Stormhunter
Best Before; Death
German Heavy Metal! Stormhunter have been making their mark on the German metal scene since 1998 and, after two EPs (Ready For Boarding, 2020, Strangle With Care, 2022), are now releasing their long-awaited fourth longplayer, "Best Before: Death", in 2024. The band continues their tradition of classic "German Heavy Metal", still dispensing with keyboards in their arrangements and instead increasing the proportion of choirs, which give the songs even more of an anthemic character. The new album was recorded and produced at Iguana Studios under the direction of Christoph Brandes, while Timon Kokott has provided the whole thing with artwork that illustrates the loose concept of the content, which revolves around death. "Best Before: Death" is described by the band as their "most personal album" to date, as it incorporates various experiences from the band's environment and looks at death from different angles, from loss to redemption. In the 11 songs, the band refrains from musical experiments, but still offers one or two surprising approaches while rocking their way through exactly 48 minutes with sophisticated guitar work and a variety of melodies.