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Messiah's Kiss - Metal


*
=Staff's pick

Execrate
Uncaging Rebellion
Believe
Metal 'Til We Die*
Fight Or Fall
Holy Waters
Angels*
Hell Or Victory
Tears In The Rain
Run And Hide*
Road To Exxtasy*
BlackHawk
The Edge Of Sanity
Dog Idols


Genre Heavy Metal
Michael Tirelli
Vocals
Tracks 14
Georg Kraft
Guitar
Runningtime 55 Min.
Alexander Hitz
Guitar
Label Steamhammer
Wayne Banks
Bass
Release 26 April 2004
Eckhard Ostra
Drums
Country Germany/USA/England
-
Keyboards
Similar artists Pink Cream 69, Mob Rules, Crystal Ball

I first heard the song Metal 'Til We Die from this album, which struck me like a bolt of lightning as an awesome metal hymn in heavy, pumping, mid pace with all the ingredients like thunder, metal, leather rebels and a singalong refrain praising the life of metal. Hearing that one, I made my best trying to hunt down the new album Metal as fast as I could, having the feeling that it could be something out of the ordinary. Most people might not agree with me on that song, as it is not anything ground breaking, but it immediatyl spoke to me. Anyway, I though that if only 50% of the rest of the material on the album would be as good, I would be satisfied. Unfortunatly that is not the case.

There are some really catchy, yet heavy and straight on tunes with basic riffs and simple hooks like the great Angels, Run And Hide and Road To Exxtasy, and so far so good. But as for the rest of the outputs, it is highly standard heavy metal, which lacks an edge to it and does not manage to get a grip on you. Well produced and heavy, as for most of what are released today in this genre of down-to-the-roots metal, but somehow that is not enough if not the songwriting stands out also. There are bits and pieces

The classic names are impossible not to mention in this context: Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, early Grave Digger riffing, and you can also throw in any given german melodic metal band of present times with a "modern" sound, like for example Pink Cream 69 - and there you have it. These are all names that keep coming back in the bands' bios, and are names they have been inspired and influenced by. They state more than once on their website that "this is as metal as it gets...." and "we have had no other intention then playing fucking basic heavy metal, which is what we love..." and so on. I am all in favour of that kind of attitude and prospects, but i don't swollow everything. If you, dear reader, however is a die hard fan of this style, and you are starving for something new, this might serve as a worthy spacetaker in your cd rack. Absolutely.

The band members come from Dinslaken in Germany, New York and Nottingham, and released their debut album Prayer For The Dying in August 2002. Vocalist Tirelli is also involved in the band Holy Mother, Georg Kraft and Eckhard Ostra have formerly been in Repression, and bassist Banks has been involved in Blaze and Brazen Abbot.

Straight metal that is fully adequate, and they pass the quality test, but it does not feel like it will ever grow to something more than that.

See also review of: Dragonheart

Production
Vocals
Compositions

8

8

6

 
Summary



6 chalices of 10 - Tommy

Related links:

www.messiahskiss.com