Tag: heavens gate

This is the German band’s first album released in ’89. Well, technically it’s their second album as they released an album in ’84, but they were called Steeltower back then. Following in the footsteps of fellow German outfits like Helloween and Running Wild, Heavens Gate offer up some great euro power metal. I mean, they all stole it from Judas Priest but each band added their own little twist.

I love old school metal like this, so it ticks all the boxes for me. Opening track, In Control is a full on power metal onslaught and it’s my favourite tune. Fast riffing and double kicks all the way. Turn It Down is a tribute to metal fans everywhere, “if you are made of metal, so raise your fist and yell,” I mean, even Manowar would be proud. Surrender turns the tempo back to Priest levels of riffage with a suitable anthemic chorus. Hot Fever closes out Side 1 and it’s a classic mid temp metal stomper.

Tyrants opens up the second side with a full double kick assault, and you have to keep checking the cover to make sure this is not some long lost Priest album. Path Of Glory takes the listener into battle in some medieval battlefield. Shadows is a slower plodder that builds and builds both with drama, volume, and power. The album closes out with a cover of the Joni Mitchell song This Flight Tonight, although I’m sure it’s the Nazareth version they have copied here.

Just a fun listen.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

This German power metal combo released this EP after the release of their first album. Bassist, Sascha Paeth, is known throughout European metal circles as a go to producer for all the big hitters in the genre, namely Avantasia, Edguy, Angra and Rhapsody Of Fire – to name a few. Unfortunately, as the rest of their German contemporaries flourished, they were all done by ’99. Nevertheless, they left behind a body of work including this EP (one of their best). It containing 6 tracks of quality metal, apart from the dodgy cover of David Essex’s Rock On, which somebody should have stopped them doing as they go from a decent metal outfit to Def Leppard wannabes.

Stand out tracks for me are the opening title track, which is a great tune with a killer riff and a nice vocal from Thomas Rettke, and Pictures In The Mirror which is the best track on the EP. They are heavily influenced by Helloween and Gamma Ray – their compatriots – which is not a bad thing. At least 5 of the 6 tracks are good.

8/10 from The Grooveman.