Format: CD Condition: MINT & SEALED Year of Release: 2006 Cat. No.: METAL HEAVEN00023 Label: METAL HEAVEN Country of Origin: GERMANY
After two acclaimed albums this Finnish band strikes back with a very impressive third full length in the form of “Deadlock”. I am not very familiar with all of their past output, but I have heard some tracks off their “Mad Moon Rising” album, pleasantly surprising me. This album is somewhat more melodic yet also heavier in a sense.
Markku Pihlaja is one hell of an impressive vocalist that never overdoes his singing, while still maintaining a very convincing emotional tone all the way through. Kudos would also have to go to the two axemen (Antti Lauren and newcomer Markus Vanhala), as their strong riffing and ethereal soloing really elevates this album above so many of the other faceless Melodic Metal albums around today. Oh yeah, I must also note that the production is absolutely superb, with crystal clarity being the name of the game, but also giving the guitars some crunch and backbone.
I would definitely have scored the album a bit higher if it weren’t for the couple of fillers songs midway through, but overall this is a strong album, that will appeal to fans of IRON MAIDEN, IN FLAMES (“Whoracle” era) and VANISHING POINT.
Good stuff!
Review by: Neil (7.5/10)
Track Listing:
?And the Silence Bites Fools In Control Waste, Damnation State Of Mind Black Burning Flame Swallowing The Dark Psychoracer Lead A Wild Ride By The Waves Of Stars Black Meadow (Intro) Black Meadow
