Holy Crap. I have already chosen my 10 best albums of 2007, so I bought this one too late. But it would have been one of the ten. Since I got it, I have listened to it more than 10 times and every time I think it's getting better. This debut album from Virginia's Timelord is good because it is so recognizable. It's like coming home, styles from back in the late 80's combined with a modern production.
It isn't so strange that Mike Varney's Shrapnel Records (I didn't know that they were still in business) has signed this band. Maybe the (b)older metal freaks, like me, do remember some records from that label. The twin harmony leads on this record remind me of a release from Shrapnel in 1987; "Speed Metal Symphony " fromCacaphony (with virtuosos Mary Friedman and Jason Becker). Also the voice of Matt Aub is excellent for this kind of music, a kind of mix between John Cyriss, James Riveira, Bobby "Blitz" Elsworth and Mike Sanders (Toxik).
If you like bands like Helstar, Toxik, Agent Steel, Overkill, Metallica, Flotsam and Jetsam and Vicious Rumors with solos out of Mike Varney's stable, this one is for you. Don't be mislead by the first song "Dawn of Dissent", this is not representative for the rest. The first song is a little too Prog-metal, but after that... "The Great Machine" is one of the best songs, heavy guitars, melodic singing and great song writing. Track six "Cult of the Dead" is as tight as a duck's ass, Overkill and Metallica should be jealous. The 10th song by the name: "Faster than the Speed of Light" and indeed that is a Raven cover. Surprised about how close Matt's voice approaches Mr. Gallagher's, I have read that it is actually John Gallagher himself, who takes care of the vocals. He is getting older, but he still has his remarkable high sirens.
When you think the record is over after track 11, you are mistaken. After a silence there are also track 12 and 13 and they are not just fillers, but also killers. At the moment I'm so enthusiastic about this one, that I can go on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on...but listen the f*** yourself!!!!
