Astral Doors - Astralism
|
|
EVP* |
| Genre | Heavy Metal |
Patrik Johansson
|
Vocals
|
| Tracks | 13 |
Martin Haglund
|
Guitar
|
| Runningtime | 55 Min. |
Joachim Nordlund
|
Guitar
|
| Label | Locomotive Records |
Mika Itäranta
|
Bass
|
| Release | 24 March 2006 |
Johan Lindstedt
|
Drums
|
| Country | Sweden |
Joakim Roberg
|
Keyboards
|
| Similar artists | Dio, Black Sabbath | ||
Swedens answer to Dio/Black Sabbath of the earlier years
are back with their third album and it is pretty obvious that Astral
Doors are not planning on move away much from their concept, since this
release takes off again where the other two left us. The only difference
is that the production this time is a little bit different (thinner
but not really weaker) and the guitars have a little bit sharper sound
and are at times not as heavy. The musical approach remains the same,
however: classic and riff based simple heavy metal with great hooks
and refrains.
Following the tradition of opening with a fast and catchy song, usually
always also the best song of the album, it kickstarts with EVP. An uptempo
smoker with a catchy refrain and great guitars. After this follow a
couple of normal and midtempo songs (Black Rain, London Caves) both
with strong and catchy bridges and choruses being their biggest asset.
So far very good and completely as we are used to and had expected from
Astral Doors.
Despite the fact that Fire In The House is a great uptempo song with
all necessary ingredients, the album loses a bit of its momentum at
this point since it is surrounded by two slower songs and no matter
how many times I hear these songs (From Satan With Love, Israel), they
will not do much for me. I can appreciate the good craftmanship and
since Astral Doors' lowest level is extremely high it doesn't go as
far as me wanting to press skip on my cd player, but they do not lead
anywhere. Raiders Of The Ark brings it back to normal Astral Doors standards
again. Straight forward, groovy and catchy with a good punch, even though
the main riff sound a bit familiar. Tears Of A Titan takes it down to
a slower level again. Heavy guitars and a bombastic refrain and the
vocal lines are a bit unusual but work great.
From this point and onwards there is a 50/50 mix of uptempo songs and
more slow and epic ones. Oliver Twist, with its Black Sabbath riff and
contagious bridge and refrain, and Vendetta with a high tempo and a
classic and catchy build, are the two with most energy. The seven and
a half minut closer Apocalypse Revealed is wrapping it up in a worthy
way, heavy and epic in midtempo and The Green Mile is a well performed
song in the same style but it falls a bit between the chairs compared
to they others. In Rock We Trust is the most Dio-like song on the album
this time, both title- and musical wise. A great heavy metal hymn exactly
in vein of Time To Rock from the previous album. Perhaps not as good,
though, but it certainly has qualities.
The word epic pops up a lot in this review and that is a bit of the
feeling and the keyword on this album. While not really having any more
slower songs than on previous albums, it still feels a bit more "big"
and confident. We have heard it before, and certain riffs and passages
sound familiar, but Astral Doors always manage to mesmerize me by forging
such great and catchy songs from such simple ingredients and still make
it sound rich and full. A solid buy for fans of the band and of the
genre in general. I still hold Astral Doors as one of Sweden's finest
and as crown bearers of classic heavy metal of today.
See
also review of: Notes
From The Shadows , Requiem
Of Time , Of
The Son And The Father , Evil
Is Forever , Raiders
Of The Ark
|
Production
|
Vocals
|
Compositions
|
|
8 |
9 |
7 |
|
Summary
|
||
|
7 chalices of 10 - Tommy |
||
Related links: