Spell of Noise

Noisehunter was never a candidate for the front pages of the German metal mags. And I don´t believe that the foreign press took any notice of the unspectacular formation. The fact that this is the first review of an album of the band speaks volumes. This does not mean that their kind of music was absolutely sickening. Their albums were considered as pretty decent. Well, some might say that this is already a damning verdict. But even if we take this evaluation literally, one thing is certain: the band failed to deliver the necessary amount of insanity and/or power. The fairly normal approach - they offered a mixture of traditional heaviness and speed metal - did not make it any easier for the group to captivate the (potential) audience. However, I agree. "Spell of Noise" is pretty decent while being roughly comparable with the first "Keeper" albums of Helloween. This comparison comes to mind because of some fairly "happy" choruses. However, the album deserves to be reviewed on this site, not least because it reflects the pioneering spirit of the eighties.

After a fantastic beginning of the full-length, Noisehunter are not able to keep this standard. The fast-paced opener "On the Run" fans the flames with its simple yet highly effective riffing, a well-known oriental melody in the middle part and a catchy chorus. (Don´t pay to much attention to the high-pitched background vocals in the chorus - just take it as a tribute to the zeitgeist.) This tune is followed by "Fever", an other up-tempo tune with a relatively sharp chorus that thrives on its outstanding riffs and melody lines. I highly appreciate the concise guitar work during this song. Too bad that these pieces eclipse all remaining tunes in a significant way. Surely, Noisehunter deliver further samples of their songwriting skills. Quite aside from the almost unbearable ballad with its terrible lyrics, the songs show a solid overall picture. But the band definitely made a conscious decision to start the album with the two above-described pieces. If you are not too demanding, you will enjoy the comparatively strong riffing of songs such as "The City´s Gonna Burn" or "Straight Shooter". But in the event that you are looking for metal that distinguishes itself by its complexity and depth, Noisehunter will not be able to make your day. Nevertheless, the group did not lack of enthusiasm.

The production fails to blow you away. Also in view of the fact that the album was recorded in 1988, the sound does not obtain the optimal effect. As in the case of the band´s musical approach, the production does not come as a disappointment. But it could have been better, because it lacks a bit of effectiveness and power. Considering all these factors, it seemed only logical that Noisehunter were not able to assert itself. Their song material was surely good enough in order to thrill the audience of a local heavy metal event, but it was no wonder that the band never reached the top positions of a serious festival.