I have not decided yet whether I like to read in a band's biography that the sound of the new album is a travel to the 80s. Yes, I also like and respect the 80s as the most significant period of Metal's history but should we always be looking forward? And then albums like this one come into my hands reminding of those days making my eyes water... (ok this was to dramatize my saying)
STORMRIDER hails from the German underground scene with obvious musical intentions. Ok, what do you really expect to listen from a band named STORMRIDER? Yes, pure old school Power Metal. No, not in the Epic way of the early MANOWAR but in the vein of bands like OMEN, LIEGE LORD with a touch of CIRITH UNGOL. In their German influnce list there are my personal favourite pirate metallers RUNNING WILD and the less distinct finishing touches from GRAVE DIGGER.
If you familiar to the aforementioned bands then you can understand where STORMRIDER stand musically. Galloping solid rhythms the way Germans like and powerful almost high pitched vocals that look towards the US scene are the main compounds of Fate Of The Hunter. Catchy and sing-along riffs in tracks like Warpath or Crossroads will make you hum the main melodies and occasionally bang your head.
Although, many consider this metal genre easy to play and reproduce due to the distinct composing patterns it's really hard to find bands that actually do it with dignity. There is a thin line separating graphic and true Power Metal in the way that most of the old timers (>30 years old) have used to love. Fortunately, for me and definitely for STORMRIDER Fate OF The Hunter belongs to the True category. Indeed the Germans carry the old school banner high avoiding the trap of being considered as a simple an unfortunate copycat band. The album is filled with up-tempo tracks with an underlying Epic layer that makes the entire package really tempting. Stefan Hebes sings with an impressive voice that fits the music like a glove making me think of J. D. Kimball in OMEN's The Curse album.
Needless to say that I like this album as an honest attempt to return to the basics with very good guitar work and excellent harmonies to go with. Songs that earned me are Impure, the fast Fugitives and the straight forward The Slaughter's On among others. The bass guitar sound is the only complain I can make for the sound production that other than that can stand up to the German Metal scene's standards.
So, if you share the same feelings with me about this almost forgotten Metal scene then get your hands on STORMRIDER's second full length album that is their debut with Pure Steel Records.