When I asked Dirk Schlachter (Gamma Ray) on the 20th of June about Stormwarrior's new album he told me that Kai Hansen stopped the recordings of their album because Gamma Ray had to come to Greece to play at Rockwave Festival. He also told me that he would continue with them right after the festival was over. So, I was expecting this album to be released in the middle of July and find it in Greece at the end of September if I was lucky.
I think that I was very lucky because I found it in a record store in Athens a few days ago. It is amazing how fast they finished with the production of "Northern Rage and released it.
Anyway, enough of this stuff. Let's see what Stormwarrior have to "say. Stormwarrior play the music that Helloween played 20 years ago. Yes my friends, I have finally found a band that plays exactly that kind of Heavy Metal. Their basic influences are the "Helloween EP and the "Walls of Jericho album.
Stormwarrior take us with their drakkar back to the eighties and show us how Heavy Metal should be played. The production of this album is rough and so are the vocals. The songs are simply amazing compositions and all these crazy German guys know very well how to use their instruments. The drums don't stop bombing even for a single moment and the guitars are as sharp as a Viking's sharpened long-sword who's ready for battle! In this album there are no female vocals, no violins and harps, no keyboards and no crystal clear vocals or production. It is just pure Heavy Metal and I wish there would be more bands playing like Stormwarrior.
The artwork is outstanding. I could never imagine that someone would have the guts to make such an artwork. The Viking that is attacking the monk in order to slay him is a great inspiration. It is surely one of the best artworks that I've ever seen. Besides, Uwe Karczewski always creates excellent artworks.
Behind all this stuff is Kai Hansen, hidding. Who else could make such a good production work for a band like Stormwarrior?
"Northern Rage is Stormwarrior's second album and they dedicated this album in memory of Quorthon who left us quite early. It is as good as their previous releases and my personal opinion is that everyone who thinks that he or she is listening to Heavy Metal should buy this album (and everything else that these guys have released!).
If I could I would grade this album with 18 out of 10! But I can't. So, provided that the top rating for an album is 10, as I've said in the past, it will be only for the album that I will want to listen to it before I die. "Northern Rage will take 9 out of 10 because I expect even greater music from these guys.