THORNBRIDGE - What Will Prevail
April 5, 2016, 8 years ago
(Massacre)
Debut from German outfit who churn out a brand of traditional/power metal for which their homeland is renowned. A variety of Teutonic influences arise although the “Blow Up the Gates Of Hell” opener, which sets the table for the nine proper tracks that follow, recalls Gamma Ray, albeit with increased importance on backing keys and an occasionally gruff vocalist. Slick fingered guitar runs, clickety clack double bass drumming and clean vocals: a headbanger's delight.
Big, sing-along/gang choruses are more prevalent than protesters at a Donald Trump campaign stop. A more thrashing guitar riff kicks off the title cut, closer to modern Blind Guardian, than anything else. Sampled clash of swords and spoken voiceover commence a short (2:27) “Symphony Of The Battlefield”, a piano and symphonic strings respite leading into the robust, fist thrusting “Eternal Life”. Out of nowhere, the sudden dynamic shift to a grittier guitar sound in “Neverwinter Nights” channels Iced Earth, Stu Block era. “Galley Of Horror” closes the disc, alternating between mid-tempo verses and a lickety-split guitar driven chorus. Could listen to this stuff all day (and at many a European summer festival, have done exactly that)!
