Review Summary: Voice like a thunderstrike!
This is a band that i came across, almost accidentaly. It was the time, when my playlist was dominated by Grave Digger, Running Wild, Accept etc. Actually some friends from Brazil, recommended this and i can say, that i'm glad i checked it.
"1821" is a concept album, released in 2000, that tells the tale of the greek revolution vs the ottoman empire back in 1821. The whole atmosphere is really fit to the tale and the musical approach.
The first tune after the intro, "The greek revolution begins" is a fast-paced track that immediately draws the attention. Excellent guitar work, great riffing and solo, reminds a bit of Malmsteen, featuring epic chorus and intensity. This sets the bar too high for the rest of this release. After that, we get some Accept-influenced tracks, like "Free as an eagle" and "The return of the warrior", a very emotional ballad "Two eyes in the dark" and a mid tempo epic anthem "The firebrands". In my opinion, the solo in " The firebrands" is magnificent and worth-mentioned. The last 4 tracks, though well executed and decent, are not of the same level of inspiration.
Throughout the album, the rhythm section is solid, the guitars are inspired and well played, delivering sing-along tunes. The vocals are fitting the purpose of the tale and the musical style, though the accent is a bit rough, they are powerful and emotional. The production could have been a bit more edgy and seems a bit poor, but not to the extent to become a real con.
If you like Accept, Grave Digger blended with some epic moments and powerful guitar soloing, this is a very solid heavy/power release. It doesn't avoid some cliches of the period but still, it's a positive addition to all power/epic collections.
