The
Colombian band REVENGE grows in a
rather aggressive metal environment in their country. It’s
not surprising that its two founders participate actively in harder
projects. The speed metal of the quartet
presents the tender side of their native scene!
With
no doubt the sixth album of the band demonstrates its growth in
compositions and as a studio development corresponding to the experience
gained.
That is why „Harder Than Steel“ succeeds to overcome the
frame of the local label that released the band for years, and it will
reach wider audience.
After
the fiasco of RUNNING WILD the process of
multiplication of the inheritors of the classic period of the Germans
REVENGE is a part of this direction. They have devoted themselves to the
sound of 80es, and in many relations they achieve such an identity. This
would give an opportunity to the young fans to live these past times and to
get inspired. For the people who know the works of RUNNING WILD this
album is something like a memory for the memory – the great number of
quotes although the cosmetic dynamics of the melodies smashes the identity
of the band. Of course for the running maniacs „Harder Than Steel“ is a gift from the
fortune. It is a bit embarrassing – does Santa Claus become to visit too
frequently these people??? We hope that at least they are happy, but I did
not find the song that could light my inner spark.
The
dynamic galloping rhythms of the songs are suitable for heavy metal
parties. The vocals of Estsеban
„Hellfire“ Mejía return us to the best of Rolf Kasparek in a very impressive way. The riffs and the solos are precisely structured and
recorded in the manner of the 80es, but they had overcome the technical
defects from this time and sound rather tightly. However for a “dirty” ear
like mine the Colombians are something like a literature
analysis of a favorite book – the analysis is full but the inspiration is
amputated. Fortunately this does not lower the wealth of the album. The
last two songs are covers: of themselves from their album „Death Sentence“ (2009), and
guess by which band???
