Classic heavy metal now from Sense Of Fear, active since 1998, Internal Decay is only their second full length, their first released in 2018.
Despite their lack of releases, punctuated by a gap in their existence in the late 2000's, there's still decades of experience in this band which means that when they do deliver new songs you get a band who can sculpt heavy metal with the best of them.
Inspired by the darker side of classic metal there's hallmarks from the 80's but also the American heavy/power scene that straddle thrash. Case in point, Cerberus reminds me of some early Iced Earth, leading into the full throttle thrash of Empathy Of Darkness.
Here the guitars of Ioannis Kikis and Themis Iakovidis are distorted, the solo section introduced by great bass lead from Mike Mastrokoukos. There's an ominous atmosphere behind it driven by Markos Kikis' rampaging double kicks, this thrash toning continues for Conflict Of Interest.
Taking Sense Of Fear down heavier routes, letting Ilias Kytidis display his entire vocals range from the snarling lows to the powerful highs he's joined on the creeping Labyrinth by the familiar snarl of Sakis Tolis. With some battle metal anthems sprinkled through the record, there a balance between the aggression and the melodic.
Towards the end of the album Sense Of Fear put two monsters as Riddle Of Shadows and The Shallow Journey Of Your Soul, both have progressive metal grooves and cinematic storytelling as Sense Of Fear deliver a masterclass in heavy metal.
These veterans of the game have given us yet another long wait for a follow up album, however it's worth it as there's no signs of decay, infernal or otherwise, in Sense Of Fear's heavy metal. 9/10
Clairvoyant - Eternal Victory (Sleaszy Rider Records)
Strap in folks because the first album in 11 years by yet another veteran heavy metal band from Greece.
This time it's Clairvoyant who were formed all the way back in 1988, and now bring us their fourth album Eternal Victory a 62 (!) minute record that features 9 new songs, 2 bonus tracks and Motorhead cover, their first proper ballad Love Me Forever.
Clairvoyant have veteran experience behind them and it's all over the this fourth record, blending power and neo-classical metal, songs like Heroes Altar and Riddles are blistering power metal tracks, with a love of the epic and anthemic.
The middle of the record features the excellent double of the The Quiet Dance Of Time intro and Time Marches On, one brilliant piece that really shows the fist in the air style of Clairvoyant as well as the quality of their new singer who debuts on this album.
The band pull off a trick where they can make these songs sound simple, but there's a lot of substance there in the background as keys add classical influence against the chunky riffs and muscular rhythm section. Even on the ballads such as Dreams Of The Past, Barren Lands and that Motorhead cover there's dynamism.
Personally I could have done with one or two fewer slow songs and more like Forsaken Sentinels or Eternal Empire (Alexander), but then I suppose the band want to show everything they've been working on in the 11 years between albums?
Clairvoyant are veterans of the game and with their fourth album they can still deliver great heavy metal but there are too many ballads on this record which kills the excitement a little. Still when they're on the accelerator they're a great band for fans of neo-classical power metal. 7/10
Crystal Winds - Long Live The King (Sleaszy Rider Records)
Another set of Greek heavy metal veterans now who formed back in 1999 but got reactivated in 2013. Crystal Winds are also only on their second studio album, their debut Return To The Dark Age was released in 2021.
Since then there's been a shift in their line up as this record features a different vocalist, however the music they perform hasn't shifted as Crystal Winds take from the epic heavy metal sound of where the 70's met the 80's in bands such as Manilla Road, Omen, Cirith Ungol and Greek/American legends Warlord.
What that means if you didn't know is that most of these songs are instrumentally driven, hooked around the riffs, the guitars, bass and drums in an anthemic union, with the march of Battalion, the galloping title track or the folksy cinematics of Riders Of Rohan, because what is an epic metal album without a Tolkien inspired song?
It's riffs galore here, the vocals telling these tales of battles and warriors in sonorous style, though it's the final track The Noble where they properly ascend to full epic status with a theatrical, elongated closer.
Long Live The King keeps the beacons of lit, and Crystal Winds are ready to defend epic heavy metal with album two. 7/10
Hypostasis - Birth Of A Mask (Self Released)
A decade after their EP and subsequent hiatus, Athens prog metal band Hypostasis have delivered their debut full length.
Birth Of A Mask is a concept album full of high concept lyrics and complex technical musicianship which draws inspiration from Pain Of Salvation and Nevermore, putting introspective melodies against the heavier and moodier side of progressive metal.
The band called Birth Of A Mask a "deeply emotional journey of self-reflection and the long road to acceptance" these themes are told though the songs, it's the emotion of tracks such as Silver Stars and the heavy Afraid, where the passion in the voice of Romanos Alexander is at it's strongest, there's a host of backing vocalists adding flavour.
He's also part of guitar duo along with Bill Apo as Konrad and Eridanus take bass and drums respectively, all the members of Hypostasis virtuosos on their own right as they move between gothic metal (Birth Of A Mask), doom metal (Mirror), symphonic metal (Visions) and death metal groove (Phoenix).
Birth Of A Mask take a few listens as all good concepts should but it's a complicated, contemplative and most importantly heavy record from Hypostasis. 8/10
The middle of the record features the excellent double of the The Quiet Dance Of Time intro and Time Marches On, one brilliant piece that really shows the fist in the air style of Clairvoyant as well as the quality of their new singer who debuts on this album.
The band pull off a trick where they can make these songs sound simple, but there's a lot of substance there in the background as keys add classical influence against the chunky riffs and muscular rhythm section. Even on the ballads such as Dreams Of The Past, Barren Lands and that Motorhead cover there's dynamism.
Personally I could have done with one or two fewer slow songs and more like Forsaken Sentinels or Eternal Empire (Alexander), but then I suppose the band want to show everything they've been working on in the 11 years between albums?
Clairvoyant are veterans of the game and with their fourth album they can still deliver great heavy metal but there are too many ballads on this record which kills the excitement a little. Still when they're on the accelerator they're a great band for fans of neo-classical power metal. 7/10
Crystal Winds - Long Live The King (Sleaszy Rider Records)
Another set of Greek heavy metal veterans now who formed back in 1999 but got reactivated in 2013. Crystal Winds are also only on their second studio album, their debut Return To The Dark Age was released in 2021.
Since then there's been a shift in their line up as this record features a different vocalist, however the music they perform hasn't shifted as Crystal Winds take from the epic heavy metal sound of where the 70's met the 80's in bands such as Manilla Road, Omen, Cirith Ungol and Greek/American legends Warlord.
What that means if you didn't know is that most of these songs are instrumentally driven, hooked around the riffs, the guitars, bass and drums in an anthemic union, with the march of Battalion, the galloping title track or the folksy cinematics of Riders Of Rohan, because what is an epic metal album without a Tolkien inspired song?
It's riffs galore here, the vocals telling these tales of battles and warriors in sonorous style, though it's the final track The Noble where they properly ascend to full epic status with a theatrical, elongated closer.
Long Live The King keeps the beacons of lit, and Crystal Winds are ready to defend epic heavy metal with album two. 7/10
Hypostasis - Birth Of A Mask (Self Released)
A decade after their EP and subsequent hiatus, Athens prog metal band Hypostasis have delivered their debut full length.
Birth Of A Mask is a concept album full of high concept lyrics and complex technical musicianship which draws inspiration from Pain Of Salvation and Nevermore, putting introspective melodies against the heavier and moodier side of progressive metal.
The band called Birth Of A Mask a "deeply emotional journey of self-reflection and the long road to acceptance" these themes are told though the songs, it's the emotion of tracks such as Silver Stars and the heavy Afraid, where the passion in the voice of Romanos Alexander is at it's strongest, there's a host of backing vocalists adding flavour.
He's also part of guitar duo along with Bill Apo as Konrad and Eridanus take bass and drums respectively, all the members of Hypostasis virtuosos on their own right as they move between gothic metal (Birth Of A Mask), doom metal (Mirror), symphonic metal (Visions) and death metal groove (Phoenix).
Birth Of A Mask take a few listens as all good concepts should but it's a complicated, contemplative and most importantly heavy record from Hypostasis. 8/10
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