Harbinger’s Killer Picks – September 2025

Last Saturday of September and autumn has arrived! It’s that time of the month again: The Harbinger’s Killer Picks. Another great month of music in what is shaping up to be a stellar season for music. Fall is a busy time for music releases so this month I have seven picks instead of my usual five, in chronological release order.

First, Birmingham, England goth rock/darkwave duo Black Rose Moves released a new single titled “Club of Sin” this past September 12^th. Now I don’t usually review singles, but this one made me discover this awesome duo who also released a tremendous EP last June, Death Dance, so I thought I’d hit two birds with one stone and give both some love. First off, if you’re into classic gothic music à la Sisters of Mercy and Rosetta Stone, then you’re in for a treat! Let’s talk about the single, “Club of Sin”, a banging track with a catchy chorus wrapped in an aura of lust and secrets. It sounds different than the songs on their EP but shows the band evolving musically. The EP, Death Dance, is a thing of beauty. A 4-track affair, right from the get-go with the opening song, “Lips Taste Blood”, the listener is instantly taken back to the ‘80s and the zenith of goth music. This song is like a visit from a good old friend you haven’t seen in a while. “Shadow Dance” will get you moving with its infectious beats and rhythms; “Jessica” is an up-tempo tune reminiscent of the afore-mentioned Sisters of Mercy’s gem “Marian” that’ll stay stuck in your head all day; and they close out the set with my favourite of the bunch, “Summer of Sorrow”, a mysterious, spooky tune that has a summer vibe with its droning sound akin to cicadas and crickets buzzing. Death Dance is a runner-up for my favourite EP of the year—an exquisite collection of songs, while “Club of Sin” is a fresh and exciting number. Black Rose Moves’ Grant Leon provides haunting vocals to Mark Neat’s alluring soundscapes. Give their music some spins; they’re a talented, quality outfit with a clear vision of where they’re going. Here’s hoping we get a full-length album from this duo in the near-future.

Black Rose Moves on Bandcamp

Second, Seattle, Washington speed metal quintet Solicitor returned with their second LP, Enemy in Mirrors, via Gates of Hell Records on September 19^th and there ain’t no such thing as the sophomore slump for this band. If you thought Seattle only gave us grunge and Jimi Hendrix, think again! Solicitor does classic ‘80s speed metal with panache without pulling any punches. Sounding at times like a cross between vintage ‘Tallica circa Ride the Lightning and Priest’s heydays of Screaming for Vengeance, their latest LP Enemy in Mirrors is nothing short of breathtaking. Ringleader vocalist Amy Lee Carlson is a feast for the ears. In an alternate reality, she’s a British man and his name is Rob Halford. Whether or not you’re into female-fronted metal bands is irrelevant—Carlson’s sizzling vocals will annihilate your eardrums. But it’s not just Amy Lee that shines here; the entire band fires on all cylinders on every track. From the dazzling instrumental intro of “The Descent” to the instant classic two singles, the catchy-as-all-hell “Iron Wolves of War” and the anthemic earworm “Crimson Battle Beast”, the sneaky awesome title track to the breakneck guitar wizardry of “We Who Remain”, to the one-two punch of the deadly duo of “Black Magick” and “The Devil's Hand”, there’s no shortage of bangers on this impressive album. The songs overall are more well-rounded, melodic, and ruthless than on their already outstanding previous efforts. This band will take your life, mark my words. Enemy in Mirrors has insane replay value. In fact, after you purchase it, do yourself a favour and get their equally spectacular debut LP, Spectral Devastation, as well as their self-titled EP because, trust me, the more Solicitor you listen to, the more you’ll want. This one’s an absolute Top Five Album of the Year contender, folks. All hail Solicitor!

Solicitor on Bandcamp

Third, London, UK’s metal warriors War Grave returned yesterday with their first LP, Free Will, the follow-up to last year’s excellent self-titled debut EP. This new release came out with very little fanfare beforehand and I got excited for it as I was a big fan of their EP. After a handful of listens, Free Will is a pretty good album in my opinion but falls short of the promise of their first outing. Roman Kantoch’s vocals are just as striking here and the twin guitar threat of Trent Powell and Stuart Layne delivers awe-inspiring guitar solos and wizardry throughout the LP’s 49-minute runtime. But, because unfortunately there must often be a “but”, the songs don’t quite reach the level of arena anthems and memorable choruses their first offering had. Don’t get me wrong, it’s better than a ton of metal out there, but I was expecting more from the boys after such a magnificent debut. The highlights for me on Free Will include the title track, a solid meat-and-potatoes metal tune; the first single, “Break These Chains”, with its positive message, easily the catchiest song on the record—the LP needed more tracks such as this one; “As Far As You Can Go” with its beautiful, intricate guitar work; “Light ‘Em Up”, a moody, atmospheric piece that gets my vote for best song of the LP; and the breakneck barn-burner “Wolf & Raven”. Altogether, it’s a less thrashy record than its predecessor, closer to Priest and Maiden than, say, Megadeth or Testament, and is a guitar solo fan’s dream as it shines in that regard. I’m sure War Grave followers (and metal fans in general) will enjoy Free Will; it’s a solid metal record chock-full of fast tempos that left me a little underwhelmed, but mileage may vary, as the saying goes. In any case, give it a spin, it’s well worth your time.

War Grave on Bandcamp

Fourth, Italian classic doom metallers Warcoe released yesterday their third LP, Upon Tall Thrones, via the mighty Ripple Music. I wasn’t familiar with this band, but the best way to describe them is that they have an old school doom sound reminiscent of Trouble and Pentagram with obvious Sabbath worship (the singer even sounds like Ozzy at times). Right off the bat, if you heard the first two singles, “Octagon” and “I've Sat Upon Tall Thrones (But I'll Never Learn)”, you know exactly what you’re gonna get. The two tracks I actually enjoyed the most were the record’s two instrumentals: “Gather in the Woods”, a lovely, gentle acoustic guitar tune and “Flame in Your Hand”, a pretty solid doom number that lets the music do the talking. This is a record filled with awesome riffs. That being said, in the end, you need more than riffs to create a memorable album and it failed to stick the landing, in my humble opinion. Upon Tall Thrones doesn’t have any bad songs per se, but lacks those one or two truly great tracks that if you were to make a doom compilation for a friend, you’d simply have to have on there. I know I’ll be in the minority as the band has its hardcore followers and there’s good buzz surrounding this new record, but for me, after a handful of spins, unfortunately, Upon Tall Thrones is a decent yet lackluster affair. I still think it warrants a recommendation to doom aficionados in general, and of course, Warcoe fans.

Ripple Music’s Bandcamp Page for Warcoe

Fifth, Swedish quartet Siena Root are set to release a live double album titled Made in KuBa on October 3^rd via Perception, a division of Reigning Phoenix Music. The concert was recorded over three nights in March 2024 at legendary Kulturbahnhof (KuBa) in Jena, Germany. For the uninitiated, Siena Root is a versatile band that performs across a broad spectrum of genres such as heavy psych, jazz, blues, alternative, and classic rock. Fronted by Zubaida Solid who’s got world-class vocals, the band goes into live experimentation much to the listener’s delight. I hear echoes of Deep Purple played on the organ as well as guitars channeling Stevie Ray Vaughan that help to shape the band’s signature warm tones starting with the opener, the bluesy “Coincidence & Fate” with languorous vocals and throbbing bassline. Aside from that, some highlights for me include the epic, psychedelic number “We (We Are Them)”; “Keeper of the Flame” whose vocals are reminiscent of Adele, a ballad-type tune with smoky guitar; the Zeppelinesque “Tales of Independence”; my personal favourite, the catchy single “Outlander” which perfectly sums up Siena Root; and the dreamy “Imaginary Borders”. This 12-song collection is a fantastic entry point for newcomers and long-time fans will be reminded just how special this band truly is. Solid’s vocals are paired with languid heavy psych vibes throughout and it makes for a memorable concert. So, close your eyes, put on your headphones, light up or grab a drink, and hit the Play button—you’ll be whisked away to the show!  

RPM’s Page for Siena Root

Sixth, from Los Angeles, California’s Sunset Strip, heavy metal band Wings of Steel will take flight with their second studio LP and fourth overall release, Winds of Time, on October 17^th. Co-founded in 2019 by vocalist Leo Unnermark and guitarist Parker Halub, Wings of Steel represents the pinnacle of what the modern L.A. metal scene has to offer. Unnermark has already demonstrated on their previous releases—their 2022 debut EP Wings of Steel, first LP Gates of Twilight in 2023, and last year’s live album, Live in France—that he’s got the pipes to rival the legends of metal’s glory days. He only reasserts that fact here on this latest album. The same goes for Halub who’s a gifted axe-wielder reminiscent of guitarists who became famous as part of Dio, Whitesnake or Iron Maiden. Right from the start with the opener/first single/title track, the boys show us they mean business with a stunning song. Highlights for me include the addictive “Saints and Sinners”; the superb ballad “Crying”; the scorcher of a song “To Die in Holy War”; and the closing tune, the catchy epic “Flight of the Eagle” which is the sum of all the best parts from Wings of Steel. If you miss the good old days of American metal straight out of the ‘80s Sunset Strip, then Wings of Steel has got your fix. Winds of Time overflows with kick-ass, old school metal’s trademark lengthy guitar solos and soaring vocals. The band perfectly captures the sound and the vibe, as the kids call it, of that period many moons ago when that kind of music was pure magic and ruled the airwaves. It’s a sure-fire contender for a spot on my Top Albums of the Year and I’m sure it’ll be featured on many AOTY lists.

Wings of Steel on Bandcamp

Seventh, Melbourne, Australia prog rock trio Flitcraft will return with their third LP, Transmission Echo, via Pitch Black Records on October 17^th. Flitcraft has got quite an original sound for a band that blends so many genres from prog to classic rock and even some ‘90s alternative leanings. This collection of songs is imaginative, uplifting, and full of raw energy. The highlights for me are the first single, “Lara”, easily the catchiest tune on here with its Maiden-inspired riff; the epic, 10-minute long centerpiece, “Years”, brimming with Yes and Rush vibes; “Beside the Point” with its duelling vocals and organ backdrop; the hard rockin’ “Bottleneck” with its guitar brilliance; and the title track and closer, the impressive “Transmission Echo”, full of warm guitar tones where the trio gets to showcase its musical chops. Flitcraft is a band I’m sure we’ll hear lots more of in the near-future and Transmission Echo will surely help propel them to notoriety outside of the Land Down Under. It’s a melodic prog record with rock and pop sensibilities that should please a plethora of music enthusiasts.

Pitch Black Records’ Bandcamp Page for Flitcraft

And that’s the September issue, ladies and gents! The Harbinger’s Killer Picks will return on October 25^th just in time for the best holiday of the year. Until then, stay safe and crank up the tunes!