The Mediterranean region is a gold mine for classic metal bands; whether in Greece or Italy, you will find amazing bands with music that will get you fired up. Black Phantom from Milan is no exception, and their newest release, "Horror Paradise," doesn't disappoint. "Horror Paradise" gives every fan of classic metal something to fall in love with, from the harmonized guitar work from Tony and Roberto and Andrea's bass lines that remind me of early Iron Maiden to Manuel's diverse vocals that could rival Bruce Dickenson and Michael Kiske in raw power, and is rounded out by Ivan's monstrous drumming. "Horror Paradise" starts off strong out of the gate with the Iron Maiden inspired track "Sammy The Elf," which takes my mind on a trip to the first time I heard Iron Maiden's album "A Matter of Life and Death." The rhythm in "Sammy The Elf"is similar to that of Different World, providing the perfect canvas for Manuel to make his vocals a true work of art.  "Come Hike With Me" puts Ivan's skills on the kit front and center with his drums starting off the song with the rest of the band jumping in behind him.

"A Nightmare" is one of the tracks that remains stuck in my head long after listening to it. The track begins with Andrea's bass morphing into an incredibly catchy main riff, with elements of Sabbath giving way to some thrashier elements to keep listeners banging their heads to a track that never stops delivering. "I Got The Callback" is the track that every artist and entertainer should have in the back of their mind while waiting for callbacks from auditions; it's punchy, uplifting, and addictive, like a musical sugar rush without the subsequent crash after. Right from the opening riff of "Beast On The Loose," the door to doom was open, giving listeners a thick, heavy tone that would make Tony Iommi blush before getting floored by the catchy harmonies of this track.

"Horror Paradise" is an album that I cannot put down, Black Phantom knocked it so far out of the park it landed in orbit. This is a god-tier NWOTHM experience and an excellent example of playing on influences while maintaining originality and pure energy. "Horror Paradise" is a must-listen for all fans of classic metal.