It’s back to school for this quintet from Brugg Switzerland. The old school this is. Classic speed metal mixes with some classic hard rock sounds to create a flashback to the days when denim, leather and hi tops were the order of the day and the idea of an apocalyptic catastrophe halting freedom of movement was only played out on the front of album covers!
First song proper “Lucid Nightmare” is like Painkiller era Priest mixed with Abigail era King Diamond – filled with ear shattering screams, giant chugging riffs and big solos. Vocalist Laura certainly has a pair of pipes. She can carry melody as well – as shown on the Warlock like title track. Sure, this is nothing ground-breaking but as other throwback rockers have shown in recent years there is a whole new generation of young musicians who prefer to look back over their shoulders for inspiration just as the bands of yesteryear did.
The album has a really polished feel – it sounds like the late great Chris Tsangarides has twiddled the knobs from beyond the grave with a really classic 80’s metal feel to it. The twin guitars of Romana and Sonia soar and burst in sonic colour whilst Jay and Lala keep the ship on course from the back.
Wings of Steel must have slipped of an early Speed Kills album – the drums are pure Helloween! At such trying times it is great to hear an unadulterated fun METAL album. The chorus is one of those mid 80’s Maiden types that you wanna bellow whilst spilling beer on yourself (sounds like a fetish film). It ends with a nasty “ooogh” which I see as a nod to fellow countryman Tom G .
Single Six Feet Underground is a chunky monkey and is a bit poignant as our protagonist begs her doctor to save her from a strange condition that is bringing madness and threatens to kill her. “Before I know it I’ll be six feet underground!” spooky.
Of course, being the style this album is there is a ballad. I don’t like it. It is well executed and the dual vocals sound OK – it is too insipid for me. Saccharine oozes from every pore.
Sea of Lies chugs in like a giant armour-plated beast, massive dirty riffs and some strange vocal effects make a pretty good mid paced rocker.
The Sisters of Fate has got a great groovy riff that brings to mind Dead Lord and Venomous Maximus with the glorious mix of NWOBHM and Thin Lizzy stylings, whilst Necronomicon is a straight up Iced Earth style ballsy (ironic) rocker.
The Final Fight is a rallying call as the title suggests with big spiralling guitar leads bouncing off each other and plenty of tremolo picking to knock the fillings out of your teeth and Threefold Return seethes with anger from the get go as witches take their revenge for persecution at the hands of their executors. Lovely stuff!
How to finish such an album then? How about a cover of Battle Hymn by Manowar. Then why not add Ross the Boss on guitar and Michael Lepond from Symphony X on bass. Fuck yeah!
So much metal. Laura sounds bloody awesome on it. So much POWER!
Burning Witches are the real deal. Pure Metal, fists raised and feet firmly on the monitor.
Oh and they are all women. So fucking what.
(7.5/10 Matt Mason)
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