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April 2024

• War Grave: War Grave EP
• Six By Six: Beyond Shadowland
• Vanden Plas: The Empyrean Equation Of The Long Lost Things
• Praying Mantis: Defiance
• King Zebra: Between The Shadows
• About Us: Take A Piece
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March 2024

• Cruzh: The Jungle Revolution
• Whom Gods Destroy: Insanium
• The Prog Collective: Dark Encounters
• Lords Of Black: Mechanics Of Predacity
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February 2024

• Traveler: Prequel To Madness
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January 2024

• Corvus: Immortals
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• Grand: Second To None
• Neal Morse: The Restoration - Joseph - Part Two
• The Rods: Rattle The Cage
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• Metalite: Expedition One
• Cobrakill: Serpent's Kiss
• Jack Russell & Tracii Guns: Medusa
• Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 1
• The Grandmaster: Black Sun

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Heaven's Trail: Lethal Mind

Melodic Heavy Metal Rock

3.0/5.0

Website (Label)
Escape Music
Released: 25.10.2018
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 24.10.2018

Heaven's Trail is a new band created by guitarist Barish Kepic, formerly of Jaded Heart, Powerworld, and Evidence One. His band features notable German rock and metal musicians, including Rick Altzi from Masterplan on vocals. Kepic and Heaven's Trail drop their debut album Lethal Mind for UK's Escape Music label.

Heaven's Trail

This review will be brief, or at the very least, I will attempt to make it so, with the reason quickly forthcoming. Fundamentally, with guitarist Kepic in charge, Heaven's Trail plays guitar-centered melodic heavy metal rock. In his songwriting and arrangements, most every song has some familiar suspects: sharp riffs and a heavy bottom end for a metal edge, an abundance of rock rhythm and groove, and then all these things leading to Kepic ripping off some dandy guitar solos. Additionally, most all songs are wrapped in acceptable melodies and memorable refrains. And that's all good.

The wild card here for me was the vocals. As usual, I listened to the music before I read the press one-sheet. I do this simply because I don't want to do the first with preconceived expectations. But with my first spin of Lethal Mind, I had two reactions. First, I did not like the raspy sore throat vocals. Second, I thought I recognized the voice, but couldn't put my finger on the singer. On to the label's one-sheet and there was Rick Altzi. I'm just not a fan. While others may appreciate his style, even if the music may be terrific, I find myself suffering through his vocal presence. Needless to say, I found the songwriting and melodic heavy metal rock of Heaven's Trail impressive and enjoyable, but the vocals not so much. It's up to you to decide where your interest lies.

Orion's Reign: Scores Of War

Melodic Symphonic Power Metal

4.0/5.0

Rising from the clutter of the "where have they been" file is Greek metal band Orion's Reign. We haven't heard from these Athenians since 2008's Nuclear Winter ... [ Read More ]

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

I found the songwriting and melodic heavy metal rock of Heaven's Trail impressive and enjoyable, but the vocals not so much. It's up to you to decide where your interest lies.

Alphabetical Index

Three years have passed since Sweden's Cruzh dropped their second long-player, Tropical Thunder, also introducing their new singer, Alex Waghorn. Now the band returns with The Jungle Revolution ... [ Read More ]