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")

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")

SACRED LEATHER - "ULTIMATE FORCE" (2018)

SACRED LEATHER - "ULTIMATE FORCE"
(Running time: 41:27 minutes; 7 songs)
("Cruz Del Sur Records"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, back at it again, trying to deliver some more stuff this month then I did deliver over the last month, and so here now comes my newest post and this means again in this case my newest record-review for you. Some general words before I will carry on respectively really start with this very post here and so just let me tell you that beside a bunch of new record-reviews and of course the next ''CLASSICK OF THE MONTH'' post I think in March 2018 we will probably also finally see new different stuff and not only new record-reviews coming up here, two 'big ones' I have already in the work and to/of two 'smaller ones' I am currently drawing the outlines and it could be that also this two will see the light of the day this month. More I won't already tell you right here and right now, won't spoil the ''entertainment'n'enjoyment'' for you and also and especially don't want to make any 'big plans' and so I'll rather be a bit more 'silent' about this all from right now on, again. But if you ask yourself if I will ever do new interviews as well again then let me tell you that I am definitely figured out that I will do finally also new interviews again and I have also already some pretty good and concret ideas of the bands I would like to do new interviews with, yes, but just give me some more time and let me work out some proper questions and I think from next month on or so 'things' should be realistic to come up with more precise informations in the case of new interviews. Okay, and this now should have been enough ''words-in-general'' I would say and so now let us start this post here probably. Here and now it will be all about a to me so far totally unknown band and this band is the (U.S.) American Heavy Metal band of the name (of) SACRED LEATHER and this guys have (just very) recently released their for all what I (think to) know debut-album "ULTIMATE FORCE" via the sympathic "CRUZ DEL SURE RECORDS" label and so now here and now it will be all about this bright shining and deadly piece of real Heavy Metal, yes, and so now here we go: SACRED LEATHER are another one of the surprisingly strong going new wave of fresh and real Heavy Metal bands hailing from the United States of America and were absolutely unknown to me before I saw and listened to their "ULTIMATE FORCE" titled album released still very recently last month and for all what I (think to) know "ULTIMATE FORCE" is the debut full length album of/by SACRED LEATHER this young roughnecks roaring out of the dungeons of the city of Indianapolis in Indiana/U.S.A. and SACRED LEATHER serve us a damn strong and really great mixture out of classic and harsh smashing U.S. Metal and strong rocking and with fantastic and slightly stoic delivered leads and melody lines shining NWOBHM and maybe to describe them as an already pretty to very self-contained/stand-alone mixture out of OMEN and JUDAS PRIEST really comes damn close to describing SACRED LEATHER so far in a nearly perfect way and if you maybe add some few early SAVATAGE (somewhere between "POWER OF THE NIGHT" and "HALL OF THE MOUNTAIN KING") impressions as well you sort of have a pretty to very complete picture drawn, and especially when you keep in mind that SACRED LEATHER are no ripp-off and also definitely no retro crap band but a very fresh and alive/lively and also already pretty 'independently' band. SACRED LEATHER conquer on and with "ULTIMATE FORCE" with a fresh, strong and rousing songwriting that also offers again and again a strong epic approach to it all and that convinces with tension-filled arrangements and grapping rhythms and a big bunch of forceful riffs to kick you in the ass without any mercy or regrets, very strong composed verses as well as 'highly-mighty' refrains and true and real hymns they hold also already in store. Biggest shining trademarks are the sharp cutting 'air-raid' siren lead vocals and the impressive heavy and powerful hitting and smashing guitar work first class riffs, absolutely boneshaking and sometimes nicely speed filled rhythm work, and high skilled leads, singing melody lines, and storming solos. The rhythm section is backing it all with powerful strikes and bonesmashing slashes and adding tons of force to the songs'n'music and this for all the right reasons. A very strong and sympathic basic'n'old-scoolish artwork a big bunch of cool lyrics, and a heavy and yet dirty and very oragnic production sound round it all finally perfectly up. My personal favorites are "PROWLING SINNER", "ULTIMATE FORCE", "THE LOST DESTRUCTOR/PRIEST OF THE UNDOER", "WATCHER", and "POWER THRUST" and so maybe try this Heavy Metal Monsters out first. If you ask me then you need to have SACRED LEATHER's "ULTIMATE FORCE" in your collection if you are anyhow anyway only slightly into Heavy Metal and so here and now you get my clearest recommendation(s) and now I think it's enough of the talking and so you better just go out and get it best promptly and then praise the SACRED LEATHER, all hail!!!
(9 of 10 points)
https://sacredleather.bandcamp.com/album/ultimate-force (-the link to the bandcamp site of the band)

SACRED LEATHER - "POWER THRUST" (2018, "ULTIMATE FORCE")

CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - FEBRUARY 2018: RIOT - "THUNDERSTEEL"

CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - FEBRUARY 2018:

RIOT - "THUNDERSTEEL" (1988)
(Running time: 46:20 minutes; 9 songs)
("Metal Blade Records"; CD):

Tracklist:
(1.) "THUNDERSTEEL"
(2.) "FIGHT OR FALL"
(3.) "SIGN OF THE CRIMSON STORM"
(4.) "FLIGHT OF THE WARRIOR"
(5.) "ON WINGS OF EAGLES"
(6.) "JOHNNY'S BACK"
(7.) "BLOODSTREETS"
(8.) "RUN FOR YOUR LIFE"
(9.) "BURIED ALIVE (TELL TALE HEART)"

Hey guys, yes, I know that this post was meant to come up @ the last day of February 2018 or so but after it seems like I was sort of too enthusiastically last week and that this fucked up influenza that I've mentioned last week gives its comeback this days and is playing ping-pong or hide'n'seek with my immune system and so I'm currently struggling a bit to just keep going and that's why this post is just now coming up, not as the last February 2018 post but as the first March 2018 post. And this post is all about the next load of the newest posting series up here, the "CLASSICK(S) OF THE MONTH", yes, and so now here we go. And this month I will introduce you all to the album that was "PAINKILLER" before there was "PAINKILLER". And of course I am talking about JUDAS PRIEST's larger than life masterpiece "PAINKILLER", yes, and the album that I will no introduce to you pretty much was/is all what "PAINKILLER" was/is but just sort of two years before. So, yes, you see that's all more than justified to finally pay tribute up here to this outstanding album of divine might that was and is and always will be "THUNDERSTEEL" the 1988 masterpiece of/by New York City legends RIOT. The aggression, the energy, the attitude, the high octane songwriting, the full force songs, the sheer heavyness, the high skilled musicianship, yes, that's all totally on "PAINKILLER" levels and also the compositorial ways hold steady similarities and are also totally 'on-balance' and that alone is impressive enough and also a statement of its very own. So if you are searching or looking for maybe sort of the blueprint that JUDAS PRIEST (maybe... sort of) had and used to compose and arrange "PAINKILLER" or maybe at least used to draw some inspirations from them, just maybe, then don't search or look any further because here you finally have it. And now enough of the lifechanging "PAINKILLER" of/by JUDAS PRIEST, here's the groundbreaking one that came before, here's RIOT's "THUNDERSTEEL"...

I discovered RIOT first in the 1990's via some compilation-albums back then and then my first ever album of them that I knew and had was their evergreen classic "BORN IN AMERICA" and then later on their smasher "SONS OF SOCIETY". RIOT were (or as RIOT V still are) roughnecked Hard Rock and Heavy Metal veterans that were (and, again, as RIOT V still are) around since the late(r) 1970's and they pretty much always held a somethimes more stronger, sometimes less stronger (1970's) Hard Rock influence in store... at least before and after 1988... and then "THUNDERSTEEL" came and conquered with relentless and mercyless speed and power filled full force Heavy Metal with incredible high octane levels and harsh heavyness non stopp. I love earlier RIOT albums (especially for example "BORN IN AMERICA" and "FIRE DOWN UNDER") as well as later RIOT albums (like for example "SONS OF SOCIETY" and "ARMY OF ONE") but "THUNDERSTEEL" always held and still holds and will forever hold a special place in my heart but not only there because (from my point of view) also in general in RIOT's very own discography because never before and never again after this very one here  RIOT sounded like on "THUNDERSTEEL", on this earthshaking monster they've created and unleashed in 1988. No what-so-ever Hard Rock influences to be noticed on "THUNDERSTEEL", no THIN LIZZY marks or what the hell else ever, but instead of this full power Heavy Metal with biggest loads of Speed Metal in it and thundering heavyness as well as some good loads of hymnal and hard hitting MANOWAR styled Power Metal and this all delivered in a very own way with a strong own character and a very uniqie tone/toning to it all. "THUNDERSTEEL" was and is not just an absolutely fantastic but also an 'amazingly' impressive and also just sheer outstanding album and definitely sort of truly 'one of a kind'. I currently have it or finally have it here in form of the damn great 2015 rerelease edition done by the (al)mighty "METAL BLADE RECORDS" that I desperately wanted to have because I simply really, really like this re-release editions.

"THUNDERSTEEL" takes off going out all guns blazing with the damn phenomenal title-track "THUNDERSTEEL" itself/himself, sharp hitting, sharper cutting, heavy hitting, a deadly strike full of huge tension and power with lightning riffing and larger than life amounts of intensity. One mighty hellblazing monster of a song. "FIGHT OR FALL" then is a hymnal fist in the air anthem with high impact guitars and above all the everything and everyone else outshining vocals. Like MANOWAR going all out attack in a sheer Speed Metal way. "SIGN OF THE CRIMSON STORM" then is one of my personal über-hits here on "THUNDERSTEEL", a smooth and yet incredible heavy forward galloping smashing hymn full of hugest amounts of power and attitude and with brilliant arranged verses and outstanding refrains. "FLIGHT OF THE WARRIOR" follows and storms forwards'n'onwards without taking any prisoners driven into the fight by stunning drums, shredding guitars, and brilliant and expressive vocals to kneel down to. Then "ON WINGS OF EAGLES", another pure platinum full throttle and full force slasher rages on like a wild-fire that simply bruns down'n'out everything with boneshaking drums, alarm siren lead vocals and dirty rocking and even dirtier rolling guitar riffs. The 'masterly' arranged "JOHNNY'S BACK" with a forceful smacking bass work on top of it all then takes a little bit the pace out and slows a bit down and shines with superb songwriting and 'imploringly' vocals that just make showers... sheer floods... of goosepimples run down your neck and back. "BLOODSTREETS" then is an atmospheric masterpiece full of dramatic tensionbuilding and a really huge dramaturgy and another 'simply' perfect song here on "THUNDERSTEEL". Then follows the almighty "RUN FOR YOUR LIFE" and this is forward pushing pure Heavy Metal with biggest melodic arrangements in perfection. Then this masterpiece album is closed by the epic'n'dramatic "BURIED ALIVE (TELL TALE HEART)", one hell of an outstanding atmospheric longrunner. And all and each song(s) shine in an absoultely unique and characteristic and very bright light. Totally self-conatined and stand-alone.

The whole album is marked by the totally bright shining, diverse, clear and clean sung melodic, soulful and highly charismatic lead vocals that enrich and cultivate "THUNDERSTEEL" in a damn very, very massive and sheer impressive way and that deliver the brilliant verses as well as the fantastic refrains just perfect(ly). Then the heavy and yet highly melodic guitars also really shine as well and this in all ways'n'manners, no matter if we take the riffing work and the rhythm structure or the highly melodic and really singing leads as well as the sheer pyrotechnical solos, yes, this is all nothing but purest platinum and (again) nothing but perfect. The massive rhythm section is then all backing it up with strong muscles and heavy loads of beefy'n'bulky meat to the backbone and is stunning as well as highly diverse, too. Diversity, perfection, an own identity, and pure(st) platinum, yes, all this terms also lead us to the passionate, soulful, and playful songwriting that is not only intense, atmospeheric, tight, and to the point as well as totally on point but that's also multi-layered, highly diverse, nicely varying, and multi-faceted and offers so many surprising moments, rousing elements, and grapping twistsn'turns all along the ride that it just conquers again and again and again time after time after time. Yes, and that RIOT were (andof course still are as RIOT V) absolutely high(est) skilled musicians should here and now definitely need no further explanation anymore anyhow anyway. First class and interesting lyrics, a very cool comic artwork styled artwork, and a smacking production sound we finally get on top of it all, turning this all into the complete package and this still today.

RIOT's "THUNDERSTEEL" is a timeless classick and a perfect album, a turly larger than life masterpiece... and sadly somehow an album that time sort of forgot about; and in general if this world would be a better and a more just place to live then RIOT (or today RIOT V) would be anyhow far bigger than they are and were anyway. However, okay, maybe (and just maybe) I can help to change this a very little bit with this very post here and now and if you really should not know RIOT's "THUNDERSTEEL" so far then by any means make sure to change this finally as soon as possible and also make sure that this groundbreaking piece of perfect (Heavy) Metal finally becomes a part of your record collection and this best right now. Also RIOT's "THUNDERSTEEL" was, is , and will always be one of the most precious gifts of the Metal Gods high above and now: "BANG THAT HEAD THAT DOESN'T BANG!!!"

RIOT - "THUNDERSTEEL"

RIOT - "JOHNNY'S BACK"

RIOT - "BLOODSTREETS"

RIOT - "FLIGHT OF THE WARRIOR"

RIOT - "SIGN OF THE CRIMSON STORM"

VICTORIUS - "DINOSAUR WARFARE: LEGEND OF THE POWER SAURUS" (2018)

VICTORIUS - "DINOSAUR WARFARE: LEGEND OF THE POWER SAURUS"
(Running time: 21:16 minutes; 6 songs)
("Massacre Records"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, yes, seems like I hopefully managed to leave my influenza behind and after a long walk in the bitter cold but incredible sunny weather out there I just came back home recently and decided why not give you a new record-review load and so now I am about to do right now; respectively so I (will) do right now and so so here's now my review on the brandnew VICTORIUS Mini-CD "DINOSAUR WARFARE: LEGEND OF THE POWER SAURUS" and it's been recently released via the legendary "MASSACRE RECORDS" label and it offers in shortly 22 minutes six new songs of/by the german Speed Metal 'nerds'. 'Nerds'? Why 'nerds'? Well, that's simple: If the albumname for you isn't already saying it all then let it be known that this is sort of a concept-album about the 'holy war' of the Dinosaurs against Alien Invaders from outta space and it reminds me quite a bit of the glorified and glorious "Dino Riders" and the (al)mighty "Power Rangers", thematically and lyric-wise, and so, yes, 'nerds'. And after I am (my)self a damn huge 'nerd' that by me is definitely sort of a huge compliment. And also the glorious and just gorgeous artwork that's designed in the tradition of old "Streetfighter" and "Mortal Kombat" video games only adds up to the 'nerd' character and also only adds up to my enthusiasm. And with in-working in a just brilliant way the undying great "Power Rangers" title score into their smasher "LEGEND OF THE POWER SAURUS" is just a totally mindblowing element and a huge surprise and if I imagine how damn even greater the "Power Rangers" movie would have been with this Mini-CD as its soundtrack, whoooaaa, my hearts beats faster. And what about the music, the most important 'thing', you now rightfully may ask. Makes the music my heart also beat faster and what do we get anyway? What do we get, like already above mentioned, is Speed Metal. Melodic Speed Metal with healthy portions of Power Metal in it, carrying really huge refrains to us, and with some sprinklings of Symphonic Metal in it as well. This is, so you may can say, symphonic and melodic and very powerful Speed Metal of the german kind and so maybe German Speed Metal or Teutonic Speed Metal are pretty good terms to describe VICTORIUS pretty accurate. If you now may don't know what this in particular means then let me say that VOCTORIUS rage on full throttle somewhere in the metallic realms (in)between GAMMA RAY, HELLOWEEN, and (earlier) BLIND GUARDIAN and they do it already very strong (already because for all what I've read this Mini-CD is so far only their second release with their debut being released last year in 2017, correct me if I am wrong, and before you ask, yes, VICTORIUS were unknown to me before this mini-album) and what I personally like a lot is that VICTORIUS push straight ahead forward and that they cut off the by times too 'out-swallowed' epicness of especially BLIND GUARDIAN and maybe (to surely) also GAMMA RAY and so VICTORIUS come without any circumlocution straight to point and this in combination with the pretty high pitched and fast yet very clear, melodic, and forceful sung lead vocals and the often pretty surprising fresh and 'nerdy' guitar leads and melody lines helps VICTORIUS a lot to build momentum and to create an already pretty strong own character that will hopefully only grow on and on and get/become even far more 'prominent' (so to say) in (the) future. The songwriting also offers a lot that will surely entertain especially any fans of (so to say) (Teutonic) Speed Metal instantly but I am pretty sure that the full-throttle fast paced songs with the rousing arranged verses and the huge anthemic refrains, the loud widescreen 'power-choirs', the quick delivered and forceful changes in the rhythm structures and the compositorial arrangements of the songs, the in parts already pretty fantastic melody work, and the fresh and naughty ideas will also heavily please most to any Heavy/Power/Speed Metal fans in general. Expect swift as an arrow delivered symphonic singing and powerful onwards pushing full throttle and no breaks guitars, huge lead vocals and widescreen backing choirs, and a 'weasel-nimble' rhythm section with a lot of force behind it all, yes, and expect this all to be done on a surely high qualitylevel by strong musicians. This Mini-CD only leaves me hungry for me and I think I will also check out their last year's debut (?) release that carries the title "HEART OF THE PHOENIX" in the future. VICTORIUS deliver us here on "DINOSAUR WARFARE: LEGEND OF THE POWER SAURUS" also great lyrics, cool and entertaining and so far very unique (and if you don't take everything and anything including yourself all the time oh so bloody serious then I see no reason why you shouldn't enjoy the lyrics here as well anyway), an absolutely amazing and beautiful artwork with that I fell in love right at first sight, and a very powerful production sound to back it all up impressively. So, yes, if you are anyway anyhow into the above mentioned bands and genres then by any means I would definitely say that you need to check out VICTORIUS' "DINOSAUR WARFARE: LEGEND OF THE POWER SAURUS" or better get it promptly and instantly. If VICTORIUS keep 'this thing' going then I am pretty sure that we can expect something really big in the (soon) future. And anyhow, yes, here and now you have my clear recommendation in terms of this little gem here.

(8 of 10 points)
www.victoriusmetal.net (-the link to the homepage of the band)

VICTORIUS - "LEGEND OF THE POWER SAURUS" (2018, "DINOSAUR WARFARE: LEGEND OF THE POWER SAURUS")

CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - JANUARY 2018: OMEN - "BATTLE CRY"

CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - JANUARY 2018:

OMEN - "BATTLE CRY" (1984)
(Running time: 44:05 minutes; 12 songs // Rerelease 2016 edition feat. two bonus tracks.)
("Metal Blade Records"; CD)

Tracklist:
(01.) "DEATH RIDER"
(02.) "THE AXEMAN"
(03.) "LAST RITES"
(04.) "DRAGON'S BREATH"
(05.) "BE MY WENCH"
(06.) "TORTURE ME" (bonus track, taken from the "METAL MASSACRE 5" compilation)
(07.) "BATTLE CRY"
(08.) "DIE BY THE BLADE"
(09.) "PRINCE OF DARKNESS"
(10.) "BRING OUT THE BEAST"
(11.) "IN THE ARENA"
(12.) "BATTLE CRY" (bonus track, live 1986)

Hey guys, welcome back and look what we have here: A new category titled "CLASSICK OF THE MONTH" and I will do my very best to establish this as a monthly installement up here on this very blog that will feature an album that is sort of already older or so and that 'moved me' in the then past month the most and that just makes me want to spread the word about it in an explicit way'n'manner so that it gets an own proper solely single post to pay tribute to it up here and to tell you about the greatness that it offers and (in fact) simply just is. And hey, this albums here are (in my book) true and real classicks and so at the end of this posts you will find no ratings like it would be a normal record-review or like this albums still would have to pro(o)ve something to the world or anyone or anything else, hell no, just that you know that. And to do this all here and now I'll (or I do) install this new posting series and/or category for you.  Yes, that's what's now up, hell yeahr, and so here's the start for/of the "CLASSICK OF THE MONTH" series or category and the first post ever of it will be about/on the OMEN debut "BATTLE CRY", yes, and so now here we go...

OMEN were formed by their guitarist Kenny Powell in 1983. After he'd left SAVAGE GRACE he gathered the (sheer amazing) vocalist J.D. Kimball (who tragically died in 2003 of cancer... Rest in Power!!! And fuck Cancer!!!), and at the bass Jody Henry and at the drums Steve Wittig around him and then this young wildfires and Heavy Metal maniacs raised OMEN together. Then in 1984 their debut-album was released: "BATTLE CRY"; and no better title could have been chosen by them for this killer. Here I have the rerelease from 2016 of this larger than life masterpiece that features the two above already mentioned and/or listed two bonus tracks and that so now delivers (in) a runing time of nearly 45 minutes (even the mentioned bonus songs had been, for all what I've read, already used also as bonus tracks of the 2003 rerelease of this  very album, anyhow, but just that you know it) and I have the CD edition of it even (if am now not completly on the wrong tracks) there's also a LP edition of it out, too.

I bought this CD finally back in 2016 and since then... (1.) I can't stop to wonder about the fact that before buying it OMEN were in the most, the biggest, and the largest parts completly under my radar, completly off-screen, so to say, and this is facing their quality and their delivery and their amazing and absolute unique identity as well as because this was and is and will be always sort of exactly my musick really pretty unbelievable for me... and so shame on me, just shame on me, in biggest amounts; (2.) I heavily digged myself into the almighty OMEN and their work and especially "BATTLE CRY", "WARNING OF DANGER", and the "THE CURSE/NIGHTMARES" reissue are still today ongoingly strong on constant heavy rotation here in Nerdopolis aka ''Camp Manslaughter''. And, to mention this just by the way, especially OMEN's "BATTLE CRY" keeps on pushing me absoultely without mercy on and on through my weightlifting workouts as well as on my 'running tracks' every morning, bloody hell yeahr, this alone makes this gladiatorial masterpiece definitely to an outstanding preciousness of one of a kind at least and especially in my very own book, so to say.

OMEN play(ed) an outstanding forceful and sharp cutting and heavy hammering Heavy Metal/Power Metal in an archetypical American Heavy Metal or (maybe better) U.S. Metal style that sneaks here and there time and again a bit into Speed Metal territory and that also showcase(d) a sort of an epic approach or character-trait that use(d) to breath a battle-scarred and gladiatorial spirit into it all and enriches and cultivates it all massively with a very savage and violent ''Sword & Sorcery'' flair that turns this into a perfect soundtrack for the adventures of the almighty Conan in the glorious days of the golden Cimmerian age, so to say, and from the artwork to the lyrics and the bandphotos to (and especially to) the musick this is maybe the most present and prominent (in the 'complete OMEN context') on OMEN's "BATTLE CRY", here on this damn amazing and outstanding total masterpiece.

The songwriting was (and still is) incredible intense and highly atmospheric through'n'through, and even it is mostly (and especially at first sight or better 'at first listen') straight ahead and onwards pushing and forward storming, without mercy and no prisoners taking, still it offers a multitude of pretty diverse and multi-layered elements 'beneath the surface' in it and it shines with big'n'wide interactions (in)between harsh smashing Heavy Metal, loud roaring Power Metal, savage raging and intense Speed Metal flirts, and fantastic Epic Metal impression in it, yes, and all is done absolutely brilliant so that it all flows and melts perfectly together and is still today sort of really 35years after its first release still a totally overwhelming, exciting, and grapping, a from start to finish absolutely intense ride that will grab you, hold you, and take you with it by storm. The diversity of the songs is huge, and all is delivered on an outstanding level of quality and skill. Great arranged verse structures, hymnal refrains, clever changes of the pace work, grapping arrangements, and an 'amazingly' exciting compositorial work in general that totally conquers still today, yes, and also after 35 years this immortal masterpiece is still as fresh, as intense, as overwhelming, and as just fantastic as it was back then in 1984. A lot of sort of extra-power OMEN's "BATTLE CRY" also gains out of or because of the enthusiastic, rousing, and just savage delivery, yes, and also Kenny Powell and the rest of the pack were (already) very (high) skilled musicians (as well as songwriters) back then. And they worked also strong IRON MAIDEN influences into their songs and musick and they definitely made it all totally their very own and when the galloping rhythms, the loud'n'proud (backing) choirs, the very memorable as well as very exciting and damn rousing melody lines, the 'impressively' massive and without compromises to the point played intense riffs, the heavy and pretty dominat bass work, the straight and heavy and very effective drumming, and the outstanding lead vokillz set in the "BATTLE CRY" echoes over the fields of war and you know that it's time for another massacre of false Metal to break out and kick off.

The biggest trademarks of (or on) OMEN's "BATTLE CRY" were/are surely the amazing and outstanding, sharp aimed'n'cutting and even harder and heavier hitting guitar work that shines with fantastic riffs and a brilliant rhythm work as well as with intense and atmospheric melody lines and leads and also delivers truly slashing solos; as well as the absoultely phenomenal total savage and yet still very hymnal arranged and melodical delivered, highly charismatic lead vocals that are nothing but outstanding and also backed up by massive and impressive choirs that add even more intensity and atmosphere to it all. The very present and also pretty dominant, playful and really the lead taking bass work and the full force and sheer thundering drum work only add up to it all. This is true Metal, U.S. American raised Heavy Metal at its damn very, very best. As fresh as back then. As relevant as back then. A true timeless treasure. Truly one of a kind. 

Fantastic battle-scarred, gladiatorial, savage, and epic-fantasty lyrics, a through'n'through timeless and completly gorgeous and perfectly the title matching hard as nails rough artwork, and a truly perfect and devastating production sound (surely- a bit- overworked, but it sounds very 'old schoolish' and this in the very best way and manner) turn this all into the totally outstanding real deal and the completest package one can only get.

This is by all means and in all ways and this totally through'n'through and also really truly an outstanding and overwhelming epic classick and a timeless masterpiece of real and true Metal musick and if you really still don't have it and/but proclaim to be anyhow anyway even only slightly into (Heavy/Power/U.S.) Metal then by any means you need to finally and desperately get it, to have it, because this is second for second an absoultely larger than life masterpiece through'n'through; and I hope that I did anyhow only slightly justice to it here and now with this (first ever) "CLASSICK OF THE MONTH" posting and now I will close this post and put OMEN's "BATTLE CRY" on for one more time again and I will start the next harsh and massive headbanging one man mosh pit in my living room. This was and is and will forever be an outstanding gift of the (Metal) gods. And now: "Bang that head that doesn't bang!!!"

OMEN - "DEATH RIDER"

OMEN - "BATTLE CRY"

OMEN - "THE AXEMAN"

OMEN - "IN THE ARENA"

ANNIHILATOR - "FOR THE DEMENTED" (2017)

ANNIHILATOR - "FOR THE DEMENTED"
(Running time: 48:16 minutes; 10 songs)
("Silver Lining Music" & "Neverland Music"; 2017; CD):

Hey my dear readers, yes, it's me and I'm back @ work again, yes, and I hope you all had a great christmas time and also that you started good into the last few days of 2017, okay, and so now here I am again delivering you my newest post and this means (again) my newest record-review for you and this time we're right back in the Metal department with this record-review being on the new ANNIHILATOR full-length-album "FOR THE DEMENTED" released pretty recently this very year of 2017 via "NEVERLAND MUSIC" and "SILVER LINING MUSIC" (that guys that also released pretty recently the stunning new MORBID ANGEL full-length-album titled "KINGDOMS DISDAINED"), yes, and so now straight and direct and right into the action: ANNIHILATOR were one of the first 'more extreme' Metal bands that I had/have ever discovered back then and this was via their absolutely groundbreaking masterpiece "NEVER, NEVERLAND" a long time ago back in 1991 when I first listened to it when being ten years young and since then ANNIHILATOR always were and still are one of the most important bands to/for me and also one of the best out there, no matter what music-genre, period. And ANNIHILATOR also always were one of the Metal bands that I have ever and always listened to even in times when I haven't listened to Metal that much at all, to say it that way. Hm, and so I think it's really about time that finally a post features them up here, yes, really about time, definitely, and so here it finally is. "FOR THE DEMENTED" is the second brandnew ANNIHILATOR album since Jeff Waters himself overtook the vocal duties again, yes, the second after ANNIHILATOR's 2015 output "SUICIDE SOCIETY" (maybe I will do a record-review on it as well some day in the future); and the compilation-album "TRIPLE THREAT" from some time of the late end of 2016 to the early beginning of 2017 we won't count here as a proper new album for/due to obvious 'compilation-reasons'. "SUICIDE SOCIETY" was and is an album that I very much liked and that I still like very much even it sort of missed some punch in the long(er) run of now already two years since it was released but it's still a damn good one and so I was pretty curious when I noticed that "FOR THE DEMENTED" was released not that long ago and it didn't take me long to grab a copy of it - and it pretty much instantly started to conquer me. First of all I have to say that I am a big fan of Jeff Waters as a singer/vocalist and the two 1990's album "KING OF THE KILL" and "REFRESH THE DEMON" on which he took over lead vocal duties for the first time are way up high in my all time favorite list and when we talk solely about ANNIHILATOR full-length-albums they hold the third ("KING OF THE KILL") and the fourth ("REFRESH THE DEMON") rank and stand their ground in my personal ANNIHILATOR top five list up to this day only beaten by "SET THE WORLD ON FIRE" (second rank) and "NEVER, NEVERLAND" (first rank) and even before "CARNIVAL DIABLOS" (fifth rank), yes, so you see, yes, I am a big fan of Jeff Waters singing - and so I am still or again today with "SUICIDE SOCIETY" (2015) and even more with "FOR THE DEMENTED" (2017). I simply like his style of singing and his pretty unique and very charismatic voice, rough and tough and still very melodical and offering a great hymnal and catchy potential pretty much all the time. Yes, it's pure gold in my book respectively my ears, yes, and so also one more time again here on and with ANNIHILATOR's "FOR THE DEMENTED". Beside this, yes, ANNIHILATOR's musick always was highly to highest skilled and very, very unique, pretty much in all ways, Thrash Metal somewhere between harsh shredding and highly energetic'n'dynamic full force all time yet all the time phenomenally melodic, catchy, filled with hymnal hooks, and incredible vayring and diverse and really multi-layered and also filled with big emotions, yes, and so really full of treasures and gems only waiting to be discovered by us - and so it's still today and with "FOR THE DEMENTED" even again quite a bit more than before. Hm, and if the world would be an anyhow 'just-place' then ANNIHILATOR would be at least so big like MEGADETH or SLAYER, period. Anyhow... so yes, one of the biggest and to be honest (and for all the right reasons) not only one but the biggest trademark of ANNIHILATOR had always been, still is and probably as well as hopefully will always be Jeff Waters' absolutely unique and outstanding larger-than-life guitar playing with its very own unique and characteristic tone and approach and so it is also today and no matter if we look at the mindblowing riffing and the highly dynamic and diverse rhythm work or (and maybe even especially) the everything outshining leads and solos, yes, it's just absolutely amazing and sort of 'being on a level of its very own' and this all the time; and it's marking the songs massively - and this for all the damn right reasons. Then there's still the amazing tight and precise and well-versed and also nicely diverse rhythm section that's backing it all up with stunning and massive amounts of energy, yes, and this 'for all good'. The songwirting, that's highly diverse and very dynamic and full of energy and strongly varying while all flowing and melting nearly perfectly together as one in the end, is then cultivating and enriching it all and is full of/with exciting and grapping moments and elements and also still today again and again offering great fresh ideas like the through and through modern Hard Rock tune "THE WAY" or the soul- and playful 'funky' parts of "NOT ALL THERE" to name just a few examples here and now for you. ANNIHILATOR is still today with "FOR THE DEMENTED" all about highly skilled and unique multi-layered Thrash Metal with huge doses of Speed Metal in it and that's embracing a lot of traditional to modern Power Metal impressions with open arms while still standing proud to its hymnal and anthemic Heavy Metal roots and this on a very high level of quality; and this will hopefully never change as long as ANNIHILATOR will be around. My personal highlights are "ONE TO KILL", "FOR THE DEMENTED", "PIECES OF YOU", "THE DEMON YOU KNOW", "THE WAY", and "NOT ALL THERE", yes, so if you need maybe some starting points for your discovery of ANNIHILATOR's "FOR THE DEMENTED" then why not start with this monsters... and great 'psycho' lyrics, interesting liner notes to each song, a beautiful artwork, and a heavy slashing production sound we finally get on top of it all. My final words for you: Get it, now!!!

(9 of 10 points)

https://www.annihilatormetal.com/ (- the link to the homepage of the band)

ANNIHILATOR - "ONE TO KILL" (2017, "FOR THE DEMENTED")