Bob Katsionis, the Athenian of many talents; vocalist, guitarist, keyboard player, producer and director to name several, is a long-standing figure in the mainland European metal scene. From his involvement in the supergroup project Serious Black to his work with Power Metal titans Firewind to his guest work with Epica and Scar the Sun, the man has had a hand in several important releases and has a versatility which is matched by few. It was this versatility, combined with a love of classic Heavy metal and the mighty Iron Maiden which spurred Katsionis to form a new musical vehicle for the material he was working on during the recent lockdowns. Bringing in vocalist Artur Almeida of Attcik Demons, former Saxon and current Biff Byford bassist Gus Macricostas and Scar the Sun drummer Thanos Pappas (also drummer for Urizen, a Bruce Dickinson tribute band and Manowar tribute band Fire and Steel), the four piece was set with a simple mission – play classic metal. So, gear up and join the siege!
There is no denying the obvious influence of Iron Maiden and the NWOBHM in the sound on this release. Imitation is said to be the highest form of flattery and whilst this might be a point where many would not see the appeal of the band or their approach, merely writing stray gods off as a poor man’s Iron Maiden and something we have heard plenty of since the 1980 self-titled release of the Irons’ debut release, it is also the main selling point of the band. The compositions, musical delivery and overall sound is heavily steeped in the 1980s Maiden sound and honestly, that is not a bad thing! There are some sparks which call forth the early 2000’s Maiden also, but for the majority, it’s Bruce era 1.
Opening track “The Seventh Day” packs quite the punch. The cutting riffs and galloping rhythm driving them forwards are spearheaded by a raw and biting vocal delivery which oozes power in every word sang. Catchy vocal hooks in the chorus, rapid fire bass and guitar licks twist and turn amidst the solid riffing and the harmony section before the solo which sounds like it is straight out of the Adrian Smith playbook all hit the mark and scream out “Piece of Mind” era Maiden. “Black Horses” paints a thrilling picture of an epic battle, nailing the suspense and dramatics with the dynamics in the verses and chorus. The building verse which shifts to a high tempo chorus allows for the vocals to shine, growing in presence and power as the big sing along section enters in the chorus, and the melodic leads set up another fluid and flowing solo, this one more Dave Murray styled with its effortless runs and precise execution.
Across the album you can hear riffs which have taken inspiration from tracks. “Silver Moon” has all the hallmarks of ‘Powerslave’ and ‘Rime Of The Ancient Mariner’, two iconic musical colossi from the metal legends. The atmospheric and moody bass arpeggios, the exotic melodic lines and bursting gallop riffing lends itself to these two tracks but also from later years tracks like ‘Brave New World’. “The World Is A Stage” pushes the first Dickinson era to its limits with an intro which is reminiscent of ‘Be Quick Or Be Dead’ but has more roots with ‘Flash Of The Blade’ in its rapid pace and cutting delivery.
It’s not just Maiden who Stray Gods take a page from. “Naked In The Fire” has a very Helloween vibe to it, a sprinkling of melodic European Metal to the solid NWOBHM core and this touch of flair helps show that there are other subtle influences and edges to Stray Gods. The upbeat 2000’s Maiden with euro metal edge works well and it makes this track one of the stand out moments. “Love In The Dark” has a very Judas Priest and Primal Fear like edge too with its big atmosphere and pounding tempo allowing for some impressive sustained chords and vocal excellence. In all, by the time the closing track “Storm The Walls” is underway, it is a blend of Maiden eras with the classic metal influences dancing around it. It is probably the most rounded track of the release in terms of all the influences and compositional tricks Stray Gods have in their arsenal. The anthemic choruses, commanding rhythm work and captivating melodies all work together to give this album a send-off in style.
If you want surging baselines which gallop and compliment the melodically rich guitars which dish out memorable melodic hook after hook and riff after riff are driven by reliable drums and expressive vocals which have plenty of theatrical flair and power in their storytelling and delivery, then “Storm The Walls” is something you should check out. It’s an impressive homage to the legends which the band make no secret of making known as their main influence and if you close your eyes and imagine yourself in a universe where ‘what could have been’, this could easily be a release from Maiden in their iconic years.
(8/10 Fraggle)
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