Paganize: Evilution Hour

One listen to the debut CD Evilution Hour from Norway's Paganize may find you double checking your calendar just to make sure your feet are still firmly planted in the present day and that you haven't been magically transported back in time, say to the mid 80's. Their sound is a big time throwback to some of the great classic metal bands of that time, think Warning era Queensryche for a good reference point. What was once thought of as being just a side project for these musicians may have evolved into something bigger than they expected. Paganize are anchored by founding member Trym (Zyklon, ex-Emperor) on drums, but unlike his other projects there are no traces of either black or death metal to be found on Evilution Hour.

Things get off to a very promising start with the galloping 4/4 attack of "The Hour, a track which not only features some killer opening riffs along with a Trym's double kick attack but also introduces you to the soaring vocal talents of one Geir Helge Fredheim. This guy has got a great set of pipes as he hits the high notes with relative ease, and to say that his voice bears more than a slight resemblance to Geoff Tate's would be an understatement. Guitarist's Thomas Rokne and Stian Mausethagen play a shit load of melodic and mostly restrained solos throughout and although their rhythms could have been beefed up a bit more at times in the bass and drum heavy mix, their complimentary and economic style suits the music perfectly. Trym and bassist Tor Seltveit lay down a solid rhythmic foundation with plenty of shifting tempos and thick, meaty bass lines. A bit of redundancy does begin to creep in during the final few tracks which lack lack some of the firepower of the earlier numbers, however the last number "Unfolded" recaptures the flame and ends things on a strong note.

Evilution Hour is a very solid and respectable debut and in today's world of multiple metal genre's and extremes it's a breath of fresh air when a band treats music fans to an epic blast of old school jams, and makes no bones about it in the process.

Track Listing
1) The Hour
2) Conscience
3) Dark
4) Hollow
5) Turn Of The Tide
6) The Wraith
7) Divinity in Vain
8) Blind Eyes
9) Mary Kings Close

Added: May 13th 2007
Reviewer: Ryan Sparks
Score:
Related Link: Candlelight Records
Hits: 2941
Language: english

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