REVIEW OF THE ALBUM FIRES OF REDEMPTION BY BANDEMONIC (10-11-2014)

Bandemonic is a traditional heavy metal band from Ioannina, Greece, formed in 2009 and releasing their first EP Chains in 2012 (click to read the review), receiving positive feedback by the media and allowing the band to share stage with important bands like Enforcer, Grim Reaper or Helstar. After working hard on the new album, the band finally signed with Steel Gallery Records in October 2014 and now the machine is fully charged ready to release their Fires of redemption the next 10th of November 2014.

The album sounds much more professional and solid than their first Ep two years ago, for those who realised about their potential previously, will find out how right we were now that this album is completed, because what you are about to listen is a powerful heavy metal machine that, as a new band, will hit the true metal scene.

Getting the deep detail this work deserves, the album starts with Fires of Redemption as an instrumental epic track with well composed melodic violins and acoustic guitars to literally explode in a thrash influenced guitar riff of the mid paced Torment, the vocals are now outstandingly improved, stronger and more controlled than before, brilliant job on the combination of technical drum rhythms and guitar performance denoting a complex composition linked with Disingenuous as one of the best of the album, the guitars well demonstrate it with an excellent aggressive and sharp beginning, soon to create the head banging feeling with a catchy chorus coming from the power and epic metal elements, the melodies on the verses and the vocal interpretation have been taken care very well with an amazing result.

Martyr comes in a crescendo structure with strong guitar riffs and power metal vocal drippings bringing memories from Queensrÿche style with awesome high pitched parts, but with added thrash elements on the instrumental, this time the structure and chorus denote a modern 90s influence; as we continue with The awakening, as a slow mid paced act with great changes of pulse, with a genuine power metal chorus found among all the elements that Bandemonic create.

Now its time for the most epic bomb of the band to date, Burn the witch is probably the most sophisticated track they've done with neck breaking parts and breathtaking theatrical vocal verses including the fact that some guitar riffs are purely thrash metal, this is a gem that perfect encapsulates the band's style.

Inner battle slow the machinery but keep the high quality in composition, remembering their first EP patterns, to attack with Bullet as another fast paced headbanging missile with high pitched vocals and fast palm muted and galloping riffs, remarkable the contrast of aggressive and melodic parts.

Guardians of time is the most professional track of the album, with an ascending intensity leading to an epic forceful and addictive chorus, the vocals demonstrate his best job and the instrumentals are in harmony and tremendously intense and powerful.

If there was a song that was the pure sign of the band in their EP, a song that will make you remember this band as many other songs such as Heavier than metal for Skull Fist, all or nothing for Cauldron or Full speed or no speed for Striker; here we have The Seeker for Bandemonic, the masterpiece from the first EP is now re-recorded with the higher quality that this album have in general, the vocals are definitely better and fresher than before, I really liked they recorded this track for the new album, its totally headbanging and genuine old school heavy metal, making the perfect ending of a great album.

Fires of redemption will be the necessary step that will hopefully catapult this band to the front of the traditional heavy metal scene, the quality of the compositions and an excellent production situate the band in the level of bands like Striker, in fact they have things in common such as the thrash metal influences on the guitars combined with heavy and US power metal vocal techniques.

Bandemonic demonstrated they are here to attack with a powerful force that deserves to be echoed around the globe.

8,5 / 10

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Release by Steel Gallery Records

Bandemonic are:
Vocals- George Mantos
Guitars - Erik Karamanis and CA Chairopoulos
Drums - Adrian Kyprianos
Bass - Panagiotis Bestos

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Review made by Daniel Ortiz from Metalheads Union and Metalheads Union FB

REVIEW OF THE ALBUM THE END IS WRITTEN, BY DOOMOCRACY

Doomocracy is a doom metal band from Greece, formed in 2011, looking for the roots of the doom metal scene like Candlemass, Solitude or Black Sabbath; signing with Steel Gallery Records in July 2014 and releasing their first album late September 2014. The band is comprised by Angelos Tzanis and Harry Dokos on the guitars, Michael Stavrakakis on the vocals, Minas Vasilakis on drums and Manolis Schizakis on the bass.

Doomocracy style is based in the old school doom metal as their main influence, you can find also lots of palm muted riffs melted with power metal feelings and some slow paced thrash metal elements here and there, instrumentals bend into progressive territory mostly on the solos creating an unique sound, remarkably notorious due to the high pitched clean vocals, more proper of power metal or speed metal bands, but fitting perfectly with the rest of the band; really appreciable the clean parts combined with brilliant aggressive sharp techniques remembering the style of bands like Oliver Magnum.

The album starts with Sadness and Hesitation, as the double pedal combined with an awesome pure doom riff take you to the genuine style of the band, remarkable the powerful energy of the bridge and chorus, dripping epic melodies in a slow mid tempo pulse and well linked with Faceless, offering another mid tempo shot of power doom metal, this time the vocal performance is outstanding as well as the harmony between guitars and drums.

Doormacht (Der Apokalyptische Untergang) develops a slow paced thrashy riff enriched with a constant mid and high pitched vocal play, as The Celephais Curse main riff gives you the alert of an apocalypse feeling, following the same patterns but adding more double pedal to the mixture, good headbanging bridge being one of the strongest parts of the album.

The end is written heralds one of the best riffs of the band, followed really well by the doom metal slow pulse, the vocal interpretation is awesome from start to finish. Guitar solos and double pedal drums make this song a good highlight of the album as Emissary of Vengeance goes in crescendo to a light mid tempo beginning evolving to one of their best choruses and excellent high ranged screams, taking out the aggression of the true metal, really headbanging and perfect for singing along with the band if you catch them on tour.

Hanging Puppet begins also with an ascending progression using sharp styled vocals in the verses and a long chorus, always backed by a sophisticated technical guitars and drums, the solo in this track heralds some oriental feeling on the melodies, resulting in a great act with a good harmony with all the band members.

The last track, Sins, contains two sections well marked by the role of the vocals, the melancholic ballad is so well played that gives it an extraordinary intensity with the high and low melodies, one of the best performances that explodes into their fastest tempo shot releasing the full power of force and hate, headbanging masterpiece always with the melodic chorus sign of the band, also great job on the solo being as usual perfectly technical leading to an intense ending becoming their best song.

The end is written will be a perfect gem for every doom metal maniac, on top of this, the band's influences let them forge a powerful epic feelings to their compositions, mastering a technical power-doom metal that will be well recognized by the international metal scene.

8 / 10


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Released by Steel Gallery Records




Post by Daniel Ortiz for Metalheads Union and Metalheads Union FB