Saboter - Mankind is Damned

Artist: Saboter
Release Title: Mankind is Damned
Year: 2016
Label: Witches Brew
Genre: Heavy/Power Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Purifier
2. Assassins
3. Prevailing Dictators
4. Marching Death
5. Impaler
6. Ghost in the Machine
7. Sacred Catalyst
8. Sands of Time

Forming just in 2014, Greek heavy/power metallers Saboter have come together to showcase their shared passion for old-school heavy and power metal while taking into account the thrash influence from the members’ previous act to quickly pump out their first release. A captivating concept album that portrays a dystopian world, the group’s full-length debut was released July 6, 2016 on Witches Brew.

For the most part here this is a pretty dynamic old-school assault of traditional heavy and power metal mixed together into a truly enjoyable burst of energetic material. With the majority of the material here decidedly based on the mid-tempo assaults mixed together with spurts of charging up-tempo power metal-styled melodic rhythms in the riff-work, it has the kind of pleasing approach of offering thumping, hard-hitting rhythms rumbling alongside harmonious melodies scattered prominently across the album. This is a rather fun and impressive style of attack that still offers up the kind of hard-hitting riffing and powerful rhythm section to give the material a nice heavy crunch when necessary yet doesn’t really get too far into that type of material before it snaps off a series of rather fun and fine melodies which combine together into a fine, majestic feel that conjures up the epic material created back in the genre’s heyday. This type of attack ends up bringing about the album’s main flaw here which is that the album’s pace is decidedly a one-note variation which really does come off with the same general attitude throughout here that holds it back with the same tone. That leaves it quite bland at times once it reveals the tricks of it’s trade, and there’s some rather troubling work with that unvarying attack which is featured in this. It’s still quite enjoyable, but does have some troubling factors.

Though there’s some rather minor moments here that come up in holding this one down, the fact that it’s still somewhat enjoyable enough to be listenable makes this a somewhat intriguing effort for fans of old-school heavy/power metal or those that like the slower, more melodic aspect of traditional metal.

Score: 75/100

Does it sound good? Order it form here:

http://www.witchesbrewthrashes.eu/shop/index.php?lang=en

Perseus (It) - A Tale Whispered in the Night

Artist: Perseus (It)
Release Title: A Tale Whispered in the Night
Year: 2016
Label: Buil2Kill Records
Genre: Heavy/Power Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Intro
2. The Diary
3. Time Over
4. Hidden Murders
5. Magic Mirror
6. Echoes of Mind
7. Dying Every Time
8. Ana Annur
9. Deceiver
10. Lux Domini
11. Son of the Rising Sun
12. My Endless Dream
13. Whispers in the Mist
14. I'm the Chosen One
15. Rain Is Falling
16. Legions of Ravens
17. Never Surrender
18. The Ride of Pegasus
19. Epilogue

Still holding true to their sound, Italian heavy/power metallers Perseus are continuing their concept album storyline from their debut about Dr. Icarus Lazard and his quest to lead a powerful army to fight against a dark force opposing their eternal quest. Getting the storyline continued in their second release, the album is released April 1, 2016 on Buil2Kill Records.

This here is quite a fun album, featuring their blend of sparkling traditional heavy metal and melodic power metal hymns. Featuring a deep, steady rhythm section full of a tight, engaging crunch that keeps this barreling along at a fine mid-tempo pace while enabling the kind of glorious harmonic leads to sprout forth giving this a rather appealing melodic crunch. This manages to become the main style here during the bands’ main, proper tracks which is featured enough here that it’s quite an appealing time, and when given breathe amidst the ballads which slow these rhythms down even further to accent the soft, romantic and the strong central storyline concerning their epic concept makes for a generally rewarding time on the album. Though there’s a lot to like here, right off the bat what’s immediately glaring about this one is the absurd track length here, as the bands’ penchant for peppering the entire track with a short, bonus interlude setting up the next proper track is quite a struggle to get over. Even though it doesn’t really hurt the album all that much, the fact that it’s just such a startling tactic of bringing the album’s momentum to a grinding, startling halt every time it’s going to a new track since it only occasionally brings two tracks back-to-back before changing into a short interlude. Without these buggers and just keeping the momentum going from song-to-song would bump up this one significantly as the main tracks are just so much fun but get short-changed with their placement here.

With a lot of absolutely great parts to really like here interrupted only with a truly stuttering amount of momentum-stopping segments keeping this one down, this is a pretty torn one overall as the stellar music on the main album might be enough to overcome the flaws and appeal to the fans of this style, while the flaws could also be enough to prevent a lot from really liking it.

Score: 74/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
https://www.amazon.com/Tale-Whispered-Night-Explicit/dp/B01FEZQTDM