Walk Through the Inferno

The first thing to bring to mind the album that is often considered Iced Earth's magnum opus (and, to be fair, I do consider it to be the band's second-best album, it's just that their second-best isn't all that great) is the opening line of Krystos' 2010 debut full-length album, Walk through the Inferno-- "Abandon hope all ye who enter here," which many will recognize as the most famous line from Dante's original work Inferno (plus, there's the fact that "Inferno" is in the title of the fucking album). The second is that, stylistically, the album is also quite similar to Iced Earth's, consisting of dark, hellish power/thrash...and there are some even more specific nods to Burnt Offerings, such as a triplet in the album opener "Infernal Stride" that mirrors a riff in Iced Earth's track "Dante's Inferno." Clearly, Krystos have taken some pointers from the 1995 Iced Earth album, though thankfully not too many. The music here is much more complex and less repetitive, and instead of dedicating just one monster track to Inferno, it is, instead, a concept album that flows very naturally and linearly. At 56 minutes, it never starts to drag, which most Iced Earth albums (Burnt Offerings included) begin to do by the third or fourth song. Okay, so enough about Iced Earth. I've done a thorough job demonstrating how this album is like them, but better. What else does it bring to the table?

The vocalist is definitely strong; he has a powerful, raspy tenor which brings to mind Steel Assassin's John Falzone and is chock full of neoclassical guitar leads that could give Helstar, Prodigy, or Sacral Rage a run for their money (if you're skeptical, just listen to "Limbo"). The soloing, in fact, is probably the highlight of the album, often going on for 2 or 3 minutes at a time, but never becoming stale or gaudy, as such solos often do (Dream Theater, I'm looking at you). Frankly, this is some of the most inspired and talented soloing I've heard in USPM this side of the year 2000, so kudos are definitely in order for Dan Johnston, who handles lead guitar duties. Make no mistake, the riffs are great as well, but they're almost constantly overshadowed by the outstanding leads and solos. Certain aspects of the album also evoke Powers Court's Nine Kinds of Hell, which itself I've often thought similar to Iced Earth's Burnt Offerings (okay, okay, I'm done talking about them!). Certainly as far as musical aesthetics, source material, and style (as specifically as power/thrash, at least) the three albums have much in common. By far, however, Walk Through the Inferno takes the cake.

The only minor quaff I could really give is that vocalist Billy Thornock, will very good, has a fairly limited range. Still, when he's aggressive, charismatic, and powerful, can emote with the best of them, and even puts in cool multi-tracked harmonies in many places, that's kind of like getting an A on a test, rather than an A+; only the most elite and snobbish of people would actually take issue with it. Also, as far as modern productions go, it's about the best; thick, meaty guitars; an appropriately thick, booming drum sound; and vocals that aren't overshadowed by anything else (nor overshadowing themselves). Really, this is one of the masterpieces of recent USPM, alongside such greats as Satan's Host's Virgin Sails, Antiquus's Eleutheria, and Crescent Shield's The Stars of Never Seen. What more is there to say? If you're a fan of power metal at all, really-- though, in particular, USPM and power/thrash-- you need to listen to this, now. The kings of power/thrash have a new name, and it is Krystos!