Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Overmaster Madness of War Company: Cruz Del Sur Music Release: 2010 Genre: Power Reviewer: Chris Kincaid

It'll have you pounding your chest

I like surprises!

I wasn't sure what my reaction would be to Overmaster. On a whim one night I was looking for something to review and decided to check them out. Doing reviews you get both the good and the bad. It's a chance you take. But after one listen I was hooked on these guys. Hell, I've been listening to this album all week.

Started back in 2006, Overmaster is a culmination of talent from Italian Metal bands White Skull, Skylark and Highlord. They've released their debut disc called "Madness of War" a debut that is pure Power Metal without all the common stereotypes that follow it. That's to say it's less about dragon slaying and unicorns even if the message is still about the battle of war. Yeah it'll still have you pounding your chest as you cry to the Metal Gods.

It kicks off with an opening intro appropriately titled 'Walking Back Into Hell'. A track that is a recount of the evolution of war from the days of swinging swords to machine gun fired assaults. It leads into the lightining quick 'Marble King'. There's the track 'Overlord' that opens with choppers tearing through the skies set to a beautiful drum march before jumping into a ricochet of speed laced with a great riff.

Most tracks are a combination vocally like on the guitar chugging 'Jungle of Madness'. Vocalist Gus Gabarro mashes rough chops on the verses with smooth melodies on the choruses. Same with the more mid-tempo based 'Revolution World' and the galloping 'Spartan Warriors'. Yet on the subdued and sorrowful 'Nameless Hero' his voice leans more to his strength to hit the high notes. But it always bleeds emotion especially on 'Children of the Sand' and 'Battle Prayer'.

Not to mention the studio productuion is top notch. The sound is rich and powerful but then it was mixed and mastered at Fear Studio which has a name for putting out solid Metal recordings.

And it shows on "Madness of War" a strong debut that is a tapestry of unrelenting guitars, drums and bass with some great melodies woven in.