This is a superb reissue on MOV of the band’s first album that originally came out in ’89. I didn’t realize that they were a three piece on this album, and just hired a session muso to play keys. The modern version of the band today has no original members. This brand of power metal was still fairly new at the time, and this album caused quite a stir upon its release. All the buzz was around guitarist Timo Tolkki, whose chops were jaw dropping even though the band seemed to appear from nowhere.
As you would guess with the album title, all the songs have a horror theme to make it somewhat of a concept album. The opening track Future Shock bounds along at breakneck pace, as guitar and drums speed along with notes flying. False Messiah starts off as though we are trying to do the 100 meters in world record pace. The song settles down into an almost Dio-era Rainbow vibe with some serious shredding. Black Night bursts into life with some killer playing, and the double kicks are on steroids – thrash bands would struggle to keep pace here. Witch Hunt starts like if Iron Maiden were given a tune up and had a turbo fitted. The vibe is very NWOBHM with some killer playing for Tolkki. Side 1 closes out with the instrumental, Fire Dance, parts of which remind you of Iron Maiden with the patented gallop groove.
The title track opens up Side 2 with a very eerie atmospheric intro, before the chugga riff gives way to double kick speed-o-rama and some insane widdly guitar. Night Screamer follows and is the weakest track on the album, with a fairly stock riff and a very average vocal. Darkness is the penultimate tune and is the big production number of the album, with differing grooves and vibes. When you listen to what the band did in later releases, this is quite a bare bones recording, but it’s quite endearing in its naivety. If you like power metal with lots of widdly guitar, then this is right up your strasse.
8.5/10 from The Grooveman.
