2006-02-23
It's not very original to start an album with the "changing stations on the radio", it's been done, but then again, there isn't anything that hasn't already been done regarding this album as a whole.
This is actually a re-issue of their debut (originally released in 2000) since they've signed to a different label but also probably as a flotation back to conciseness towards their upcoming new album.
"Fire at will" opens the album in that overused "radio" way I mentioned above, then quickly rides right into the well known areas of heavy metal and though "Persuader" is considered heavy metal, they have their Thrash, Power and semi-progressive moments - Finally a strong oldschool vocal display, put high in the mix (we'll get to the mix later...).
An average craft of riffs is a fair enough description of "As you wish"; the bass is better heard here, but it comes on the cost of the lower tones by the crunching guitar (the higher lead guitar shows the contrast well); the chorus saves it, no metalhead would be able to resist to singing along "…Your wish is my command…".
Picture a galloping song, now add a sweaty topless overweight dude on each of your sides (that can be interpreted as two dudes or just one very affectionate one), you'll end up raising your fist and singing along "creation of man…" in the chorus and some off key singing in the quite part – this is a rough (no pun intended) picture of "Cursed".
Following "Cursed", there's the title track- quite an epic one (that's proven from 5:00 on) with the addition of some effects laid on the vocals here and there.
So far this album feels like a well planned setlist of a live show…
"Secrets" is the odd bird, an energetic instrumental with fine leads accompanied by strums of acoustic guitar, in somewhat of an Irish spirit.
The more traditional "Escape" is a standard powerful song; it's at a level of consensus of homemade food, so simple yet so good.
A portion of early power metal can be found in "Heart of steel" (the name is almost too fitting), this song doesn't sound tired or used even though there are too many songs just like it out there; two more good points are the virtuous guitar solo and the slight dynamics of the generic riffs.
"And there was light" comes in like early
Iron Maiden and
Blind Guardian material, and even though the opening riff sounds a bit too familiar, there is some mild innovation and a splendid solo.
Another reference to Maiden is the tainted "My life for you", with its Holyland/Moses/Biblical context; half way through there's an odd cut, leading to acoustic guitars which can easily make one see elves and gnomes dancing around, this part leads to another solo (what else?) making it even so epic.
The two additional tracks in this re-issue are the demo versions of "Escape" and "Cursed" – both would encourage any label to sign this band just like Dockyard1 did.
I've mentioned this album's sound above, and chose to refer to it in the end…
Many albums… no, many good albums fall for their sound, "The Hunter" is no exception- the drums sound too hollow and have no body whatsoever.
The guitars should be clearer; there is not point in using them if they're swallowed by the bass and drums, while they should be leading.
What saves this album sound-wise is the upfront vocals, other than that, I can only wait for their next album.
Ofer Vayner
