Russian melodic heavy metal quintet Grand Courage is mainly known for the fact that its former vocalist Mikhail Zhitnyakov is now the lead singer of Russian heavy metal veterans Aria. He was replaced by similarly sounding singer Evgeny Kolchin who left the band shortly after the release of this extended play. The title and cover artwork refer to the German comedy-drama Knockin' on Heaven's Door which itself refers to the famous Bob Dylan song that was famously covered by Eric Clapton and Guns N' Roses. The movie tells the story of two terminally patients who steal a car to make their last dream come true and see the ocean for the first time in their lives.

Grand Courage has always been a heavy metal band on the mellower side and this also applies to this record. The opening title song ''Достучаться до небес'' is probably the heaviest song but still comes around with massive electronic keyboard sounds, melodic vocals and relaxed percussive elements but the chorus has enough power to convince as best track on this release. ''Голос твой'' features a similar approach with mellow and powerful vocals, verses varying between fast and rhythmic sections and mellower passages and a strong chorus that should also please fans of European power metal.

Despite its short length, the release features three ballads. ''Звёздные дожди'' convinces with strong melodic guitar work and simple but efficient piano melodies, ''Русская рулетка'' is an emotional pop rock ballad that could have been released thirty years ago while the closing ''Океан любви'' is much more atmospheric and has a very soothing, slow and dreamy approach.

Personally, I would have liked to hear some heavier tracks like the first two songs and especially the creative opening title track and think three ballads on such a short extended play are too much. However, Grand Courage will appeal to fans of melodic rock bands like Bonfire. The band's mellow sound actually distinguishes it from many other contemporary Russian heavy metal bands. It's relaxing, refreshing and inspiring to listen to the band once in a while but its style gets slightly redundant and repetitive after a while. Let's hope that the band finds some more creativity in heaviness in the future with a new vocalist to take a step forward.

Final rating: 70%

Skyforest's Harmony is an imaginative neofolk record that sounds much calmer, dreamier and mellower than the previous outputs. The stunning cover artwork represents the music so well that it's hard to believe that the man behind this project actually comes from a Moscovian suburb. 

Soothing keyboard melodies based upon symphonic folk influences meet introspective and shy guitar play for a highly atmospheric musical structure with only minimal use of numerous simplistic rhythm instruments and very modest shifts in pace and power. Harsh vocals are very scarcely used just like occasional narrative elements and mysterious whispers but work quite efficiently in the right moments. The hypnotizing music is occasionally supported by appeasing clean male vocals that almost sound like an additional instrument. One track features peaceful female vocals that harmonize perfectly with the smooth music.

This release doesn't have anything to with black or post metal except for the fifteen seconds of harsh vocals that can be found in the opening track. Skyforest's Harmony is however a wonderful ambient neofolk pearl that reminds of several artists signed by German label Prophecy Productions such as Dornenreich, Les Discrets and Syven. If you are looking for appeasing, imaginative and melodic music to take a break from your stressful everyday life, this album will open up to you and unfold like a blooming flower.

Final rating: 90%

Moscovian quintet Хранитель identifies itself as melodic speed metal band but I would rather categorize the group as traditional heavy metal band with occasional thrash metal influences. This band is another one in a long list of solid contemporary heavy metal bands from Russia. While the genre is only kept alive by popular veteran bands in most Western countries, the genre still enjoys a lot of popularity in Russia which might be related to the fact that the genre only appeared in the second half of the eighties in the former Soviet Union. The recent successes of revamped veterans like Aria might also have had a positive influence. Heavy metal also harmonizes with other cultural elements from Russia since a lot of literature and movies have an epic and melancholic touch which suits heavy metal music rather well. This vibe can already be found on the album cover of this release that pictures a historical event when an army gets prepared for a decisive battle in the snow.

Дети севера is the band's first full length release in eleven years of existence and the four men and one woman certainly had to face a lot of struggles to release this output. The band had split up for two years, released numerous singles and extended plays, didn't manage to sign with a professional label and now released this output independently despite a lack of proper promotion. The release might not get the recognition it deserves which could also be due to the fact that the band mislabels itself as melodic speed metal band. If you like traditional melodic heavy metal with occasional thrash metal influences however, you should certainly check this record out.

The lyrical concept inspired by actual historical events around the French invasion of Russia in the nineteenth century is quite interesting but even if you don't speak Russian, the band transmits the atmosphere of its lyrical content musically as well. Occasional sound samples, narrative passages and dramatic musicianship with dominant bass guitar, steady drums, energetic guitar sounds and enthusiastic melodic vocals make for a most entertaining journey across nine songs with a perfect running time of forty-six minutes. The diversified, dynamic and epic ''Герой'' is certainly a highlight and mixes resilient heavy and fierce thrash metal with calmer bridges. Title track ''Дети севера'' has an ambitious length of seven and a half minutes and convinces as gloomy heavy metal track that could come straight from the eighties. There is no stinker to be found on this release. The band manages to evoke the pioneer spirit of Soviet Union's greatest early heavy metal bands, mixes it with a cinematic historical context and adds its youthful spirit for an engaging mixture.

The band shows a lot of promise but hasn't really found its own style yet, meandering between melancholic doom metal, energetic heavy metal and straightforward thrash metal. The muddy production gives the release a certain charm but the ambitious concept would have deserved a better sound in my opinion.

In the end, you will appreciate this promising debut record if you like elaborate, energetic and epic heavy metal. Especially the creative guitar play, dominant bass guitar and melodic vocals sound really great. Give this independent Russian quintet a chance and spread its unknown name. Let's keep an eye on the group and see what the future brings.

Final rating: 80%

If you call me, I will call back

If you lie to me, I'll wipe off all my life

If you look at me, I'll be broken

If you hear my song, I'll die with awful joy

Dreaming deep with you

Dreaming deep with you, I do 

Dreaming 

Dreaming 

Dreaming

Dream

If you lie to me, I'll cry all day

If you beat me, I will hurt you

If you betray me, I will kill you

Dreaming deep with you, I do 

Dreaming 

Dreaming 

Dreaming

Dream

Danish thrash metal quintet Artillery has released five studio records in nine years and seems to be at the height of its career. The Face of Fear convinces with a liberating mixture of aggressiveness and melody with powerful vocals, harmonious guitar play and tight rhythm section. Another outstanding element is the great songwriting that focuses on tracks between four and five minutes that get to the point, avoid repetition and skip instrumental masturbation. The band has its very own style but still manages to add a few minor surprises here and there to keep the listening experience entertaining.

The opening title track ''The Face of Fear'' opens with unusual drum patterns that grab the listener's attention before evolving into a powerful thrash metal anthem without any lengths. ''New Rage'' has a mysterious vibe with atmospheric sound samples, acoustic guitar passages and enchanting vocals but these elements stop at the right moment as the track picks up some power and speed to evolve into a contemporary mid-tempo thrash metal tune. ''Through the Ages of Atrocity'' on the other side has something of an old school heavy metal vibe and sounds like a dynamic nod to genre legends like Saxon or Judas Priest.

The record keeps its strong momentum from start to finish and even adds two additional bonus tracks. ''Mind of No Return'' is a rerecorded version of the very first song from the band's very first demo released thirty-six years earlier with dominant bass guitar play, playful guitar solos and the perfect mixture of heavy and thrash metal while ''Doctor Evil'' is a more sinister contemporary thrash metal song that oozes with atmosphere which was only released five years ago. Both songs sound fresh, work perfectly well in the context of this new album and also represent the evolution and style of the band throughout the years.

Artillery's The Face of Fear appeals both to fans of heavy and thrash metal. It's a great starting point to discover these underrated Danish veterans. Fans of old date should certainly appreciate the band's youthful spirit. This is the thrash metal album you didn't know you had to purchase this year. The band in general and this output in particular deserve more attention.

Final rating: 90%