A 20-year-old guitarist who dresses like Yngwie Malmsteen and calls himself "Overlord" deserves any skepticism that may come his way. And I'll admit I was skeptical when Overlord's first album, Overlord's Perpetual, with a band that goes by the same name, landed on my desk. After all, this is a disc with song titles like "Majesty," "Immortal Hymn" and "Empire of Shadows." For the most part, Overlord's Perpetual is just what you probably think it is - fast neoclassical metal with semi-operatic vocals. But then there's the aforementioned "Immortal Hymn," with its unpredictable, keyboard-heavy arrangement and rousing chorus. And how 'bout that nifty melodic rocker "I'll Never Cry Again"? While Overlord's shredding is impressive, it lacks originality. But his decision to invite keyboardist Bob Katsionis (who has released some killer solo CDs) to play with him indicates the man is capable of making savvy musical decisions. Which leads me to believe that eventually Overlord will release an album that sustains interest for more than just a couple of spins.
Track Listing:
1) Perpetual
2) Majesty
3) Immortal Hymn
4) Prince of Darkness
5) Empire of Shadows
6) The Overlord
7) I Can't Wait
8) I'll Never Cry Again
9) Melancholy
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