The Second Death

This album released in 2002. This is the main reason that Vavel never met with any serious recognition throughout their existence. This album written in 1988 could have been at that time a milestone! Therefore, we must approach it by the 80’s standards when heavy rock had a considerable influence among the metal audience.


For that audience “The Second Death” would have been essential because it consists by some very powerful compositions, imaginative leads and memorable lines. If you can imagine a more melodic Crimson Glory or a heavier Stryper you can have a very good idea of what Vavel is about.


The strongest advantages of the album are the melancholic slow songs “Christmas Time” and “The Second Death” in the vein of Warlord and Crimson Glory where the keys build a lyric wall for the guitar’s raging graffiti. The singer delivers heavy tones with epic outbreaks increasing the majestic background. In addition to all of this the rest of the songs are either heavy classics (Let me try, United) or powerful rockers (Just for rock, Confusion). Only objection is “Lies in your eyes” that could have been in any Stryper album but is not in the sense of the rest of the album.


Greece was not the right place for a heavy band in mid 80’s and that was the reason for some superb efforts like this one to remain dormant for decades. Nevertheless, since the release of 2002 made it available in 3000 copies we can taste “The Second Death” and savor the unique aesthetics of a brilliant but forgotten era.