STARCHILD was formed in 2014 by founding member and vocalist/guitarist Sandro Giampietro (ZILLION) from Germany's lower saxony region and released their self-titled debut album that same year. The bands second effort, "Killerrobots" came five years later in 2019, and after several personnel changes before settling into the current line-up released their third studio full length album "Battle of Eternity" on October 28, 2022. Giampietro was also part of the SUPARED project along with ex-HELLOWEEN vocalist Michael Kiske in 2003.
The band name STARCHILD was inspired by a skull found in Mexico, whose origin is said to be half human, half extraterrestrial. Metalapolis records press release describes the album as "an inspired journey through the universe with orchestral spheres and eerily beautiful songs to pounding, rousing anthems". Sounds like we'll be taking a trip into unexplored musical terrain, I'm always up for an adventure..

"Tame" opens up this odyssey, and is anything but tame, it's heavy guitar laden with muscular riffs and a bone shivering solo by Giampietro bridged by vehement, aggressive vocals. Title track "Battle of Eternity" is a slower tempo paced song with classic metal riffs and blended harmonies fueled by an assaulting, badass solo. Although less edgy than the opening track, I'm seeing a nice blueprint for the path the band is headed down, straight up power metal with giddy up, meaty riffs and flashy solos, a perfect storm for a great rocking album. Flirting with a rock ballad on "Roses", slower melodic tempo with passionate, cathartic vocals over a mythical backdrop and soothing, tranquilizing guitar, I immediately thought of "Every Rose Has It's Thorn" by POSION, which is not a diss at all, just a nice, "reach out and give your girl a hug" song. "The Land of Ice and Snow" gets back to the hardened basics with punchy, heavy riffs, scorching hot harmonies with powerful vocals narrating an arduous saga "And the wind became a storm, striking all across the land, no use to hide, at the end it makes no change".

Will we be seeing STARCHILD inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, (I'm not going down that road...maybe another time), anyway, for their third studio release, this album is a true rocker and old school metal throwback, yet with a uniqueness and originality propelling it into a fantastic listen. Even though, I mentioned one band in this review, I can honestly say that no other bands came to mind, hence, solidifying my "uniqueness and originality" remark earlier.
(sorry, but I have to pat myself on the back once in a while). This album is a must for all headbangers.