Unleash the Force
End of Horizons
German Power Metal was founded when names as HELLOWEEN, GRAVE DIGGER, RUNNING WILD and others released their early works, setting the foundations of the genre that they expanded as time passed by. And even the new generations can take the old formula and try their lucky. This is the case of the German quartet END OF HORIZONS. And their first work, the album "Unleash the Force", is really showing that they're promising.
They're trying an old outfit, without the thin definition or the extreme technical work that modern bands try, but their melodies and musical weight is really in a good level. No, they're into a trend near of what was done in the early days of German Power/Heavy Metal with influences from the North American School as well. Of course that it's nothing really new, but they're trying to build their music with their own personality (some growls on the vocals show it). The future will show what they'll bring, but for now, it seems that the quartet is in the right path. The production is where the things aren't as good as they needed to be. Their music deserves a clean and defined sonority, and on the album, it's crude in a point beyond what their music asks for. It's good, but it's not what they deserve, especially on the instrumental tunes.
Songs as "Unleash the Force" (a mighty weight comes from it, along with an abrasive insight based on the good work of the guitars), "Between Heaven and Earth" (filled with fierce melodies of the guitars and a heavy work from bass guitar and drums), "In Shallow Waters" (fine contrasts between introspective parts with heavier moments, with good vocals that can improve in the future), "Hero of Damnation" (a good and easy set of tempos are created by bass guitar and drums), "Scorching Sun" (another very good set of melodies can be heard on this one, heavily influenced by NWOBHM), "Infinite Trust" and "Turning Tides" show a band with a great potential and promising future, but that still needs to mature a bit more.
As a first coming, "Unleash the Force" fulfills its duty, but the fans can expect a lot of END OF HORIZONS.
7 / 10
Good
Songwriting
Musicianship
Memorability
Production
"Unleash the Force" Track-listing:
1. Solnedgang
2. Unleash the Force
3. Between Heaven and Earth
4. In Shallow Waters
5. Faith
6. Hero of Damnation
7. The Horde
8. Scorching Sun
9. Infinite Trust
10. Time to Fight
11. Turning Tides
12. Zahltag (Payback)
End of Horizons Lineup:
Heiko Storm - Vocals, Guitars
Martin Bohnsack-Ross - Guitars
Axel Heymanns - Bass
Markus Umland - Drums
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