Metalium - Hero Nation: Chapter Three

*=Staff's pick	Source Of Souls (Prelude) Revenge Of Tizona (El Cid)* In The Name Of Blood (Nero)* Rasputin (Rasputin)* Odin's Spell Accused To Be A Witch (Joan of Arc) Throne In The Sky (Loreley)* Odyssey (Odysses)* Fate Conquered The Power (Incas) Infinite Love (Romeo and Juliet) Hero Nation (Title track)*

Genre	Power Metal	Henning Basse	Vocals
Tracks	11	Matthias Lange	Guitar
Runningtime	48 Min.	-	Guitar
Label	Massacre Records	Lars Ratz	Bass
Release	25 Feb. 2002	Michael Ehre	Drums
Country	Germany	-	Keyboards
Similar artists	---

I feel obligated to begin this review with a confession. This is the first album I've heard from German Metalium. Blasphemy for a metalfreak some of you might think. And you're probably right too, but it's still the naked truth. Of course I knew of Metalium but I thought they were a somewhat overrated band. After having heard Hero Nation I very soon realised I'd been wrong. And utterly so 'cause Metalium has really succeeded in composing a very high-class power metal album here.

On this concept story release the key figure, the Metalion, continues his journey as he travels to all the corners of the world. There this hero experiences historical adventures of different humans or special events and Hero Nation reflects the highest dramatic moments of these. (See the above track-list for which these historical events and people are). This powerful release also gives us the typical power metal ingredients such as strong riffing, solid and aggressive energy and an overall instrumental performance of high class. Henning Basse's vocal abilities are also worth mentioning and all these elements make Metalium a very compatible band on the international metalscene.

There are eleven tracks on the album of which one is a prelude, one a ballad, three mid-tempo groovers and six up-tempo-double bass drums- speed rockets. And the latter ones are what I like the most about this album. Power metal should always have this intensity, speed and force and Metalium performs very well in this department. Way to go guys! On this release we can also find the performance of three world-class guest musicians. They are Don Airey (former Ozzy, Whitesnake, Rainbow, Phenomena) and Ken Hensley (former Uriah Heep) on keyboards and the award-winning German soprano Carolin Fortenbacher as the voice of Juliet on Infinite Love.

I must say I immediately took Hero Nation to my heart but I also lack a few things. The sound could be a bit heavier and I also think the choruses could have a more sing-along touch over them. But these minor issues don't affect the number of chalices very much. One of my reflections though are that I think that Metalium has some development to do if they're really gonna compete with the upper elite in the genre. They're on a steady course towards it already if they keep delivering albums like this one but that little special extra is still missing if that mission is going to be a successful one.

But if you already like Metalium I guarantee you can buy Hero Nation unheard and be very satisfied with your purchase. For you who haven't heard them yet I'm sure that only a few minutes of listening will convince you to open up your purses too.

See also review of: Incubus , As One , Demons Of Insanity

Production	Vocals	Compositions
8	8,5	8,5

Summary
8,5 chalices of 10 - Mat