Review Summary: France can also deliver some "german" teutonic metal!
Heavenly is a speed/teutonic metal band, formed by the vocalist Benjamin Sotto, in France around 2000. Since there aren't many heavy metal bands hailing from France, i thought it's appropriate to take some time, reviewing one of their releases.
It's getting harder and harder every time to rate a release (of this particular genre) that came out after the "rebirth" of the sound in the late 90's. Reason for that, is the tendency of the bands to either follow the Helloween/Gamma Ray/Accept path, in the "true" way (early Hammerfall) or to enhance it a bit, going more commercially and groovy (Heavenly, Dragonforce etc). Either way, it's tricky each and every time to review one of this kind of albums, which were released by hundreds after 1998. As a result of that, there are contraversial reviews, which divide the listeners. There are people, absolutely loving these bands in one release and the same people totally hating them on their next one...
"Virus" is their 4th release, coming out in 2006. It steps on the foundations mostly laid by their first 2 albums, "Coming from the sky" and "Sign of the winner", which were balancing a bit more on the cheesy/happy side of the coin. Shredding guitars, speedy keyboard interludes, technical solos, choir choruses and well executed vocals are the key elements. On this release, they seem to be riffing a bit harder than in their past attempts, but on the same time, their sound seems a bit more commercial, without this being a con in particular. The tracks don't have really weak parts, but there are some which stand-out more emphatically, like the opening track "The dark memories", "Wasted time", "Bravery in the field" and the heavy/power "Liberty". The lyrics seem a bit generic, as the titles of the tracks already imply. The production is a bit "friendlier" to the rhythm guitars and the choir vocal lines are not so distinguishable from times to times. Still, not bad overall. There are also 2 covers here, that are quite enjoyable, on the basis that Gamma Ray covered the track "It's a sin".
The controversial aspects of this release, are basically the same with every similar one. Heavenly are very reminiscent of Gamma Ray/Helloween and especially Stratovarius. There are moments while listening to this, that you are under the impression that you just heard a Gamma Ray guitar part or a scream by Kai Hansen. Also the vocals, are too much influenced by Timo Kotipelto. Personally, i don't state these things neither as pros nor as cons. There are people who like to listen to a band and categorize them straight from the start and there are others who hate this. I tend to stay more to what is presented musically before me and thus said, "Virus" is not the peak of originality.
What it is, though, is an enjoyable ride, well executed with enthousiasm and has nothing to be jealous from the german or scandinavian bands. There are not many novelties here, but it's solid, mostly on the middle part of it and overall a nice addition to any euro - speed metal collection.
