I guess they will forever be compared to Judas Priest. I do get that, especially with Ralf’s incredible screams and vocal style, but there is so much more to their sound. They consistently put out great records, and in mainland Europe and Scandinavia they are huge and put on killer shows.
This a very nice looking reissue of the 2007 album, and the onslaught starts with Sign Of Fear – Ralf’s voice is just insane. No one can sing like that. The song has a killer riff and grooves along at a great pace. Face The Emptiness has a lot more of a euro metal vibe to it (especially the hook and melody), and the drums are epic. Everytime It Rains is an epic romp with a vocal duet with Simone Simmons. The title track is next and starts with a fat huge riff with the double kicks pounding, and you can see all of the hands in the air for this one. Fighting The Darkness opens up with a solo operatic vocal from Ralf and is very Eurovision – you even get this as a bonus track complete with orchestra. The Darkness follows and is an instrumental that starts off very dramatic before lots of guitars kick in. Blood On Your Hands is up next and is my favourite track. It has a huge monster riff with a great groove and beat, and Ralf is giving it the beans.
This whole album feels very epic and conceptual, and that continues with The Curse Of Sharon, but the band don’t lose sight of the melody and the groove which makes each song as catchy as Covid. Too Much Time starts with an epic harmonized vocal before the pedal is put too firmly to the metal. Psycho starts with an evil choppy riff, and this just makes you want to nod that head and stamp your feet. The main album proper closes with The Man (That I Don’t Know) and this is the one track that screams Judas Priest. Great riff and hook.
I love this band and the whole production on this record is killer. If you like your metal with huge riffs and great vocals, then do your speakers a favour.
9.5/10 from Th Grooveman.
