The cover art of a half naked nun, waist deep and face smeared with blood, recalls a few KING DIAMOND / MERCYFUL FATE promo shots from the 80s. Musically, the North Carolina outfit's fourth platter inhabits the same decade: NWOBHM meets Hard Rock. Having witnessed the band in concert at least three times in the last year or so, I'm familiar with more than a few of these "new" tunes (albeit in the live realm). Hopefully you'll all get that chance, as this dozen is choked full of infectious, old school aggressive, guitar driven anthems: no breakdowns, blast beats, screamo nor deadly growls.

"Lady Twilight" kicks things off, the missing link between TOKYO BLADE and early TNT: real Metal with plenty of guitar and a simple, repetitive sing-along chorus. "In Dreams" goes in the opposite direction, a mid-tempo ballad with subtle, barely audible intro. This and the full blown "Another Fallen Angel" ballad recall the classic quieter (acoustic?) moments of pre-MTV SCORPIONS. The riffing "Take Hold Of The Night" is Punky, proto-Thrash (ditto the comically entitled "I Scream For Ice Queen", not about WITHIN TEMPTATION), while a slower "Behind The Night" has just the hint of Mason-Dixon line twang.

Probably a big number back home, but the weakest inclusion here. The staccato start-stop toe-tapping/ headbanging of "Judgment Day" works just fine. "The One I Know" finale re-captures the innocence of a lost era, right at home alongside GRIM REAPER. Regretfully, I can't hear guitar tones/soloing ("Remembering") like this anymore, especially in the States. All hail Widow!