There will always those that would look to challenge whoever listens to them. Whether intrusive or simply soothing for the ear, they can be there at every turn. All that is needed to take a breath and just listen. The newcomers from Germany, SWEEPING DEATH, paved themselves a track of sweep indeed, and their debut EP "Astoria" is bound to take a hold of your attention and patience. If there is a chance to share just a glimpse of innovation along with far long traditions, the Germans took it with arms open wide.

Setting various sceneries and psychological states of mind of the human condition, SWEEPING DEATH produced a vivid picture of a complex universe. Running with menace as worlds of Metal music collide, they prepared the grounds for unleashing of old school Metal at its stage of progression. Mixing Thrash, Heavy and Progressive Metal is surely isn't an easy task to handle, needless to say to compose tunes that would actually be listenable and capture the appreciation of those who tune in.

Within "Astoria", the Germans mashed US and EU Metal efforts in a single fold, kind of like a hybrid of IRON MAIDEN, ARTILLERY and HADES for instance, a sort of unison that is hard not to be captivated by. This young crew attributed their songs with a determined can of worms, unveiling strong rhythm guitar variety, twin guitar harmonies that let the early 80s flow and impressive solos to shred the hell out of the spike created. The rhythm section also worked overtime, applying stellar performance at being tight and out of the box with the production of intricate tempos and beats, letting the traditional end sink in a deep sleep as they attack. Even the vocals are somewhat varied, gating toughness, yet also involving a nice set of clean vocals that introduced a fine tone. What I also liked is the atmosphere in the mist, as if stepping into another world and back again, something else indeed.

"Death & Legacy" championed this EP, whether through its high level melodic nature, amazing musicianship skill set, catchy chorus that would remain stuck for some time and a general structure that covered several worlds, between roughness and subtleness, in a great quality. The tune "Astoria" is a tad more aggressive in its complexity, showing the band as a profound unit that execute its written material in a kind of form that would take listeners by storm, yet also able to keep the song in context. Other standout recommendations note the maniacal deliveries of "Pioneer of Time" and the asylum "My Insanity".

Old school Metal may not be considered a direction that could be fresh, nonetheless there are always surprises. Be sure to follow this newcomer band that are the next generation of Metal.