnecessary instrumental transitions, bland cover songs or any other distractions that could potentially dilute this output's quality. Tobias Sammet hasn't sounded this focused in a long time.

Up next, the number of guest musicians and singers has been significantly reduced. Every song, except for the opening tune that features no guests at all and the closing epic that includes two guest singers, focuses on one single collaborator. This strategy makes the songs sound balanced, fluid and focused.

Another element that might not please fans of old date is that this album strongly aims for commercial rock territories and even openly flirts with pop elements. The production blends in fittingly in that regard, focusing on the vocal performances and increasing the impact of keyboard layers and melodic guitar play while the rhythm section around bass guitar, drums and percussion is at times missing oomph. This album is certainly the most accessible one in the project's timeline for people who usually prefer rock music over different metal subgenres.

The album includes a few noteworthy highlights. Atmospheric opener ''Welcome to the Shadows'' takes its time to establish the record's emotional mood and convinces with simple yet moving keyboard passages and an inspired vocal performance by Tobias Sammet who proves once more that he can shine on his own.

Another significant highlight is the record's heaviest song ''The Wicked Rule the Night'', a fast-paced heavy metal stomper with guest vocals by Primal Fear's Ralf Scheepers whose gritty performance offers a healthy dose of relentless energy.

Floor Jansen's dynamic, passionate and skillful voice is at last appropriately used in the concise, energetic and heavy ''Kill the Pain Away''. This unique vocalist has so much more to offer than performing cozy ballads. Nightwish band leader Tuomas Holopainen should take some notes here.

The closing epic ''Arabesque'' lives up to its expectations, offering several dynamic changes in pace and style without ever sounding confusing or overstaying its welcome. Regular cooperators Michael Kiske and Jorn Lande prove that they are still among the world's greatest heavy and power metal singers and harmonize wonderfully with project leader Tobias Sammet. The use of orchestrations and even bagpipe sounds adds an atmospheric depth to the album closer that makes it worth being discovered time and again.

At the end of the day, Avantasia's A Paranormal Evening with the Moonflower Society might not be as strong as its dynamic immediate predecessor Moonglow but still qualifies for a midfield position in Avantasia's stunning discography. If you appreciated the band's last three studio records, you should also appreciate this new effort. Those who have been expecting a return to the project's early power metal days might however want to sit this one out. On the other side however, potential newcomers who usually prefer listening to imaginative pop music and moving rock sounds might as well give this album a try and discover the fascinating world of Avantasia.

Final rating: 80%

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Four years after its excellent self-titled full length effort, Botswanan hevay metal trio Skinflint is back with a vibrant extended play featuring an instrumental overture and three regular songs for a total running time of seventeen minutes. The greatest thing to know is that the trio offers this release for free and that more music and new tours are on the horizon as well.

While founding members Guiseppe Sbrana on guitars and vocals as well as Kebonye Nkoloso on bass guitar are still on board, drummer Alessandra Sbrana left after a second stint with the band and was replaced by Cosmos Modisaemang who has already played in heavy metal quartet Amok. The new member brings a lot of energetic drive and variable speed to the table which sounds quite different from his predecessor's more grooving and rhythmic style.

This line-up change also explains why Adze is perhaps Skinflint's heaviest release. While this extended play still qualifies as a heavy metal record, the energy, grit and speed also make think of groove and thrash metal soundscapes and even flirt with extreme metal territories. This release could therefore please to potential new fans who enjoy heavy metal with a more aggressive tone.

Let's take a look at the four songs offered on this output. ''The Dark Continent'' is an instrumental opener with simple instrumentalisation but efficient atmosphere that would fit splendidly onto the soundtrack of any horror movie from the seventies or eighties. Even though the song slightly overstays its welcome, it's an interesting experiment the trio has never attempted before.

''Inverted Village'' cranks up the energy, heaviness and volume. It offers quite a few interesting changes in pace between menacing mid-tempo sections and relentless up-tempo outbursts that should please both heavy and thrash metal fans. The song never gets boring in its four and a half minutes and convinces with fluid but inventive songwriting.

Title track ''Adze'' on the other side is a little bit slower and meaner. Its sluggish mid-tempo guitar riffs and simple rhythm section blend in fluidly with the gloomy and gritty vocals. This track should please those looking for simpler musicianship and more sinister atmosphere.

The best song on this extended play might be the closing ''Flesh Potion'' that is also the most aggressive, the fastest and the grittiest tune on this output. This track exemplifies Skinflint's slight changes in sound towards a more intense formula very well without denying the band's charismatic heavy metal roots. This song was rightfully promoted with an entertaining music video and has the potential to stand the test of time and work very well in concert with its relentless energy.

At the end of the day, anyone who enjoys gritty heavy metal that values energy over innovation should certainly download Skinflint's  Adze for free and give it a few spins. It's great to hear the band performing new material that might announce a bright future as the global pandemic is finally coming to an end. Those who are still unfamiliar with the charismatic trio from Gaborone and want to listen to more material, should give preceding full length effort Skinflint a few spins.

Final rating: 80%

After the lacklustre predecessor Even the Devil Believes, Stryper makes a significant step forward with its thirteenth studio album The Final Battle. The songwriting sounds sharp and focused, Oz Fox's guitar play sounds reinvigorated after some serious health scares, new bassist Perry Richardson sounds perfectly integrated this time around and brothers Michael and Robert Sweet lead the band with much drive. This excellent chemistry is crowned by a dynamic, organic and vibrant production that should please genre fans.

The record starts on a strong note with enthusiastic, heavy and precise opener ''Transgressor'' that convinces with steady upper mid-tempo rhythm section, playful melodic guitar sounds and high-pitched vocals that are executed with genuine passion and technical perfection. This song should make for a particularly strong opener for upcoming concerts and has the potential to stand the test of time in Stryper's impressive discography.

Even though Stryper doesn't move one iota away from its traditional heavy metal style, this record still manages to sound fresh, inspired and relevant. This is also due to the fact that this timeless record doesn't include any weak spots and offers highlights throughout. ''Out, Up & In'' for instance wasn't even chosen as a single but manages to sound absolutely focused in four energetic minutes and is crowned by catchy vocal lines making for an irresistible chorus that will stay on your mind upon first listening to it.

Stryper even manages to make songs with somewhat predictable lyrical topics and seemingly boring tropes sound great. ''Till Death Do Us Part'' might qualify as the record's hidden pearl as it combines liberating mid-paced heavy metal musicianship with a more accessible, catchy and melodic side that should also please hard rock fans and even open-minded pop aficionados.

The only element one could point out negatively is the record's lack of innovation, novelty and risk. The Final Battle is a Stryper record by the numbers but while the band sounded tired and uninspired on the immediate predecessor, this new output here sounds energizing and hungry. Traditional heavy metal and commercial hard rock fans alike should give this album a few spins and note that the American Christian heavy metal pioneers still have a lot to say and are everything but on a downward spiral at this point in their career.

Final Rating: 80%

German thrash metal pioneers Kreator are back with their fifteenth studio album that properly introduces skllled new bassist Frédéric Leclercq of DragonForce fame. The quartet from the Ruhr has now become an international star ensemble. The four gifted musicians sound particularly hungry and offer forty-six minutes of gripping entertainment on Hate über alles.

There are three categories of songs on this output. First and foremost, we have aggressive, fast and relentless thrash metal that doesn't take any prisoners and is guaranteed to tear your head off. Opening title track ''Hate über alles'' for instance convinces with pitiless rhythm section, fast guitar riffs and aggressive vocals leading to an anthemic chorus that should work splendidly in concert and has the potential to become a modern classic on the band's future setlists.

Up next, this release includes a few mid-paced melodic thrash metal tracks with dominant traditional heavy metal soundscapes. A great example would be ''Strongest of the Strong'' with a mid-paced rhythm section, melodic guitar play and vocals finding the perfect balance between energy and harmony. This song also includes a particularly catchy chorus that both fans of old date and potential new listeners should appreciate instantly.

Finally, this record includes a few more experimental songs with elaborate atmospheres going back to the band's experimental gothic and industrial efforts from the nineties without denying the group's charismatic heavy and thrash metal foundations. One such example is ''Midnight Sun'' that features additional vocals by alternative pop and new wave artist Sofia Portanet whose vocals are fluidly interwoven into the atmospheric, liberating and playful song.

At the end of the day, Kreator's Hate über alles sounds more diversified, focused and skillful than immediate predecessor Gods of Violence that had several ups and downs. This new album can't compete with the band's greatest cuts such as consistent, dynamic and imaginative Phantom Antichrist but could be described as very good heavy and thrash metal album in general and a record in the upper middle section of Kreator's high-quality discography. Faithful fans and adamant heavy and thrash metal fans should definitely check this album out right away while occasional listeners or new fans might want to give excellent compilation Maximum Hate a spin beforehand.

Final Rating: 83%