Mistress of the Gods

Vision of Choice is the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Steve Brockmann. For his debut album he got singer Lukas Remus on board, who is also part of the (at least to me) pretty unknown band Epilirium. “Mistress of the Gods” is all about going back to the glory days of metal and present a record that does not hide its roots but still feels fresh and energetic.

So what we got here is a very traditional slab of heavy/power metal/rock following mostly in the footsteps of the US representatives of the scene. The music is glorious and epic without sounding cheesy or too simple with some subtle prog nuances thrown in for good measure. Most tracks are kept in mid-tempo and while the main riffs will feel familiar to everyone who has ever listened to an album by Savatage, Queensryche, Ancient Empire etc. Visions of Choice somehow managed to offer enough variation to the formula to stand on their own feet.

The riffs are sharp and perfectly executed and some of the chord progressions are of such an uplifting and rocking nature that one cannot help but bang the head while listening to the music. The rhythm and the lead guitars are perfectly harmonized offering a perfect blend of straight rocking grooves and some clever placed melodic elements. Of course there are solo parts to be found as well but those are never overdone hurting the flow of the music. The mixture of the crunchy main riffs and euphoric lead harmonies makes up for a perfectly entertaining listening experience. The main chords are glorious and fascinating and sometimes have a slightly melancholic and always epic touch.

Most songs are highly addictive with a nice mixture of faster and a few mid-tempo tracks. There are some outstanding chorus parts to be found here and Steve made a great decision by appointing Lukas as his vocalist. His soaring delivery is the icing on the cake turning each of the songs into a battle hymn of the highest order. He switches between mid-range and high screams with ease without ever missing a single note. His timbre reminds me a bit of the mighty Joe Liszt.

The production is flawless with every instrument sounding crystal clear. The mix shows just the right balance between offering a certain crunchiness without burying any detail. It is pretty obvious that a lot of effort and passion has been put into “Mistress of the Gods” and in case you are looking for a slice of catchy and delicious traditional/power metal, look no further. Must-have for fans of this style.