Just in case anyone thinks it’s a bit harsh that some young whipper-snappers have come along and nicked the name of the well-known German Melodic Metal band from the 80’s, it’s OK, it is actually that very same Victory from back in the day…kind of. The band released a come-back album in 2003 with guitarist Herman Frank at the helm alongside his 80’s bandmates that included fellow guitarist Tommy Newton, Charlie Huhn on vocals, with bassist Peter Knorn and drummer Fritz Randow completing the famous line-up. Huhn had departed by the time the next album emerged in 2006 and once it’s follow-up arrived in 2011, Randow had also left the fold and the band decided to call it quits. That is until now, when Herman Frank has decided to resurrect the name with a brand-new line up.
Victory had their own unique sound, Charlie Huhn being a distinctive part of that, but he hasn’t been on the previous two Victory releases, so it’s easy to move on from there, and as Frank appeared to be the driving force more and more as the years went on, then it seems fair enough that he can go forward with the name if the music and sound bears some resemblance to the band that fans of the day related to. Well, it does – it’s still Melodic Metal, with the emphasis on the Melodic and guitar to bring the Metal. Sound-wise, Victory 2021 are an amalgam their earlier 80’s selves, Frank’s solo work, his previous band Moon Doc and the last two albums he did with Accept – he does have a recognizable guitar and song-writing style. Vocally Gianni Pontillo does a sterling job, utilizing his classic Melodic Metal voice, brimming with maturity and coming across like a cross between Sammy Hagar, Mark Tornillo (Accept/TT Quick), Pasi Rantanen (Thunderstone) and David Glen Eisley (Murderer’s Row era).
Each track has a weighty riff or two behind it, and I’m pleased to report that when a ballad rears its head, it still has some guts and power to it, so that the melody lines are carried forward with a bit more gusto. However, there’s plenty of double-kick fuelled anthems to outweigh any ballad-esque moments and on the whole I can easily see this album being a more than adequate follow-on from where the band left off 10 years ago – there is more than enough continuity and similarity thanks to Frank’s top-notch song-writing. The band’s traditional double guitar attack still rings through, which can be sometimes lacking on Frank’s solo stuff (obviously…), giving the riffs an extra kick, and the lead-work is as exemplary as ever. This is a slightly heavier Victory than some may recall, which suits me just fine, and on the whole this is a damn fine Melodic Metal album that should appeal to the band’s original fans just as much as Herman Frank followers ever since.
(8/10 Andy Barker)
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