JUDAS PRIEST - "FIREPOWER" (2018)

JUDAS PRIEST - "FIREPOWER"
(Running time: 58:24 minutes; 14 songs)
("Sony Music"; 2018; CD):

Hell yeahr, hey guys, yes, already back again and this time again with a record review that's for far too long overdue up here nowadays and it is finally on the new JUDAS PRIEST masterpiece "FIREPOWER" released via "SONY MUSIC" this year's March of 2018 on CD and limited CD and also, at least I would bet so, also on LP and currently it is also out again in a brandnew special tour edition, yes, just that you know it, but (so far) I own only the normal CD version, since the day it was released, and so, of course, my review will just be on this very one. So, yes, 2018 and JUDAS PRIEST unleashing their supreme "FIREPOWER" and with doing so they pretty much annihilated all maybe-potential as well as all openly wanna-be rivals in the world for 2018 within the blink of an eye and so 2018 saw with JUDAS PRIEST's "FIREPOWER" the return of the pretty much best and greatest of them all ever. With 14 songs in nearly a hour of play-time with "FIREPOWER" JUDAS PRIEST constructed and build-up a sky-towering monument from scratch that truly is absolutely on par with larger than life divine masterpieces and lifechanging groundbreakers like for example immortal ones like "KILLING MACHINE", "BRITISH STEEL", "SCREAMING FOR VENGEANCE", "DEFENDERS OF THE FAITH", "TURBO", and "PAINKILLER" and this, oh hell yeahr, this is an absolute statement of its very own and it is nothing less and nothing but totally conquering and this again and again time after time without end. And, in fact, JUDAS PRIEST created with "FIREPOWER" a soon-to-be-a-classic if not an instant-classic album that while combining in a totally relevant up-to-date way the best ingredients and elements of the above mentioned immortally divine JUDAS PRIEST classicks to create a true larger than life masterpiece of totally own of a kind like one in a million also manages to be so incredible fresh, independently, stand-alone, and alive-lively that it is nothing else and especially nothing less than absolutely breath-taking and the biggest and purest pleasure to listen to this phenomenal Heavy Metal thunderstruck and it showcases and this seemingly so easy how truly great Heavy Metal was, is, and always will be and this in all its lifechanging glory. Combine the clenched fist stoic marching Hard Rock fueled harsh stomping early Heavy Metal of "KILLING MACHINE" and the sharp cutting "BRITISH STEEL" with the pure by high octane energy fueled melodic and still mercylessly heavy forward storming and by huge and highly multi-facetted tension-arcs marked masterly supreme Heavy Metal of "SCREAMING FOR VENGEANCE" and "DEFENDERS OF THE FAITH" with the anthemic and hymnal catchyness of the hard rocking and even harder rolling "TURBO" and the all and every resistance devastating and annihilating absolutely no prisoners taking and still incredible diverse and multi-layered sheer thundering heavyness of "PAINKILLER" and imagine this all done incredible fresh and independently and filled to the maximum with new, fresh, and spirited ideas and you probably should have a pretty good idea of "FIREPOWER" to start with - just in case you really shouldn't know (or own) it, why the bloody hell ever. The very multi-layered and diverse songwriting full of overwhelming many and great facets is phenomenal, the fantastic songs are packed up full to the absolute maximum with unbelievable massive amounts of total high octane energy and really headspinning and massively rousing and moving dynamics, the songs (each single one as well as the whole album which means the 'songs in their completness') 'brightly' shine and really massively and strongly excel with overwhelming amounts of ever-changing different moods and strong emotions while being marked by fantastic arrangements and brilliant arranged verses that very 'flowingly' run into truly larger than life 'fist in the air' refrains while all being 'stunningly' studded with gifted hooklines to kneel down to, exciting moments and grapping elements are everywhere to be found here on JUDAS PRIEST's "FIREPOWER", the rhythm structures and the pace work are very diverse and pretty much ever-changing over the whole album and every song owns its very own approach and identity, and in general is the ingenious fresh, alive-lively, rousing and very multi-facetted compositorial work of the songs nothing but totally and absolutely 'gifted-divine'. The guitars are literally the album-title taken from words and set (in)to musick which means absolutely all-guns-blazing sheer and pure "FIREPOWER" and really excel with their overwhelming and all and everything and everyone conquering power with fantastic riffs as well as abrilliant rhythm work and when we look at the divine solos and the brilliant leads and melody lines that's where they really, really shine and this like the brightest star you'll probably will ever see. Rob Halfords lead vokillz truly massively enrich and cultivate it all and this just from start to finish on a totally supreme and masterly level of skill, quality, and personality and also live he sings so strong and brilliant today that you could think he would be at least three decades younger than he really is. Much, much respect for this!!! The forceful and proud strutting bass and the crushing thunderous drumming then beef and bulk up the songs massively and perfectly, giving them their needed and very valuable backbone. JUDAS PRIEST's "FIREPOWER" is a nearly if not a truly through and through perfect piece of art and musick and every single song is the purest and most precious platinum you only can find and so every song is truly an incredible precious gem but if you ask for my personal favorites then this would be "FIREPOWER", "LIGHTNING STRIKES", "EVIL NEVER DIES", "NEVER THE HEROES", "CHILDREN OF THE SUN", "RISING FROM RUINS", "SPECTRE", "NO SURRENDER", and "SEA OF RED", hell yeahr, and so maybe start your discovery of JUDAS PRIEST's "FIREPOWER" with this über-divine gems. Very strong, interesting, and throughtful lyrics, an amazing and just 'overwhelmingly-conquering' artwork, and a frist-class powerful and transparent and still warm production-sound then finally round it all perfectly up. Be sure or be prepared to find JUDAS PRIEST's "FIREPOWER" on a very prominent position in my personal-best-of-2018-list and I'm pretty sure this will not only in my case that/this way. I think I've said so much all I had to say and I think you now know the deal and what you should do or have to do in case you really still don't own or even know it and now bang your head and rock hard and rock free. JUDAS PRIEST's "FIREPOWER", an immortally divine and larger than life masterpiece forged in iron by fire, flame, and will and a proud, powerful, spirited, gifted, and bright shining monument for the future delivered and gifted to us by the Metal Gods themselves. Perfect!!!

(10 of 10 points)

http://www.judaspriest.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

JUDAS PRIEST - "NEVER THE HEROES" (2018, "FIREPOWER")

RIOT V - "ARMOR OF LIGHT" (2018)

RIOT V - "ARMOR OF LIGHT"
(Running time: 55:30 minutes; 12 songs)
("Nuclear Blast Records"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, yes, new load'n'dose is incoming aimed at and heading for you and this time it is or it probably will finally be another early morning post again (if I get it done now before heading off to work) and this here'n'now will be all About one hell of a brilliant and breathtaking, stunning and overwhelming album and I am talking about nothing else and nothing less which means none other album than the absolute smasher titled "ARMOR OF LIGHT" by/of the (al)mighty RIOT V released still pretty recently in this year of 2018 via the ominpresent "NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS" on CD and LP. RIOT V are in fact sort of the almighty RIOT in sort of their current reincarnation, so to say, and with "ARMOR OF LIGHT" they pretty much did what is maybe best described as (even maybe just pretty roughly or 'superficially') the "THUNDERSTEEL" of their new era as RIOT V and without copying this immortal'n'divine classick from back in the days (I did a tribute post to/on RIOT's "THUNDERSTEEL" as the "CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - FEBRUARY 2018" edition earlier this year up here, yes, so read it if you are interested in it - and you should be interested in it, definitely) but instead having created and mastercrafted with their "ARMOR OF LIGHT" a totally superb masterpiece of an album massively in the tradition of their "THUNDERSTEEL" and with delivering a damn fresh, unique, and alive'n'lively load of it straight into 2018. This is high octane full throttle no holds barred no breaks using power metallic and by at the same time damn harsh sawing and sharp cutting yet very symphonic and catchy Speed Metal fueled (U.S.) American Heavy Metal of the most supreme kind and marked by fantastic songwriting that not only makes sure to provide massive amounts of highly explosive energy and highly ever movable'n'moving dynamics ongoingly all the time but that also shines and excels completly and all the time with a huge amount of great very fresh and highly exciting ideas and twists'n'turns all around the time and all along the ride down the road from start to finish and that grabs you with a very tight atmosphere and with an incredible high intensity non stopp so that this albums just kicks your ass, smashes your bones, grabs you by the throat and slaps and beats your face and head all the time from the opening tunes of "VICTORY" to the closing seconds of "RAINING FIRE" and this really over truly all the time and makes you enjoy every single speed fueled heavy power metallic hit you take second by second and enjoy this in every sense overwhelming beating really and to point it out one more time again all the damn time, yes, and RIOT V's "ARMOR OF LIGHT" is above all also a damn stunning heavy and harsh album, sharp cutting and precise aimed and yet also all the time so incredible symphonic, melodic and just damn catchy and filled with fantastic hooklines that it will only leave your mouth open while your breath is taken away and this all also only adds up to the 'highly atmospheric tightness' and the über-stunning intensity of this ultimate masterpiece of a damn brilliant and fucking fantastic album that's filled with all and everything and everyone overwhelming anthemic hymns from start to finish. All is then massively marked by a highly diverse and a (like also the whole songwriting in general) very multi-layered and multi-facetted guitar work that shines with brilliant riffs and a phenomenal arragened rhythm work in general while it then totally excels with loud and singing symphonic melody lines, catchy leads, and brilliant highly dynamic and energetic solos as well as absolutely amazing top-notch first-class highly charismatic and fantastic clear and clean and yet very powerful sung lead vokillz, while the massively powerful strutting and the place owning bass work and the devastating and also highly dynamic and multi-facetted drumming together with some very cool loud'n'proud 'doubled' backings really round it all up in a it all very much and strongly cultivating way. My personal favorite choices probably would be "VICTORY", "END OF THE WORLD", "MESSIAH", "ANGEL'S THUNDER, DEVIL'S REIGN", "BURN THE DAYLIGHT", "ARMOR OF LIGHT", "HEART OF A LION", "SAN ANTONIO", and "CAUGHT IN THE WITCHES EYE" but after the so far not mentioned "SET THE WORLD ALIGHT", "READY TO SHINE", and "RAINING FIRE" are in no way anyhow weaker attempts I can name them calmly as well, yes, simply because the whole album is filled from start to finish all the time with fantastic masterpieces of songs, point and fact. A drop-dead gorgeous artwork, strong lyrics, and a heavy bombing production-sound finally round it all up. So, okay, I think I've said enough and told you all you have and need to know and so before I now eat my breakfast and then drive to work let me close this record-review with saying that RIOT V's "ARMOR OF LIGHT" is an album you will definitely find in my personal best of 2018 list and if you are into the described musick and still don't know or own it then you should by any means finally change this as soon as possible. An amazing album, period.

(10 of 10 points)

http://www.areyoureadytoriot.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

RIOT V - "ANGEL'S THUNDER, DEVIL'S REIGN" (2018, "ARMOR OF LIGHT")

GATEKEEPER - "EAST OF SUN" (2018)

GATEKEEPER - "EAST OF SUN"
(Running time: 57:33 minutes; 10 songs)
("Cruz del Sur"; 2018; CD):

Back on track and up here at work again, yes, and to kick this very one here and now off let me begin with just one word, okay, and so now here it comes: Wow!!! Yes, and with that said let us now start this very one here properly: Hey guys, oh yeahr, this very one here totally overwhelmed me and it massively conquered me and, yes, it continues to do so again and again and time after time. GATEKEEPER - hailing from (then) Edmonton and (now) Vancouver over there up from Canada - were total unknown strangers before their "EAST OF SUN" album to me and this very one here, GATEKEEPER's mentioned "EAST OF SUN", is their- for all what I know- proper full-length-debutalbum, and it was released still pretty recently this year via the mighty "CRUZ DEL SUR" record-label like already mentioned in this very year of 2018. I'll try to keep it... hm... again (?) shorter this time... at least a bit or so... and so now enough of the introducing and smalltalking stuff and finally right and direct and straight into the action, yes, and so now one more time again let's roll: This is absolutely brilliant and fantastic Epic Heavy Metal of the absolute masterly supreme kind with a strong own character and identity born and bred through old/early SAVATAGE, old glory MANOWAR, a good dose of MANILLA ROAD, and OMEN and raised by these giants to become a very independently, stand-alone, and high skilled battle scarred Epic Heavy/Power Metal bastard that would make Conan massively proud and that would be the perfect soundtrack for riding axe-swinging over the wide fields and through the hot jungles of Cimmeria. This almighty album kicks off with the phenomenal harsh slashing and deadly sharp cutting through and through on purest Speed Metal raised "THE BLADE OF CIMMERIA" filled with and marked by an impressively intense and heavily stunning, massively tension-building and really huge and despise the precise and fast cutting and raging character of it nicely diverse and multi-layered guitar work delivering everything destroying riffs and all heads off-cutting rhythmic arrangements and, standing above all, singing and screaming leads and intoxicating solos, hell yeahr, and also filled to the max with and marked by powerful and clean, clear, and very sharp and still pretty harsh sung lead vocals that are cultivating it all, while bonesmashing and harsh thundering drumming and a grim and evil sawing powerful bass back it all up in a stunning and massive way. After this absolutely overwhelming kick-off of the album the ingredients pretty much stay the same even the Speed Metal gets sort of omitted and the really larger than life and by a breathtaking and goosepimples-non-stopp-giving dramaturgy marked Epic Metal or Epic Heavy Metal really takes the all and everything commanding lead, yes, but the stunning, high-skilled, diverse and multi-layered, very atmospheric and intense, sharp cutting and harsh slashing and above all really singing and with fantastic melody lines excelling guitar work, the highly charismatic and very forceful and very imploringly and urgently delivered air-raid-siren vocals, the brutal smashing and stunning drumming, and the massively heavy sawing bass still make and mark the songs and the musick and this in all the fucking right ways and for all the damn right reasons. And above all GATEKEEPER's "EAST OF SUN" is marked by diverse and very rich, due to many differents facets and layers nicely and in a damn high-skilled way very multi-layered and sort of ever changing songwriting with tremendous amounts of massively tension building drama and an incredible amount of really exciting moments and grapping, rousing changes and twists and turns in it all that conquer and overwhelm all and everything in a damn stunning and drastic and massive way, yes, and it is incredible how huge and how 'gloriosuly grapping' the tension arcs of each and every single one of the songs (that are also very often brilliantly enriched with amazing acoustic sprinklings) are, yes, really damn bloody fucking fantastic. This is, to get this straight and say this clear and precise, an absolute and total supreme masterpiece and a really larger than life and an outstanding album and it is one of the very best ones in and for 2018 and this without a single doubt, yes, and I can only and clearly and calmly recommend this to everyone outta there who's into the described musick and if you are in this target-group and really should not have or even know it so far then you should really and by any means change this as damn soon as only anyhow possible and best promptly right now and instantly. Absolutely fantastic lyrics, an outstanding fucking gorgeous artwork, a clear and still heavy and sharp cutting production-sound as well as two brilliant and phenomenal cover-tunes of the omnipotent mastepieces that are OMEN's "DEATH RIDER" and SAVATAGE's "HALL OF THE MOUNTAIN KING" finally round the supreme masterpiece that is GATEKEEPER's "EAST OF SUN" finally and in a perfect way up. Epic Metal in perfection. Get this immortal beast of an album, just get it. 

(10 of 10 points)

https://gatekeeper.bandcamp.com/ (-the link to the bandcamp site of the band)

GATEKEEPER - "BLADE OF CIMMERIA" (2018, "EAST OF SUN")

CIRCLE OF SILENCE - "THE CRIMSON THRONE" (2018)

CIRCLE OF SILENCE - "THE CRIMSON THRONE"
(Running time: 42:38 minutes; 11 Songs)
("Massacre Records"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, yes, trust your eyes, already the next round's aimed at you and so here and now you get my record-review on the (brand)new (very) recently in 2018 via the very well-established "MASSACRE RECORDS" label released CIRCLE OF SILENCE full-length-album "THE CRIMSON THRONE", yes, and without any further smalltalkin'n'introducin' ramblings here we go one more time again, yes, and so let's go: The german CIRCLE OF SILENCE were before "THE CRIMSON THRONE" absolute strangers to me, yes, another band of "that kind", so to say, and it was pretty much mostly to only due to the (in the book of my personal taste) fantastic artwork that I got curious when I saw the CD in my local media store and so I risked one or two ears, then took it with me, sneaking to my car grinning from ear to ear like a hobgoblin who discovered the one ring of power for himself, yes, and so now here we are… okay, at least more or less like this so the story goes. Anyhow and anyway, yes, because here we are now… So, okay, CIRCLE OF SILENCE are a german band and they play Metal, yes, goddamn fucking no holds barred and no prisoners taking Metal. METAL!!! Heavily by harsh and devastating Thrash Metal fueled and yet all the time melodic and catchy and above all massively forceful Power Metal with some strong or deep roots in hymnal and anthemic Heavy Metal and some fast raging Speed Metal injections with some (few) very clichée-free and nicely alive-lively modern approaches here and there worked very fresh into it all CIRCLE OF SILENCE serve us here on and with "THE CRIMSON THRONE" and this on just an incredible strong, skilled, and high level of quality and with such a strong own and damn unique identity that it all is nothing else and especially nothing less than just damn fucking great and in parts even more than this. Very fresh and absolutely forceful songwriting full of great variations of pace/tempo, a huge diversity when it comes to the rhythm structures and the arrangements of the songs in general as well as to the compositorial side of the songs and how all the different riffs, parts, moods, and elements that 'make' the songs are in parts nearly perfectly melted together, and also when we talk about the multi-layered and multi-facetted identity of each single song as well as the whole album, yes, this all turns CIRCLE OF SILENCE's "THE CRIMSON THRONE" into one hell of an exciting, grapping, rousing, and filled with some nice little to big twists'n'turns and some fresh surprises and/or unexpected moments ride and this all along the road. And what is also nothing but great is that CIRCLE OF SILENCE really know how to build big to giant mountains of tension in and with their songs, yes, and also that the amazing verses are as strong as the truly larger than life refrains, yes, and that the highly dynamic songs are nearly all the time burstin'n'explodin' for only hardly controlled high octane energy also only speaks for them, yes, for CIRCLE OF SILENCE and their "THE CRIMSON THRONE". All is filled with stunning and incredible forceful and majestic guitar work that delivers amazing riffs and in general just damn mighty rhythm structures and arrangements and shines above all especially with phenomal melody lines, great leads and stunning solos, and that is backed up by a thundering lightning striking rhythm section, while the clear and clean, melodic and yet all the time still very, very strong and hard and powerful lead vocals, at all the right moments backed up by loud'n'proud widescreen crew shoutings, put the crown on it all. The whole album is nothing but damn great and greater stuff but I think my personal favorites would be or maybe better are "DESTROYERS OF THE EARTH", "RACE TO THE SKY", "POSSESSED BY FIRE", "LIONHEART", "THE CRIMSON THRONE", "INTO THE FIRE", "THE CHOSEN ONE", and "ENDGAME" and so maybe check this purest platinum gems out first. An absolutely gorgeous artwork, very good and also pretty multi-layered lyrics, and a clear and heavy production-sound then round it all up in a fantastic way. CIRCLE OF SILENCE's "THE CRIMSON THRONE" is personally for/to me one of the biggest or maybe better one of the most unexpected surprises of/for 2018 so far and for sure one of the strongest albums we will (still) see this year and this in and for but also 'above'n'beside' Metal musick. I can only highly and clearly recommend CIRCLE OF SILENCE's "THE CRIMSON THRONE" to you and so you really better should go out and get it just in case you still don't call it your own, point and fact.

(9,5 of 10 points)

https://www.facebook.com/circleofsilence (-the link to the facebook site of the band)

CIRCLE OF SILENCE - "LIONHEART" (2018, "THE CRIMSON THRONE")

ROSS THE BOSS - "BY BLOOD SWORN" (2018)

ROSS THE BOSS - "BY BLOOD SWORN"
(Running time: 46:33 minutes; 10 songs)
("AFM Records"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, yes, finally the next round'n'dose for you and your enjoyment is right here. From Sunday, the 8th of July of 2018 on I was on a very nice vacation-travel and just came home still pretty recently one day ago and so the sort of one week of nothing new up here should be explained (if there was ever the need to explain anything anyhow anyway) to all of you. And I thought kicking it all of with a new record-review (that's now also waiting to be done for already a bit longer), yes, and so here we go with my record-review on the (brand)new ROSS THE BOSS full-length-album "BY BLOOD SWORN" released still not that long ago in 2018 on CD (at least that's the format I have of it) via "AFM RECORDS", yes, and after we all should know ROSS THE BOSS aka the man himself very well, the Metal guys from his time with the almighty MANOWAR and the Punk dudes from his runs with the mighty THE DICTATORS, I will now spare me any words more to introduce him here and now any further on. This is his newest 'solo-album' and ROSS THE BOSS recruited a 'new team' around him consisting (out) of strong going veterans like for example Mike LePond at the bass (SYMPHONY X, SILENT ASSASSIN) and Marc Lopes at the mic (fromer MELIAH RAGE) and together they delivered "BY BLOOD SWORN" to us and the world, hell yeahr, and this is a damn fucking mighty piece of crushing U.S. American Heavy Metal with plenty of heavy flirtings with thundering Power Metal in it all and with some slight (but) passionate Epic Metal marks in it, too; and "BY BLOOD SWORN" is ROSS THE BOSS' third full-length-album under that moniker and, if I am now not completly wrong informed, it's the first one since "HAILSTORM" in/from 2010. For all what I've read this album got often a lot of shit but if you free yourself of/from any MANOWAR expectations and just look at "BY BLOOD SWORN" for what it is then you will definitely and enthusiastically cheer up to it, especially if you are into guitar driven and riff dominated (U.S. American) Heavy/Power Metal somewhere between ICED EARTH and HELSTAR and maybe some very, very few JAG PANZER and with slight Epic Metal and also some Hard Rock notes in it that comes dressed in fresh and strong songwriting that isn't shying away from THIN LIZZY inspired Hard Rock and even some few Horror Rock/Horror Punk a la THE MISFITS and that offers a lot of multi-facetted and pretty diverse approaches and ideas with serving a lot of exciting and grapping twists'n'turns all along the ride and that surely has a pretty unique and own character and identity. The same is to say about/to the fantastic and very charismatic guitar work that shines'n'sounds in its very own and damn unique boneshaking and dustdry tone and that delivers crushing riffs and powerful rhythm arrangements while at the same time shining bright with compelling great melodies and leads and first-class solos and this all mostly all the time. The guitars are surely also the strongest trademark of ROSS THE BOSS' "BY BLOOD SWORN" and are backed up fantastic in a very stunning and massive way by the thundering rhythm section, while the very strong vocals finally enrich it all (surely no 'new' Eric Adams, hell no, definitely not, but absolutely top notch anyhow). Surely not all is gold and songs like the terrible (power-)ballad "FAITH OF THE FALLEN" or the by far too-über-cheesy "AMONG THE BONES" probably should have better never been done in the first place anyhow, yes, but mighty Metal battle hymns like "BY BLOOD SWORN", "THIS IS VENGEANCE", "WE ARE THE NIGHT" and "FISTFUL OF HATE" with a strong Warrior and Conan/Cimmeria spirit and vibe to it as well as the fantastic THIN LIZZY inspired Hard Rock hymn "PLAY AMONG THE GODZ" are absolutely amazing top notch stuff, point and fact. A bunch of surely pretty clichée but anyhow good lyrics, a fantastic artwork, and a heavy hitting production sound then round it all finally up. To any Heavy Metal/Power Metal fan I can only recommend ROSS THE BOSS' "BY BLOOD SWORN" and so make sure to finally get it if you are into that kind of stuff and really still don't have it.

(8,5 of 10 points)

http://www.ross-the-boss.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

ROSS THE BOSS - "BY BLOOD SWORN" (2018, "BY BLOOD SWORN")

MYSTIC PROPHECY - "MONUMENTS UNCOVERED" (2018)

MYSTIC PROPHECY - "MONUMENTS UNCOVERED"
(Running time: 40:44 minutes; 11 songs)

("Massacre Records"; 2018; CD):
Hey guys, next dose right here for you and this means next record-review is coming in. This time you get my record-review on the 10th full-length-album titled "MONUMENTS UNCOVERED" of/by the german Power Metal band MYSTIC PROPHECY released this January at the beginning of 2018 via the very-well-established "MASSACRE RECORDS" label from Germany on CD and on digipak-CD as well as LP and both of the latter feature eleven songs of which one is an exclusive bonustrack and after my copy is a CD and it features eleven songs you should know that I call the digipak-CD my very own. To be (one more time) completly honest then I have to admit that I have not a single clou why (also one more time again) this (by the way or so it seems incredible great) band right here'n'now, MYSTIC PROPHECY, were completly and absoultely and totally unknown to me before I first listened to their "MONUMENTS UNCOVERED", yes, but anyhow time to change this finally more 'intensely' in the soon future. MYSTIC PROPHECY's "MONUMENTS UNCOVERED" is a cover-album and a damn great one, too, that features fantastic cover-versions of original-songs from/of artists and bands like PATTI SMITH and BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, T-REX, ELTON JOHN, CCR, DONNA SUMMER, KIM WILDE and THE SUPREMES, MONSTER MAGNET, LENNY KRAVITZ, TOKYO, MIKE OLDFIELD, and BILLY SQUIER and MYSTIC PROPHECY while always preserving or 'securing' the original-character of each song also manage at the same time to really and truly create for each single song a new and very own identity in the context of their hard-hitting, hymnal, really thundering-heavy and yet all the time damn catchy and melodic and in (huge) parts pretty hard-rockish  Heavy Metal or better Power Metal completly filled to the maximum with fantastic, smok(e)y and hard while at the same time and all the time very hymnal sung lead vocals with a special own tone'n'flair to them and at all the right moments nicely enriched with good healthy portions of loud'n'proud widescreen backings, crushing heavy as well as bright shining and loud, clear, and melodic singing guitars, a fantstic and really crushing rhythm work, and a forceful bombing and kicking rhythm-section and also a bunch of great ideas of 'upfreshing' the arrangements of the covered tracks all the bit a nice bit. This is really nothing else or nothing less just damn great, period. The covered tracks are "YOU KEEP ME HANGING ON", "HOT STUFF", "SHADOWN ON THE WALL", "ARE YOU GONNA GO MY WAY", "I'M STILL STANDING", "BECAUSE THE NIGHT", "SPACE LORD", "GET IT ON", "TOKYO", "PROUD MARY", and "THE STROKE" (the bonussong) and each single one is just damn great done and sort of like on the same level of quality and so it's really damn hard to pick any favorites but maybe I've listened to "BECAUSE THE NIGHT", "SHADOW ON THE WALL", "I'M STILL STANDING", "GET IT ON", "TOKYO", "PROUD MARY", and "YOU KEEP ME HANGING ON" the very most and the very loudest so maybe I should name this über-gems here and now. A really stunning beautiful and fantastic artwork and a really heavy smashing production-sound we get on top of it all. Btw, I always like cover-albums that are done good and feature songs of artists and bands of another style'n'genre then the covering band itself is home in, if you get what I mean, and MYSTIC PROPHECY's "MONUMENTS UNCOVERED" is exactly one of that kind and it is a damn great one and an album of that kind that I not only like but really love, point and fact. So, yes, highly recommend to anyone out there with a delicious metallic taste in musick. If you still don't know or have it you should finally change this really, really soon.

(9 of 10 points)

http://www.mysticprophecy.net/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

MYSTIC PROPHECY - "SHADOW ON THE WALL" (2018, "MONUMENTS UNCOVERED")

JADED HEART - "DEVIL'S GIFT" (2018)

JADED HEART - "DEVIL'S GIFT"
(Running time: 51:01 minutes; 11 songs)
("Massacre Records"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, yes, trust your eyes already the 2nd post for today… don't ask me when this happened up here for the last time... and here and now the next dose of record-reviews is aimed at and coming for you. Here now you'll get my record-review on the (brand)new JADED HEART full-length-album "DEVIL'S GIFT" released still very recently via the well-known german veteran-label (of) "MASSACRE RECORDS" on CD. JADED HEART, before "DEVIL'S GIFT" somehow total strangers to me, (but) are anyhow absolutely long-runners in the german (Hard) Rock and (Heavy) Metal scene and active for (far) over a decade or so with already plenty of releases under their belt and today with very close ties to Sweden. Anyway and anyhow and how-ever, yes, now we have and we are in 2018 and here we get the "DEVIL'S GIFT" served to us by JADED HEART and finally they serve it also to me and so I now deliver you my record-review on it. In a little about 50 minutes JADED HEART deliver us here a good dosed load of modern-up-to-date and metallic, hard hitting and tough grooving , and above all highly melodic and damn anthemic as well as pretty much for all the right reasons through-and-through truly very catchy Hard Rock/Heavy Rock with some flirtings with Heavy Metal and Power Metal. The energy-levels are really very high and the songs are strongly marked by really pushing and powerful and also really 'differing-from-each-other' and exciting and pretty huge dynamics, smashing the songs forward in a very fresh and surprising manner and the songwriting in general is pretty much as well as this and so also a truly nicely fresh and often surprising affair with a very nicely clichée-free modern and/or up-to-date approach to it all, freshin' it all even more up, the same is to say in general about the grapping and rousing compositorial work with forceful arranged verses and truly mighty refrains as well as about the in parts really fantastic rhythmic arrangements and the amazing and also, like above already mentioned, damn clichée-free grooves that really pound their way forwards and this in a the songs mercylessly ever-onwards pushing manner. Really, and I mean really strong, damn strong and personally to me due to the fact that JADED HEART were before "DEVIL'S GIFT" totally unknown to me a big and highly welcome surprise. Sometimes personally for me and my gusto the songs are carrying just a bit too much pathos in them but that's maybe just me, who knows, and that's also so far my only bigger or major 'point of critics' I have to address. The biggest trademark of JADED HEART's "DEVIL'S GIFT" are without a single doubt the metallic heavy and very diverse guitars that shine or maybe better sound in a very unique and own tone and that are delivering asskicking rhythms and really fresh, exciting, and sort of mostly 'ever-changing' riffs as well as singing and highly melodic leads and catchy solos and this all sort of without end and this all on a damn high level of quality. Backed up by a through-and-through fiery and powerful rhythm section that delivers the strong and 'ever-twisting'n'turning' rhythm arrangements in a truly 'all-breaks-off' manner, and then all is crowned by the (at the right moments also powerful backed up) forceful delivered clear and melodic sung and hymnal and catchy intoned pretty charismatic lead vocals. Here and there you'll also find some electronial/'keyboardical' elements thrown for good into the mix as well. Yes, this very one here, JADED HEART's "DEVIL'S GIFT", is really damn strong stuff that is completly made round by very good and also surely thoughtful and then also nicely varying lyrics, a really cool artwork, and a very heavy and yet all the time very organic and clear production-sound. If you are into above named/described music then I can really calmly and in/with all honesty only recommend this album to you, yes, the next time just maybe cut a bit of the above already mentioned pathos and add a true 'über-hit' to the 'roster' and all will even better if not greater. Anyhow, JADED HEART's "DEVIL'S GIFT" is a damn strong album that I, like already said, clearly can only recommend to you and so give it a try or best just get it promptly.

(8,5 of 10 points)

https://www.facebook.com/jadedheartmusic (-the link to the facebook site of the band)

JADED HEART - "WASTELAND" (2018, "DEVIL'S GIFT")

JADED HEART - "ONE WORLD" (2018, "DEVIL'S GIFT")

JADED HEART - "THE ENEMY" (2018, "DEVIL'S GIFT")

CRYSTALL BALL - "CRYSTALLIZER" (2018)

CRYSTAL BALL - "CRYTSALLIZER"
(Running time: 42:37 minutes; 11 songs)
("Massacre Records"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, yes, new month, new day, new post or what-ever and after I really managed to ride down the road marked on my road-map for the last month up here seccussfuly I thought I try to keep that momentum alive… at least a bit ;-) ...and serve you already right now the next dose. The next and newest "CLASSICK OF THE MONTH" article is also already in the works and will come up finally one day this week before I will start this coming Sunday into a week away from home, yes, but for now I have decided that I today rather give you a new quick, short post and so here now comes my newest record-review for you, yes, and this time it will be or better it is again all about (Hard) Rock and (Heavy/Power) Metal with this very one here and now will be all about the newest (still pretty recently released) full-length-album of/by CRYSTAL BALL from Switzerland, a-decade-+-long-running Hard Rock/Heavy-Power Metal band who had released with "CRYSTALLIZER" their newest offering via the well-established and long-running german "MASSACRE RECORDS" label on CD and also as a limited CD with bonustracks, yes, but I 'only' have the normal version and so my review here and now will be on the, yes, normal version. For what-ever reasons "CRYSTALLIZER" is my first 'meeting' with CRYSTALL BALL and we get here pretty strong and really damn good melodic and 'über-'mostly and very hymnal arranged and anthemic composed Heavy Metal with very strong Hard Rock marks in it and some Power Metal flirtings, too, and all done'delivered via good doses of pretty intense and nicely exciting and grapping songwriting that gives us powerful verses and (in parts really hugely) anthemic refrains as well, showcasing also a big bunch of really rousing rhythmic arrangements, and that's marked by strong and powerful guitars delivering the goods in the departments of rhythmic work with nice organic grooving approaches and forceful beating riffs as well as in the departments of bright shining leads and really strong solos, by melodic and clear and yet powerful and it-all really all-the-time very catchy delivering lead vocals, and also by a pure force and nicely varying as well as at the same time relentlessly stoic punching rhythm section, and even a real über-hit (so to say) is missing on CRYSTALL BALL's "CRYSTALLIZER" here with really strong and rousing songs like for example "CRYSTALLIZER", "SYMPHONY OF LIFE", "ALIVE FOR EVERMORE", the pure Hard Rock hymn "CRAZY IN THE NIGHT", "BEAUTY IN THE BEAST" and/or the mighty "DUSTY DEADLY" you can't do anything wrong if you are into that kind of music and this means especially often very Hard Rock-ish and at the same time still with Power Metal-flirting absolutely hymnal and catchy as fuck Heavy Metal in the tradition of mid-1990's HELLOWEEN with masterpiece albums like "MASTER OF THE RINGS" (minus the Speed Metal roots). Anyone into this glorious music to you I can only recommend CRYSTAL BALL's "CRYSTALLIZER" that comes also with truly good and nicely diverse lyrics, a cool "skulls always rule" (and that they definitely do) artwork, and a clear and yet still pretty powerful production-sound on top of it all. Well-done, CRYSTAL BALL; and now I think I should have to check your discography a bit more intense.

(8 of 10 points)

https://www.crystal-ball.ch/de/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

CRYSTALL BALL - "ALIVE FOR EVERMORE" (2018, "CRYSTALLIZER")

MALICE - "LICENSE TO KILL" (2018; Rerelease)

MALICE - "LICENSE TO KILL"
(Running time: 39:23 minutes; 9 songs)
("Rock Candy"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, yes, next load and dose is already coming right in aimed @ you and so without any further smalltalking words of introduction right into the action and this action is here and now the fabulous 2018 rerelease version (delivered via the great "ROCK CANDY" label) of the glorious second full-length-album of/by Los Angeles' finest MALICE's titled "LICENSE TO KILL" that was originally released back then @ the 12th of January of 1987. I did not know MALICE before but "ROCK CANDY" were known to me due to their great rereleases of fantastic (Hard) Rock albums like for example WINGER's breathtaking "IN THE HEART OF THE YOUNG", STONE FURY's glorious "BURNS LIKE A STAR", or VALENTINE's brilliant self-titled killer record, yes, and so I was instantly damn fucking curious when I saw MALICE's "LICENSE TO KILL" and it was very soon absolutely clear to/for me that I would desperately need to have it and call it my own and so it finally very soon came to happen. MALICE hailed, like already mentioned, from out of Los Angeles and their second full length output was/is to the max filled with brilliant and just totally fantastic Hard Rock fueled incredible powerful yet damn catchy and hymnal/anthemic Heavy Metal/Power Metal that melts perfectly British Heavy Metal and U.S. American Power Metal via heavy doses of Hard Rock to something truly just outstanding with a great, street raised snotty and nasty very own identity, somewhere sitting between JUDAS PRIEST (clearly the biggest influence, at least so I would say) and W.A.S.P. on the first two sides of thir 'triangle of influences' and ALICE COOPER on the third side with some very slight'n'few MÖTLEY CRÜE marks and RIOT notes thrown into the mix for good, and somehwere in the middle of this all MALICE sat/sit on their pretty own position and this made/make manifest with "LICENSE TO KILL". Absolutely everything and everyone killing razor sharp cutting and precise aimed heavy kicking and always full throttle high octane onwards pumping and pushing fantastic guitars that deliver brilliant riffs and first class and multi-layered rhythm arrangements as well as absolute killer leads and massively rampaging solos were/are in combination with the pure power, clean and clear sung very charismatic and just pure fantastic lead vocals that sounded/sound like a snotty and nasty, 'punky' version of JUDAS PRIEST's very own Rob Halford surely the biggest trademarks of MALICE and all is backed up by a highly dynamic and energetic rhythm section consisting out of a fantastic walking'n'talking bass and stunning thundering drumming. Fantastic songwriting, very intense, rousing, grapping and through'n'through exciting, delivered by high skilled musicians surely was/is also one hell of an outstanding trademark of MALICE's "LICENSE TO KILL". Every song is a pure hymn and an absolute pure platinum anthem and for glorious and majestic songs like "AGAINST THE EMPIRE", "VIGILANTE", "CHAIN GANG WOMAN", "LICENSE TO KILL", "MURDER" and/or "BREATHIN' DOWN YOUR NECK", yes, MALICE can't be worshipped enough and by any means this band should have been far bigger than they were. Cool lyrics, a powerful production-sound, a very nice artwork, and very interesting linernotes finally make this rerelease damn round. I can nothing but recommend this masterpiece to any fan of real and authentic Heavy Metal/Power Metal and fans of smashing Hard Rock/Heavy Rock should also definitely risk one or two ears on it - or even far better get it instantly right from the get-go, too. And now... bang that head that doesn't bang!!!

(10 of 10 points)

http://www.maliceofficial.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

MALICE - "AGAINST THE EMPIRE" (1987/2018; "LICENSE TO KILL")

BLACK WIZARD - "LIVIN' OBLIVION" (2018)

BLACK WIZARD - "LIVIN' OBLIVION"
("Running time: 45:29 minutes; 9 songs)
("Listenable Records"; 2018; CD):

Hey, my dear readers, yes, it's time or even maybe again about time that finally some new dose'n'load is coming up for and aimed at you, yes, and so 'it' does right now and right here and you now get my newest record-review and this time it's all about the newest offering titled "LIVIN' OBLIVION" of/by BLACK WIZARD from the cities of Vancouver and New Westminster in British Columbia in, of course, Canada and it was released still pretty recently this very year of 2018 via "LISTENABLE RECORDS" and I have it since last month and so now more or less exactly one full month and since this more or less full month it is pretty constantly and regulary on heavy rotation and this should tell you already quite a bit (if not- nearly- all). BLACK WIZARD were before "LIVIN' OBLIVION" totally unknown to me and so please don't expect any commentaries to or about their former releases or so, and instead of this I will concentrate solely on "LIVIN' OBLIVION" here and now. This is really very fascinating musick and it is really 'rich' in a sense of being diverse, multi-layered, and multi-facetted in an overwhelming way and above all it's incredible intense, atmospheric, and emotional and this really all the time. Damn fantastic!!! Music-wise BLACK WIZARD serve us a heavily grapping and really rousing, a truly overwhelming and immense conquering Doom Metal on all levels high skilled as fuck and massively enriched with/by dustrdry and boneshaking and pretty 'hypnotical' classical (Hard and Vintage) Rock marks that add to it all a highly cultivating Stoner Rock or (maybe better) Stoner Metal spirit to it all and the whole album, BLACK WIZARD's "LIVIN' OBLIVION", is marked by just absoultely amazing songwriting that's highly diverse and covering such 'wide territories of classy musick' and overwhelming big various emotions and serve it all ongoingly with that much fresh and organic intensity and with that incredible much of a dense/tight atmosphere that again and again you will find yourself being left with eyes, ears and mouth wide open, yes, and all is delivered by high skilled musicians that serve their very own Doom Metal/Stoner Metal with a through'n'through very own and unique character and identity that it is just and nothing less and nothing but totally amazing. Maybe best described as a totally independently and self-aware mixture out of THE OBSESSED and CANDLEMASS with some BLACK SABBATH in it all as well but all done sort of even more atmospheric (or maybe better with a totally unique brand of atmosphere to it all) and with a very own 'special' flavour cultivating it all, yes, and BLACK WIZARD are here on and with "LIVIN' OBLIVION" also not shying away from by Speed Metal filled Thrash Metal slashers that are perfectly integrated into the whole album and that even bands like TESTAMENT wouldn't do any better. The biggest trademarks are surely the powerful and full of 'big' expression and honest heartfelt emotions delivered clear and clean and impressive strong sung and delivered highly unique lead vocals as well as the ferocious guitars that shine all the time with their very own special tone creating a world totally of their or of 'it' very, very own and all is backed up by a rumbling bass and highly massive as well as diverse'n'skilled and incredible heavy and forceful punching full'n'pure high power'n'energy drumming that really adds a lot and I mean really a lot to the songs and the whole album as well. This is one of the best and pretty much most unique records I had and have the pleasure to listen to so far in 2018 and each and every song is purest platinum and I can nothing but recommend this fantastic piece of art and musick, that's also made round by very good and highly interesting lyrics, a gorgeous artwork, and a perfect heavy and yet very natural/organic production-sound, to any of you out there who's into intense, atmspheric, metallic and rocking musick of the highest (quality) grade and that's also damn fresh and re-freshing and nicely clicheé-free, too. Yes, and so what are you waiting for, damn it, get this masterpiece and with it definitely one of the very strongest albums we will get in this day'n'age of 2018. Absolutely amazing and fantastic and nothing but overwhelming, too.

(10 of 10 points)

http://www.blackwizard.org/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

BLACK WIZARD - "LIVIN' OBLIVION" (2018; complete album)

VISIGOTH - "CONQUEROR'S OATH" (2018)

VISIGOTH - "CONQUEROR'S OATH"
(Running time: 42:24 minutes; 8 songs)
("Metal Blade Records"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, yes and finally: I am back home from my trip to the (by me massively be-loved) city of Amsterdam and currently I've found the time to do something up here again... and with this month already coming to a close we will see if my plans up here will work still out for this month... but anyhow, yes, being back at work again up here feels good and means that here and now the next dose of record-review(s) by me for you is coming right in through ya and so here we go finally one more time again: Here and now it will be all about the current and for all what I know all in all second full-length-album titled "CONQUEROR'S OATH" by/of the young and impressively strong going U.S. American Heavy Metal band VISIGOTH released pretty much more or less exactly one month ago via the almighty "METAL BLADE RECORDS" label. VISIGOTH were totally unknown to me before I got my hands on the "CONQUEROR'S OATH" and it was due to the great cover artwork and a big bunch of very good and positive record-reviews that I pre-ordered this album and thank and praise to the almighty gods that I did so. VISIGOTH hail from Salt Lake City, Utah/U.S.A. and what they give us is nothing else or less than absolutely phenomenal Epic Heavy Metal of the supreme(st) kind and with a born and bred american flavor to it all and if you now maybe need some references then let me tell you that if you can imagine a very, very self-conatined and delicious mixture out of MANOWAR and GRAND MAGUS then you're on the right way and if you add here and there some very few slightly (early) VIRGIN STEELE reminiscences in that power-driven-epicness of the songs and then maybe also add here and there some few (early) CANDLEMASS impressions in form of that here and there nicely ''doomy'' delivery of the songs to it all as well and then you're pretty much totally right and if you can imagine this all with joy and enthusiasm then let me tell you that VISIGOTH's "CONQUEROR'S OATH" will be sort of your new holy grail and this for good and also for sure. All this influences are melted together by VISIGOTH here on "CONQUEROR'S OATH" in a totally 'independently' and/or self-contained way so that I simply have to state that this fine'n'young band already is thru'n'thru one of a kind and possesses a very strong and huge own identity and character and this combined with an immense and impressive musical quality is something that conquered and still continues to conquer me massively. VISIGOTH deliver very fresh, damn exciting and highly anthemic/hymnal songs with a huge own character and that are delivered via fantastic multi-facetted and multi-layered songwriting full of stunning and big tension arcs with massive amounts of power and tremendous portions of highly rousing energy, a mercyless onwards pushing drive, filled with grapping song architectures, intense and exciting arrangements of the verses and truly larger than life refrains, a great to outstanding riff and rhythm work, a very soul- and playful compositorial approach to it all, a nicely varying pace work, yes, and all is studded with fresh and surprising twist'n'turns all along the road like for example the damn great hard rocking and heavy rolling THIN LIZZY inspired über-anthem "SALT CITY" so that you are definitely in for an amazing, rousing, exciting, and grapping ride. Absolutely fantastic and bright shining clear and clean and also damn powerful and highly charismatic sung lead vocals mark the songs massively and truly enrich and cultivate them in a massive and impressive way. Then the stunning, heavy and forceful and yet 'phenomenally' diverse and especially intense guitar work with its singing leads and stunning solos and that brilliant rhythm and riffing work is for sure adding tons of highest quality and of that very own and unique identity to the songs (and this for all the right reasons), that are massively and stunningly backed up by the furious forward charging rhythm section. Hell yeahr, this is real Heavy Metal at'n'of its damn much very, very best and so much I can tell already here and now you can be sure that you will find VISIGOTH's "CONQUEROR'S OATH" ranked up in my this year's best of list, definitely. It's hard to name you any personal favorites but if you would want me to do so I probably would go with the almighty hymn "STEEL AND SILVER", the stunning "WARRIOR QUEEN", the absolutely poser slaying slasher "HAMMERFORGED", the already above mentioned über-anthem "SALT CITY", the sawing battle hymn "BLADES IN THE NIGHT", and the massively by (Epic) Doom Metal interwoven "THE CONQUEROR'S OATH", yes, so maybe start your discovery of VISIGOTH's "CONQUEROR'S OATH" with this purest platinum gems but don't make the mistake to think that the not mentioned "OUTLIVE THEM ALL" and "TRAITOR'S GATE" would be only anyhow anyway only slightly bad or weak songs because hell no they are definitely not, point and fact. On top of it all we do also get brilliant and (at least to me) nicely multi-facetted battle-scarred lyrics, a gorgeous artwork, and a heavy and powerful and yet warm, earthy, and organic production sound on top of it all. Okay, I think I have said all what I had to say so far and so I will now leave you with my highest recommendations to anyone into real Heavy Metal, Epic Metal, Power Metal, and/or U.S. Metal respectively American Heavy Metal (so to say) and I would like to add VISIGOTH with and due to their almighty and fantastic larger than life masterpiece "CONQUEROR'S OATH" because of the highly intense battle scarred and gladiatorial atmosphere to my personal list of Cimmerian Metal or Conan Metal and when you should finally listen to it you will pretty sure know why. All praise and hail to VISIGOTH and here with "CONQUEROR'S OATH" we definitely already have one of the very best probably top ten albums of/for 2018, definitely; highly recommended and so finally get it as soon as possible and this best right now. And now: DEATH TO FALSE METAL!!!

(10 of 10 points)

https://de-de.facebook.com/visigothofficial/ (-the link to the facebook site of the band)

VISIGOTH - "STEEL AND SILVER" (2018, "CONQUEROR'S OATH")