It is quite delightful to come across a project like this one. After wandering through endless dunes of sand, a sound like the one i could appreciate in "Don't spare the wicked" renders like stone when it comes to providing an oasis full of one of my favorite types of metal. Ever since the first  track the listener becomes entwined with the soul of the band, especially for those fans that love such legendary acts as MERCYFUL FATE, KING DIAMOND and JUDAS PRIEST, all the way to YNGWIE MALMSTEEN and even RAINBOW. "Lost Forever", the record opener is the living proof of the evolution of metal in the hands of young musicians such as Bibi Fabiano, the guitarist and main driving force behind this project, which in conjunction with the other members of this band have created an outstanding work of classical Metal Madness.

I can say that I am thankful to be witness to keepers of the flame such as FORTRESS and how they can connect, intertwine and express a subgenre that has aged like wine and proffer along with a modern style recorded with an alchemic prowess over eight tracks that are the outcome of a career that has spawned two EPs and two singles in order to be able to launch this, their first Full-Length work ever since they started in the scene in the beginning of 2016. Released in the last months of the last year Don't Spare the Wicked is the opportunity for this band to make a stand and allow the world to know how they can carry the flag for a whole generation of young metalheads all across the globe.

I was speechless when listening to how the contrast is created in a track such as "Devil's Wheel" even with a few seconds of calm between the storms in the interlude of the song, gives you the effect created all the way to the end of this track and the beginning of the next that lingers until "The Passage" and the self-titled track that closes the album leaving the best for last. The best feature of this band to me, is without question, the chemistry that they depict in this recording with outstanding production and a musical performance that enhances the talent they have merged together for years. The hope of a great future accompanies bands such as these and their opera prima regarding a style and persona that is much needed in Metal today.