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Serious Black: Vengeance Is Mine
Serious Black - Vengeance Is Mine Album Art

Serious Black: Vengeance Is Mine

Melodic/Heavy/Power Metal Rock
4.0/5.0

With Germany's Serious Black and every new album there seems to be a new twist to the band. While the band's personnel hasn't been quite the revolving door of players, they have made frequent changes. With their last album, 2020's Suite 226 it was the addition of new drummer Ramy Ali from Iron Mask. In 2022, for their sixth studio album Vengeance Is Mine, original vocalist Urban Breed left the band, just as they were beginning to record. Serious Black founder and bass player Mario Lochert made a quick search and brought on Nikola Mijic, mostly known for his work with Eden's Curse.

Serious Black - Click For Larger Image

Serious Black: red beard.

Perhaps also a different strategy, Vengeance Is Mine is not a concept album like some previous albums were. Instead, according to Lochert lyrical themes are more emotional and personal having to do with keeping the band going while dealing with health matters. But despite this minor turbulence, Serious Black continues on the musical path of melodic heavy metal with power metal speed and hard rock groove. So much for skipping a beat. This melodic heavy metal rock is self-evident with songs like Out Of The Ashes, Fallen Hero, Album Of Our Life, or Tonight I'm Ready To Fight (don't be fooled by the soft opening). Alternatively, something like Senso Della Vita has the same power, yet between the song melody and vocal arrangement, the song has a subtle AOR groove. The Story also differs with its strong piano line tuned with the vocal parts, yet the tune can still rise heavy, perhaps not so much like power metal but a metal anthem. Ray Of Light does something similar but the piano is more subtle in parts, and there's a stronger contrast between the lighter first half and heavier latter half of the song. Which, in turn, delivers a classic, brief, but soaring guitar solo before allowing the piano line to guide you out. In the end, Vengeance Is Mine is another solid album by Serious Black, offering their trademark and respected melodic heavy power metal rock. Recommended.




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The Take Away

In the end, Vengeance Is Mine is another solid album by Serious Black, offering their trademark and respected melodic heavy power metal rock. Recommended.

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