---

Does the band Imagika ring a bell? Well, this is the new band of Steve Rice (guitars) and drummer Wayne DeVecchi (both ex-Imagika). The line-up was completed with guitarist Roberto Proietti (Eldritch), ex Dark Angel bass player Danyael and a singer with the name Josh Gibson. The last one is a new name for me in the metal scene.

With this experienced line-up the expectations are rather high. For a part they succeed in that, but I'm not satisfied with everything. Josh has a sound, which is very recognizable (read: original), but also one you love or hate. He is not a top singer, but his clean and more aggressive singing style sticks rather well to the songs. The music has similarities with the band Imagika, but is a little more melodic, a combination of US power and thrash, with a progressive touch. The track "Coat of Blood" has a Megadeth kind of riff and rhythm, even the vocals sound a little Mustaine-like. Sometimes the songs are a little too complex or just one minute too long and miss the point because of that. The guitar solos are great, but the riffs a bit too common (read: cliché).

If the album would be full of songs like "The Serpentine Ritual" and the catchiest track "Old School Thrasher" it would be a real hammer. Now it leaves me behind with the idea that it could have been better.

---