DÉJÀ VU is a Heavy/Power Metal band based out of Bavaria, Germany. Formed in 1986, the band was originally active until 1991. After a hiatus, they re-formed in 2000. This is their third full-length album, and contains fourteen tracks. The opening track, "Hell or High Water," has a great riff and is super-charged with energy. It is indeed a pretty even combination of traditional Heavy Metal and Power Metal. The vocals and thundering drums provide the later sound. "Step into the Fire" is an interesting track. There is definitely an IRON MAIDEN feeling to the chord progressions, like the structure we hear in the song "Killers." It's really quite uncanny. "Run for the Light" has a firey riff and makes good use of high end vocal screams to deliver the sound. "Rainmaker" is similar in pace and carries a bit of old school JUDAS PRIEST with it.

"Unbreaker" is the first track that shows a little variation to the speed and chord patterns, but not a lot. I do fancy the ride cymbal during the chorus but it's not hard to forget. The scream at the end of the second chorus however would rival anything you have ever heard. Then again, check out the opener in "Made in Hell." Werner definitely has some pipes. "Where Satan Dwells" he sings. I was half expecting "Say your Prayers" to perhaps be a power ballad type of song from the title, but it's more of a mid-tempo rocker with some vocal harmony bombast in the chorus. "Lethal Heroes" reminds me of the great track "Metal Gods" or perhaps "Desert Plains" from the mighty JUDAS PRIEST. There can be no doubt that these aforementioned bands made a lasting impression on DÉJÀ VU. "Ruthless" has an opening riff reminiscent of "Disposable Heroes" from METALLICA. It also features a slowed-down, more introspective interlude that shows some diversity in songwriting.

On a fourteen track album, where the sound is Classic type Heavy Metal, it's easy for some of the songs to run together. Too many suffer from the same pace and the same key, as well as a sanctioned method of verse, chorus, verse, chorus. Some of the guitar solos help to cut this, but overall memorability was lost as a result. The album would fit in quite nicely in the heyday of this sound, but today it gets lost in the shuffle.