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Pure Steel Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 11.03.2021 | Released: 26.03.2021
Aptly titled, Return To Power, marks the return of American vocalist and multi-instrumentalist George Tsalikis (Zandelle) to a new solo project. Some five and more years from both his first solo album, The Sacrifice, and the latest Zandelle album, Perseverance, Return To Power finds Mr Tsalikis once more, besides vocals, handling all instruments except drums, which have passed to Zandelle drummer, Joe Cardillo.
With his second solo effort, Tsalikis' is neither reinventing or stretching his musical style. Return To Power is simply another recording of fast and heavy power metal featuring his assertive to screamo vocals and slick, somewhat, neo-classical guitar work. The Tsalikis song formula is a brisk start with riffs and rhythm section, sometimes with a rising guitar lead, then the gallop and groove kicks in, and off we go to the nearest guitar solo. You'll find this with Dehumanized, Stand My Ground, or Live To Ride. Occasionally, Tsalikis will mix things up with a softer start before getting fast and heavy as with Burden Of Proof and In Memory, a piano led rising anthem which, rather than moving by speed, turns upon being heavy and steady. With the Sweeney Todd inspired The Demon Barber, Tsalikis attempts some operatic vocals carried by dramatic and theatrical heavy metal. Basically, I choose to review this album on the strength of his first solo album, but in the end Return To Power is pretty much more of the same. Consistency is not a band thing. All said, George Tsalikis' Return To Power once more offers another album of his consistent, if not predictable, power metal featuring his assertive vocals and sharp guitar work.
George Tsalikis' Return To Power once more offers another album of his consistent, if not predictable, power metal featuring his assertive vocals and sharp guitar work.
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