Tunnel Visions

What an oddity this one… one that can only come from the remote corners of North Rhine-Westphalia… cause this is exactly where our four troubadours here have been residing ever since their inception in 1993. Not the most hospitable times for some offbeat retro metal tunes to hit the aether, but you all know well that the Germans couldn’t care less about trends and vogues, especially when it comes to music.

The year is 1995, and we are listening to the debut of this unknown quartet. We see that it’s only seven compositions, and we can’t help but get annoyed by one of them (the title-track) having been wasted as a not very meaningful short intro. However, what follows is a handsome compensation for all previous and subsequent shortcomings, an old school power/speed metal odyssey that on top of everything boasts very good clean attached vocal performance. The man early finds his stride whether he has to assist in the stirring of more outlandish atmosphere on the excellent quirky Slauter Xstroyes-esque progressiver “Dawn of Time” or has to exacerbate the already seeping drama on “Bad Conscience” with a couple of brutal deathy tirades.

Yes, versatility is the name of the game on this admirable opus which inevitably indulges in more orthodox rhythmic patterns on the academic epic anthem “Follow the Machines”, the machines in this particular case settling for a not very intimidating mid-paced march, before the balladic tranquillity at the start of “There Might Be a Place” misleads everyone that this would be a respite; a restless heavy, also fairly dynamic shredder this one is, bringing to mind the early feats of Manticora. The mentioned Danish outfit remain the main reference point later with both Blind Guardian and Paradox echoed on the soaring speedster “Living From the Past”, with “Dreams” providing more sleepless nights for the speed metal lovers, an exemplary encompassing saga also eliciting a superb memorable chorus amongst the addictive melodic hooks flying from all sides.

Wow, if this wasn’t one of the highlights of the entire 90’s German power/speed metal scene… face all your Primal Fears, defy all your Iron Saviours, and stop participating in these stupid Brainstorming sessions… forget all that shite! Who wants the “Painkiller” rehashed and spat out incessantly! We need something to sing along to, and also to stop and listen more intently, and probably to spend some time later to analyse this or that motif… and here it comes, all this into one wholesome package, original old school metal to the last note. I have no idea how this sophomore “Slave” sounds like, but based on a few song-titles (“Sex.com”) I kind of don’t feel the itching urgency to track it down… I suggest we stay with these inventive tunnel visions a bit longer.

So, is there still anyone out there who frowns at this short instrumental title-track intro? I doubt it; and it can’t be any other way, especially with this flock of seagulls mirthfully populating the clear blue skies above.