For many Metalheads, The Netherlands was a paradise for Metal in the 80's, having some great Metal festivals on these years before the age of Wacken, Hellfest and others. Dynamo Open Air and Aardshock Festival are just two of them, so the country was boiling. But the country gave to the world excellent names and one of the first to reach worldwide commercial success was the veteran PICTURE, due albums like "Diamond Dreamer" and (especially) "Eternal Dark", and they became a strong influence for many bands of Metal. Today, they're still active, and now it's the time for this reissue of "Warhorse", their latest album.

It was released originally on 2012, and even being too earlier for a reissue, it's the first time that "Warhorse" is released on vinyl format. Musically, what is found on the album is the same, old and good traditional Heavy Metal that they play since 1979 (the year the band was formed), with great melodies and the right amount of aggressiveness. But the album sounds new and fresh, with an energetic approach that can my some beginners blush. Great choruses, good technical approach, they are the elements of what PICTURE is about, and that's enough for Metalheads with hearts of Metal.

The band produced the album, with Oscar Holleman taking care of the mixing and mastering. The result is a blend between the past and the present, because it's an old and savage band recording with the modern technologies of studios. So it sound great, heavy and aggressive, but with that same organic feeling of the past.

If you want an Old School Heavy Metal album, "Warhorse" is an excellent choice. And songs as the ruthless and aggressive "Battle Plan" (excellent instrumental parts and excellent vocals), the monumental weight of "Shadow of the Damned" (that bears those old and good melodic tempos, showing the good work from bass guitar and drums), the Hard Rock energy of "Rejected" (this one is accessible, but showing a perfect work on vocals) and "Edge of Hell" (this one is a bit heavier, due the great guitar riffs), the charming accessible insight of "Killer in My Sights", the 70s Hard Rock weight shown on "My Kinda Woman", and the destructive weight with a modern aesthetics used on "War Horse" are the ones that can make the listener surrender to their work. But their new version for their old hymn "Eternal Dark", here christened "Eternal Dark MMXI" (that hasn't lost its charm and weight), and the bonus track for this LP, the live version for "Choosing Your Sign" are moments that deserve to be heard as loud as you can.

Maybe "War Horse" can't be called a classic by now (only time can tell such a thing), but is a great album from PICTURE, and the fans of vinyl format deserve such gift.