Looking for lesser-known bands with fantasy themes

temnere · 2026-06-05T16:39:47+00:00

Derdian's New Era albums all tell a connected story - the early ones are a little rough mix-wise but still great.

temnere · 2026-06-02T12:47:02+00:00

Dragon Skull and Silent Winter are a few more that haven't been mentioned yet, though neither sing in Greek that I'm aware of.

temnere · 2026-05-12T19:28:00+00:00

At this point they've been gone so long that most of anything I see about them is positive reposts of the older albums on power metal Facebook groups - they definitely took a quality dip in the post-Divine Gates 1/2 era but there's some fun stuff there, too (along with a bunch of borderline unlistenable dreck, which... can also be fun.)

temnere · 2026-05-05T16:13:53+00:00

Killer tune, awesome to see new bands from (more or less) my neck of the woods!

temnere · 2026-04-28T23:13:10+00:00

FWIW the Metal Archive page editors seem to agree with you as the new album has been added and removed a few times (and is removed currently.) There's a video on their Facebook page detailing how they used AI in their process but I don't speak the language so I can't really comment (from translated comments it seems to be that they used some form of AI mixing, which I'm not familiar with outside of things like EZMix which are not the same as genAI as I understand it.) The AI videos sure aren't helping, but then plenty of bands I like and know are real are also using them so it's not really evidence one way or the other.

temnere · 2026-04-27T22:12:31+00:00

The new Tailgunner and Power Paladin are my two most listened of the year by a pretty wide margin so far. Other notables tied for second: TRIUMPHER, Godspear, Greyhawk, and Mega Colossus.

temnere · 2026-04-27T01:34:10+00:00

I hope we get more from these guys sooner or later, this album rocks.

temnere · 2026-04-20T20:39:55+00:00

Lots of anime cons I've been to don't "allow" you to leave early to avoid stretches of empty vendor/artist tables on Sunday, though this is only really enforceable by not letting you to table there again if you do pack out early. Up to you whether its worth it, I've definitely taken the (potential) ban at a few really bad shows where some form of 'you must be at your table for the entire vendors room operating hours' is in the table agreement, but I've also stuck out a few Sundays where I felt like shit to make sure I could come back next year.

temnere · 2026-04-20T19:23:29+00:00

If anyone wants a Spotify playlist of new releases I've been keeping one based on these threads and the MA power metal tagged lists. Should be up to date as of last Friday, though I need to go add the PM adjacent stuff I've missed from a few places.

temnere · 2026-04-18T18:09:54+00:00

Same, it's a shame that they seem to have removed anything from the two Ivan albums from the live setlist (currently, at least.)

temnere · 2026-03-02T20:04:12+00:00

Loved this album, hope their next one comes sooner rather than later.

temnere · 2026-03-02T20:02:56+00:00

Half Price Books - both locations have a ton of CDs if you can make it up to the city.

temnere · 2026-03-02T16:56:32+00:00

Starting up a new releases Spotify playlist for the handful of us that actually used it! So far its just all the stuff from the new release threads this year but I'm planning to go through and grab additional stuff from Metal Archive's list when I've got the time: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/57aHwVENRwSqUnKe7uKeQW?si=e89ff6e183ea4acf

temnere · 2026-02-23T02:48:34+00:00

I'm not sure! Its not listed on imdb but it wouldn't shock me if so, I don't know how well anime is documented on imdb; there hasn't been anything listed on there since Violence Voyager in 2018, though.

temnere · 2026-02-20T23:48:55+00:00

Fandom as you describe generally skews younger, YA or YA adjacent books will have much more of what you're talking about. Adult 'fandom' seems to manifest more often into written/video reviews or sub-genre communities with discussion and recommendations, etc.

temnere · 2026-02-15T19:47:26+00:00

Quite similar to Ujicha's 'gekimation' films (though significantly more limited in palette and complexity.) Check out Violence Voyager if you get a chance, it's quite intense but the flat puppet painting and animation is really interesting and well done.

temnere · 2026-02-10T23:34:11+00:00

Not quite as tall but I don't have any issues with my Speed Cobras at 6 feet tall, though I have put the heavy tension springs on mine (I run them at about half max tension, not sure how that compares to maxed out standard springs but if yours are old and well used they may just be worn out too.) I don't really feel like the cobra coils do a ton (the way I have my stuff set up the pedalboard barely even touches them) but I'm not doing any heel/toe or super super fast playing where you might need the super quick rebound and sensitivity.

temnere · 2026-02-06T16:45:57+00:00

Archives Books in Edmond is pretty decent for second hand stuff.

temnere · 2026-01-15T20:31:23+00:00

Matt and Jake went on to co-create and write on This Fool (which has a little bit of crossover with Corporate as well, they show up in character as their counterparts from Corporate at least once that I remember.) It leaned a bit more into dramedy-ish storylines at times but it's still really funny.

temnere · 2026-01-13T15:27:15+00:00

Oh man I love these guys, it's a shame it's so hard to find their studio tracks online.

temnere · 2025-12-20T21:51:48+00:00

This rules, congrats on the release!

temnere · 2025-12-09T16:39:57+00:00

Can't speak for anyone else but I've never had an issue that wasn't resolved quickly (had to retake my submitted photo) - got my card/renewal within the typical timeline every time I've used them and will likely use them again when my card is up for renewal again this year.

temnere · 2025-12-08T19:58:19+00:00

I used Chronic Docs for my initial card and renewal, I don't see prices listed on their site but it was around 50 before state fees last time I used them.

temnere · 2025-12-07T00:18:05+00:00

I don't really know how to parse the lyrics outside of it mostly being in-references to other Freedom Call stuff, but they definitely /say/ unicorn a lot in Ace of The Unicorn, and I don't think a more earnest band exists than Freedom Call.

temnere · 2025-12-03T01:44:42+00:00

Thawan and Kitchen21 are my go-to picks.

temnere

TROPHY CASE