A Realm Of Tales
Custard
Some fans seem to not understand where and when Power Metal that we all know came from. The answer is obvious: the genre was born in the first half of the 80s, a melodic evolution of traditional Heavy Metal, were the technique and melodies from USA school met the weight and elegance from UK school, but the first bands to start the genre used a good dose of the ACCEPT personality on the chorus and catchy parts, and they came from Germany. GRAVE DIGGER, HELLOWEEN, and others can be said as the pioneers. But the style was heavier that we can see on these days we are living. One name from those days that is still active and shows the true roots of Power Metal is from the German quintet called CUSTARD. These resilient guys are back for one more round with their new album, called "A Real of Tales".
Very good choruses, great backing vocals, fine technique (with some brutality that we can hear from some bands), and a heavy form of music is what they offer to us all. Of course, we must accept it, because it is done with weight, will and heart. Some modern ways can become exasperated, but this is what Power Metal is and how it was meant to be since its beginning, and how well this album sounds good to our ears...The sound quality is very good, indeed. They made their efforts to keep it clean and with very good instrumental tunes, but with that essential touch of filthiness to be more aggressive and heavy. It is truly good, no doubts about it!
Be prepared, for these German warriors are ready to conquer you at any cost. Songs as the hypnotic and heavy energy of "Queen of Snow" with its great vocals and fine backing vocals in the choruses, the seductive tempos of "The Pied Piper", the heavy tempos and World Music influences on "Arabian Nights" (very good work from bass guitar and drums), the traditional Power Metal song shown on "Snow White" (what lovely guitars), the powerful and nasty insight "Witch Hunter" (an aggressive song, with an evident heavy weight on the instrumental parts, and very good vocals), the fine melodic focus used on "Bluebeard" and on "Forged in Fantasy" are their finest songs.
Play it out loud, guys!
8 / 10
Excellent
Songwriting
Musicianship
Memorability
Production
"A Realm Of Tales" Track-listing:
1. Icy Stare
2. Queen of Snow
3. The Pied Piper
4. Arabian Nights
5. Snow White
6. Snow Away
7. The Little Match Girl
8. Daughter of the Sea
9. Witch Hunter
10. Sign of Evil
11. Bluebeard
12. Forged in Fantasy
Custard Lineup:
Oliver Strasser - Vocals
Carsten "Oscar" Reichart - Guitars
Stefan Klempnauer - Guitars
Markus Berghammer - Bass
Chris Klapper - Drums
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