Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Wycked Synn - The Vision - 2003 Chavis Records - Reviewed by EC

Track Listing1. Into The Darkness 2. Tell The Tale 3. The Vision 4. Let It Rain 5. If You Said Goodbye 6. Evil Ways 7. K.M.A 8. Til The End 9. In My Mind 10. Unchosen Path 11. The Savior

This debut record from Arizona's Wycked Synn is another stellar release for 2003. This will definitely insert itself into my top 10 of the year when the polls close in December.

If you want melodic, guitar driven 80s metal with big leads and one fantastic singer, then this band is calling your name. Chavis Records have done a wonderful job promoting this band, with alot of the hard rock metal sites on the web talking about Wycked Synn all year.

This album really sounds sleek and polished, with all the melodic hooks that dominated hard rock and power metal in the 80s. One can hear everything from Dokken and Racer-X to Queensryche and Lethal, with plenty of flashy guitar dynamics from guitarist Ken Orth and soaring Tate-like vocals from Gary Grant.

I've always loved the European scene for its melodic hard rock acts such as Pretty Maids, Pink Cream 69, and Sinner. Wycked Synn is the American version of those types of metal bands. What a shocker considering the sorry state of affairs when it comes to metal on the airways here. Wycked Synn ignores the trends of Linkin Park, Korn, and Godsmack, instead dwelling on the glorious sounds of the 80s, adding a nice touch of double bass for a power metal assault when they feel it necessary.

Songs like "Tell The Tale" and "The Vision" just shine, with a killer guitar gallop that crunches along like George Lynch or Jake E. Lee, and the powerful vocals of Grant just lift the listener to another level of metal existence. Think prime Queensryche meets "Back For The Attack" Dokken. Absolutely brilliant!! The emotional "Let It Rain" is a perfectly created mood piece that offers some beautiful female vocals to the mix. My favorite cut would have to be the Crue-like "Evil Ways", a stormy ripper that has some killer melody and a chorus that just won't leave your head.

I have big plans for this band. Wycked Synn will go places if enough people share "The Vision". I honestly believe this band sits on the top rung of American hard rock. They have that special driving force behind them to create quality modern music with an emphasis on 80s metal tradition.

Wait until this album hits Japan!!


--EC 11.02.03