Company: Pure Steel Release: 2015 Genre: Power Reviewer: Eric Compton
Galloping sword fare
Cyprus has been a home away from home for a number of metal bands through the years. In 2012 Iced Earth found it supportive enough to record 'Live in Ancient Kourion' there. The country has hosted a number of metal bands including the Nicosia act Lethal Saint. The nine year veterans emerged on the scene in 2007 with a self-titled demo, followed three years later by another self-titled recording, their debut full-length for Pitch Black Records. Five years later the group returns with their sophomore effort 'WWIII' for Pure Steel. The band package the release with vivid artwork from Dimitar Nikolov, known for his work with traditional and power metal acts like Lancer, Cypher Seer, Majesty and Air Raid. The album is produced by guitarist/bassist Andreas Kasapis and mastered by Andy Classen (Belphegor, Dew-Scented). While the band’s first album was a slightly faster offering, this new entry is fortified with stout mid-speed hooks and unified gang styled chorus parts. "Thorns of Existence" showcases a more technical working to the heavier riffing, start and stop rhythms elevating harmonized vocal styles from lower bellows to a higher delivery. "The Alliance" is the typical galloping sword fare, US traditional metal in the style of later era Jag Panzer. The band mixes in a couple of instrumentals to break up the pounding metal, "Omen" and "The Curse". Overall this should appeal to modern power enthusiasts like Iced Earth and Sabaton.
