If this is the new vision of what is Hard N' Heavy, I am all in. Nowadays so many bands try to reshape the glorious era of the 80s where Hard N' Heavy outfits made it to the crown jewels. Sadly, those hungry days are all but gone with only memories and the older versions of the bands that profiled them. Aside from a few true groups that still follow the old paths, the rest run towards the unknown with nothing more than decent releases that aren't even close to the past. Some would call it age, but I think that it has nothing to do with it. Motivation is the key to success following the long standing devotion for the music. If an older band doesn't have it, it won't work for long or almost every release will end up being a drag. Well not this here band of DEVIL'S TRAIN, an outfit that can be considered as how old school, made in modern hands, should exactly sound and feel like.

DEVIL'S TRAIN, based in Greece, was founded by the MYSTIC PROPHECY's lead vocalist and producer, Roberto Dimitri Liapakis that rallied the services of two special ex-members of the Finnish STRATOVARIOUS and EVERGREY, Jari Kainulainen on bass and bombarding Jörg Michael on drums. Along with them came what I gather as one of the Greek rising stars, a guitarist that answers to the name of Laki Ragazas. Together they recorded and released a self-titled debut via Edel / Ear Music. I was very anxious to listen how Liapakis, a member of one of the heaviest Metal bands on the face of the earth, performing a different side of Metal music that is rather touchy and emotive than heavy or jagged. As I expected, he didn't, nor his respected band mates, have any trouble mastering the poignant state that is needed to walk the walk like DOKKEN and talk the talk like WHITESNAKE among the many that were gods in the 80s. Actually, DEVIL'S TRAIN brought it over with additional force and a sound production, which is a sort of modified 80s crunchy sound, yet with a slight level of depth.

It was hard to find any scrawny moment around this release, aside from maybe "Yellow Blaze", which was a decent track that didn't thrill that much, sounded rather hackneyed and unoriginal and for me it was a mere filler. On the other hand, this release has a wonderful fair share of hits that should become the bread and butter of tomorrow's Hard N' Heavy greenhorn bands. "Roll The Dice", "Sweet Devil's Kiss" and "Devil's Train" were the heavier nutcrackers of the album. 80s fans would become evident of the groove element that was inserted into the mix. It might raise a few doubts yet be advised that it actually adds something good to the music and its flow. There is a feeling of great cohesion between the players and good dynamics. "Forever", "Coming Home" and "The Answers" is where truly wanted to catch Liapakis's vocals on production semi-ballads, and boy he does it good. The former nearly topped everything in its path. Though not resembling the power ballads of let's say the SCORPIONS yet it had the right amount of force, along with a powerful solo, to make it sweet just as it was written in the book.

Catchy like heart-warming emotiveness to the side of crunchy Rock N' Roll without any aid of bullshit type tricks or inclinations, this is DEVIL'S TRAIN. Without disrespecting the fathers of this mixed subgenre that shares Metal and Rock, I think that there is new member in this order and a could be leader of a new founded Metal guard.