Artist: X-World / 5 
   Title: New Universal Order
   Label:AFM Records

In 3006, a lifetime away for some but only a spec on the timepiece of man himself, what will the world of music have in store for us all?  Well ex-Hamerfall bass thumper Magnus Rosen had a vision back in 2005 of how he saw the future and the future was X-World /5 and they would bring a ‘New World Order’.

Enlisting the talents of Big Swede on drums, the phenomenal guitar talent that is Andy LaRocque and Reeves Gabrel, the musical background of the band was forged, but a singer was needed and only one man could fit the bill Pagans Mind/Eidolon frontman Nils K Rue.  So the five became one.

‘New World Order’ takes charge from the off with the monstrous metal of ‘Cyberchrist’ and instantly Rosen’s vision takes place with a power and dynamic sound, which takes each band members talent and mixes them together in perfect, yet scary harmony.

The powerful heady mix of thumping bass and dynamic drums are continued on well into the next track ‘Man Machine’ and with Rue’s towering vocals, this is one of my favourite pieces off the album. The punishing metal has no bounds as the band continue their assault on the senses with the rampaging guitars of LaRocque and Gabrel dominating ‘Charge To War’, along with the Big Swede’s skin pummelling drumming.

The anthemic tones of ‘Stand Up’ bring a little ease in the pace of the album, but still retaining that futuristic metal feel that dominates the album from start to finish. The album hits almost supersonic levels with the towering ‘A Cryptic Message’, before Gabrel unleashes his trademark guitar sound on the magnificent ‘Crooked Cross’, with the Big Swede just punishing his kit with some thunderous overtones, while Rue is his usual powerful self.  This is where Rosen’s vision becomes a reality and brings to life a new genre Intergalactic Space Metal.

‘Lunar Voyage’ mixes this new genre with an early Bowie Major Tom style on this more mellower sounding track, before unleashing the ‘Argonaut’, as full on a metal track as you will hear with its ear splitting guitars and its tempestuous rhythm section, all interwoven with Rue’s unique vocals.

The album closes with ‘New Eden’, another slice of powerful yet melodic Intergalactic Space Metal that will leave you knowing that when mankind reaches out to play his last chord of life, a glimmer of light is on the horizon as the mothership X World /5 is about to land and save the metal race.

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