Ross The Boss - "Hailstorm"

\r\nTwo years ago I found myself wondering, if the comeback of one of the most gifted Heavy Metal composers/guitarists was for one release, or he had something to "offer" to the music he used to "serve" in the past. Then I thought :"Well, time will show" and it actually did. So second album for Ross the Boss (and his) band, by the title "Hailstorm" and musical direction standards, to where the previous ("New Metal Leader") has set . To be honest, this time I was less emotional and more pensive because, on the one hand, it’s great to have legends still composing good music, but on the other hand, I ask myself whether is ok to release cds, that should have been released twenty years ago?
\r\nEnough about my inner questions and lets get to the "chorus", describing the music and the tracks. Of course, no one should expect anything different, than pure epic heavy metal and no one will be disappointed at this point. The first thing that one notices iss that this time, the vocal lines suite more to Patrick’s voice and this is the main difference, when it comes in comparison to the previous, where he was trying to "imitate" Eric Adam’s voice (if this could possible), in parts. The production, still "old-fashioned" (I would say,very similar to Manowar’s "Kings of Metal") and "guitar-centered", is clear enough at the point that, every instrument’s note is heard. Some tracks worth to be mentioned, in my opinion would be : "Kingdom Arise" (which reminds a lot "Blood Of the Kings") with its epic chorus and galloping pace, "Dead Man´s Curve" with its catchy guitar riffing, "Hailstorm" a power anthem, which will be a really good reason to sore your throat singing, during a band’s live, the mid-tempo "Crom" with it’s epic melodies, "Among The Ruins" with the vocalist’s performance to be in great emotional standards and the closing track "Empire´s Anthem" with the overall mood that evokes at its entirety.
\r\nTo sum things up and after stating that " this is a true HEAVY METAL release, with songs played "straight from the heart" and with the epic feeling’s very loud,proud and clear", with the real meaning of every word, I will end, setting my brainstorming as follows: "Is it deliberate that the band is (re)producing Manowar’s music or the fact that Ross’ history makes him a part of this "crime" and the most suitable person to do this?"\r\n

\r\n

\r\n John "L.O.V.E. Machine" Litinakis\r\n\r\n

\r\n

\r\n \r\n

\r\n

\r\nLineup:\r\n

\r\n

\r\n- Patrick Fuchs / vocals
\r\n- Ross The Boss / guitars
\r\n- Carsten Kettering / bass
\r\n- Matthias Mayer / drums \r\n

\r\n