From the bands press release: Beware of German Power Metal hopefuls RIGORIOUS, founded in Monheim in 2021, who indulge in Heavy Metal in its more modern form with synthesizers and orchestral elements. The driving songs have a certain power thanks to the variable singing with melodic, rough and shouted parts, which is probably unique in this form. Singer Lukas Remus does not have a classic Power Metal voice in the falsetto range, but ranges from clean to roughened over three octaves, mostly in the deep midrange. With 107 DB at his peak, he is louder than a jackhammer! After setting their first scent in 2022 with the EP “Iron Wings / Power Of My Sword”, they released their debut full-length album “Night of Retribution” on November 10, 2023. The ten-song album was produced, mixed and mastered by none other than GRAVE DIGGER singer Chris Boltendahl. Thematically, it's all about combat in a fantasy novel. Whether melodic, melancholic or aggressive, the topic is illuminated in a variety of ways in each song. With the Argentinian bass player Ignacio Lopez (SKILTRON) and the Spanish bass player Jose Gutierrez Carlos (EVERY KING HAS A CLOWN) there are two excellent guest musicians at the start and Chris Boltendahl also didn't miss out and took over the spoken vocals on “Lost”. Despite their short lifespan, the quintet has already managed to share stages with acts like BRAINSTORM, RAGE, ORDEN OGAN and SERIOUS BLACK. Without question, RIGORIOUS is ready to attack! For Fans of: BLIND GUARDIAN, ORDEN OGAN, SABATON, GRAVE DIGGER. Back to me: Sounds like some pretty interesting shit we’re about to indulge in, but since they’re from the Metal mecca of Germany, I’ll go into this review with high hopes.

Opening with a high voltage of ramming riffs on “Victory” delivering a promising start before relinquishing to the deep, meaty vocals that definitely create a NWOBHM sound all while bringing in an adroit backdrop of synthesizers giving a nice whimsical ambience. “Lay With Me” is an odd combination of rock meets percussion meets Broadway musical with a thumping drum beat and interchanging melodies all intertwined somehow by a mixed-up tempo with pulsating and pounding riffs showcasing big time the vocal range of Lukas Remus, kind of a hard song to digest. Well hopefully they’re done with that experiment as we get back to rocking on “Fight For Your Lives” which is a simple game plan of fiery riffs and robust vocals accompanied by a strong bass line that all circle back to the basics of a good banging song. For “Brothers Arise” just re-read “Lay with Me” review. “Ride Till We Die” is a bad-ass song with a crotch grabbing beat and a “get the fuck outta my way” attitude that has me polishing up the Harley, strapping on my assless leather chaps and headed out for a ride, so get the fuck outta my way. Well, they are not afraid to go outside the box as displayed on “Behind The Curtains” which sounds like a Death Metal musical stage production, this song has a little bit of everything brewing in the pot with “Cookie Monster” growling vocals, a hint of an Irish jig, several tempo twists that maneuver through fizzy guitar riffs, symphonic collaboration of strings and percussion slightly seasoned with the melodic guitar licks that deliver a final product that is well……..different, you’ll notice I couldn’t say good. “Power Of My Sword” ends this idiosyncratic and diverse album on a fairly positive note with a straight forward rocking blueprint of gnarly riffs, dominating drums and harmonious vocal layering.

The best assessment I will say about RIGORIOUS is that they are a talented group of musicians and not afraid to veer off the beaten path, hence the 10 rating for Musicianship, but overall “Night of Retribution” is all over the place musically and creatively. Too many of the songs were just too “out there” and maybe over-thought.