21/11/05

GALLOGLASS / HEAVENSEEKER

Break out your plastic sword and shield, don the sheepskin loincloth, this is Epic Power Metal from Germany at its very best, Twang form Total Rock will be playing this on his show, no doubt at all.

The songs come storming out of the speakers from the offset, thick and fast sounding a little like a heavier early Rhapsody, full of string quartets, a 15 strong choirs, speed hungry riffs with a strong melodic content and lots of class, I defy any Power Metal fan not to like this. The song "Burdon Of Grief" starts off the proceedings and a better Power Metal song would be hard to find, the track "Banished From Eternity" even features Jeff Waters of Annihilator on lead guitar to add a touch of Thrash, with a very effective violin riff in it, there is plenty of contrast on this CD, compare "Beyond The Mirror" (brash and bristling with energy) to the acoustic driven baroque feel of "Kings Who Die" and you will see it couldn’t be more diverse. The title track has a thunderous demon like riff that is totally undeniable and will give Hellowen a good run for their money.

Initial copies come with, you guessed it a free DVD, that features a full live concert recorded in 2004, a very good documentary about the making of the record and a stills gallery, well worth getting. I was impressed with the bands first CD last year and this is even better, I look forward to the future with interest, Rhapsody had better watch out, this gets the Justin Case seal of approval.

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 60 mins + 13 TRACKS