Melodic rock is not dead my friends – it’s alive and well and living in Germany apparently. I admit to not knowing a whole bunch of anything about Heaven’s Trail until I happened upon a track on the web. This is a 2018 release from those good people at Escape Music. They don’t release many albums on vinyl, but when they do the quality is really high. Heaven’s Gate are a relatively new band formed in Germany in 2018 by ex-Jaded Heart guitarist Barish Kepic, and they are a lot heavier than them that’s for sure. Coupled with the fiery guitar work, there is excellent vocals from unknown Rick Altzi.
The opening track alone is worth the price of the album. Holy Moly what a killer opening track! A serious fast fat riff with some killer vocal and melody! A ripping track. The quality continues with Too Late, another great melodic rock anthem. Changes slows the pace slightly until the middle eight when the groove and the riffs click in – another killer tune. Monster riff approaching! These guys can write a riff that’s for sure. Carousel kicks huge amounts of arse! Side close out track, Feed My Soul, has another huge fat riff to melt your brain and is another kick ass tune.
Side 2 kicks off with On The Rise and another face melting riff and groove to bang that head to. Killer track! The awesomeness continues with The Flame – a great vocal and groove rips it up nicely. A fantastic intro to Walking In The Shadows before the beast of a riff sets in to a double kick monster groove. Another ripping intro to Voodoo with a really awesome bouncy riff and groove. King of Pain is up next with yet another killer riff and there is no let up in the quality of the songs – it’s relentless. Last track, Simplified, is a fitting end to a fantastic album.
I love being blown away by bands that I haven’t heard before, and these guys are awesome. If you are melodic metal/hard rock fan you should love this.
9.5/10 from The Grooveman.
