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SEARCH - GOTHIK MALAM EDAN(NEA GENDANG REC/CD & DVD´2006) MALYSIA
This is the reunion album from the legendary malay heavy band of the eighties. After their well known great debut CINTA BUATAN MALAYSIA back in 1985 and the following albums LANGIT DAN BUMI 1986 and MENTARI MERAH DIUFUK TIMUR 1987 the Kuala Lumpur based act .With this timeless releases rise the band together with the melodic metal gods WINGS to an top metal act in their country. I don´t know about to much about their releases in the nineties. Of course there was a couple of compilations and also two different live albums. So far back to this reunion recording. The album starts powerful with a midclass heavy rocker. But with the second cut GOTHIK MALAM EDAN the old habits returns. In other words SEARCH enters again the melodic power metal circle. Great I can´t get enough of this song. Also the following track AMPUN is a fine melodic metal rocker. At the same level with pounding guitars reigns also YIN & YANG. The fifth effort GURINDAM CINTA KHAYAN is a little bit more modern arranged but still in the melodic power metal terretory. After an obligatory typic in the slow motion style ballad is the next powerful runner IRAMA MARA KAS. Again follows two sentimental ballads MENAUAN RAGA and PENJAGA RAHSIA. You should know that this kind of so called slow motion rock was and will be always a big factor in the malay rock scene. They end a fantastic come back album. Collectors should know that the limited edition digipack version of the cd contains a bonus video cd. But more or less is this one not very interesant because beside a little bit of scenes from the studio recordings handles the rest only of interviews in malay language. www.duniasearch.com . If you have the chance to check out some of their old albums too use it. article by Gerald Mittinger
SAINT - THE MARK(ARMOR RECORDS / CD´2006) UNITED STATES
This Oregon christian metalist´s exists since a long time. Never they lost their fascintation. Everthing starts back in the early eighties as inside the fresh white metal scene crows up such upcoming legends as BRIDE, ETERNAL RYTE, SACRED WARRIOR or for example the incredible MESSIAH PROPHET. Also our heroes started their project SAINT with a fine self released mini album WARRIORS OF THE SUN. Of course this private released vinyl is today a top rarity. But in short time at the haytime of the US-Metal inzane 1986 one of the most important christian labels PURE METAL signed the quintett. Fast came out their debut TIME´S END which is till today without a doubt an all time classic inside this genre. Together with the strong follow up TOO LATE FOR LIVING was the band a real alternate for many JUDAS PRIEST fans which followed the american blend of metal too. By the way this mixed style of timeless clasic US-Metal and influences of their musically european inspirators JUDAS PRIEST holds on till today. After an timeout of several years returns the group of luck now again with a strong new release on the scene. Believe us still from the beginning of this recording comes back the old fascination for their typic style. Nothing changed. Strong as ever like a rock in the waves of time agitates the members around their charismatic frontmen JOSH KRAMER. With a straight hookline opens THE SPIRIT free fom any disturbing influences souvereign this comeback. Ahh, direct with the follow up THE VISION demonstrate the band their fantastic skill to combinate classic US-Metal with the vibes of the old JUDAS PRIEST. What else better can we do as to fall on our knees and praise this reborn metal gods. Real steel to the top marching US-Metal in the old glorious style delivers us then RIDE TO KILL. With a bunch of great emotions works the semi powerballad HE REIGNS. It´s the mystic and the majestic art which guides this great epic edged tune direct in our souls. Deep with their roots in the eighties US-Metal scene reigns the incredible hymn ON AND ON. Imense bass lines by RICHARD LYNCH leads in the JUDAS inspired riffmonster THE 7TH TRUMPET. Beside the razorsharp and insane guitarwork by DEE HARRINGTON convince us there the real and unbelieveable vocal presentation by JOSH KRAMER. Believe it or not THE TYRANT wouldn´t perform this in his haydays better. Continiue in this style follows at hand with THE MARK another highlight on this superb comeback. With every spin rise this monumental midtempo banger more and more to one of my absolute faves on this disc. We all know this sinister feeling when a son g starts mysterious and explodes seconds later in grinding riff bolder. Exact in this type acts BOWLS OF WRATH. If your neck still works you have the next chance to send em out of function with the next powerfull JUDAS a like running REAP THE FLESH. A short time to remember gives us the moody midtempo rocker GOG & MAGOG. Don´t thing wrong. This isn´t a wimpy tune. The only difference is maybe that this BREAKING THE LAW alike arranged composition agitates a bit slower. The band is a definition for the reincarnation of the pure and timeless classic metal. A fool would be those one which thought there could be a minimum of comercial inside their compositions. The magic walks on with the incredible final chapter ALPHA & OMEGA. JOSH KRAMER duellise there on the guitar virtuose with DEE HARINGTON. After an long fascinting instrumental part turns this brilliant masterpiece with fast power into the second vocal added part where JOSH KRAMER one last time on this recording demons trates his skill and feeling to lead with his powerfull voice a song straight to the top. By the way it´s true ALPHA AND OMEGA is also another number which is slight JUDAS PRIEST orientated. But how could we be angry about that. Neverless. Like all the great metal pieces on this album will also this number warm the metal hearts around this globe too. Be a believer in this metal institution and support this metal warriors of god. Tell em your opinion armorrecords@juno.com or take a look at www.saintsite.com . article by Gerald Mittinger
SAINT - CRIME SCENE EARTH(ARMOR RECORDS / CD´2008) UNITED STATES
Faster as awaited returns the SALEM / OREGON based white metal institution with their sixth release. With a lot of enthusiasm and expactation couldn´t I await it to listen their new hymns. A short introduc tion increase my expactation to the maximum. Sudden with a bolt strikes the first impressive guitar riffs and licks by the guitarists DEE HARRINGTON and JERRY JOHNSON through the air. Nothing can hold me now. l If run with the booklet like a maniac in circles to my room. Of course the loudlevel works at the limit. Again crowns JOSH KRAMER with his unique voice this new megahymn. HALF A TIME´S MEASURE is maybe one of the best tracks which ever came out from SAINT. Unbe lieveable how intense and energetic works this smasher. Especially the remindable chorusline doesn´t leave my mind. TERROR IN THE SKY which is also published as a digital single follows. Amazing typic guitar work convince me, but after a while I keep listen twice the voice. What´s happen now ??? Why didn´t celebrate JOSH KRAMER this tune. Instead of him we hear RICHARD LYNCH also well known from his position on the bass. By the way he isn´t a bad vocalist but in direct com parision to the master himself JOSH KRAMER couldn´t he win my full attention. In hope that this will be only an experiment for more alternate await I the next round. My hopes didn´t come true. Again does RICHARD LYNCH the job behind the micro. I couldn´t believe it. His voice which reminds me there a little bit on OZZY is miles away from the standart which I await from such an icon act as SAINT. Of luck returns the master on the incredibile titletune CRIME SCENE EARTH with his mighty voice. It seems everything in my little world works again. No matter only this neckbreaker together with HALF A TIME´S MEASURE is it worth to order this item. But the bitter reality comes back. I can´t close my eyes or blokade my ears. At least does RICHARD LYNCH the wright one inside the mighty cut THE JUDAS IN ME. Maybe I should not imagine how could sound this molten piece of metal if JOSH KRAMER would perform it. To be fair and accept the actual situation should feel that RICHARD intoduce this one like the present Mr. HALFORD. I don´t will continue in phrazes again about the next composition TOO MANY because with INVADER comes a dream true. Yeäh, I wait years for the chance to hear from SAINT a JUDAS PRIEST cover. Natural that JOSH KRAMER must do this homage. Nobody else could do this better as he. Next round and RICHARD returns with a slight HEAVY DUTY inspired song with the title BENDED KNEE. Really heavy walts this marching tune and RICHARD is performing there really good too. Without a doubt is this his best achievement till know. LOST is a rockin heavy tune and he convince me there too. Musically is CRIME SCENE EARTH a top work. Also the production is there with a lot of more power as on THE MARK. But I can´t understand the decision to change the unique and symbolic voice. I don´t know what is the reason for this. Perhaps my critism about the facts on CRIME SCENE EARTH are to harsh. It would be interesting what all the many followers in the world think about the change. It doesn´t matter. Reality is that CRINE SCENE EARTH is in direct comparison to many other actual releases still a high class classic Heavy Metal album. Hopefully this will be not the last chapter in the long history of SAINT and the quintett returns in the future again with a strong album. Check out some snipnets inside www.myspace.com/saintmetal or order long times wanted items from their back catalogue and a lot of other merchandise through their website www.saintsite.com . By the way there exist also a best of compilation which contains their both out of print classic albums TIME´S END and TOO LATE FOR LIVING together with the WARRIORS OF THE SUN EP plus some bonus tracks. Newcomers could start the adventure SAINT also with the 2005 released live album... !!! There are a lot of things to discover by SAINT. Don´t be lazy. Support this original artist because only with your help could exist an active music scene !!! articel by Gerald Mittinger
SAINT - HELL BLADE(RETROACTIVE RECORDS CD´2010) UNITED STATES
The snsesation is perfect. The new year is only a month old and one of my all time faves returns with a superb new album in their back to the hard and heavy business. Packaged as a noble digipack by RETROACTIVE records is the way to the christian Heavy Metal heir only a question of time. That JOSH KRAMER did again all vocallines is an imense pleasure for all. As I wrote above in my review about their former release CRIME SCENE EARTH wasn´t it acceptable to be staties fied with the solution that he´s no more the voice attraction. SAINT without him isn´t possible! Yet so far. But fact is also that the band firms now with a different line up against the one on CRIME SCENE EARTH. It seems that DEE HARIGNTON leaves the group. We also welcome behind the drums BILL BROST. With this new constellation works now hopefully anything again like in the old glorious days. But let´s first surprise with the setlist for HELL BLADE. In tradition opens an bombas tic intro the reign untill THE BLADE starts this album souvereign. Uh, all my fears are blast in one moment. JOSH KRAMER is back better then ever !!! Together with the charismatic and outstanding guitarwork by JERRY JOHNSON burns the air. With the following TO THE CROSS earns the quartett my full respect. US Power Metal at it´s best without any influences. Strong and unbended straight to your nervs. CRYING IN THE NIGHT marches with a rockin´ vibe. Of course we can hear there the beloved easy JUDAS PRIEST influences too. But all in all is this a great tune too. With a evil dark sinister undertow packed in a crytal clear production by RICHARD LYNCH who pulls of course the mighty four strings is HELL TRAIN one of the spectacularest compositions on this neckbreaking new release. Those which not run in circles by listening this powerfull track couldn´t be metal followers. Exact at the middle of the playtime enjoys us then the pounding midtempo banger ENDLESS NIGHT. It really feels good to listen such an epic runner like this. Would be great to see the band live in action at one of the upcoming festivals in Europe. Let´s send us all our praise and opinion to call em back in the old world. But first of all let´s review the rest of HELL BLADE. Similar like in their haydays performs the band with YOU & ME another one of this timeless classic US Metal cuts. Another real remindable hymn is then NEW WORLD ORDER. I´m sure there will be a lot of rumour if they will celebrate this riffmonster at their gigs. Just risc an ear and listen the fantastic guitar solo by JERRY JOHNSON. Of course if you hear the tracks you wouldn´t miss a second guitarist. JERRY fills out everything with his amazing riffs. High ladden energy US Metal like a soul therapy is the catchy winner SINNER PEACE. Without a doubt is this tune one of the real great moments on this album. Finally ends this well ballanced release the screaming JUDAS PRIEST alike titletrack HELL BLADE this compilation. No matter HELL BLADE is exact the album for which await all the many SAINT followers. Yes and like I wrote at the beginning of this review is the sensation absolute perfect. Why? If you pull out the disc from the inner tray you can see there a focus of the latest releases of RETROACTIVE RECORDS. Yep no new idea but my eyes catched the new printed cover artwork for CRIME SCENE EARTH 2.0. Yeäh, you read right. The band rereleased the album and the big surprise is that JOSH KRAMER is to hear on all tracks of this rerecording. Isn´t this a good news. Yet I´ve ordered my copy ! Soon you will find there a review. But wouldn´t it better you check em out now too. www.retroactiverecords.net and of course as natural www.saintsite.com . Maybe my call will be heard and a promoter let the heavnly metalists join the european stages too. The usefull link and information for this kind of operationto bring the quartett over the ocean could be www.benchmarkartistmanagement.com . artiiscle by Gerald Mittinger
STEEL KINGDOM - REFORGED REFIEND(PRISM BREAK RECORDS / CD´2008) UNITED STATES
It makes me glad to review here the second release of this Rochester/NY based quintett. Of course the group didn´t changed their style. Similar as on their impressive debut album from 2004 joins the group again the traditionell US-Metal style. Maybe the only difference is that some of the new numbers tendence in a more US Power Metal oriantated dirrection. Of course there are also changes in the line up too. From the old line up is only the charismatic vocalist SEAN WILLIAMS and his companion TK KENNEDY on the drums still active. The new guitarist which kicks the band to another limit is MIKE CAPUTO. On the position of the four strings agitates HERB RENKE. Also new is the addition of a keyboarder. But no fear STEVE MIESZALA does his job decent. Remember I wrote above the band is in the US-Metal / Power Metal circle. So was and will it be by STEEL KINGDOM !!! So let´s start fo focus our attention on the new album. I remember as I watched in the past the cover of the debut I couldn´t imagine that behind this unspectacular picture hides an US-Metal band. Now on REFORGED REFIEND didn´t made the group the same mistake again. One look at the artwork and there will be no more questions about the musically dirrection. The message is now clear. The opening track LOST starts theis recording with a lot of energy and place the band somewhere between the fine borderline of US Metal and Power Metal. Better couldn´t start this disc. THE TIES THAT BIND is a catchy timeless US-Metal runner. An absolute great midtempo running number follows with BELIEVE. Oh yes, there returns similar as in some great tunes from the debut a little bit the feeling of the famous old SAVATAGE. At the borderline to US-Power Metal acts the fast arranged FORTUNE TELLER. In the same dirrection strikes then the superb arranged cut TIME. The following slow arranged THE STORM IN ME didn´t con vince me at all. Some boring choruslines and cheesy accords let me skip fast to the next one. Uhh, of luck find the boys back to the path of their real talent. Powerfull US Metal !!! By the way this tune with the title THERE IS A TIME is a complex and overhelming instrumental. But be sure that this one will keep your full attention. In other words it works brilliant. But no, what goes on with BEYOND THE VEIL follows a fragile little ballad. Of course this one isn´t bad but I awaited another metal blast. After this delay convince finally really another great midtempo US Metal track our lost souls. This one firms under the promising title PRICE YOU PAY and could be describe as a phenomenal mix of the old SAVATAGE / LIZZY BORDEN. Especially the famous and tecnical on high standard celebrated guitarwork by MIKE CAPUTO made this cut to an outstanding adventure. Another great monumental midtempo grinding number with epic undertunes follows with the title TEMPTED. The mystic feeling inside this composition is really all the running time mysterious. US Metal to the maximum delivers us FACE YOUR FEAR finally too. At least rise this piece of blistering metal once again to a top number on this good release. My only desire for the future is that the band continues constant in their style at this high level. No more fillers like THE STORM IN ME and the next release will be a real killer. You can check out some snipnets and infos inside www.myspace.com/STEELKINGDOM or at their regular website under www.SteelKingdom.net and perhaps also ordering infos at their company www.PrismBreakRecords.com too. By the way the album is also into the distribution of www.CDBABY.com . I´m not sure if the band still sells their good debut album. But maybe it´s still available too. So don´t miss it to complete your collection with another collectable diamond. article by Gerald Mittinger
SIBILA - FE, ACERO Y CORAZON(PRIVATE RELEASE / CD´2009) ESPANA
As everybody meanwhile knows is this Madrid based classic female fronted Heavy Metal bands one of the hottest irons in the whole latin metal world. Behind the success of their fantastic debut SIN ALMA wasn´t this metalist´s lazy...!!! Of luck they didn´t changed anything. Also in the year
2009 stands the name SIBILA for classic down to the bone Heavy Metal. But let´s find the right words for the eleven pounding strikers on this well packaged album. Yeäh, if we look at this mystic sword driven fantasy artwork could we manifest only one thought without to hear any notes of the music ~ this must be metal. Ya know all this feeling if you discover a new band at your local record dealer and it isn´t posible to hear inside the product. What we do is to look at the cover and maybe we check the liner notes. But SIBILA made it us with this cover easy !!! I´m sure that the most of us will grab this one without to think a single second this couldn´t be metal... ha,ha!!! So here we are to start the next adventure in listening. EL SIERVO (THE SLAVE) opens tight and souvereign with a phenomenal BEGONA SANCHEZ in topform the reign. Absolute compatible in the style of such legends as SANTA acts as next the culty hymn EN LAS BLUSAS. Beside the great voice is it the fantastic guitar work by JOSE CARLOS MARTIN "RUBIO" which gives this piece of impressive music such an recomendable tick. Even if this tune ends when you think this couldn´t be toped follows the next hymn. FE, ACERO Y CORAZON (FAITH, STEEL AND HEART) is the titletrack and really a high class epic edged classic Heavy Metal composition. RUBIO leads in with a fast solopart TU CRUEL REALIDAD untill this running tune drives you insane. I know the spanish metal scene is rich on bands which celebrates our beloved style with bravour, but SIBILA are the uncrowned new kings of the classic immortal Heavy Metal. If you listen intense through head phones with full volume the next unbelieve able diamond MALDITO INFIEL (DAMNED UNBELIEVERS) you will run in circles and shout the refrain untill your neighbours will stand infront of your door. The tight rhythmen feeling and skill of this quartett (CARLOS LLORENA bass and backround vocales as well on the drums the senor with the great bunch JOSE PERAL) works hand in hand and lift the band easy to the top of their style !!! DONDE ESTA DIOS (WHERE ARE THESE GODS) is a wonderful relaxed ballad which let you dream and rethink. But the fame didn´t ends. CRISANTEMOS is another fast driven metal classic. All this maniac followers of pounding midtempo riffbreakers with an epic edge should listen once in their life such an example as SANGRE ENVENENADA (POISNED BLOOD) . In the same direction leads us overhelming SOLO SEXO. Great, different and unusal works the fast and aggressive but in the same time mystic acting EN EL BILLAR (IN THE BILLADROOM). Uh, the guitars rumbling there like the billard balls on the green table. The final tune L.S.D. is a fine mixture of US-Metal and timeless classic styled Heavy Metal. For my taste couldn´t reach this album a higher level. This is perfect and I wish this outstanding band every posible success .. !!! Write em today. They need your support www.myspace.com/sibilasibila . article by Gerald Mittinger
SAGITTARI - ZARIKAVAC HADU(PRIVATE RELEASE / CD´2008) CZECH REPUBLIC
During the end of the nineties untill the beginning of this millenium was also in the Czech Republic a stagnition inside the real metal scene. Of course some of the well known bands published more or less good albums. But there was no fresh blood insight. Meanwhile changed the situtation and more and more promising bands enters the spotlight. Also SAGITTARI is such an aspirant. The first recording of this quintett offes us some exiting moments. The album starts with a classic music arranged instrumental untill the long composition NOCNI OBRAD opens the reign. Perhaps it was not the best decision to put this track on the album. Inspired by SONATA ARCTICA and LABYRINTH lacks this tune of originality. Of luck follows with VLADCI then an outstanding composition. Far away from the typical Euro melodic metal grab is this strong number more on the hard bigbeat / melodic metal style of their country orientated. In first degree lives this number from the strong guitarwork of PAVEL STEJSKAL and LUKAS BELEHRADEK. Even the next song ZARIKAVAC HADU follows in this recomendable art too. Fine melodic guitars in contribution with the good voice of IVOS MAZOUREK convince the listener. ZA MASKOU is also an ode to all the lovers of good melodic arranged metal too. Hard edged with speedy riffs tracks down the classic metal tune ACCOLTELLATORE. Again exits us the good arrangements inside the classic metal runner SARKOFAK POZNANI. Balladesc and dramatic starts GRAFFITI. The band stands there in line with all the great names of the czech bigbeat as SIFON, KERN, BRIX to name a few. No matter there is a lot of potencial behind SAGITTARI. RACING GEAR is a cool number which combinates a strong melody with catchy and fast riffs. Maybe the best and hardest composition on this album is for me SACHYSTA. Dramatic and sinister parts change there with hard beats but still dominates a great melodyline this cut too. Like a little metal opera acts finally the over twelve minutes long good structured SVEDECTVI . Without a doubt is SAGITTARI one of the biggest hopes in the current czech metal scene. I really appreciate this album a lot and I´m sure that there will be soon a publishing through a record company. A big production will reflect this good compositions in the wright light. Check out for infos their website under the follow ing ling www.sagittari.cz or contact the band through info@sagittari.cz . article by Gerald Mittinger
SCALA MERCALLI - BORDER WILD(HEART OF STEEL RECORDS HOS 0916 / CD´2009) ITALY
Founded back in 1992 released this long time living italian band four years later their first demo HELLBRINGER. After three years followed then with GARGOYLE the second demonstration. But it should take again more time untill after the for promo only demo MY DEAMONS finally in 2005 the 12TH LEVEL debut came out on the small local company AB RECORDS. By the way 12TH LEVEL was a very good album but without a good distribution couldn´t reach the band a bright audience. With their new release BORDER WILD is now everything posible. Their new company HEART OF STEEL RECORDS is able to distribute this fine work also outside of Italy too. Packaged in an impressive cover artwork will convince this album from the first moment every follower of technical high class Power Metal. The Fermo based quintett sounds there never like an italian group. Their roots and influences are based in the tecnical US-Power Metal how we can find it by such great bands as HADES, HERETIC or LIEGE LORD. No matter the aim to catch the listener is there high. But not to high for SCALA MERCALLI. Behind a short guitar intro starts then this work with the impressive titletrack BORDER WILD. The maniac alike US-Metal influenced driven guitarpower by ANDRIY POLTAVETS and RICARDO RICCI convince me there from the first moment. Mighty and powerfull creeps their tecnical and complex but still followable Power Metal sound in your veins. Feel the rush in your veins during CHRISTIAN BARTOLACCI aclaims with his unique voice the next level. With inzane power follows ONLY RAGE. Think the songtitle speaks for itself. CHRISTIAN´S variable vocals fits every second exact to the various tunning of the song. I wish to have the chance to see this hypergroup once in my lifetime live. If you keep listen the album by your headphones you can imagine what kind of animal must be there drummer SERGIO CICCOLI. By the way the band owns with GIUSY BETTEI a very good female basser too. The fourth rumbler firms I´LL STOP THE TIME. This cut is a fast running tune with a great remindable chorusline. The following PAIN is another fantasic melodic edged Power Metal stumper. Beside the brilliant guitarwork stands behind the song an interessant conceptional story about the actual terrible pheno men of amok runners in our schools. At the halftime of this disc we came into the pleasure to hear the song which gives the band their name. SCALA MERCALLI is a track like a earthquake. Pounding parts (a can hear there a slight JUDAS PRIEST influence too) change there with more panic alike guitar attacks even like in a catastrophic situation. But believe me everything sounds there well structured and clear. Behind this masterpiece banns my sins the ultratight classic Heavy Metal tune (SABOTAGE meets LIEGE LORD) SHADOW KILLER. If GEOFF TATE would settle up to POWER / THRASH METAL his voice would maybe sounding as CHRISTIAN BARTOLACCI performs. Relaxed starts THE SENSE OF REALITY but changed in his follow in a good midtempo number. An eruption opens the mighty and powerfull composition VOLCANO. If you buy this CD (yeäh, ".and you buy this album" ) take the time and read the interessant storyline to this song too. With MIDNIGHT SUN an ok semiballad where we can hear GIUSY BETTEI together with CHRISTIAN BARTOLLACCI end finally this highflyer. As I wrote some lines above do yourself a favour and keep listen inside this bravorous album. www.myspace.com/scalamercalli or take a look at their official bandsite under www.scalamercalli.com too. If you couldn´t find this disc at your local dealer contact their company via www.myspace.com/heartofsteelrecords . articel by Gerald Mittinger
SCALA MERCALLI - 12TH LEVEL(AB RECORDS / CD´2005) ITALY
If you read at first the review for their actual release BORDER WILD you can find out that I´m on the best way to be an absolute follower of this incredible band. No matter after I´m going crazy about their present release I don´t hesitate to contact the group and ordered their first official release 12TH LEVEL. Now I´m sitting in front of my computer wear a band shirt and keep listen full of enthusiasm this fine packaged forgotten digipack. But this album shouldn´t be forgotten. It should reach the same publicity as their latest disc too. Direct with the straight opener SCREAM FOR REVENGE starts the quintett their inzane crusade of tecnical highclass complex arranged Power Metal. Double twins and an unbelieveable creativity by the overhelming guitarduo RICCARDO RICCI / MAURO MANCINELLI rush my inner nervosity pride to the tact. Fast and razorsharp strikes without mercy MY DEAMONS. This US Power Metal running steamer is a must for every follower of this style. After I keep listen many times this favorite I find finally the skipkey forward to BANSHEE`S WHISPER. The first riffs in the midtempo style shakes my soul untill the tempo rises up. The markant voice of their extraordinary singer CHRISTIAN BARTOLACCI give then this cut his final destitination. But the madness finds no end. DISSOLVED IN TIME is another great classic Power Metal runner. With the smashing and power driven BLOODY NIGHT joins SCALA MERCALLI again the path to a more tecnical direction. Once again I couldn´t imagine in one listen the potencial of this great composition. Be sure you will keep listen this one many times too. With a recomendable riffing takes the following DAY OF FIGHTER no prisoners. We´ve enjoy loud shouting the great refrain... !!! Fast and furious speedy Power Metal in the US style is the background of QUEEN OF DRAGONS. If you thought that this disc will contain no more surpises keep listen THE NEW KINGDOM and you will find another facet in their style too. This masterpiece beginns with an impressive acoustic arranged short guitarpart a little bit in the flamenco style by RICCARDO RICCI. Tecnical on high standart with a catchy nervosity convince me this high level smasher absolute. Short breaks with RICCARDO´S skillful and unusal kind to play his guitar give this outstanding track a different note. The next chapter is reserved for THE SIGN. The first part of this composition acts like a fragile but enorm intense semiballad untill the song changes more and more into an outstanding driven Heavy Metal tune. Epic moments change there with glorious guitar parts since another unbelieveable guitar solo breaks the mirror of agony. After a running time from over seven minutes ends this fantastic track relaxed with some nice acoustic parts. Last but not least close the incredible hymn 12TH LEVEL wth a big Power Metal bolt impressive this work. Believe us, this album acts like an earthquake... !!! Don´t miss this outstanding metal gem in your collection. Use your chance to get this one as long it will be available. www.scalamercalli.com and of course www.myspac.com/scalamercalli . articel by Gerald Mittinger
STORMBRINGER - AMONG THE FLAMES OF WAR(EAT METAL RECORDS EMR 021 / CD´2009) GREECE
New epic edged classic Heavy Metal from Greece delivers us STORMBRINGER. This latest sign from EAT METAL RECORDS tooks a lot of attentionn. Maybe the opening titletrack isn´t the best solution to offer this release the listener. But damn good works then the following self titled banger STORMBRINGER. Close in the style to such US Metal legends as BROCAS HELM, MANILLA ROAD with a touch of MAIDEN / PRIEST is this tune a real surprise. With a decent mix of old NWOBHM ryhthm and US-Metal influences delivers us HEATHEN CRY the next stunnin experience. I like this rare union of this both kinds of traditional metal a lot. Especially their frontmen TRYFONAS helps with his markant and strong unique voice the band to find an outstanding original style. By the many bands which were published on and on today it isn´t easy to conquer the listeners. But STORMBRINGER is one of this groups which earns your full attention. Just listen the battlecry epic warrior tune RETURN OF THE AVENGER which blows me away by the first listening . Under the banner of real US-Metal influenced timeless classic mid tempo arranged Heavy Metal firms the epos LIONHEART. We have to attest the musicans for this masterpiece our deepest homage. I feel that they celebrate this omposition with all their inner conviction. Also with heartblood and fanatism to the detail of marching metal acts the from the nordic mythologic inspired power epos EINHERIER. By the way the father of classic british metal JUDAS PRIEST was an inofficial stream for the straight runner RAGING STEEL. But it doesn´t matter if this quartett hulds up the glory high to this unforgetable timepart in the history of our favoriste style. In other words follow our motto " IN DAYS OF HEAVY METAL". Free and easy high above over the crowd of the metal heads strikes UNDER THE WINGS OF THE EAGLE. Sattle up my horse, sharp my sword to fight the endless metalbattle. Continue in this great style finished the fantastic and mighty roaring fantasy basher ARES this great debut. my only desire for the future is that the group holds on in their direction to celebrate and life the real outstanding Heavy Metal. I´m sure if there will be constant follow ups from this class that the band will made their way to the top. Grab this fine debut today or start a prelistening under www.myspace.com/stormbringer . For personal questions send your mails to storm_tasos@hotmail.com . articel by Gerald Mittinger
SEVEN - LOST HERO(PRIVATE RELEASE / CD-EP´2009) CZECH REPUBLIC
During the band works with full power in the studio to release soon their seventh fullength recording SEVEN DEADLY SINS and simultan runs many gigs all around the czech republic the quartett put for free this so called rarity EP as bonus inside the actually SPARK MAGAZINE (04/2009). I know that this is a very good idea that works and will awake the interest of many new fans. Simililar in Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria helped this model of publicity new and also well known acts too to comeback in talk and in the minds of the listeners. But let´s us return to the still present work of SEVEN. First of all is the EP
inside a lovely designed paper sleevecard packaged. Of course it´s a real industrial pressed CD which contains as bonus a proffesional videoclip of the titletrack. Yeäh, I don´t know if the group publishhed in the past this track in a different ver sion because at the cover is written the rare version. It doesn´ t matter, what count´s is that LOST HERO is a great powerful timeless melodic metal tune. HONZA "KIRK" BEHUNEK (which started the group back in 1996) is a brilliant gui tarist and yet so far the leading person inside SEVEN. But at the other hand fea tures the group an extraordinary talented vocalist too. JIRI "KOMBI" KOMBEREC transports with his great performance easy the english lyrics to the listener! The second round on this EP is then reserved for the up tempo rocker MIDNIGHT CIRCUS. Easy and relaxed shakes then WEB OF OBSESSION my hopes and fears and reminds in his style and structure on a mixture of GUNS´N´ROSES and WHITESNAKE. Last but not least crowns this cool item a funny videoklip for the titlesong. The virtuel scenario of this clip was filmed during a visit in Moscow / Russia. I don´t know if SEVEN was there for some concerts present too. At all event shows this proffesional clip some of the talent and the skill to do a funny musicclip. Untill the complete new album SEVEN DEADLY SINS will be published could be this EP the wright appetizer for you. By the way as I wrote at the beginning of this review published the band in the past a couple more albums. During the first three recordings were instrumental guitar albums by HONZA "KIRK" BEHUNEK is the tendence of the last recordings clear to vocal band alike compositions. So was a guest appereance by DORO on the former release SEVENS. Those who are interested now in this superb group should waiste no more time and contact the band through their management harustak@alfedus.com or take a look at their website www.sevencz.com . article by Gerald Mittinger 
SPACE EATER - MERCIFUL ANGEL(I HATE RECORDS / CD´2007) SERBIA
This release is without a doubt one of the top old school Power/Thrash Metal releases of the past year. Maybe the Belgrade based quartett is in the moment the best in this style inside their home country Serbia. So it´s no wonder that this group is picked up by a foreign label. I HATE RECORDS a small but fine company from Sweden used their chance and signed up this more than hopeful band. For me is SPACE EATER the total musically rage. Of course I know that my describtion is not new, but during the listening of the constant high class material on this disc I feel permanent remind on such famous US-bands as AGENT STEEL and HOLY TERROR. I am sure some of you didn´t trust in this words, cause it isn´t easy to join in a success ful way the so called Bay Area Thrash. But believe me this isn´t another cheesy describtion. SPACE EATER rises really in high above with their tunes and it would be a shame if you wouldn´t give em a chance with the wright support.Last but not least I will find some closing words about the impres sive cover artwork of MERCIFUL ANGEL.More or less will remember the open mind buyer this artwork on the terrible happenings during the past but still not forgotten war in ex-Yugoslavija.By the way I read in side the complett printed lyrics inside the cd-booklet also some intelegent lyrics from the vocalist and songwriter BOSKO RADISIC.Perhaps some of them as BOMBS AWAY or DEATH FROM BELOW will bring you to rethink this happen ings. So give em all of your support by checking their website: www.space-eater.com . article by Gerald Mittinger
SARATOGA - VII(AVISPA DIGIPACK & DVD´2007) ESPANA
The seventh stroke of this well known spanish metal institution features the new vocalist TETE NOVOA. Similar like the brilliant former voice acrobat LEO JIMENEZ ranks his performance high over the top too. Be hind a long waiting time from nearly three years after the last real studio release EL CLAN DE LA LUCHA (THE FIGHTING CLAN) was a lot of rumour about this new recording. Several line up changes robed the last albums a little bit their authentic. Uneasy I started so a prelistening to this new effort. Fortuanely returns again the fire in this reborn metal community. Wihout a compromise starts the album with the melodic earcatcher EL VUELO DEL HALCON (which is also included as videoclip in the bonus DVD) before the following DUENO DEL AIRE with uptempo latin metal your attention aclaims. Fantastic !!! SARATOGA returns with a brilliant recording. After the balladesc starting SIGUES ESTANDO (EN MI VIDA) and than exploding into a pounding killertrack rules the aggressive a little JUDAS PRIEST influenced GRAN MAGO. Absolute typic in style acts SIETE PECADOS followed ba another up tempo banger with the title ENTRE LAS LLAMAS. EN TU CUERPO is the emotional ballad. But maybe the most metallic effort is the evil and fast BAILANDO CON EL DIABLO. Not so strong is in my ears the next cut HURACAN. Ok, perhaps this track sound a little bit to commercial in my ears. Unfortunaly strikes back well the catchy LA MALDICION. Slow and heavy creeps the semiballad SEMILLAS DE ODIO in your brain, before the album with EL GUARDIAN finds a majestic final. I am not sure if SARATOGA returns with this relea se to the latin metal throne, because there are lot´s of concurents in this scene. But I know that they published again a worth to buying tradition al metal item. So hurry up and find your infos under: www.saratoga.es . article by Gerald Mittinger
SBS - THE GAMBLER(MONACO MUSIC CD´2008) LITHUANIA
SBS - GIMES LAIMETI 777(PRIVATE RELEASE CD / DVD´2006) LITHUANIA
Beside the well known KATEDRA is this Vilnius based traditional heavy me tal band the most famous band in this little country. Of course the quintett exists since a long time. No matter that the album is packed with highclass tunes. After the obligate intro AMEN starts the album with the impressive SV ETIMI PAUKSCIAI. I wish I could be one of the viewers at this live recorded songs. This song beats a strong atmosphere and reminds me on the rock saurus legends RAINBOW and DIO. In the same strong style follows TU VIS KA SUTRYPEI KAS SVENTA. The good introducing of keyboards are arran ged in the style of the big & famous scandinavian melodic metal bands as EUROPE, TREAT and MADISON.
But to lead you all not into a wrong imagine about SBS. I used this groups only for an indirect comparision to made it easier to describe the sound of this great band. Of course no musican likes this compar isions and it´s true to attest this quartett an unique bombast melodic metal sound. But if I write concrete here about mel odic metal I didn´t mean this kind of today´s light and easy composed small metal. No way, SBS are founded in the bombast melodic metal of the 80ies. But before I loose the basic about the style of the band I return to the more impor tant fact, the featured material on this fine packaged disc. So here we run with KELIO ATGAL NERA continue in this direction.Like a yourney back in the glory 80ies are the following AS NAKTYJE and the classical inspired SUGRIZK. In the line of scandina vian melodic metal reigns also VIZIJA.Maybe this track acts a bit to poppy and static. The live recording ends then with the amazing and memorable TIK MENULIO SVIESA. Dur ing the sound quality of the liverecording could be sometimes better shows the second part of the album the real class of SBS. This six studio recordings brilliance with with a perfect powerfull sound. Their vocalist VITALIS KAIRIUKSTIS is a big one in his genre. Tracks like BLEFAS, ZAIDEJAS or a more into the power me tal vain acting cut as DRAKONS winning so enorm on dynamic. General is the ten dence at this studio cuts into the melodic power metal corner.In other words, a great band with a wide view for the future. Beside this audio CD contains this package also a live DVD from the ROKO NAKTYS 2005 festival with eleven tracks. No matter this proffesional filmed concert of the extrava gant show is good to view. All the mentioned live tracks from the audio cd plus a couple of more celebrates there the group. Of course the sound quality as well the performance is candy for your metal tongue. The boys are tight musicans. THOMAS VARNAGIRIS is an impressive guitarist with a little MALMSTEEN attitude. But the top of the crown is the voice and the visuell performance of their suberb singer VITALIS KAIRIUKSTIS. Perfect how did he act the whole gig. A class for itself is his outfit. I hope this review mades you all curiosity to their cd´s.Check em out under www.sbs.666.lt or take a look at the website under www.myspace.com/menliosviesa. article by Gerald Mittinger
STAINLESS STEEL - THE PLAGUE(NAIL RECORDS 083 / CD´2007) HUNGARY
A big step forward is the third release by this hungarian hard edged symphonic metal veterans. During the old publishings wasn´t the best solutions surprise me this new album a lot. Of course the quartett didn´t rebuild this genre new. But THE PLAGUE is a fresh sounding album with some nice ideas. The disc is intelligent arranged and if I checked anything wright stand behind the story a concept album. After an obligatory introduction starts the album with a hard edged symphonic number under the monkicker CHILDREN OF INNOCENCE . Typical symphonic metal elements change in the follow with influences of BLIND GUARDIAN, DARK MOOR, LABYRINTH and maybe sometimes old HELLOWEEN. The perfect mix allows the garniture of Power Metal elements too. Their vocalist JOZSEF KREISZ solve his vocal parts with bravour. One of the other highlights on this recording is the with progressive parts inteligent arranged NEW SPELL during the melodious PESTILENCE acts close to well known represants inside this genre too. With majestic keyboard parts in contribution to the present SYMPHONY X style is INNER FEARS another surprise. More energetic but more or less in the same style is the following VOICES OF DARKNESS arranged. It´s clear that metal purists didn´t will give this keyboard dominate sound a listen. But an open minded metal fan will accept this arrange ments. Try it out and build up your own opinion by checking out their website www.stainlesssteel.hu or drop em soon a line under info@stainlesssteel.hu. Perhaps I should give their old recordings also a spin. article by Gerald Mittinger
SOULSTEALER - SOULSTEALER(LEDO TAKAS RECORDS / CD´2008) LITHUANIA
Suddenly I saw a concertflyer where was writen something about the New Wave of Lithuanian Metal. That´s always funn if different nations use this famous words for new upcoming hopeful bands. But in the contex with this latest sign from Ledo Takas Records (a superb new little label from their homecountry) works this words well. SOULSTEALER is a melodic Power Metal band from the capital of this little country Vilnius. But their great debut album offers us without a doubt some great momen ts. Somewhere between old STRATOVARIOUS in combination with slight IRON MAIDEN and JUDAS PRIEST influences cooks this talented band a fine well ballanced brand of melodic power metal. JERONIMAS MILIUS is a strong voca list. Of course I prefer it a lot that he cele brates the lyrics in his native language. Beside the 80ies influenced guitarwork by ENRIKAS SLAINSKIS plays the keyboard a dominate role too. But not as today usal as in so many sym phonic metal clone bands.The use this instrument only to fullfile their sound.Of course so rise the regonize factor for SOULSTEALER too. Midtempo arranged melodic Power Metal numbers as for example PADEK ISNYKTI changes with uptempo tracks in the style of THE REAPER. If there will be in the future once again the direction into the strong metal direc tion I promise this band a lot of success outside their homecountry too... more under www.soulstealer.lt or www.myspace.com/soulstealer. Perha ps it is also of interest if you check the mailorder catalogue from their company: www.ledotakas.net . article by Gerald Mittinger
SIX BEER - ANGELES CAIDOS(PRIVATE RELEASE CD´2007) MEXICO
This is the great return of one of mexicans premium Power Metal acts of the past. Unbelieveable what a comeback in the latin metal scene! he album con vince on and on with strong tracks. Everything sounds like pure steel. If we prefer in southamerica bands as HORCAS and CANCIONES CONCIENTES is SIX BEER the perfect pendant from middleamer ica. Great melodies pack ed in Power metal of pure iron is the sectret of the success. As I wrote in the beginning of this review is ANGELES CAIDOS the long awaited comeback of this well known metallists... They released in the past a couple of great albums in this style too. Of course they are pioneers from the start of this style in the middle- and southamerican metal scene. DEMONIOS DE METAL is then the perfect opener for this disc. Followed by the 80ies pounding metal smasher VAMPIROS.A track with a great harmony line is APOCALIP SIS during LANZALO AL VIENTO is a heavy slow marching metal monster. Absolute exstatic and hellbent runs CUANDO LA LUZ SE ESCAPE US OJOS. The titletrack reminds me a little bit on old LUZBEL tracks. Oh yes, I write this as a big compliment. No doubt this is another fine metallic remindable tune.Based on native mexican roots starts SANGREMAL quite with some flauts and acoustic guitars before the track turns into another Power Metal tune. DE ROL POR LA CIUDAD contains some JUDAS PRIEST alike riffs but works in the typical SIX BEER style.No matter this musicans are tight. So I don´t wonder me about the semi power (metal) ballad SIX MICHELADA. Also quite and sinister starts the final runner EL FANTASMA. But this silence breaks after seconds untill this speedy with slow heavy parts mixed instrumental metal tune runs down the red line . All in all is ANGELES DEL CAIDOS a fantastic Power Metal release.Read more under www.sixbeer.com.mx or www.myspace.com/sixbeermetal . article by Gerald Mittinger
SJK - THE METAL CRONICALS (WALK THE DARK PATH)(private release / CD´2005) BULGARIA
Whenever I keep listen this stunning album from SJK I am total confused ! Why, what´s the reason? That´s easy to answer. This band sounds not a single moment like a band from Bulgaria. If I would not know it better I would
think they are hailing somewhere from North America. In first degree is alone the fantastic vocalist DILJAN ARNAUDOV the reason which reminds me on post US-Metal acts as NEVERMORE. He use perfect this meanwhile rare singing with high pitched screams in the forgotten US-Metal alike vocalstyle. Never we hear by him one second any pro nouncing problems which could us remember on his home country. I am not sure if this spoken rumour is true, but it seems so that DILJAN ARNAUDOV lifes meanwhile in Great Britain and joined there a group too.Hopefully this will be not the end of SJK. Beside him brilliance STEFAN STEFANOV with dozens of unbelieveable good lead & rhythm guitar licks.Of course also the both other bandmembers (PLAMEN SOLAKOV on the bass and EMIL KOSTOV the extraordinary drumgod) are very tight on their in struments too. I know that this Dimitrovgrad based quartett released before THE ME TAL CRONICALS (WALK THE DARK PATH...yes, we do!) two more professional demo CDR´s. Also there we can hear this musical and instrumental orientation near to such acts as NEVERMORE, MEGADETH and a bit of the mighty ANNIHILATOR. Needless to pick up from from the ten songs special tracks, because everybody of them is a highclass tune of it´s own! My only desire for the future is that the band will find the way back in the studio to record as soon as posible another great new album.Maybe then a label outside of Bulgaria could sign this hopefulls. www.sjkband.com or ask by mail to order this fantastic recording direct from their present management com pany contact@sma.biz . article by Gerald Mittinger
SAPON - BEST OF 2000 - 2003(PRIVATE RELEASE / CDR´2003) CZECH REPUBLIC
Maybe some of you remember this old czech hard and heavy legend from their contribution on the ROCK MAPA LP (a compilation of czech heavy bands published at the end of the eighties on SUPRAPHON RECORDS). Unfortunate this company didn´t released an album of this fine band. But of luck published the group around the guitarist and vocalist MIROSLAV KULHANEK this interesant BEST OF compiltaion with material from the beginning of this mille nium. DEJ MI opens in best east rock style this album. By the way this melodic heavy rocker is a good example for the high class of this legend. NEVIDITELNY is a rockin tune with metallic influences like is was in at the beginning of the 80ies. During you never forget the catchy chorus lines of MAYDAY. Without a doubt is this heavy rollin tune one of the absolute highlights on this compilation. MAYDAY !!!! With lots of feeling starts MYSLENKY untill this strong heavy rocker opens his face after a while. Incredible good guitarwork by MIROSLAV KULHANEK and the second guitarist MICHAL STRAUCH made this track unforgetable. Time for great 80ies heavy metal delivers us then again the running cut PROROK. Even a tick faster with a slight late 70ies influence acts MONTREAL. In the tradi tion of timeless east hard rock with fine melodies stands VSTAVEJ. Of course befor I forget it. The vocals are done by VLADIMIR SOCHACI (which handles also the bass) on some tracks too. Both vocalists are doing their job with lots of skill.The following NOCNI PTAK is for my opinion the only weak compoition on this famous compiltion. Of course not every track of our favo rite bands must be our cup of tea. With fine acoustic guitar parts in contribu tion of emotional vocallines starts HLI NENY MOST... and in seconds the band wins back my heart. Stunnin guitarparts and acoustic parts holding the ballance of this outstanding tune continue high. Fast 80ies Heavy Metal of upper limit is the keyword behind the supertrack TASEMNICE. More in the vain of timeless hardrock leads us then DAN. The album ends with the filigran RANO (MORNING) a fine bigbeat number in the style of the famous czech legend OLYMPIC. I really appreciate this compi lataion of timeless hard and heavy tracks by SAPON a lot. One of my biggest desires for the future is a real pressed (double?) CD with an informative sty led booklet (photos) and all the tracks from the past. Check out the website under www.sapon.euweb.cz or use the personal contact to Mr. MIROSLAV KULHANEK through sapon@ujweb.cz . article by Gerald Mittinger
SINDROME - SINDROME(HURLING METAL RECORDS / CD´2006) ARGENTINA
At the moment is the well known name droping game also big in Argentina. Also for this album is such an extra flyer included were we can notice that for exempel CARLOS CABRAL of TREN LOCO or SEBASTIAN CORIA from HORCAS as guest musicans in different compositions help them out.My personal opinion is that the group doesn´t need this publicity because the material on this disc is strong enough. SINDROME is not this kind of typical clas sic Heavy or Power Metal act from this country. Without a doubt cross the quartett the boarder between traditional Power Metal and aggressive Thrash Metal. But this energetic combination sounds fresh and original. Seconds after an unholy sounding short sounding introduction starts the album with 120 mph full of powerness brachial with HIJOS DEL
VIENTO (SONS OF THE WIND). Followed by the riff attack FUERA DE LINER (ESCAPE FROM THE NORM).With the third effort MALDITA JAULA (DAM NED CAGE) remi nds me SINDROME instrumental on some northamerican thrash acts from the early 90ies. Not always statiesfy me there the aggressive and raw vocalstyle of ANIBAL SOTO. Very close in mind to the old PANTERA (COWBOYS FROM HELL phase) and late HERMETICA is ORO NEGRO (BLACK GOLD an interesant reflash about the future oil reserves on our earth). Yet so far my favorite come in with SUCIAS V EREDAS !!! What a great tune. Senor Anibal uses his respectable voice and GUSTAVO "POLLO" MAESE shows his real talent on the six strings too... Really everything works in this composition fine. The well structured rhytmus section by JAVIER GORODILLO (batteria) and JAIME MACIAL (deep tunes) leads this track in the near to the latest recordings of HORCAS.As would be there an imaginary click sounds the suberb following DESANTA TU LOCURA (UNHOLY YOUR MADNESS) like a bastard between traditinal powerfull argentinian metal and 90ies US Power Metal/Thrash. On this success ful way walks also the smashing pounder QUE MAS. Yeäh... pure patriotism swings inside the raw perfor med PATAGONIA REBELDE over our banging hea ds...!!! Step by step surprise me too the fast and furious arranged thrashy TENES QUE SER FUERTE. Another great unbentable raw Power Metal tune with the promising title BUSCA TU IDENTIDAD (SEARCH FOR YOUR IDENTY) close this album impres sive. sindrome666@hotmail.com for kind words or check the label website under www.hurlingmetal.com.ar . The other option is to grab you this release via www.metaleros.de . article by Gerald Mittinger 
SPHINX - RENACER(AVISPA RECORDS / CD´2008) ESPANA
The rebirth of one of the best southspain based metal bands with their fourth release. New label, maybe also new luck. Hopefully the signs of time standing now in line for the Cadiz based quartett. We remember their brilliant last album PARAISO EN LA TERNIDAD from 2004. Untill now I don´t know why didn´t reached the group more attention with this
perfect arranged release. Perhaps the small distribution was the real reason that the band is still a secret from the latin metal scene. But I think this will be no more longer present because this latest release tops anything what the band did before. With MALDITA ILUSION (DAMNED ILLUSION) opens the album suberb in the awaited typical style of this group. With a top vocalist as it be MANUEL RODRIGUEZ should be able everything. But who cares. Already with this perfect opener combinates the quintett perfect harmonie and power. Little progressive elements and a guiding melody let you not forget the next number HOY (TODAY). A real heavy edged mystic edged runner is then DESTINO SIN FE (DESTINY WITHOUT FAITH). A good describtion for SUCIA REALIDAD (DIRTY REALITY) could be the symbiose of classic Heavy Metal with arabe mysterious elements. That this kind of combinations works well did we all know from andalucias finest MEDINA AZAHARA. By the way SPHINX is a band which is a dozen times heavier orientated. But perhaps you can better imagine this great athmosphere in some of their compositions. Straight and conform to the classic latin metal sound agitates HIJOS DEL TERROR (SONS OF TERROR) which handles about the actual problems in our world. Believe me as I heard the first tacts of the masterpiece HOMBRE DE SALVACION (MEN OF SALVATION) I´ve stoped in. I couldn´t believe it and heard this impressive two, three, four times. Could get enough of this hymn. Words can describe it. Just listen this tune and tell me your opinion. A wonderful melody stands behind the emotional tune PRINCESS DE PAPEL (PRINCESS OF PAPER). Classic powerfull melodic Heavy Metal is the keyword for UN TROZO DE MI SER (A PIECE OF MY OWN). In the same phenomenal style acts also the mystic edged EL LLANTO DE ISIS (THE CRY OF ISIS). Think that this cut stands in contribution to the cover artwork. The guitarwork by JUSTI BALA and SANI SUAREZ acts there unbelieveable tight. MAR DE ESPERANZAS (OCEAN OF HOPES) is another great instrumental which opens your taste for the absolute harmonic and precise playing of each bandmember (PEPE PINEDA on the bass and CARLOS DELGADO at the drums). More or less is this fine instrumental inside the following NUEVO MUNDO (NEW WORLD) integrate. This recomendable masterpiece ends natural with a further highclass track SENTENCIA FURTURA (JUDGMENT FOR THE FUTURE). Take a look at www.sphinx-metal.net and of course their great styled www.myspace.com/sphinxmetal portal too. articel by Gerald Mittinger 
SACRED OATH - SACRED OATH(ANGEL THORNE MUSIC COMPANY / CD´2009) UNITED STATES
After the rerelease of the classic eighties US Metal album A CRYSTAL VISION through SENTINEL STEEL RECORDS published this company in 2007 exact ten years later also the awaited reunion album DARKNESS VISIBLE. A triumphant live pressence at the KEEP IT TRUE followed. At hand published ROB THORNE after his first european shows with TILL DEATH DO US PART / LIVE IN GERMANY a document of this evening. Now returns the group with a new regular album in their back at the venue. Attend watchers at the KEEP IT TRUE saw that the band is today more or leass a one man project around ROB THORNE. His good variable voice together with his impressive guitarstyle is the basic of SACRED OATH. Together with his new companions BILL SMITH on the guitar, KENNY EVANS behind the sticks and SCOTT WAITE on the four strings was it him posible to create his ideas inside this new output. The opener PARADISE LOST starts then this lovely styled digipack in a relaxed US Metal style. Perhaps we could describe this one as a symbiose of SACRED OATH and his early nineties project SOUNDSCAPE. Of course without the keyboards. With lot´s of more power agitates then the second title BLOOD STORM. Really back to the classic running US Metal guides us as next the superb striker BURIED ALIVE. One of this typic galloping and stunning metal pieces firms in the next round under VOODOO DOLLS. With the vibes of the old famous days in contribution of little SAVATAGE influences works COUNTING ZEROS. Without a doubt is this strong number one of the best on this new release. Yet so far are this first five tracks are really welcome in the metal comunity. The following CAUGHT IN THE ARC isn´t so strong. Some uninspired shouted choruslines destroy a lot of the good feeling inside the number. But it´s nothing against them what will be come in the follower MISTRESS OF THE SETTING SUN. I wish I could disbann this one from the disc. Packed in a modern trendy nineties sound with distorted vocallines is this track absolute misplaced on the album. Terrible !!! I´ve don´t have an idea what the band have in their minds to disappoint the buyers with this kind of stuff. After their visit at the european stages and the enthusiastic welcome from their real fans must they know what kind of material should be awaited from them. But as would be nothing happen follows with HIGH AND MIGHTY a commercial edged hard rocker. WINGS OF SALVATION is in wide parts an okay tune but even in the middlepart as I thought anything will be good change this one too in boring modern arranged trend metal. Those one which can confirm with other stupid shouted refrains and fixed lame modern rhythm guitars will be statisfied with ORDER OF THE SYSTEM LORDS. Don´t know if the self titled SACRED OATH is an outtake from the back catalogue. But this one is again a better one. A hope for me is the good midtempo runner WHAT THE DARK WILL UNDO. Really back to the great material guides us SCOURGE OF SIN. This tune reflect exact that what we did await from a band like SACRED OATH ... !!! Maybe aheard ROB our cries and lament because the final chapter HUNT FOR THE FALLEN ANGEL is a big metal striker in the traditionel style. Fact is if we skip over the disappointing tunes remains still a lot of great tunes. Perhaps would be less more on this album. www.sacredoath.net or for snipnets and harsh critics www.myspace.com/sacredoath . I´ve heard that ROB THORNE rereleased meanwhile again A CRYTAL VISION as a digipack on his own company ANGEL THORNE MUSIC. I´m sure there will be more informations at the bandsite. article by Gerald Mittinger
SNAKE EYES - SOUL STEALER(PRIVATE RELEASE / CD´2008) UNITITED KINGDOM
Sometimes it´s difficult to find the reason to start a review. SNAKE EYES is a british quartett which is since many years on the start. Back in 1999 they published their debut THE YOURNEY BEGINNS. I never found a real personal access to this old fashioned hard rock release. If you think that this one could be in the tradition of the NWOBHM bands you´ll be disappoint. It doesn´t matter. This early album was produced at this time in Vancouver / Canada. Think parts of the band moved to this country. Nearly ten long years later returns the quartett now with their second release SOUL STEALER. Again produced in Vancouver but recorded in Herfordshire /United Kingdom presents us this album a complete different band. Natural that I had to change my opinion. Direct with the phenomenal opener BURNOUT attempts the band their style close to the fast traditionell british metal. The following LEATHER AND METAL sounds like a homage to the very old JUDAS PRIEST during their STAINED CLASS / HELL BENT FOR LEATHER period. Strange but great !!! THE GHOST OF CORTACHY is then a timeless free of any influences celebrated classic powerfull Heavy Metal tune. I´m totally amaze about the following eight minutes long running metal basher THE HIGHWAYMAN. Oh my dear, now we´re ready to talk about NWOBHM influences. It´s unbelieve able how much changed the style of SNAKE EYES ... !!! Of course natural everything in a positive and listenable direction. Epic and majestic are perhaps the right words for the flashy and mysterious banger THE WIZARDS CURSE. By the way this enhanced disc contains as bonus a nice little videoclip in the style of the good old WITCHFINDER GENERAL of this fine tune. The album continues with the original but still traditionell a little bit BLACK SABBATH inspired THE SKULL. Pure metal cult offers us the epic ladden INTO WAR WE GO. It´s a wonder that this album is untill now isn´t republished on vinyl because it sounds so much better as so many of third class cheap recordings with a little conection to the NWOBHM. Anyway perhaps we awake with this review the interest of the genre typic labels. CHANGES is a hunting metaltrack which stand for all the signs and attitudes which made Heavy Metal so unbreakable. If you search on this album for fillers you will be disappoint. Every cut is a top composition. Just taste the raw and unbound ILLS OF THE WORLD and you will enjoy the infected army of followers for SNAKE EYES. THE POWER AND THE GLORY isn´t a SAXON cover. No, no it´s much more... !!! The POWER AND THE GLORY is a deep crawling epic edged monumental tune in the long history of british Heavy Metal. This sympathic band find there place in the hall of fame with or without the help of a label. Don´t be shy and give em your absolute support. www.snakeeyesmusic.com . They took my soul and soon they will steal your once too... articel by Gerald Mittinger
SACRILEGIO - THE ULTIMATE ABOMINATION(KHAOS MASTER PRODUCTION / CD´2009) PUERTO RICO
Untill now I´ve heard from Puerto Rico´s thrash scene only CARDINAL SIN. Think SACRILEGIO iks also an active band since many years. With THE ULTIMATE ABOMINATION presents us the quartett finally their official debut. DARK PURITY starts the reign and I´m positive surprised. Against my first opinion plays the band a well controlled mix of US thrash and Power Metal. Their singer LUIS VILLA has a typical eigthies thrash orientated organ (by the way he´s also the vocalist of PACTO DE SANGRE). But he isn´t a screamer. Everything works fine. PAGARAN CON SANGRE is then the first title with spanish lyrics. The damn good guitarwork by DANIEL ORIZ (also the guitarist of DANTESCO) and JOSE ANDRES LARA convince at high level at this Power Metal orientated basher. In the same vain follows the impressive pure Power Metal track KARMA. Also there convince the over the limit arranged guitarwork. General force I´m the opinion that the band stands tecnical in one line with many bay area based acts. The tight and precise skill on their instrument must be the practice of many years. Slower with grinding riffs creeps with agony and pain ZONA CERO in my vains. I prefer the swearing vocallines by LUIS VILLA there a lot. Somewhre in the midpart of this outstanding tune rise the speed and the power winds up your emotions. With a whizz of mystical arts starts GODS OF THE UNDERWORLD. Great harmonies and the dominate guitarwork in combination with the exat phrase of the voice let your veins a dozen times faster pump the blood to your metal heart. Yeäh... THE GODS OF THE UNDERWORLD is another patter of genial US Power Metal. Machinegun like salves from the guitar front leads in the hyperfast riff basher BEYOND THE DARKNESS OF THE NIGHT. Can´t feel my neck behind this attack. Back to the bay area driven thrash guides us then LEPANTO. Galloping midtempo riffs and to the point rthythmbolts (JORGE GAUTIER thundersticks and RALY VEGA of ALAS NEGRAS ironvibes) push you inside SHADOWS OF FEAR to a upper limit. Heavy, doomy and intense is the first part of THE FALL (OF THE TRAITOR) untill once more genial guitarlicks and vibes let you enjoy this inguidinging insrumental for the meantrack THE TRAITOR. Perhaps this one is the heaviest ouput on this work. Breath for a air cause there is no time for request. The immense thrashing and rippin titletrack ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION robs your last power. But none my one i´m ready for the next spin. Be infect too. Grab your copy of this underground kings today. www.myspace.com/sacrilegiopr . articel by Gerald Mittinger
STEEL HORSE - WLD POWER(PAK / AVISPA DISCOS CD´2009) ESPANA
Here we go !!! From zero to hundred in a few seconds. Ready to take off !!! STEEL HORSE is another great promising quartett of Spain´s melting point Madrid. Of course their style isn´t original but fresh and contains a lot of kicking moments. If you can leave your eyes fromthe catchy cover artwork and find the time to put the disc in your player you won´t stop listen. Unusal is that the band use the english language. Against so many other foreign acts which aren´t able to pronounce this words right is their vocalist JORGE CORTES a real good shouter. During the opening number SONS OF FIRE is clear IRON MAIDEN influenced surprise me the following RUN TO SURVIVE at full line. I haven´t heard a long time a not british based act which definates so perfect and tight NWOBHM influences as STEEL HORSE at this tune. A lot of great bands from this time flash´s through my mind during I keep with pleasure listen this basher. To made you more hot I spell just the words TOKYO BLADE and old TYGERS OF PAN TANG !!! Ah, yes sires and madams, now is every thing clear. Of course our spanish heroes are no clones. Think they celebrate their stuff with a lot of heartblood and enthusiasm. You can hear this also in the following BURNING SOUL too. WILLY CASGON is a good guitarist which transports exact the vibes for this kind of metal. The titletrack WILD POWER is a typic eighties Euro Metal tune. Maybe a little bit weaker as the tracks before but with NEMESIS strikes the band back. This fantastic instrumental offers us the full taste of an intelligent arranged composition. Be sure to scream loud, louder the refrain of RAISE YOUR FIST. I could imagine perfect how good works this runner at one of their gigs. Up tempo guitar driven riffs and a straight to the top chorus line is the background of the catchy rocker LINE OF FIRE. High on emotions with a constant repeat riff creeps smooth WINDS OF TIME in your vains. Finally returns the band with another great british influenced classic Heavy Metal tune. This last tune firms under the title NIGHT TERRORS and made me so hungry for more of this group. Feed your metal soul by ordering this diamond. Look at www.myspace.com/steelhorsemetal where you can order the album easy through paypal order direct from the band. Of course their exist a regular bandsite too www.steelhorse-heavymetal.com . Of course there exists a superb vinyl edition too. So collectors hurry up !!! article by Gerald Mittinger
SAINT DEAMON - PANDEMONIUM(FRONTIERS RECORDS FR CD 413 / 20009) SWEDEN
Till now I didn´t know about the existence of this great band. No matter a big mistake. But it´s never to late to discover new hopeful acts. With PANDEMONIUM presents us the sedish group their second release. In general is the home of the swedish based group the wide field of scandinavic melodic metal. Not rarely I can imagine there influences of such legends as TNT , TREAT but also the quintessence of more metal oriantated acts as TAD MOROSE or NOCTURNAL RITES too as well symphonic metal tunes ala STRATOVARIUS. Believe this mixture works really good. During the opener DECEPTION delivers the food of typic scandinavian melodic stuff with an edge of symphonic elements turns the catchy THE ONLY ONE SANE more in the bombastic arranged stuff. The incredible guitarwork by TOYA JOHANNSON underlines the highclass of this act too. With the titletrack PANDEMONIUM succeed e band an outstanding hit in the great tradition of such bands as TNT and SKAGARACK. Back to the poor working classic Heavy Metal guides as the great tune EYES OF THE DEVIL. I thought a long time on what great skandinavian melodic metal hymn remains me the following A DAY TO COME. The answer is clear. SAINT DEAMON isn´t a clone group. Rather the band stands in line to such forgotten topacts as HARLOT. Did there anybody remain their hymn SPIRITS ? At the same high level agitates A DAY TO COME. Not so catchy a little bit cheesy sounds for my ears then WAY HOME. But with the riffladen metalstrike FALLEN ANGEL returns the boys again to the right path. Even more metallic on the edge to Power Metal runs THE DEAMON WITHIN. OCEANS OF GLORY is a typic classic metal tune with bombastic chorus lines. A bit more relaxed ends this album with the hyperclass and dramatic arranged earcandy scandic melody hymn FEAR IN A FRAGILE MIND. So don´t miss thisreal diamond in your collection.Of course their singer JAN THORE GREFSTAD holds all the awaited standarts of a swedish band. Before I forget the album contains as bonus also a multimedia bonus video of the titletrack PANDEMONIUM. Think it would be a pleasure to see this group live !!! Maybe you can drop em a line under www.myspace.com/saintdeamonband or watch their regular website under www.saintdeamon.se . articel by Gerald Mittinger
SILENT AVENGER - KE HVEZDAM(PRIVATE RELEASE / CD´2010) CZECH REPUBLIC
The Czech Republic is still a real Heavy Metal paradise. For my opinion is the metal scene of this great country underrated. Only a handful of bands like CITRON , KERN , KREYSON, TÖRR, DEBUSTROL and ARAKAIN are semiknown acts. Especially ARAKAIN was a band which delivered many yearsgood traditional oriantated classic Heavy Metal albums. But if you check out their latest release HOMO SAPIENS you will come fast to the resume that this isn´t so anymore. But
who could be the heir apparent of this past heroes. Relative rapid comes in my mind the real great newcomer SILENT AVENGER. Think the group isn´t really a newcomer. They are well known in the metal scene of their homecountry. But they didn´t released a real album in all those years. Last but not least strikes the quintett now with their official debut KE HVEZDAM (TO THE STARS) back. A classic music inspired intro which reminds me a little in his structure to the typical sinister KING DIAMOND athmosphere opens the reign. With NEJSOU JAKO MY (NOT LIKE US) shows the group then their talent to create a respectful classic arranged Heavy Metal track. Running guitars (CALAVERA / HANZ) in the style of the old czech metal masters made this piece of great metal unique. Especially the great voice of their singer DASTY which is of the same class as the voice of the old ARAKAIN vocalist ALES BRICHTA tracks the band to a higher level. But then uh, I can´t believe it how strong agitates the group with the following smasher KRAL NEBO OTROK (KING OR SLAVE). More or less wrote the band with this song a hymn for the eternity. The next chapter firms under the promising title ZPOVED (CONFESSION). This marching and waltzing with grinding slow guitarrhythmn pounding tune convince us with his doomy character. Another heavy arranged ruler follows with SLEPY (BLIND). Again is it there this combination of fine eighties classic sounding Heavy Metal and the genial vocallines by DASTY which made this song so great. Maybe if you can imagine a mixture of the old PRIEST with the early ARAKAIN / TITANIC you will have an idea how SILENT AVENGER really sounds. Exact in the middle of this album is placed then the epic edged titletrack KE HVEZDAM (TO THE STARS). In other words Metal at it´s best form. After all this neckbreaking highclass bangerstuff surprise the typic easteurope styled semiballad CACHTICKA PANI (LADY OF CACHTICE) with all his intensity. By the way DASTY celebrates this great track together with the female guest vocalist BARBORA "BARUSHE" LIPENSKA which gave the song with her warm and emotional voice an extraordinary athmosphere. Back to the real Heavy / Power Metal leads us then OTROK (SLAVE). Very close to KING DIAMOND compatible sinister metal works the famous arranged track UDEL DABLA (A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL). Doomy and dark starts the closing chapter OSUD (DESTINY) but changes after some seconds into another incredible Power Medtal tune. Without a doubt catapults this outstanding debut this sympathic group in the first row of the czech metal liga. www.silentavenger.cz . Hopefully the band afraid us in the near future again with such a giant release. article by Gerald Mittinger 
SYMPHONIUM - ELSÖ SIMFONIA(PRIVATE RELEASE / CD´2009) HUNGARY
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| ruler13 | SILENT AVENGER - KE HVEZDAM | 0 | Oct 14 2011, 1:12 PM EDT by ruler13 | ||
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Thread started: Oct 14 2011, 1:12 PM EDT
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SILENT AVENGER is a great czech classic Heavy Metal band which reach with this recording for the metal stars ... www.silentavenger.cz
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| ruler13 | SIBILA - FE, ACERO Y CORAZON | 0 | Dec 8 2009, 4:08 PM EST by ruler13 | ||
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Don´t miss this incredible timeless metal classic in your collection! If your heart beats strong for the real Heavy Metal and if you´re a believer for this style since you can think, this hot iron will melt your soul. Read the impressive story about Madrid´s own SIBILA now in your virtual webzine RULER13...
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ACERO Y CORAZON
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| ruler13 | SINDROME-damaging Power/Thrash Metal | 0 | Feb 21 2009, 6:59 AM EST by ruler13 | ||
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Thread started: Feb 21 2009, 6:59 AM EST
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Liske a bunch in your face celebrates this Argentinian based Power / Thrash Metal outfit ten rounds of pure musically madness. Check out the arguments to buy this CD inside your favorite metal website RULER13...
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SINDROME - SINDROME (ARG)
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