Third album for this underrated Brazilian Power Metal act called SCELERATA, their first with the new recruited singer Fabio Juan, it's truly & mostly an underground affair, at least for most of European Fans, but the band is doing pretty well in their home country but also in Japan and even in the United States were "The Sniper" is released & promoted by Nightmare Records / Spiritual Beast Records. Maybe it's the right time for them to break onto the big worldwide league and if the stars are properly & correctly aligned, I don't see why it couldn't be the case. So you are warned, don't miss this opportunity to catch this phenomenal band.

This newest album is by far their best, greatly executed by mixing their old HELLOWEEN traditional Speed Metal melodies that the band is known for with some more powerful & dangerous riffage out of the US Power Metal book plus some surprising new interesting and contemporary arrangements. One of the best selling point of this album, it's the contribution of two legendary vocalists Mr. Paul Di'Anno (ex-IRON MAIDEN / BATTLEZONE / KILLERS / PRAYING MANTIS) and Mr. Andi Deris (ex-PINK CREAM 69 / HELLOWEEN) but also the sharp production by another legend Charlie Bauerfeind (SAXON / HELLOWEEN / BLIND GUARDIAN) done at the Twilight Hall Studios.

I praised here & elsewhere many times the talent of those bands coming out of the South American scene and especially Brazil, for me it's the last stronghold of the Metal faith. I think that many times they manage to produce the most purest form of Power Metal on planet Earth. I also think that DR SIN / PASTORE / TEMPESTT / HARLLEQUIN / HIBRIA / CARAVELLUS / VOUGAN / HANGAR / DARK AVENGER are criminally underrated. And from now on SCELERATA will belong to that not comprehensive (but to close to my heart) list.

The album fires away quite fast, takes you to the throat and doesn't let you go until the last note. Their heavy grasp is very impressive but the melodies and hooks are everywhere, and if this album brings in much heavier elements than what the band is known for, the choruses are always the center point of each song and their amazing songwriting abilities are the definitively strongest asset hided in their leather sleeves. But their playing / singing performances are indeed also quite strong. Their craft is at its peak at each and every level and you are the target.

The guest appearances from two well-known hitmen who don't need an introduction for any self-respected Metalhead, while if it's obviously a marketing trick; it's mostly an artistic choice as both "In My Blood" & "Rising Sun" are huge cuts where the scorched vocals of Paul "The Beast" Di'Anno and Fabio Juan  are perfectly merged. "Must Be Dreaming" show another side of the band more vicious and darkest but still conqueror , fierce and lethal , the contrast with the high pitched dueling vocals provided by the perfect interaction of Andi Deris and Fabio Juan creates some of the most amazing listening moments, easily recommended. This song breaks nicely the flawless running of the album by introducing some more modern elements. In fact it's a track completely written by Mr. Deris. That's why it sounds so different than the rest, a great experience. The question is why on earth this song doesn't belong to the HELLOWEEN repertoire?

But if you leave away those songs, the album is still very attracting with tracks like "Unmasking Lies", "Road To Death" or "Welcome Home", the focus is still pretty much on Hi-Octane double-bass drums associated with overwhelming Bass guitar and biting yet meticulous twin-axe attack somehow reminiscent of early ANGRA's works. It's a burning and very intense piece of Metal as I told you before , don't miss it. The sniper" will not miss you.

The North-American edition contains four bonus-tracks: Two reworked tracks from first album "Darkness And Light" with new vocals by Fabio Juan and two live recording "Leave Me Alone", "Phoenix Tales" out of the second album "Skeletons Domination". Watch your back!