Reviews
\r\n“The Steel Is Back” is only the third release of Crying Steel emanating from the neighbouring country of Italy although they exist as a band since 1983 (!!!). In the substance it is an “abuse” of Judas Priest’s riffs that Crying Steel by themselves report as their more basic influence. The 80’s heavy metal, that those Italians play, doesn’t have anything appreciable to present or to add in the existing metal scene. The final result can be characterized, pretty leniently, at least incurious.
\r\nCrusader emanates from Belgium and maybe over there they happen to know about waffles and beers, but as it is also proved by "Skin Clad", they haven’t got a clue about metal! This is a bad example of metal (God forbid!!!) with “nerveless” vocals, mediocre up to bad compositions, leniently idiotic lyrics and a production that sucks. The thoughtless use of keys just contributes in the whole “dullness” and the bad impression that "Skin Clad" causes to the listener.
\r\n“Eleven Burial Masses” is a live album of Cradle Of Filth, and which combines the first cd “Live Bait for the Dead” and the “Heavy, Left-Handed and Candid” DVD, both of which were recorded on 14 April 2001 in the Rock City of Nottingham. Consequently it covers the Cradle Of Filth’s discography up to “Midian”. The truth is, that I can’t comprehend the expediency of such a release in 2007, since substantially it’s a re-release of some of their older live material, as reported in the beginning.
\r\nAmerican power metalers Cage return with their fourth album, with the title "Hell Destroyer". This is a concept album, that recounts a story through the passage of time, from the crucifixion of Christ up to the establishment of New Order of Things (New World Order), to a demonic invasion on Earth and finally to the resurrection of "Metal Devil", hundred years after the end of the world.
\r\n"Tomorrowland" constitutes the third release of the Australians Black Majesty, who play heavy/power metal, in the patterns of the German school and particularly Helloween and Gamma Ray’s school, whose influence is more obvious in "Tomorrowland". Their singer, John Cavaliere, allocates an interesting voice (in some points of the album he resembles intensely to Kai Hansen), while also a pretty good work has been done in the guitars, as well as in the production of the album.
\r\nGermans At Vance return with their new work, titled “VII”, and their familiar melodic heavy/power metal, on which we got used, by their previous albums.“VII” includes ten songs, some of them fast, like “Vreaking the Night”, “Shine” and “Truth” and other more mid tempo, like “Cold As Ice” and “Friendly Fire”. At quite a few moments they reminded me of Riot (of the most recent years, and not of “Thundersteel”’s era).
\r\nΑυτÏŒ που πάει να αναπτυχθεί στην Φινλανδία τα τελευταία χρÏŒνια, δηλαδή Îνα άκρως ενδιαφÎρον μουσικÏŒ είδος το οποίο &si
\r\nΑυτÏŒ δεν είναι απλά Îνας Heavy Metal δίσκος. Είναι τÎχνη και μάλιστα άγνωστη για τα Ελληνικά δεδομÎνα.
\r\nΗ Open Grave Records είναι μια εταιρεία απÏŒ την Αμερική της οποίας οι μπάντες δεν ξεπερνοÏν τη μετριÏŒτητα.
\r\nΟι Virgin Black ήταν πάντα μια ιδιαίτερη μπάντα.