The closer we come to the end of the year, the hard pounding fire-works increase. You can however count the new releases on one hand. That's why I will introduce you to a band who's CD has been out since summer. Not Fragile is a German band that started in 1980. 'Scratch the Surface' is their 7th or 8th release.

I have to confess that this is the first of their CD's I hear. I can't tell you anything about their earlier releases. If you have a nasty boring day at work and you drive back home, put on this CD in your car. Coming home, your intentions to kick the dog and to beat the neighbours are gone. You will have a smile on your face, forgotten is all the misery.

Don't get me wrong now, the music is not happy-metal, no it's a mix between the early 80's thrash and happy or should I say catchy Helloween tunes. When you sandpaper the vocal chords of Kai Hansen you will probably get how Torsten Buceko (vocals) sounds. This I don't mean negative, I kind of like his style.

Songs like "Scratch the Surface", "10,000 Black Demons" and "Perfect Sledgehammer" make me realise again why I can't get enough of metal music. However I could easily have lived without the song: "Holy Man". For the real connoisseur: the song "Gods of Fire" is indeed a Mania-cover.

God Jul. (Merry Christmas in Danish)