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░ ██ ██ Artist: Blitzkrieg ██ ██
▓ █░░ ■█ Album: Back From Hell █■ ░░█
■ █▓▀ █ Year: 2013 █ ▀▓█ ░
█ ▓ Rel. Date: 2014-05-09 ▓ █
▒ ▒ Genre: Heavy Metal ▒ ▒
█▄ ░ Label: Metal Nation Records ░ ▄█
░ █▄ ░ Source: CD ░ ▄█
░ █▓ Type: Album ▓█ ░
▓ █ Quality: VBR, 44.1kHz, Joint Stereo █ ░ ▓
▓ █ █ ░ ▓
▄ ■ ■ ▓ ■
░█ █░ ▀
█ The Metal worlds survived the blitzkrieg. After so █
█ many break ups, comebacks, a career span that █
█ influenced some of the chief Metal bands in the █
█ industry like, METALLICA for instance (which also █
█ paid tribute with a cover), the NWOBHM British █
█ steamroller, BLITZKRIEG, return with a new album █
█ after a dry season that lasted for a period of six █
█ years since "Theatre Of The Damned". Freshened █
█ with new band mates, which one of them returned █
█ after two decades, the howler Brian Ross (also █
█ known from the Speed / Heavy Metal SATAN fame that █
█ also made their comeback a few years ago and █
█ released a new album) and his crew issued "Back █
█ From Hell", via their new old home at Metal Nation █
█ Records (ex-Neat Records that signed the band back █
█ in the early 80's). Without changing their musical █
█ perspective, maybe tweaks of production that █
█ maintained an 80's sagaciousness to their sound, █
█ BLITZKRIEG assembled quite an impressive Metal █
█ that continued their legacy in a manner that █
█ retained the honor and respect they deserve. █
█ All throughout the release I couldn't escape that █
█ fact that BLITZKRIEG paved a road within NWOBHM █
█ that made it a bit fiercer and tougher, unlike the █
█ movement's outputs in the late 70's and even some █
█ of the band's that continued their music through █
█ the early 80's when the British steel pinnacle █
█ developed even further. Even in 2013, listening to █
█ "Back From Hell" is like listening to "Kill 'Em █
█ All" or even SLAYER's "Show No Mercy" as an █
█ addition. However, it is the other way around █
█ because these bands, probably SLAYER as well grew █
█ up on BLITZKRIEG, even when the Brits didn't issue █
█ an album before the American's breakthrough into █
█ the Metal market. Furthermore, there were a number █
█ of indications of JUDAS PRIEST's old discography, █
█ late 70's and early 80's inducements together with █
█ Dio's era with BLACK SABBATH. Possibly, these two █
█ icons influenced the band itself, back in the day █
█ and even nowadays. Therefore, it can be evident █
█ that nothing is all too demanding when it comes to █
█ BLITZKRIEG's songs, save for "Buried Alive", and █
█ old hit of the band that was re-recorded and the █
█ "payback" cover for METALLICA's vintage hit "Seek █
█ And Destroy" that emphasized the longing for the █
█ band's hunger days, the Brits raptured with █
█ substantially heavy material that still feels █
█ British, crispy and energized by haunting melodies █
█ that several specified a vibe off classic Hard █
█ Rock. Ross's vocals sounded, even if sometimes █
█ rather monotone, as if he hasnÆt aged at all and █
█ his finishing touches high register yelps, █
█ appeared like a kind of tradition when listening █
█ to this guy, are still strong and commanding. █
█ "One Last Time" is not what you would call a Heavy █
█ Metal chugger, yet it sounded more like a heavier █
█ version of a BOSTON song, somewhat romantic, █
█ heavenly melodic and excruciating with pain, quite █
█ a magnificent turn out as a true 80's power flame. █
█ "We Have Assumed Control", "Return To The Village" █
█ and "Back From Hell" are an impressive old school █
█ driven NWOBHM numbers, presenting BLITZKRIEG as an █
█ honest Heavy Metal act that pinch with a few of █
█ the basics of the genre, yet with an ounce of █
█ nostalgic passion to have you taste the goods of █
█ what these guys have to offer. When it comes to █
█ sound, frankly whoever is bothering himself with █
█ production values and technical terms will find █
█ several flaws, however, as old school as the █
█ material is, the generated BLITZKRIEG sound suited █
█ them. Consequently, "Back From Hell" is a well █
█ reserved release of British Metal nature, younger █
█ Metalheads would be able to assert who influenced █
█ who and take point from there and respect their █
█ Metal godfathers. █
█ █
█ --- █
█ █
█ Well it has been just over half a decade and sin █
█ and greed have prevailed in the theater of the █
█ damned, such that another BLITZKRIEG is unleashed. █
█ This tenacious act are truly ôBack From Hellö and █
█ assuming control, such that they have allowed for █
█ the proper time of changes, as Brian, Bill and Ken █
█ return for their latest mission to seek out new █
█ fans and destroy any illusions from their past; █
█ thereby preserving the spirit of the legend. █
█ As much as I worship SATAN's latest offering, I █
█ was so anticipating to be equally as enthralled █
█ with this return to the deluge, and unholy true █
█ nitty gritty , as only the vice kings know how do. █
█ Unfortunately, as much as this is a well-written █
█ album, it is not recapturing their glory, as much █
█ as I had hoped, and this creates for me a █
█ complicated issue. I adore the vocals of Brian █
█ Ross, and I am pleased that he has created the █
█ time to work on a new BLITZKRIEG release. There █
█ are some damn good songs on here that are real █
█ soul stealers, and some fillers as well. So █
█ prepare to feel the pain, and the wraith of fury. █
█ The album begins with a flashback to Whitechapel █
█ and Jack The Ripper leading into the title track █
█ and alluding to the Hughes Brothers excellent film █
█ with Johnny Depp. Then we are treated to the █
█ metalizer from yesterday, as ôBuried Aliveö is █
█ properly reworked with a modern touch. Then the █
█ best song present plays that is an experimental █
█ track dealing with pain and loss due to drug abuse █
█ called ôComplicated Issueö, nicely balanced by █
█ alluring female vocals. ôReturn To The Villageö █
█ serves as a sequel to ôEscape From The Villageö █
█ recapturing that absolutely powerful TRAITORS GATE █
█ vibe reminiscent of the ôTime Of Changesö era, as █
█ does the closer ôWe Have Assumed Controlö. █
█ After this is when the album begins to splinter, █
█ because I am not quite sure what direction the █
█ band is headed. ôBack From Hellö expresses a █
█ number of emotions, but some tracks are completely █
█ derailed. The narration from the movie ôV For █
█ Vendettaö for the song ôVö referring to the ôFifth █
█ Of Decemberö, and the recusant Guy Fawkes give a █
█ sense of false hope for a rather basic song, with █
█ no real zip. ôSleepy Hollowö is just that: hollow, █
█ and lulling me to sleep. ôSaharaö is a little too █
█ involved, too chugging, and not really amounting █
█ to anything enticing; I am just lost in the dust. █
█ The savage beast culminating in ôCall For The █
█ Priestö is an excellent homage to JUDAS PRIEST, █
█ but the lyrics are a bit too hell bent to pay █
█ proper homage to the infernal leathclad Metal █
█ Gods. Although, I do appreciate the roaring night █
█ howl scream for vengeance which Brian bellows. As █
█ if struck by lightning of the nations, they chose █
█ to pay homage to the mighty METALLICA. I suppose █
█ since both HOLOCAUST and DIAMOND HEAD have covered █
█ the band who blatantly stole their music, it is █
█ only befitting that BLITZKRIEG should also return █
█ the favor, in tow. I just wish they would have █
█ selected something from ôRide The Lightningö, as █
█ BLITZKRIEG riffs are present all over that album; █
█ especially, on ôTrapped Under Iceö and the title █
█ track. █
█ Overall, this is a solid release, and the crazy █
█ for you Brits are truly taking care of business. █
█ If you enjoy the last few albums from this decade, █
█ then I recommend giving this a fair listen; █
█ however, if you are longing for that classic '80s █
█ sound, or even the experimental style they █
█ attempted it the mid '90s, then ôBack From Hellö █
█ may have you searching for your missed Avalon. █
█ Granted there are hints of the pure past buried in █
█ the live authenticity and perennial vision which I █
█ savor; however, there are moments where it is █
█ evident that they are just taking the easy way █
█ out, and letting us down. █
█ Ever vigilant is the sentinel, and here is hoping █
█ that Brian and the boys back in town will take a █
█ look around and realize we want that Classic █
█ NWOBHM sound. I sincerely desire for them to █
█ rediscover their roots, and to realize that there █
█ are excellent bands like SATAN and RAVEN who █
█ continue to honor their past, while creating █
█ awesome Metal music in the present. Brothers, █
█ together we are strong. █
█ █
█ █
█ █
█ "Back from Hell" (the song) is lyrically about █
█ Jack The Ripper. He used to sign his letters "From █
█ Hell". █
█ "Buried Alive" is a re-recorded version of the █
█ song from Blitzkrieg's debut 7". █
█ "V" is lyrically inspired by Alan Moore's graphic █
█ novel "V for Vendetta". █
█ "Return to the Village" is lyrically inspired by █
█ the british TV series "The Prisoner". █
█ "Call for the Priest" is a tribute to Judas █
█ Priest, the lyrics consist entirely of Judas █
█ Priest song and album titles. █
█ "Sleepy Hollow" is lyrically inspired by the █
█ legend of the headless horseman that gave birth to █
█ a movie, a TV series and numerous other stories. █
█ "We Have Assumed Control" is the last line in █
█ Rush's "2112" song. █
▓ ▓
▒ ▒
░ 1. Jack's Back 1:31 ░
░ 2. Back from Hell 4:35 ░
░ 3. Buried Alive 3:19 ░
░ 4. Complicated Issue 4:57 ░
░ 5. V 6:44 ░
░ 6. Return to the Village 4:10 ░
░ 7. Sahara 5:25 ░
░ 8. 4U 2:59 ░
░ 9. One Last Time 5:09 ░
░ 10. Call for the Priest 5:21 ░
░ 11. Sleepy Hollow 5:45 ░
░ 12. S & D (Metallica cover) 6:48 ░
░ 13. We Have Assumed Control 4:08 ░
░ 14. My Life is My Own (Live in the Studio) 4:44 ░
░ (Bonus Track) ░
░ 15. Escape From The Village (Live in the 4:32 ░
░ Studio) (Bonus Track) ░
░ 16. Call For The Priest (Alternate Mix) 5:21 ░
░ (Bonus Track) ░
░ 75:28 ░
░ ▒ ▒
▓ █ ░ ▓ ░
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