After I took my first listen to this album you are on the verge of reading about, I realized that 80s oriented German melodic Speed / Power Metal has never really left the premises. When RUNNING WILD said their last goodbyes in 2010 I had the thought that the days of great melodic, fast guitar trills followed by slamming speed were all but gone or at least suppressed. Even though there is always the French LONEWOLF that shared their shots of being the French version of the once German giants, still it is hard to find more bands with the same musical direction in Power Metal.

STORMHUNTER, emerged, bread and fed in the German lands, actually in Balingen, were as if they were brought down to me from the skies as the new, and German, RUNNING WILD. Of course that their discography hasn't suggested so far that they were into pirates of something that is too militarized, but I am sure they will reach those boarders after a few more albums. "Crime And Punishment", released via the French label Emanes Metal Records, is the band's second release and I must imply that it is a gift for 80s Power Metal sympathizers and core fans alike.  Besides being utterly close to RUNNING WILD as far as their music goes, there is that clinging to the true German melodic Power Metal heritage of bands as HELLOWEEN and GAMMA RAY among others.

"Crime And Punishment", on its various twists and turns, took me back to late 80s and 90s albums of RUNNING WILD. Through the cracking sounds of the twin guitar and drum menace of speed I heard the likes of "Death Or Glory", "Blazon Stone", "Black Hand Inn" and even also the late 90s hit machine of "The Rivalry". That main element in the band's music that bought me right from the start and on was the strong devotion to harmony. The twin guitar formation has been the first relic of the late 70s but in bands with a melodious direction as STORMHUNTER, there is a bind that has to be kept. Therefore, a sense of accuracy while playing those fast harmonious riffs is badly needed and boy those two axmen, Stefan Muller andJulia Weiss,had it. Moreover, and this factor can't be left out of the equation, a bone crushing drummer is needed as well for the creation of a speedy rhythm. Also in that category STORMHUNTER had their Jorge Michael or AC or Iain Finlay (All were past RUNNING WILD drummers) with the brilliant Andreas Kiechle. When it comes to technical abilities, guitars and drums, STORMHUNTER had what it takes to inflame with their music that was equally pleasant and metallically flowing.

The tracklist of this album, on its whole, took 80s like Speed Metal element and generally protected the old flame. Even with their melodies, STORMHUNTER kept the same line as RUNNING WILD and the current LONEWOLF without too much stirring sideways. There have been several of tracks that were more of the ACCEPT vein of Heavy Metal but those too were measured by a sense of speed. To be honest, there were the same chestnuts that served almost every Metal band in the 80s, yet even with this cliché going on, the material didn't tire and was strong enough to warm the blood while maintaining the beating heart of an old school Metalhead to remain in full throttle.

I would suggest, as it was my favourite track, "Knights Of Metal (Part 1)", to be the next Metal song of praise. Although this is certainly not the first or last Metal anthem to be written, it fired up my motivation to purse this band in the future. "Last Words", "Inner Demon", "The Final Battle" and yet another Heavy Metal anthem by the name of "Crime And Punishment", created the same sensation and would probably rip you to shred with their enthusiasm. In a nutshell, "Crime And Punishment" by STORMHUNTER is mostly recommend and not only for fans that miss the presence of RUNNING WILD but also fans that has the desire to get acquainted with true Power / Speed Metal.