Some days an album comes across your desk that is so enjoyable that you forget you're supposed to be reviewing it. I find I'm rendered all thumbs when it comes to typing up a review for German Power Metallers VICTORIOUS and their latest release, "The Awakening", but I'll give it a shot...

Have you ever watched a reel-to-reel movie where the film has run completely out of one reel and is clickety-clickety-clickety scraping the other? Well, that's the speed at which Dirk, Andreas and Sebastian rocket through their riffs. My God, did someone lose a fingertip with that scream at the end of "The Age of Tyranny"? It's far less impressive that they made machine guns seem like they were shooting at a ballad's tempo than the fact that they mastered the technique without an errant pitch.

Riffs of that caliber are often followed by screams, grunts and growls. I was quite glad and amazed at David's clear diction, power and wide vocal range. He even screams melodically ("Starfire"). How many can do that? Amidst all the high-speed propulsion through the tracks, we catch our breath with a passionate mid-tempo tale of "Demon Legions." No doubt, VICTORIOUS could start a social revolution with this album, particularly with "Call for Resistance" and the concluding track "Metalheart".

A definite plus overall was the existence of understandable lyrics inviting a sing-along, while a mesmeric guitar / drum vortex swirled about. They could have had us singing their grocery list and we would have done it most willingly.

Metalhearts new and old, I believe you'll find this album get-onboard-able, highly listenable, easily head-bangable, often air-guitarable (don't hurt your wrists, now) and definitely replayable!