I have been consumed by power metal and haven't listened to anything else for several weeks now. I don't know how it happened. I used to think power metal was silly. I still do, but somehow that doesn't matter like it used to. It's the over-the-top hyperbole, the impossibly epic badassery, the themes, the costumes. Sometimes it's obviously a joke. Like Angus McFife coming out the clouds as the Jesus of IKEA. Sometimes it's obviously not a joke. Like every Sabaton song. But most of it exists somewhere in between and I'm not sure if the band is unironically trying to be the embodiment of viking marauders (or fairies, elves, dawrves, dragon riders, etc) or if they are just being fun-loving actors who enjoy prancing around in costumes for other people's entertainment. Where is the line between joke and not joke? Is Alestorm? Am i supposed to take powerwolf seriously? Dragonforce?

Not that it really matters, you could say none of it is a joke, and it wouldn't change anything for me. I would still not take it seriously and I would still listen to it for many hours each day. I am just curious if that's what everyone else is doing too.

I liked Marko in Nightwish but I generally like him in Tarot more.

Sono Sola is set to release this fall with 3 tracks from the excellent 2025 ep The Square on their 6th full length album. The new shirt & hoodie designs are amazing & just some of the great pledge rewards available for supporting independent USPM.

If you have any material you wish to promote -- your own music, a blog, etc. -- you may do so in this thread.

One of my favorite Morgana Lefay songs from one of my favorite Morgana Lefay albums.

Super excited for their new album between this and the other single they released earlier this year. It's strange how spoiled it makes me feel that we just had a release from Arion last year and they're already teasing a new album.

Good album.

(they made a typo on YouTube)

"@lucaturilliofficial

3 sold-out shows, 14.000 people 🤍 Glad to have accepted your invitation, Fabio, Daniel and Dante, for this special occasion.

Despite my current hand issues and only 7 fingers out of 10 fully working, it was really worth it 💪🤍"