REVIEW OF THE ALBUM BEYOND CONTROL BY OMEGA CROM

Omega Crom is a ripping power metal band from Vancouver, Canada formed in 2002 and releasing their first full length in 2010, Blood, fire and steel via Reversed Records and now just released their new album Beyond Control independently.

Omega Crom style is defined by a progressive power metal combined with drippings of thrash metal mainly and death metal at some moments, the vocals are clean high pitched styled on the power metal parts  mixed with harsh and growling techniques well defined in the thrash metal sections; also have to remark the vocal appearance of Celine Derval in this album giving the record an epic melodic style, the themes are based on Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian.

Beyond  control starts with Sundering blades, sharp guitar riffs with similarities of Judas priest to start but purely a great mix of thrash and epic power metal, adding progressive shredding, outstanding epic chorus and vocal quality, linked with Power Soul, power metal mid pulsed song with really catchy parts on the verses, the high pitched vocals are astonishing, clean and high like the Sad wings of destiny album by the Metal Gods, attacking with forceful instrumental at the end, being  one of the best creations of the band.

Unwanted hell soft entry contains a modern power thrash metal structure mixing fast and mid pulse, introducing clean vocals in the thrash metal parts, not very convinced at the beginning but i have to admit that was a great idea; following with Chaos theory that plays with slow and mid tempo pure power epic metal, counting with the collaboration of Celine giving very effective results; awesome guitar riffs in great harmony with the rest of the band.

Infiltate the system heralds The best progressive thrash metal part of the album, also mixing power metal with awesome guitar parts like usual in the band style.

Blood red moon is another top track comprising pure heavy metal headbanging pulse melted with the best guitar sophisticated techniques of the album followed by Shattered illusions of reality, mid fast pounding drumbeats of progressive power metal with a  remarkably catchy long chorus.

Of past and present mix growling and potent clean vocals in a doom metal instrumental bringing back memories of Candlemass  attacking with a thrash and death metal styled in-crescendo ending.

Brains all over the floor takes you to the mosh pit violently with a powerful death metal twisted with thrash metal moments, well linked with the last track of the album, Land of never was, as another top hits of progressive power metal with the two vocals working perfectly, excellent job on the guitars emphasizing in the right moments creating a really epic atmosphere.

Beyond control by Omega Crom will be a must have and a reference for progressive power metal fans, some highlights of the album are Sundering Blades,  Power Soul, Blood Red Moon and Shattered illusions of reality, the rest is still good but not in the same quality.

The compositions are outstanding at some parts and the vocals are powerful, high and clean; and demonstrating a growling style that is really admirable. Guitars are awesome and sophisticated, dancing correctly with the drums and bass. Omega Crom have to be proud of this album, mixing successfully the progressive power metal with thrash and death metal worlds.

8 / 10



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Post by Daniel Ortiz from Metalheads Union and Metalheadsunion FB

REVIEW OF CITY OF GOLD BY STRIKER

Striker is a speed power metal band from Canada formed in 2007 being one of the first bands to revive the sound of the 80s true metal in the well known New wave of traditional heavy metal, releasing their first demo in 2008, EP in 2009 and first full length Eyes in the night, in 2010 being one of the best speed metal releases of the year and also a good influence for new young metalheads hungry for true metal action; Armed to the teeth was released two years later, 2012, increasing the quality of their sound to a new level and after two years of hard work, their new album City of Gold is ready to be released the next 29th of August via Napalm Records.

Striker new album City of Gold is forged with forceful power speed metal riffs containing some modern heavy metal moments and old school thrash metal drippings, not only being influenced by the power of Crimson Glory, the dangerous sharp wild steel of Judas Priest or the melodic technique of Dio, now the thrash metal force of Exodus come into scene at some parts.

The album starts strong with the pure heavy speed metal Underground, denoting some modern melodies but keeping the roots of the classic metal flame burning bright; continued by the tittle track City of Gold as a headbanging mid tempo anthem that heralds a fist in the air feeling on the chorus,  well combined with the high pitched vocals on the verses, remarkable job on the guitars, being impulsive and wild. Start again continues the mid fast pulse with drippings of 90s thrash metal melted with powerful vocal parts between Dio and Bruce Dickinson style.

The 80s revival from this band doesn't finish on the aggressive heavy speed metal, they are over the top of the melodic hard rock with Bad decisions, bringing memories from Love ain't no stranger by Whitesnake but improved with the wild sign of the band, one of the surprises of the album that improves in every track.

Crossroads bring you to the mosh pit accelerating the pounding drumbeats in a speed power metal blast with a very straight  aggressive style on the vocals, also used on the following track All for one, this time more melodic on the vocals creating a genuine power metal base and chorus.

 Mind control heralds a mid tempo thrash metal sound with strong pulse with excellent changes of rhythm, very well connected with the most thrash metal influenced song of the album, Second Attack, bringing back memories of Exodus style that will make you wreck your neck fist in the air.

Leaving the best for the end, I find the three last tracks so interesting because contains the most virtuous vocals in the album combined with an excellent compositions, bringing the melodic parts to a pure heavy metal anthem in All I want, with a style between Dio and Dokken, followed by Rise up developing a forceful speed thrash metal containing a style seen on bands like Enforcer and Evil Invaders on the instrumental but with the unique striker style on the lead vocals.

Its the turn for the last masterpiece of the album, Taken by Time, sounds like a combination of all styles the band have experimented along this record, thrash metal base that changes pulses to an authentic heavy metal melody reviving the sound of albums like holy diver by Dio with drippings of power metal, encapsulating the band sound.

Striker demonstrated not only they are capable to create an excellent speed power metal compositions, they went further experimenting with thrash metal and melodic hard rock, resulting in a very rich creation, eleven solid forged, brilliantly produced metal tracks that keep the true metal alive making the listener to play them again and again.

9 / 10


STRIKER 
Chris Segger on Guitars
Dan Cleary on Vocals
Adam Brown on Drums
Timothy Brown on Guitars

Wild Bill on Bass

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Post by Daniel Ortiz from Metalheads Union and Metalheads Union FB