1999

After months of waiting, I am finally able to present you one more great metal band, which is hailing from ex-Yugoslavia, specifically speaking, from Bosnia & Herzegovina. This is their first studio album, entitled "1999" which is among the best progressive/heavy metal/rock works around. Besides all this, in their music you will find good hard rock moments and a bit of influences from domestic folk. With their live shows, and especially by winning the award of the best band on BH Rock Festival, Southern Storm have showed how much potential they have. First and title song of the album, "1999" holds powerful power/thrash rhythm guitar which gives incredible support to the drums and whole rhythm section. All this is incorporated by unique sound that only bands from ex-Yugoslavia can give. This is what our bands definitely need - originality, which will help them define new and specific sound. "Wake Me Up" is another masterpiece and every fan of hard/heavy metal will definitely bang his head, while listening to it. By the way, I have heard demo versions of these two songs earlier, and I must say I like them more then studio versions, but that's just my point of view. Production of the album is perfect... maybe too perfect... Next song, "Out Of Time" combines hard rock fury with technical progressive metal moments. Elvis, vocalist of the band, shows his capabilities and makes me listen to this song again, and again. "Fire" features probably the best chorus, and "Elegy" goes further more into progressive metal dimensions. "1999" is the best album of it's kind in ex-Yugoslavia and band itself has a great chance to get signed to a major record label. There is place for improving, the drum sound a bit, construction of the songs, but overall - very good, indeed! I hope they will get along with their new guitarist, since Hot left the band some time ago.