5 Best Metal Albums Of August 2018

Objectively speaking, Stray Fire has a lot more in common with rock than metal. However, at the same time, it is extraordinarily good and possesses many of the qualities that metalheads adore in their music: authenticity, adventurousness, unpredictability, shining melodies, emotion and uncompromised honesty.

From top to bottom, there is just so much to love here, from the slow-building lusciousness of opener “Strength in Stone” all the way to the lengthy grand finale “Beacon” and its emotional yet catchy mastery.

And, of course, every stop between those two mighty poles is just as magnificent: lead single “Up. Out.” brings the tech-metal shredding and anthemic energy; “Wild/Unknown” is the brief, percussive interlude that counteracts the rest of the record with its simplicity; “Stray Fire” is a sombre ballad with soft verses and explosive choruses; the heartfelt instrumental “Rudi’s Song” conveys feelings beyond the necessity of words, with its clean-cut lead guitars gelling seamlessly with slow drumming before being hammered home by electric rhythm riffs.

With hints of rock, metal, pop, instrumental, symphonic and even electronic music in its canon, Stray Fire is, overall, just progressive music at its very best, venturing beyond the shackles of Rush wannabeism and instead doing what the genre should be doing: being unique and f—king fantastic.

Check out our list of the five best metal albums of July here.