REVIEW OF THE ALBUM SOLDIERS OF TIME BY NIGHT (2/3/15)

Night are a classic heavy metal band from Sweden formed in 2011 and released two singles in 2012 and 2013 followed by the full length Night, released in November 2013 via Gaphals records.Now Night are due to release their new album the next 2nd March, Soldiers of time, over a year after their debut album that was considered a true metal gem.

Having the chance to listen and analyse the new work of these guys, I can confirm there is an evolution in the sound, now the tracks are better composed, the content of the lyrics are much better and totally deep and intense, denoting the band have worked harder this time. On the other side there is not many songs as wild and direct as Gunpowder treason or Fire and Steel, as I said before, Night experimented more this time, even taking drippings of power metal and of course keeping the old school sound.

The album starts with the vocal choirs introducing waiting for the time, a totally epic entry with an excellent crescendo structure from the solo vocal part verses ascending to a catchy chorus, where the guitars draw good melodies, really good progression as we continue with Across the ocean, more direct shot of old school heavy metal, awesome riffs and harmony between guitar and vocal evolution across the song, also remarkable transition on bridge to chorus.

We're not born to walk away heralds another headbanging mid tempo shot, stronger rhythm now and also the message, forged to lift you up and turn the volume louder, as Above the ground continues the act reminding some tunes of their first job, also with excellent evolution from the verses to bridge and chorus, simple and effective, linking the action to the acoustic track Towards the sky, mid tempo anthem full of feelings, the vocalist does a really good job here as he manage to express the message In perfect harmony with the instrumentals.

Secret war rise the fires of hell with headbanging action in a mid tempo rhythm with strong drumbeats and very straight verses, like Kings and Queens accelerates the pace to the kinds of the speed power metal by Gamma Ray meeting Judas Priest, one of the best true metal shots of the band, the power of the verses is restless as they ascend the intensity leading to one of the best details, the asking and answering duo of vocals and guitars, just outstanding.

Ride on is next, made to be another anthem of those to be played repeatedly, the melodies are great and so the chorus, intense and catchy sign of the band's style, continuing with the soft acoustic intro Wonderlust that explodes in another highlight of true nwothm, Power, straight and strong track that will feed your hunger of true classic heavy metal.

Stars in the sky is the last track, being an acoustic ballad, and despite the fact that is slow and almost without drum, the intensity and power that this track spread with the melodies and lyrics is deserved to be included in the best of the year, the melodies will be stuck in your head as the message will find the space to melt in your soul, guys this is a masterpiece.

It's very important for a band, even if it's a new band, to experiment new stuff, knowing there is always a risk, and these guys really went for it and succeeded, Continuing the true metal path, and adding more feelings to the mixture, Managing a more professional sound overall with improved compositions, now Night will be one step forward towards the first line of nwothm, will be within the best albums of this year already!

9 / 10

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Post by Daniel Ortiz from Metalheads Union and Metalheads Union FB

REVIEW OF THE ALBUM INSOMNIA BY EDGE OF THORNS

Edge of Thorns was formed in 1996 in Germany, releasing three demos until the first full length was released in 2004. Ravenland, being well recieved by the media, the band had line up changes for their following album Masquierading of the wicked in 2007, and after seven long years and hard work, the band, reformed as the definitive line up with Dave Brixius and Jani Nackel as axemasters, Dirk Schmitt on the vocals, Achim Sinzinger on the bass and Joachim Litcher on drums, releasing Insomnia the last 4th April 2014.

Edge of thorns kicks in as a pure power metal band with German influences from early Helloween and Gamma ray, and also drippings of Grave Digger and Accept in terms of structural compositions, guitars in general create a curious and awesome contrast of upper Technical quasi progressive and some times neoclassical style with impulse and raw sound elements; the drums and bass follow the mid fast pace at all moments effectively and finally the vocal style will remind you to Mr Udo vibrato and vocal range but also its appreciable elements from a higher pitched Blackie Lawless from WASP; combining all these factors together you'll find Edge of thorns have their unique sound, even though they are not creating something new to the scene, its a fact that this album heralds a  high quality of genuine german heavy power metal.

After the introduction the band attack straight with Dark side of your life, kicking with a fast pulsed heavy metal anthem with catchy chorus to make an idea of what Edge of thorns have in this album as a good highlight, connected with another mid fast paced power metal shot, Yearning has begun, this time with more epic and melodic power, on the line of Gamma Ray, with remarkable on the vocal sound and the great combo with the back vocals, the guitars demonstrate perfectly the technical progressive side together with the sharp impulsive guitar notes as mentioned above, one of the best of the album.

After a breathtaking guitar shredding introduction, Insomnia comprises one the most modern heavy power metal styles of the album, perfectly fitting on the last Udo or Accept albums, the chorus is intense and powerful, and the vocals work truly sophisticated and theatrical as the gem of the album explodes like a missile of pure heavy speed metal, Metal Unity is literally a masterpiece of the genre, headbanging and moshpiting authentic teutonic style, the vocals are brilliant and the composition is really amazing, guitars make the perfect job producing palm muted riffs and technical solos.

The watchmaker is another top shot of the band comprising part ballad part slow mid pulsed anthem in an ascending intensity boosted by sophisticated guitar shredding and background violins, vocals are amazingly well performed in clean techniques followed by A Carees of souls, starting as a ballad but evolving In a dark, forceful and aggressive track with awesome melodic verses, good progression and harmony within all the band with special mention to the guitar solos, just outstanding.

Walking like a ghost bring some thrash metal drippings in another headbanging fast paced song with a good vocal highs and lows, as Death dealer even improves the pace with excellent double pedal drum performance that lead very well the verses as the chorus comes intense and epic to catch you in the moshpit.

Of hearts that burn will make you break your neck banging your head with a non-stop pounding rhythms with long instrumental intervals as the seven Sins of Arthur mc Gregor epic start bring you to the top going in crescendo with galloping and complex riff and drum combo, the slow mid tempo vocal parts are astonishing and epic but clearly dominated by the virtuous guitar performance.

Is this the way it ends is a good name for an unusual kind of song, but in reality is a melancholic and beautiful act with one of the best vocal interpretations coordinated with piano and violins that finalise the album leaving the listener with the feeling of playing the full length again and again.

Overall the album is all you want to listen for any speed heavy and power metal preferences, the production is crystal clear and the good quality of the record is constantly high, the highlight tracks are numerous but specifically better in the first half of the album, being tha track Metal Unity their best song, so if you like Gamma Ray, Primal Fear, Accept or Tyran Pace, this album should be a must-have in your collection.

9 / 10

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Re;eased by Killer Records

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

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