Wait a minute... you hear that?  I hear the distinctive pounding drums, smoking metallic guitars and wailing vocals.  Metal... good, old school and in your face metal.  Ahhh... sounds damned good.  Just the soundtrack of our lives. In the mood for it?  Here we go, I got an act for all of you Metal Maniacs out there.

Fuelled by the need to make spectacular and larger than life Power/Speed Metal the way it was intended to be, Germany's Stormwarrior brings the old school into the new metal millennium. This is one of those bands known for years in their homeland, but basically unknown across the large pond. What I have heard here, and have experienced... that was a shame.

"Heathen Warrior"is the bands fourth full release (they have also four EPs, two demos and a live one as well) and it is one for the record books. Songs such as "Fyre and Ice" or the memorable title track shows a band that really does bring the old school into the new age with pride... because they never lost any of the fire or passion that was once there. Coupled by the fact that they have talent and desire, Stormwarrior is the perfect band to bring the old into the new.

The production was not as good as I thought it needed to be, but hearing the material I seem to be alright with it.  Stormwarrior has a album here that begs to be heard.  If you have anybody new to metal... get them this album.  It teaches just where metal has come from, and shows us where the hell it is going... not to mention why it is here in the first place.  It might be old school... but it does not feel like it is.  Just feels real to me.

Enough said... need beer now.