Ready for some bombast? Well, ace guitarist Trond Holter (ex-Wig Wam, JORN) is back with basically the sequel to his album with Jorn Lande, Dracula Rock Opera, this time titled Vlad the Impaler and without Lande in tow, instead he's leading this project and he's brought along with him on vocals
Nils K Rue (Pagan’s Mind) and Eva Iselin Erichsen, Bernt Jansen on bass, Per Morten Bergseth on drums, and Erling Henanger on keyboards. Together, these musicians have put together a cinematic slice of heavy metal, telling the back story of Vlad the Impaler, otherwise known as Vlad Dracula. Lots of big riffs, blazing solos, symphonic keyboards, and over the top vocals here, the press quote of "Savatage meets Meat Loaf meets Queen meets Alice Cooper" not far from the truth, Rue putting in a great performance as always with his potent vocal delivery over Holter's array of crunch & shred. Many highlights here, including a blistering "Awakened", the prog-metal gem "The World's On Fire", the raging "Drums of Doom", the catchy "The Last Generation" (complete with a gorgeous Erichsen vocal), and the barnstorming modern metal of "Under My Skin", which sees Erichsen lay everything to waste with her leather lungs. The title cut sees the band getting all sorts of prog-metal, while both vocalists join in and slay on the epic sounding closer "Save Me Part II".
Vlad the Impaler is red hot from start to finish, a bombastic, heavy, proggy album that is an easy recommendation for any fan of Avantastia, Epica, Nightwish, Ayreon, Primal Fear, and Pretty Maids. Check it out!
Track Listing
- The World`s On Fire
- Awakened
- Drums Of Doom
- The Last Generation
- I`ll Die For You
- Shadows Of Love
- Without You
- Under My Skin
- Vlad The Impaler
- Save Me Part II
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