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│ METAL CLASSICS ARCHIVE │
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│ P R E S E N T S │
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│ + Gaia Epicus - Victory + │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Information ║ │
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│║ ║ │
│║ Release Date.Sep-10-2014 Encoder......L3.97 -V2 --vbr-new ║ │
│║ Genre........Metal Graber.......EAC ║ │
│║ Year.........2007 Khz/Bitrate..44,1/ Br ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Ripper.......anthem Songs........11 ║ │
│║ Covers.......Yes Url... www.gaia-epicus.com ║ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Notes ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Artist : Gaia Epicus Rating : You Decide! ║ │
│║ Album : Victory Label : Mazzar ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Description : ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ There must have been a serious shake up in ║ │
│║ Thomas HansenÆs musical paradigm following the ║ │
│║ shenanigans that took place during their tenure ║ │
│║ with Sound Riot Records. One of the things that ║ │
│║ truly kept this band from really kicking out a ║ │
│║ masterpiece was a lack of attitude to complement ║ │
│║ the melodic style that theyÆd adopted, something ║ │
│║ that has managed to manifest itself throughout ║ │
│║ this album and augment an already tried and true ║ │
│║ formula. Perhaps the bandÆs break with their ║ │
│║ former benefactors and ThomasÆ newfound status ║ │
│║ as a heavy metal entrepreneur was the tipping ║ │
│║ point needed to give them the much needed angst ║ │
│║ and force to make this album truly work. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Gaia Epicus has opted to reach into its past ║ │
│║ days as Execution, a little known thrash metal ║ │
│║ band, and morph their sound into a well balanced ║ │
│║ hybrid of MegaDethÆs thrashing riffs and complex ║ │
│║ song structures, and the Gamma Ray/Helloween ║ │
│║ approach to speed and melody. Their days of ║ │
│║ attempting to model themselves after keyboard ║ │
│║ drenched lighter power metal acts like ║ │
│║ Stratovarius and Freedom Call are over, and in ║ │
│║ its place is something more suited to HansenÆs ║ │
│║ voice. Although not quite the greatest Kai ║ │
│║ Hansen or Timo Kotipelto style of singer, he ║ │
│║ pulls off a solid mid ranged gravely style in ║ │
│║ the vain of Dave Mustaine and Peter Wagner. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ The production and musicality has been ║ │
│║ drastically improved, particularly in the rhythm ║ │
│║ section. The guitar tone is much heavier and ║ │
│║ rawer than itÆs ever been, and the riffs have ║ │
│║ adapted quite well to match the up tic in ║ │
│║ aggression. Hans Holmen and Ole Myrholt carry ║ │
│║ some black metal credentials to the table which ║ │
│║ complement the heavy atmosphere in a very unique ║ │
│║ way. Holmen in particularly shines on various ║ │
│║ parts of this album with his raunchy bass tone ║ │
│║ and fast paced chops, just check out his little ║ │
│║ number in the interlude of ôThe Signö and youÆll ║ │
│║ get the idea. Surprisingly enough, lead ║ │
│║ guitarist Joakim Kjelstad ends up as the weak ║ │
│║ link, although even he really outdoes himself at ║ │
│║ times, particularly in the shredding department ║ │
│║ at the end of ôThrough the Fireö. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ As far as standout songs go, there is a good ║ │
│║ deal of back and forth between the thrash and ║ │
│║ power side of the equation and a few that mix ║ │
│║ the two quite well. ôThe Iron Curtainö and ║ │
│║ ôAwaken the Monsterö are solid power thrash ║ │
│║ tracks, the first of which goes back and forth ║ │
│║ between a heavy main riff that sounds almost ║ │
│║ like a variant on MetallicaÆs ôSeek and Destroyö ║ │
│║ and a catchy galloping chorus that doesnÆt ║ │
│║ really qualify as thrash. ôRevenge is Sweetö is ║ │
│║ pure thrash from start to finish, almost like a ║ │
│║ b-side to Rust in Peace with a small hint to ║ │
│║ Nuclear Assault attitude. ôThe Signö and the ║ │
│║ title track hearken back to the style of their ║ │
│║ earlier material, though with superior bass and ║ │
│║ drum work, and sound similar to Walls of Jericho ║ │
│║ era Helloween. My favorite out of the bunch, ║ │
│║ however, is the opening track ôNew Lifeö. ItÆs ║ │
│║ the simplest of all the songs on here, but ║ │
│║ something about the chorus just compels me to ║ │
│║ keep listening over and over. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Unfortunately due to the obvious uphill struggle ║ │
│║ that comes with trying to distribute an LP ║ │
│║ independently, this album will be difficult to ║ │
│║ track down, particularly if you live in the USA. ║ │
│║ I had to get this sucker shipped to me from all ║ │
│║ the way the hell over in Mother Russia, even ║ │
│║ after winning it on an EBay bid at 99 cents I ║ │
│║ still paid close to full price due to the ║ │
│║ shipping. But if you are hungry for some quality ║ │
│║ power/thrash from Norway and like this band, it ║ │
│║ would be worth it. This is the best thing that ║ │
│║ theyÆve put out, and it is a good alternative to ║ │
│║ the modern rock direction that bands like Edguy ║ │
│║ and Firewind have been taking. ║ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Tracklist ║ │
│╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════ │
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│ 01 - New Life [03:54] │
│ 02 - Iron Curtain [06:53] │
│ 03 - The Sign [05:43] │
│ 04 - Revenge is sweet [02:56] │
│ 05 - In Memory [01:41] │
│ 06 - Awaken the Monster [05:13] │
│ 07 - Rise of the Empire [04:04] │
│ 08 - When Darkness falls [01:15] │
│ 09 - Fortress of Solitude [03:46] │
│ 10 - Through the Fire [06:53] │
│ 11 - Victory [04:29] │
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│ Total Length : [46:47 minn │
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│ ║ Greetings To: ║ │
│ ╚═════════════════════╝ │
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│ Too all people who contributes to make this │
│ archive of good music in a exceptional conditions │
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