Rock Monsters Romania

After a summer full of festivals, it’s time to take a closer look at some of the new bands that have emerged, and one of them is The Lion and The Goat, who debuted with two singles.

About the band

The Lion and The Goat is the evocative collaboration between Romanian vocalist and composer Roxana Amarandi (of E-an-na) and Bulgarian multi-instrumentalist and producer Constantine Gentschev (phyX, Ophan). Together, they craft a sound rooted in cinematic storytelling and progressive metal, rich with emotional and philosophical depth.

Roxana brings years of experience from the frontlines of Romanian metal, including major festival stages and critically acclaimed releases. Constantine, under the alias phyX, has produced and composed across genres, from metal albums to film scores, blending technical precision with atmospheric storytelling.

“The Fourth”

The first single begins calmly, and nothing really prepares you for the intensity that follows. At first, I thought it might be similar to Eluveitie or Xandria.

Roxana’s voice at the start is calm and melodic, carrying an emotional weight, while Constantine’s growls complete the scenery in what feels like a dialogue between optimism and realism, a situation we often encounter in real life.

The mix is solid, and I love the transitions between slow and fast, clean and growl. However, I think there is still room for improvement, especially in the moments where both vocals are present. Constantine’s growls sometimes completely overpower Roxana’s voice, making her words inaudible and leaving only the tone of her voice noticeable.

Still, this track feels like it could mark the beginning of a successful project.

“The Most”

“The Most” is the band’s second release, and just like the first, it opens with a striking intro. This time, however, it’s not calm but apocalyptic, with pulsating sirens that instantly create a sense of fear and unease, which continues through the whole song.

The transition into the first riff is seamless, so you barely notice the guitar entering, yet the tension intensifies. As expected, Constantine’s growl comes in first, perfectly capturing the theme of unrest.

The lyrics reflect life’s difficult moments, especially emotional struggles, and the powerful ending leaves a strong impact. They also speak about the hidden paths others cannot see, about the difficult decisions made along the way, while most people only witness the end result.

The mix here feels much improved, which suggests that the band took note of the issues in their first track and refined their sound.

This is a very promising start. It’s still unclear what will follow, perhaps more singles and even a full album. I’m also curious to see whether live shows are part of their future plans. But time will tell…

Review by Radu Mihai