DI'ANNO - Nomad
November 10, 2000, 24 years ago
(Encore Records)
Whoa. Where did this come from? After a plethora of lame releases over the years, ex-Maiden screamer Paul Di'Anno resurfaces in year 2000 with a brilliantly shocking effort forgoing the nostalgic feel of recent works for more of an up-to-date Sepultura meets Priest style. On Nomad, Di'Anno wisely takes up arms with four young Brazilian metalheads intent on churning out one nasty disc. Right from the haunting bells of the intro into the opening riffs of 'Mad Man In The Attic', there is an intensity unheard of for many years in the Di'Anno camp. With his vocals on Nomad ranging from Halford-esque highs to death growls, you'd swear that this couldn't be Di'Anno. On the Halford topic, you have to see the Halfordian shaved pate and goatee Di'Anno is now sporting: looks like the new middle age vocalist standard has been set. Songs 'War Machine', 'POV2000', and 'Cold World' are all-out neck-snappers, while the ballad-like 'The Living Dead' is this scribe's favourite "song" of 2000, hands-down, while the title track 'Nomad' is also top ten material. No question, Nomad is the most pleasant surprise of the year. If you can track this one down, it is a must have!
