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Battle
Metal is a term which I feel is used a bit too frequently to label
anything from Power Metal bands to Viking/Folk Metal bands, but for this
album the tag fits quite well. "Victory", the latest
album of Norwegian’s Gaia Epicus, is truly an album capable of
accompanying one on to the war field, while at the same time getting
heads banging and of course, fists punching the air.
The rather upbeat and catchy "New Life" opens the album,
before the absolutely fantastic "Iron Curtain" raises the
temperature to a rather metal level. The later possesses one of
most killer breakdowns I've ever heard, the final 3 minutes of the song
include an inhumanly fast riff, some galloping guitars and a healthy
amount of guitar solos, perfect. "The Sign" and
"Revenge is Sweet" show a different, heavier side to Gaia
Epicus, and "Revenge.." has an absolutely fantastic route one
riff that any metal band would be proud of writing, power metal or
otherwise.
Acoustic instrumental "The Memory" provides a mid album chill
out moment, a beautiful mix of acoustic guitar and a delicate solo, with
an almost poignant feel, a prelude to battle, possibly.
Unfortunately the following track is a much less memorable affair,
"Awaken the Monster" is a rather dull, dragging song, not
hugely dissimilar to Manowar's more recent offerings, and despite some
nice guitar work (something which flows freely throughout this album),
this song is best forgotten.
The band return to a more power metal sound for the Star Wars influenced
"Rise of the Empire", a damn catchy tune with a strong air
guitaring potential. "When Darkness Falls" is the second
instrumental of the CD, and is a rather standard affair compared to it's
instrumental predecessor, although any memory of standard songs is blown
away completely as three songs of epic(us) proportion bring the album to
a close. "Fortress of Solitude" is fantastic, a full on
Power Metal song that will have you standing on your bed headbanging
while waving a plastic sword as soon as the intro kicks in, or at least
I'd assume that's how other people will react to it...
Fans of classic Heavy Metal will be more than content with "Through
the Fire", a 7 minute stunner which takes obvious influence from
the Iron Maiden's and of the world, and even bears some similarities to
early Metallica. As far as musicianship goes "Through the
Fire" is the best example of Gaia Epicus's talent on this album, an
epic blend of harmonizing guitars, shredding solos, a chugging riff, and
vocalist Thomas Hanson's wail of "Through the Fiiirrreee"
make this a track to remember. The album ends with the title
track, an ode to all the brothers of metal and a fitting way to end an
album which is for battle metal - a Victory.
The only
downside to this latest opus of the Norwegians is the unfortunate lack
of atmosphere, a keyboard would go a long way towards changing these
tracks into epic slabs of Heavy Metal, but as they are they're suitable
for any fan of true metal to sing along to, with battle-axe held high
"Brothers of Metal Unite!".
* Review by Shadow Warrior.
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