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trax:
1. The Ancient Cries
2. Babylon
3. Where The Falcolns Cry
4. Dragonheart
5. Thunders Of The Night
6. Steelrider
7. City Of Angels
8. Nocturnal
9. Northern Nights
10. Open Fire
11. The Ivory Gates
label: SPV
Band:
Mike Tirelli – Vocals
George Kraft – Guitars
Wayne Banks – Bass
Eckhard Ostra – Drums
In 2002 Messiah's Kiss debut album was released and my colleague Sjoerd was extremely happy with that album. He talked about tracks that have a flow compared to a train, even better: compared to a TGV, and he gave 'Prayer For The Dying' ninety points. In 2004 the second album from Messiah's Kiss was unleashed and another colleague named Ralph said that this album easily combined all the good influences from the past with modern ingredients. This could also be heard in the sound and he talked about real heavy metal without distractions. Ralph gave 'Metal' a score of eighty-five points.
And now, now it is 2007, the third Messiah's Kiss album is to be released and I have the honour to do the listening and the reviewing this time. And it might not be a total surprise, but 'Dragonheart' will also receive a high score. Messiah's Kiss simply knows what they want and how to do it. The classical, typical heavy metal is translated into eleven compact songs with some melodic touches. The firm rhythm section (including good double bass drumming), the fine solos and the sharp riffs, the crystal clear production (Rainer Hansel whom we know from his work with Saxon and Herman Frank whom we know from Accept), it is all done just fine. The songs stick immediately, the spirit of the band grasps you and because of the variation between the songs the album never becomes boring or too much of the same. Fast but also melodic tracks like 'Babylon', and 'The Ancient Cries' are combined with even faster Judas Priest styled songs such as 'Dragonheart' and 'Steelrider'. But also the more hard rock orientated tracks as 'Where The Falcons Cry' and 'Nocturnal' (which remind me of the better Dio days in the early eighties) do the trick.
That Dio sound is also for a big part due to singer Mike Tirelli. He knows how to sing in that same deep and convincing style and in the fast tracks he even goes a bit higher without losing any power at all. This is something I did not expect from him, considering his past in the band Holy Mother and my review about their 'Agoraphobia' album. So, to make a long story short: everybody who likes to listen to timeless, firm and powerful heavy metal with a good sound should try this album.
1. The Ancient Cries
2. Babylon
3. Where The Falcolns Cry
4. Dragonheart
5. Thunders Of The Night
6. Steelrider
7. City Of Angels
8. Nocturnal
9. Northern Nights
10. Open Fire
11. The Ivory Gates
label: SPV
Band:
Mike Tirelli – Vocals
George Kraft – Guitars
Wayne Banks – Bass
Eckhard Ostra – Drums
In 2002 Messiah's Kiss debut album was released and my colleague Sjoerd was extremely happy with that album. He talked about tracks that have a flow compared to a train, even better: compared to a TGV, and he gave 'Prayer For The Dying' ninety points. In 2004 the second album from Messiah's Kiss was unleashed and another colleague named Ralph said that this album easily combined all the good influences from the past with modern ingredients. This could also be heard in the sound and he talked about real heavy metal without distractions. Ralph gave 'Metal' a score of eighty-five points.
And now, now it is 2007, the third Messiah's Kiss album is to be released and I have the honour to do the listening and the reviewing this time. And it might not be a total surprise, but 'Dragonheart' will also receive a high score. Messiah's Kiss simply knows what they want and how to do it. The classical, typical heavy metal is translated into eleven compact songs with some melodic touches. The firm rhythm section (including good double bass drumming), the fine solos and the sharp riffs, the crystal clear production (Rainer Hansel whom we know from his work with Saxon and Herman Frank whom we know from Accept), it is all done just fine. The songs stick immediately, the spirit of the band grasps you and because of the variation between the songs the album never becomes boring or too much of the same. Fast but also melodic tracks like 'Babylon', and 'The Ancient Cries' are combined with even faster Judas Priest styled songs such as 'Dragonheart' and 'Steelrider'. But also the more hard rock orientated tracks as 'Where The Falcons Cry' and 'Nocturnal' (which remind me of the better Dio days in the early eighties) do the trick.
That Dio sound is also for a big part due to singer Mike Tirelli. He knows how to sing in that same deep and convincing style and in the fast tracks he even goes a bit higher without losing any power at all. This is something I did not expect from him, considering his past in the band Holy Mother and my review about their 'Agoraphobia' album. So, to make a long story short: everybody who likes to listen to timeless, firm and powerful heavy metal with a good sound should try this album.