Ahhh Daniel Heiman, one of the best power metal vocalists out there, the Swede made his name in Lost Horizon amongst others but now is the singer of two Greek bands; Warrior Path and Sacred Outcry. Having this legendary voice in their band Sacred Outcry unleashed their debut album Damned For All Time in 2020 and took the world by storm. Released on No Remorse Records three years later they have returned with their next fantasy epic inspired by the works of Michael Moorcock.
Coming from that style of power metal from the late 90's early 2000's that brought us Hammerfall, Blind Guardian and of course Lost Horizon, Sacred Outcry merge European melody with American might on the second chapter of The Sacred Chronicles that started on Damned For All Time. The creative project of bassist George Apalodimas, he writes, produces and arranges everything here. Since the last album Sacred Outcry have added new guitarist Steve Lado and drummer Defkaliom Dimos to their ranks, the latter proving his power on the galloping The Voyage (Towards Immortality)
After the distinctly Helloween/Running Wild style opening of The Flame Rekindled (Lurid Lights & Drunken Revelry), Towers Of Gold goes into the battlefields of Manowar and Virgin Steele the swelling orchestrations behind galloping metal riffs. Heiman sitting in the higher end of his register with more power and passion than I've heard since the first Sacred Outcry record. His range on Into The Storm (Beyond The Lost Horizon) is mightily impressive, sounding as if he hasn't missed a step since those Lost Horizon days.
As the epic tale progresses 12-string and acoustic guitars are used to flesh out the intros, middle sections and bring the folk/bardic sounds of Blind Guardian as the short passages lead into longer pieces such as A Midnight Reverie (Whispers In The Wind) which adds layers on top of it's acoustic beginnings, building into an epic. Speaking of epic the title track is a monster that switches genre styles multiple times, George's bass playing guiding the alterations in pace with Defkalion joinging him as they increase and decrease with ease, the guitar playing of Steve also is out of this world. All of the band really displaying their abilities as orchestras and choirs are brought in for a widescreen apporach.
Towers Of Gold continues the ascent of Sacred Outcry, veterans in the scene, delivering top tier power metal. 9/10
The Silent Rage - Nuances Of Life (Scarlet Records)
Now signed to Scarlet Records, a label that understands power metal, The Silent Rage return with their second full length album, their first released in 2016. They've struggled with a few set backs since then, founder Nikos Siglidis (guitar) having basically changed the whole bands since that album, these changes being for the better as on Nuances Of Life, they sound bolder and brasher with plenty of riffs on the heavier end of the power metal spectrum as they will definitely appeal to fans of Nevermore, Primal Fear and they-who-shall-not be named from the USA. Another Fallen Dreamland actually features the final "Cold Planet" singer Stu Block (Into Eternity) in brilliant unison with new singer Michalis Rinakakis, it's actually hard to hear where one ends and the other begins.
Having seen this version of the band at Power Metal Quest Fest last year, I know Michalis can do it live so, be prepared as he is very much in the Dane/Halford/Scheepers/Owens style of snarling mids and ear pierecing screams. A perfect vocalist for the more American/tougher power metal style of The Silent Rage. Siglidis' riffs melodic and muscular on all of the album but Carve Your Rage gets nasty quite quick, the bass of George Haniotakis chugging alongside the Nikos' who play guitar Nikos Sarbanis playing most of the leads. Produced by Fotis Bernardo and mastered by George Nerantzis, The Silent Rage have thrown the kitchen sink at this second record, so much so you copuld even call it a re-debut, establishing their name outside of their native Greece with a slick new line up and some killer new heavy metal anthems.
Behind the drumkit Stamatis Katsafados is mechnical, engineeing the battery of Crows Fly Back, as they add Nevermore influences here, the additon of Block on the rampaging Another Fallen Dreamland and Harry "The Tyrant" Conklin (Jag Panzer) on the tough Scarlet Dawn, does a lot to support those American power metal claims, though Jag Panzer, Nevermore, "Cold Planet" etc have always been incredibly popular in Greece so it's no wonder The Silent Rage adopt this style. On Black Monday they feature Bob Katsionis on keys, he also directed The Serpent Lord video. (Now if they could do a tour with Stray Gods I may actually explode). At the end of the album you get a special CD bonus track and my version icnluded the re-recorded Harvester Of Souls from 2021. Nuances Of Life is the rebirth for The Silent Rage, a brilliant record from aband who deserve your attention. 9/10
Rusty Bonez - Brainworm (Self Released)
Produced by Fotis Benardo, Brainworm is a huge sounding record, the riffs bursting at the seams as Rusty Bonez, stake their claim to the pantheon of Greek stoner bands having already shared the stage with Planet Of Zeus and Nightstalker so they have seen firsthand the level they will need to ascend to as the Greek stoner/doom is diverse and strong. Having released their debut album Wrath in 2017, this record has taken a bit longer to come out than was expected but it's meant that they can craft their music properly, making Brainworm the best stoner rock album they can.
Produced by Fotis Benardo, Brainworm is a huge sounding record, the riffs bursting at the seams as Rusty Bonez, stake their claim to the pantheon of Greek stoner bands having already shared the stage with Planet Of Zeus and Nightstalker so they have seen firsthand the level they will need to ascend to as the Greek stoner/doom is diverse and strong. Having released their debut album Wrath in 2017, this record has taken a bit longer to come out than was expected but it's meant that they can craft their music properly, making Brainworm the best stoner rock album they can.
The punches get rolling fast with Nowhere as Kostas Karapetsas kicks out the jams, distorted riffs and some good old fashioned rocking. These Athenians are a bit Clutch, a bit of Fu Manchu, a lot of CoC and the dirt and grime of Motorhead, it's down and dirty stoner rocking as Kostas links up with George Silivridis' grooving basslines on the Soundgarden-like Rain tracks such as If getting the head nodding and the face contorting into all sorts of shapes, while Alesaandro Varouxis' slide guitar adds a bit of bluesing on Shadows Of Faith.
There's also some Down influences too due to the rawness in Nondas Emmanouli's vocals, he's a great singer, with a voice that can be used well no matter if they go down and dirty route or into the hazy riffs of Do You Remember, the drumming of Alexandros Varsanis' anchoring each song with prescision and power. Expect a rapid ascent in the Greek stoner scene from Rusty Bonez on the back of Brainworm and album of top class riffs. 8/10
Artificial Sun - The Giants Collapse (Sliptrick Records)
The Giants Collapse is the debut album from Athenian band Artificial Sun and it's full of great metalcore/melodeath and groove metal with references to the Gothenburg scene, the NWOAHM and that breakout sound that came from the USA in the early 2000's. Using lighter, moments like they do on Thin Line, it means that they can fully unleash the harsh screams to greater effect later.
The Giants Collapse is the debut album from Athenian band Artificial Sun and it's full of great metalcore/melodeath and groove metal with references to the Gothenburg scene, the NWOAHM and that breakout sound that came from the USA in the early 2000's. Using lighter, moments like they do on Thin Line, it means that they can fully unleash the harsh screams to greater effect later.
In their press blurb it counts In Flames (Pathetic Race), Slipknot (Scapegoat/Sicko) and Pantera (Dead Man's Misery) as influences and these can all be heard in Artificial Sun's music but they also try to expand away from there with some early Trivium style on Hoax and the opener Hell-O and harder edged death metal with the battering title track Kostas Tsifopoulos drumming particulay good here.
The bass of Giannis Synodinos giving a low end throb to Pathetic Race, where Kostas Lolis' vocals are the most diverse, his screams also excellent on the attitude driven Monkey Society. Its towards the end of the album that they add extra strings to their bow, Thin Line is especially melodic and has a lot of prog to it; Stamoulakis Bouris's lead guitar fluid and emotional. As a debut album The Giants Collapse is one that lays a sturdy foundation and also allows evolution for Artificial Sin. 7/10
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