Their first album earned an 8.5, from us which sets them poised to reach the upper tier of what they do. From the first song, it seems like are steering away from the NWOBHM things, and getting into darker territory. The singer has the touch of hardship to his voice he needed on the first album, so even when they step on the grass and move into more of a gallop it feels like they are moving in a more effective direction. They seem more conscious of what they are going for here, perhaps this comes with being booked with bands that were more entrenched in a doomier sound than they were last time. Or maybe this is just what is coming out, but it is darker and heavier than the last album.
The vocals feel like they are sitting further back in the mix on the title track. This works well enough. They do gain more grit as a phrase here and there is growled this time around. Not sure if this is as strong as the first two songs, but it might just need to grow on me. When things ebb down into the cleaner guitar section it reminds me of the 'Necromancer" song from "Caress of Steel". Things pack more of a punch on "Walpurgis". It's more purposeful and the first song that makes me think of Sabbath. "the Apparation" works well as it is darker and captures the mood you want from doom.
"Unhinged Spirit" finds them back in more of an early Maiden mode, with harmony guitar parts buzzing around. Doom is used as an accent to ground it. "Hells Odyssey " finds them galloping along a somewhat similar place that feels more aggressive than what they did on their first album. They stomp into "Soul Sorcery" with a more ominous tone, though dynamically it sticks pretty close to what we have heard from them already. I will give this album a 9, as it is an improvement over the last, and moving in a heavier darker direction paid off.
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