Reviews roundup – Anthology vs. Gamma Ray vs. HeKz vs. Total Death vs. John The Baptist & The Second Coming
ANTHOLOGY
The Prophecy
independent
We’re kicking off the day with some Slovakian symphonic power metal. And why not.
It’s taken them a wee while to get to their debut album, having started out in 2009 before releasing a demo in 2011, but now they seem to have settled on their third vocalist, Lubica Gavalsová, and are getting down to business.
And it’s been worth the wait, as this is a strong debut with shades of Evergrey mixed with Theatre of Tragedy, something that is likely to have impressed the off stage help of Masterplan guitarist Roland Grapow. The guitars are on the heavy side, which I actually prefer in this idiom, and something that helps it stand out in a crowded field.
When the songwriting matches the performance, as it does on the likes of ‘Lost Dreams’ and ‘Scream Into The Darkness’, then you can hear that this is a band that could go onto bigger things.
GAMMA RAY
The Best Of
earMusic
Sadly, for Anthology (above), they’ve appeared on the same bill as Gamma Ray, which is a very unfortunate thing to happen to anyone. Especially, as it’s a 25 track best of compilation, commemorating 25 years of Gamma Ray, hand picked by Kai Hansen (always to be known as ex-Halloween guitarist Kai Hansen).
After getting a bit lost at the tail end of the nineties, Gamma Ray have actually went on to resurrect themselves in the 21st century, and put out some storming albums, no more so than “Empire Of The Undead” last year. But a silver wedding is a hard thing to resist, and although there is nothing new here, the songs have been re-mastered by Eike Freese (Deep Purple) and there are liner notes written by Kai Hansen.
It’s a proper compilation going all the way back to their debut single, ‘Heaven Can Wait’ and it comes right up to ‘Hellbent’ from the aforementioned “Empire Of The Undead”. For sure, there is nothing new here, so if you have all the albums you’ll probably want to wait until your birthday and get someone else to buy this for you, but as a best of, it does exactly what it says on the tin. They’re probably saving up the extras for the Gamma Ray reissue programme later this year, but if you’re new to Gamma Ray, this will certainly keep you happy.
It’s out as a CD, a four vinyl gatefold issue and a souble CD limited edition in a leather-style package.
HEKZ
Caerus
Bmh Audio
Time for some British prog metal now, and it’s album number two from the annoyingly named HeKz, with the follow up to their debut “Tabula Rasa”.
Granted, they’re following in the same footsteps as Dream Theater and Opeth here, but they are very adept songwriters and musicians, who bring just enough of their own sound to the table to keep things interesting. The twin guitarists add a depth and richness to the material, and when you add in the textures from guest musicians Audrey Riley on cello, Owen Hughes on violin and Abi Murray on flute, then you end up with a winning formula.
The band themselves – Al Beveridge – guitar, James Messenger – keyboards, Kirk Brandham – drums, Matt Young – bass & vocals and Tom Smith – guitar – really deliver, and unlike some bands of their ilk, they place as much focus on the melodies and lyrics as they do anything else, with Young putting in a good vocal shift.
The seventeen minutes you spend in the company of ‘Journey’s End’ is as good as it gets in this genre, so hurry up and jump on their soon to be bandwagon.
TOTAL DEATH
Ciudad Matadero
Autoeditado
First wave Spanish thrash band Total Death have returned from the grave, and a quarter of a century on from their birth, they’re still metal thrashing mad.
Now, granted, they’re singing in Spanish, so I’ve no idea what’s going on, but to be fair, that applies to a lot of classic US thrash as well. If they were a new band, you’d be pointing a finger at Total Death and ticking off the Overkill, Megadeth and Exodus licks, but they were doing this when it was still fresh, so they’re allowed.
It’s mainly straight down the middle thrash, with just the odd bit of widdle thrown in here and there, but they’ve got the riffs, they’ve got the aggression, and on songs like ‘Asfixia’ and ‘Incinerador’, your ass is well and truly kicked. Old school thrash and mighty fine ride.
JOHN THE BAPTIST & the Second Coming
A Dark Matter
Dead Fly Recordings
Apparently, this album was launched in Wigan. Just goes to show that not even He is infallible.
Strangely for a band with such a biblical name, John The Baptist & The Second Coming are an odd mix of spacerock, Krautrock and traditional prog, with a nice line in hats. Now, I have a vague recollection of hearing an album by their guitarist Paul Bibby a few years back. There was a lot of droning involved, and there are elements of that here, but it’s reigned in by some King Crimson and Can like structures (or lack of).
It’s an interesting listen, rather than an essential one, but if you’ve got the time, it’s worth having a listen to the title track and ‘Return Of The Monoliths’, which certainly go in some interesting directions.
The Rocker - The Artist Formerly Known As Zeitgeist. TAFKAZ 
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