Virgin Steele: The Marriage of Heaven and Hell Part 1 & 11 (re-issue)
The first two chapters in the Marriage of Heaven and Hell saga from the barbaric romantics Virgin Steele get the deluxe CD reissue treatment via SPV / Steamhammer in a set that also includes some bonus tracks and a couple of live cuts by way of 'Life Among The Ruins' and 'I Wake Up Screaming'. This all results in a pretty epic overall playing time of more than two and half hours. There is a school of thought that Virgin Steele came along just a few years out of time to really enjoy the same level of success enjoyed by some of their peers and that is fair comment when you consider the original release dates of these albums were 1994 and 1995, arguably the dark ages for their brand of symphonic power metal. However these releases have most definitely stood the test of time and represent the band at the peak of their creative powers.
Huge galloping riffs, sweeping choruses and delivered with an unmistakable passion and fury it makes for a grandiose and larger than life end result. David DeFeis is of course in captivating form here with his ability to tackle both the driving anthems ('Crown of Glory', 'Twilight of the Gods') and tender ballads ('Strawgirl', 'Transfiguration') very much in evidence. Virgin Steele have clearly been an influence for the new breed of power metal bands that have arisen in the twenty first century, just as they themselves were influenced by the likes of Judas Priest, Queen and Uriah Heep. The slightly more classically influenced Part Two is perhaps the stronger of the two individual pieces but the whole concept hangs together beautifully – this is really is like one seamless and majestic extended double album. Together with the also recently released reissue of Invictus newcomers to the band have a great opportunity to dive in to this classic trilogy and its a big thumbs up to SPV for getting it back into circulation.
Track List:-
CD1
01. I Will Come For You
02. Weeping Of The Spirits
03. Blood And Gasoline
04. Self Crucifixion
05. Last Supper
06. Warriors Lament
07. Trail Of Tears
08. The Raven Song
09. Forever Will I Roam
10. I Wake Up Screaming
11. House Of Dust
12. Blood Of The Saints
13. Life Among The Ruins
14. The Marriage Of Heaven And Hell
15. Angela's Castle (bonus track)
16. The Sword Of Damocles (bonus track)
CD2
01. A Symphony Of Steele
02. Crown Of Glory (Unscarred)
03. From Chaos To Creation
04. Twilight Of The Gods
05. Rising Unchained
06. Transfiguration
07. Prometheus The Fallen One
08. Emalaith
09. Strawgirl
10. Devil/Angel
11. Unholy Water
12. Victory Is Mine
13. The Marriage Of heaven And Hell (revisited)
14. A Greater Burning Of Innocence (bonus track)
15. Life Among The Ruins - Live (bonus track)
16. I Wake Up Screaming - Live (bonus track)
Added: October 30th 2014 Reviewer:Dean Pedley Score: Related Link:Artist Website Hits: 1812 Language: english
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The first two chapters in the Marriage of Heaven and Hell saga from the barbaric romantics Virgin Steele get the deluxe CD reissue treatment via SPV / Steamhammer in a set that also includes some bonus tracks and a couple of live cuts by way of 'Life Among The Ruins' and 'I Wake Up Screaming'. This all results in a pretty epic overall playing time of more than two and half hours. There is a school of thought that Virgin Steele came along just a few years out of time to really enjoy the same level of success enjoyed by some of their peers and that is fair comment when you consider the original release dates of these albums were 1994 and 1995, arguably the dark ages for their brand of symphonic power metal. However these releases have most definitely stood the test of time and represent the band at the peak of their creative powers.
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