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│ METAL CLASSICS ARCHIVE │
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│ P R E S E N T S │
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│ + Morbid Jester - Gates To Valhalla + │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Information ║ │
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│║ ║ │
│║ Release Date.nov-18-2014 Encoder......L3.97 -V2 --vbr-new ║ │
│║ Genre........Heavy Metal Graber.......EAC ║ │
│║ Year.........1999 Khz/Bitrate..44,1/ Br ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Ripper.......anthem Songs........12 ║ │
│║ Covers.......Yes Url... www.morbidjester.de ║ │
│║ ║ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Notes ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Artist : Morbid Jester Rating : You Decide! ║ │
│║ Album : Gates To Valhalla Label : Iron Glory ║ │
│║ ║ │
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│╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Description : ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ I have no idea how I first stumbled across this ║ │
│║ German five-piece. Indeed, poking around online ║ │
│║ for information on and reviews of their albums ║ │
│║ proves to be more than a little disappointing û ║ │
│║ thereÆs very little to be found. Regardless, I ║ │
│║ had an mp3 of the title track from this album ║ │
│║ and it was good enough to convince me to take a ║ │
│║ chance on this disc ($8 from Sentinel Steel). ║ │
│║ Some bands just seem doomed to always dwell in ║ │
│║ obscurity. In the case of Morbid Jester, this ║ │
│║ obscurity is quite unfair. I canÆt speak for ║ │
│║ their back catalogue, but ôGates to Valhallaö is ║ │
│║ a very solid slab of traditional metal mixed ║ │
│║ with bits of speed and power metal. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ The first thing youÆll notice about the disc is ║ │
│║ the cover art û I thought it was a little silly, ║ │
│║ maybe even a bit amateurish-looking. Not that it ║ │
│║ really matters, but as someone whoÆs listened to ║ │
│║ a lot of third-rate power metal (not always by ║ │
│║ choice, mind you) I was wondering if this disc ║ │
│║ would join the lengthy list of cheesy albums I ║ │
│║ listened to once and promptly forgot. Not a ║ │
│║ chance. I already knew the title track so I ║ │
│║ skipped to track two, and what a song! Probably ║ │
│║ the best thing on here, ôStallion of Steelö is ║ │
│║ pure anthemic Euro metal at its absolute best. ║ │
│║ Great vocals, a stirring chorus, tons of melody ║ │
│║ û you name it, this songÆs got it. Surprisingly ║ │
│║ (and refreshingly) thereÆs a lot of restraint ║ │
│║ placed on the speed. Things get going at a good ║ │
│║ clip at times, but it never turns into another ║ │
│║ generic double-bass fest. The next song is ║ │
│║ completely worthless, an ôinstrumentalö without ║ │
│║ any instruments. Skip it. After that we get a ║ │
│║ couple more solid mid-paced tunes, then a real ║ │
│║ instrumental, and a good one at that. The ║ │
│║ remaining jewel is the closer, ôIn the Sign of ║ │
│║ Evilö. Not quite as good as ôStallionö, it still ║ │
│║ more than holds its own as a perfect example of ║ │
│║ crunchy Teutonic traditional power metal. Heck, ║ │
│║ thereÆs even a slightly folk-influenced part in ║ │
│║ the middle. No, weÆre not talking Skyclad, but ║ │
│║ it was a refreshing segment and worked well as ║ │
│║ the bridge in this tune, which I suppose is the ║ │
│║ epic of the disc, though at a shade less than ║ │
│║ six minutes itÆs certainly nothing too pompous. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ While it is true that there are elements of ║ │
│║ speed metal on this disc, donÆt expect anything ║ │
│║ like, say, Paradox. IÆd place this disc much ║ │
│║ closer to bands like Iron Savior, Enola Gay and ║ │
│║ Angel Dust. Actually, singer Stefan Scholl has a ║ │
│║ very pleasant voice that sounds perhaps like a ║ │
│║ mix of Sielck and Thurisch (Iron Savior and ║ │
│║ Angel Dust, respectively). That is to say, more ║ │
│║ of a forceful mid-range bellow without the ║ │
│║ high-pitched wailing of some power metal bands. ║ │
│║ All of the other players involved in this thing ║ │
│║ are quite competent, if not exceptional. ThereÆs ║ │
│║ some solid guitar and bass work to be found, and ║ │
│║ the drummer, as mentioned, keeps himself from ║ │
│║ riding the bass pedals nonstop. The production ║ │
│║ could be beefed up a little û the drums in ║ │
│║ particular sound a little hollow. However, IÆve ║ │
│║ heard much worse from similarly obscure bands, ║ │
│║ so I wonÆt complain. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Really, there isnÆt much more to say about these ║ │
│║ guys. I doubt anyone will put this album in ║ │
│║ their top five of all-time, but if you enjoy the ║ │
│║ darker, heavier brand of German trad/power ║ │
│║ metal, IÆd have to recommend ôGates to ║ │
│║ Valhallaö. Aside from one throwaway track itÆs a ║ │
│║ remarkably solid collection of songs. Head over ║ │
│║ to the Morbid Jester site and download the full ║ │
│║ title track. Obscure bands like this need all ║ │
│║ the exposure they can get, especially the good ║ │
│║ ones like Morbid Jester. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Tracklist ║ │
│╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════ │
│ │
│ 01 - gates to valhalla [03:50] │
│ 02 - stallion of steel [04:40] │
│ 03 - nuclear contamination (intro) [01:02] │
│ 04 - armageddon [05:05] │
│ 05 - godzilla [03:34] │
│ 06 - cardinal syn [03:13] │
│ 07 - fallen angel [04:42] │
│ 08 - lost son [04:18] │
│ 09 - from tusk till dawn [03:34] │
│ 10 - dancin' on fire [04:21] │
│ 11 - warriors gloryride (intro) [01:02] │
│ 12 - in the sign of evil [05:58] │
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│ Total Length : [45:19 minn │
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│ ║ Greetings To: ║ │
│ ╚═════════════════════╝ │
│ │
│ Too all people who contributes to make this │
│ archive of good music in a exceptional conditions │
│ │
│ │
│ │
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