MALAMORTE hail from Italy and is a side project from Alessandro Nunziati, otherwise known as Lord Vampyr (or L.V. as credited on this disc.) He farmed out some guitars, bass and drum programming duties to someone known as SK who played with him in his other bands CAIN, SHADOWSREIGN and the eponymous LORD VAMPYR, but "Hell For All" is very much an intimate one-man-band affair, with limited production values, including the aforementioned drum programming that ultimately contributes to the album feeling like a not-ready-for-primetime demo recording.

The sound here is primarily Melodic Power Metal or Occult Power Thrash as they advertise themselves, whereas their previous two albums took on more of a traditional Black Metal flavor. The best comparison on this offering could probably be somewhere between modern JUDAS PRIEST and classic HELLOWEEN. The darker vibe and moody vocals, on its best moments, often made me recall a simplified version of NOCTURNAL RITES' heaviest album "Afterlife."

Melodic is certainly an apt term here as the main focus is on choruses. And, boy, are there choruses. The first full song "Afterlife" is perhaps the best example of what MALAMORTE can accomplish, as it feels like the most fully formed idea, with decent sound, nice rhythm and lead playing and a chorus that you may have heard before, but is executed to perfection.

"Warriors of Hell," is another bright spot. A great straightforward truest-of-the-true heavy metal ballad in the vein of CRYONIC TEMPLE, it packs an unexpected emotional punch. It's songs like "Holy or Unholy" or "Son," that often overstay their welcome with refrains that become stale and meaningless the more they are repeated.

"Worshipers of Evil" has some impressive rhythm guitar and "Satan's Slave" mixes things up a bit with some creepy organ playing, but the last few songs, including the super out-of-place, but most organic sounding closer "God is Nothing," leave a lot to be desired.

Indeed, the quality is very hit-or-miss on the album, but when it hits, like on the title track, it feels like it could hang with the current trend of young traditionalist denim and leather metal bands like BLADE KILLER, HAUNT, ETERNAL CHAMPION or VANDALLUS, who have gained a decent following playing the music of the Metal Gods. I don't see MALAMORTE in that esteemed grouping just yet, but with some polish (and an actual live drummer) this side project might be ready for the mainstream.<