Germany’s Alpha Tiger reckon that they’re showing that you don’t have to be ancient to play true, traditional heavy metal. Well I’m sure Bullet, Enforcer, Cauldron, Wolf, Dark Forest, In Solitude and dozens of others would be intrigued to know they’re ancient already. Bless. Just remember Alpha Wolf, you are not alone out there.
After the intro, this sprightly lot gallop into The Alliance. It’s a lovely, bright, exuberant number that comes on all Hammerfall ‘The Dragon Lies Bleeding’ type heavy metal played by early Dragonforce. Air raid vocals and delightful twin lead breaks over a deceptively dense riff. The kind of thing that pulls you from the bar with the force of a black hole. Fun, infectious, if oddly familiar.
From Outer Space is more of the same. But frankly it’s so good that I really don’t care. Very European, very Century Media very open air, sunny festival and whilst it lacks just a pinch of the individuality of someone like High Spirits it makes up for it with just a sheer heads down, irony free spirit that I can’t help but enjoy. Waiting For A Sign shifts down a gear to both the benefit of the track and the album. Hell even the vocals come down to the level of human hearing and deliver a hook riddled, sweet semi ballad that would be eaten up at Hard Rock Hell. The title track kicks things back into ultra melodic power metal mode and the Hamerfall riff rumbles again beneath those soaring vocals and guitars. It even has a little quiet interlude when I note the Helloween/ Michael Kiske notes to the vocals and then it vaults off into the guitar break, breath regained.
Along The Rising Sun is where a little wobble chimes in. Too much of the same maybe. Too much too slick. Way too much Dragonforce even if the lyrics do make sense. Eden Lies In Ruins retrieves things, yet again by just killing the speed a little but I am beginning to find the vocals a bit difficult now; although they hit every note perfectly and the melody is exemplary the lack of variation and education is tiring in the end. But there again, Helloween or Queensryche fans won’t mind and regardless the guitars just romp off with this ‘un with some great riffing and breakouts. The beginning of Rain proves the vocalist does have a lower register, a relief for me if no one else but it soon takes flight again. I am flagging now. The similarity between tracks threatens to turn the exuberance and freshness into tramlined formula stuff. I think that fans of power metal (and this is absolutely power metal) will have more staying power than me, so bear that in mind, but when the next seven minute tracks steps up I kind of want the end to come. It’s like one off the filler tracks on a Helloween concept album to me; can’t fault the technicality but the clock says I’m now in severe need of a rough bourbon and some Motorhead…
The closing song We Came From The Gutter does actually wake me back up, initially being a fair bit more heavy than power metal. OK it relaxes into a nice slice of US style hard rock but a very nice finish.
So… Initially excellent but in the end dragged down by two too many minutes on some songs and a gently crying need for just a little more variation between songs. It is only their second album, though, so maybe a little more time will mature them.
In small doses,excellent, overall rather good if overcooked. Still worth a punt and expect to see them at a festival near you soon.
(6.5/10 Gizmo)
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