This is their follow up to 2018’s ‘Judge Not’, a relatively big gap, but with other projects in mind, the time is actually about right Blitzkrieg to return with a self-titled release. From the opening tune ‘You Won’t Take Me Alive’ you get an immediate appreciation of the high quality heavy metal, melody, song structure and the ability to make the listening experience memorable. Yes we all know the classics but this band have put out some remarkable releases throughout their career and this one is just as superior. Going back to the first aforementioned track, it’s very metal, in some places very old Ozzy solo material with some quintessential differences, some nice classical guitar pieces, I like the harmonising and sound of the guitar solo too with a terrific vocal melody.
‘The Spider’ hits harder like Priest, with that thoroughly British metal feel to the song with a good strong position to regard it as a pure head banger. The production is brilliant, but I can’t find any reference to the producer or studio in the PR material.
Once you have wiped down your sweaty metal horns of the former tune, ‘Dragon’s Eye’ pumps up the adrenaline once again with a terrifyingly precise tune laden with some awesome time signature changes, some majestic vocals on par with some of the world’s big hitters. There isn’t any scream as such (apart from the last note!), I like that, Brian Ross has always had a more precise and restrained range. With such a strong musical presence, you may have an liking for similar artists and song arrangers such as Unisonic, Iron Saviour etc, but make no mistake, this is British and the PR quote of “take no prisoners; carry no passengers” is so very true. Everything that made me love classic heavy metal in the eighties is represented here, dragons, metal, riffs and no doubt a touch of booze to lubricate your sing along vocal chords.
‘If I Told You’ will be a favourite of Saxon fans, with its pounding rhythmic music talking about Kennedy’s assassination. ‘Above the Law (Pull the Trigger Pt3)’ sounds a little more melodic American, but that doesn’t take anything away from the sound. To be fair, with the staccato guitar presented, we come back to homeland by tradition of releases that have gone before. ‘I Am His Voice’ is a heavy metal hellion, styled with some awesome pieces where the twin guitar work really characterises the phrasing, this has be thinking of the live setting, you know, massive pyro, the crowd in your pocket. It’s a strong tune indeed. ‘On Olympus High’ is a poignant instrumental piece which really has a lovey feel to it. Then you have the closer ‘Aphrodite’s Kiss’ as a second part of the 8-plus minute tune which is epic, ballad like, this love is forever really hangs true with the emotion coming out of this album. You have had your metal hammering, now you have some warm soothing pieces of music to warm your soul and it oozes emotion. What a fitting end that closes this particular chapter with style and grace.
I would say, this is Blitzkrieg’s finest moment to date, this is a thoroughly rewarding slab of British Heavy Metal that covers a multitude of all the finest ingredients required for a great metal record.
(9/10 Paul Maddison)
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