┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│■ ■│
│ .-/ .-. │
│ _.-~ / ___ | ~-._ │
│ \:/ -~| / __/| .\:/ │
│ / || (:/:| \ │
│ / /\/| |:\___\| |\ \ │
│ / /:::|.::/:::/:.|:\ \ │
│ / /:::/ \\/:::/::/:::\ \ │
│ / .::\ \-~~~~-/\/:.. \ │
│ /..:::::\ /:::::..\ │
│ /::::::::- -::::::::\ │
│ \:::::-~ ~-:::::/ │
│ \:-~ ~-:/ │
│ METAL CLASSICS ARCHIVE │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ P R E S E N T S │
│ │
│ │
│ + Vhaldemar - Against All Kings-(FIGHT 012 CD) + │
│ │
│ │
│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Information ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Release Date.Dec-25-2017 Encoder......L3.98.4 -V0 --lowpas ║ │
│║ Genre........Heavy Metal Graber.......EAC ║ │
│║ Year.........2017 Khz/Bitrate..44,1/ Br ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Ripper.......anthem Songs........11 ║ │
│║ Covers.......Yes Url... www.vhaldemar.net ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Notes ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Artist : Vhaldemar Rating : You Decide! ║ │
│║ Album : Against All Kings-(FIGHT 012 CD)bel : Fighter ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Description : ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ VH─LDEMAR nace a finales de los 90 en Bizkaia, ║ │
│║ cuando el guitarrista Pedro J. Monge decide ║ │
│║ crear una banda de Heavy Metal junto al cantante ║ │
│║ y guitarrista Carlos Escudero. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ En Junio del 2001 graban una demo que les sirve ║ │
│║ para firmar con Arise Records,con quienes editan ║ │
│║ su ßlbum debut, ôFight to the Endö, en marzo del ║ │
│║ 2002. Dicho ßlbum fue editado por toda Europa, ║ │
│║ Jap≤n, Rusia, NorteamΘrica y SudamΘrica. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ A finales de 2003 VH─LDEMAR publica su segundo ║ │
│║ ßlbum, ôI Made my Own Hellö, de nuevo con Arise ║ │
│║ Records. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ En el 2007 actuaron en el Bilbao BBK Live ║ │
│║ Festival y editan su tercer ßlbum ôMetal of the ║ │
│║ Worldö. En Agosto de 2012 act·an en el Leyendas ║ │
│║ del Rock Festival y en el Ripollet Rock ║ │
│║ Festival. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ôShadows of Combatö su cuarto ßlbum se edita en ║ │
│║ 2013. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ En 2017 firman un contrato con Fighter Records ║ │
│║ para varios ßlbumes, el primer lanzamiento serß ║ │
│║ la reedici≤n de sus dos primeros ßlbumes ôFight ║ │
│║ to the Endö (Æ02) y ôI Made my Own Hellö (Æ03) ║ │
│║ en un doble CD, con 5 temas extra y sonido ║ │
│║ totalmente remasterizado que verß la luz el 21 ║ │
│║ de Abril de 2017. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ El 4 de Mayo lanzaron el EP digipack titulado ║ │
│║ ôOld King┤s Visionsö con 5 temas que servirß de ║ │
│║ adelanto de su nuevo ßlbum ôAgainst All Kingsö ║ │
│║ que verß la luz en Octubre de 2017à ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Abre este nuevo trabajo ôMetalizerö es un tema ║ │
│║ puramente ACCEPT, muy heavy, ritmos machacones, ║ │
│║ buenos coros y voz potente. ôOld king┤s visions ║ │
│║ part Vö sigue la misma lφnea que la anterior ║ │
│║ pero mßs frenΘtica. El teclista y el guitarra se ║ │
│║ reparten protagonismo en el solo, aunque podrφan ║ │
│║ haberlo alargado mßs, esos duelos molan mucho y ║ │
│║ se hace corto. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ôAgaints all kingsö mucha mßs pausada donde ║ │
│║ aparece a la guitarra Alberto Rionda (Avalanch, ║ │
│║ Alquimia). ôEye for an eyeöcolabora en la parte ║ │
│║ vocal Roma (Evil Seeds). Un pasote de tema con ║ │
│║ variaciones del cantante dentro de su voz ║ │
│║ cazallosa, que por cierto es perfecta para este ║ │
│║ estilo. Inflluencias Judas en los ritmos y en el ║ │
│║ puente que nos lleva al estribillo que recuerdan ║ │
│║ a Gamma Ray. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ôI will stand foreverö y ö Walkin┤in the rainö ║ │
│║ mantienen el estilo directo y estribillos ║ │
│║ pegadizos que llevan hasta ahora. Tras una breve ║ │
│║ intro llamada ôVulcanoö hecho por las teclas de ║ │
│║ Diego Zapatero, pasamos a ôHowling at he moonö ║ │
│║ donde la voz de RubΘn Miranda es la ║ │
│║ protagonista. Teclados y guitarras neoclßsicos y ║ │
│║ cambio de registro vocal para convertirlo en un ║ │
│║ tema de corte power. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ôRebel mindö entra a escena I±aki Lazcano ║ │
│║ (Coffeine) a la voz y claro se desata el ║ │
│║ terremoto. Se respira Heavy Metal por los cuatro ║ │
│║ costados. Cuerdas, tambores, gargantas, todo es ║ │
│║ puro Metal. Para arrasar en los bolos. La ║ │
│║ despedida la pone ôTitans in d minorö una ║ │
│║ preciosidad instrumental llena de sentimiento, ║ │
│║ emoci≤n y ejecutada con muy buen gusto por parte ║ │
│║ de las seis cuerdas y los teclados. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Disco perfecto para todo amante del Heavy ║ │
│║ potente, Judas, Accept, Grave Digger, Gamma Ray. ║ │
│║ Los mejores grupos sirven de influencia para ║ │
│║ completar un disco redondo. Muy buena producci≤n ║ │
│║ con un sonido impecable en todos los ║ │
│║ intrumentos. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ------------------------------------------------ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ During my teenage years I listened to power ║ │
│║ metal so obsessively that I read every ║ │
│║ professional and personal ôbest of power metalö ║ │
│║ list and watched every YouTube power metal ║ │
│║ compilation I could get my grubby, uncoordinated ║ │
│║ mitts on. Even so, bands I somehow overlooked, ║ │
│║ such as VhΣldemar, are regularly brought to my ║ │
│║ attention. A Spanish band thatÆs been active ║ │
│║ since 1999, VhΣldemar released a pair of ║ │
│║ relatively well received albums in the early ║ │
│║ 00Æs, featuring influences far-flung as Gamma ║ │
│║ Ray, Manowar, and Rhapsody. After independently ║ │
│║ releasing a couple of underwhelming records in ║ │
│║ the early half of this decade, theyÆve found a ║ │
│║ new home with Fighter Records, a label known ║ │
│║ around these parts for harboring the ║ │
│║ disasterpiece that is Tales of Gaiaæs Hypernova. ║ │
│║ Will Against All Kings display a return to form ║ │
│║ for VhΣldemar û and a shot at redemption for ║ │
│║ their label? ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Thankfully, I canÆt think of a power metal album ║ │
│║ in recent memory as far removed from HypernovaÆs ║ │
│║ aesthetic as Against All Kings. While that ║ │
│║ record represented the fluffiest aspects of the ║ │
│║ power metal genre to the point of unintentional ║ │
│║ parody, VhΣldemarÆs sound here is riff-based and ║ │
│║ immense. Cutting out much of the melo-power ║ │
│║ metal influence that defined their earlier ║ │
│║ material, Against All Kings is Heavy with a ║ │
│║ capital H, and falls squarely into the school of ║ │
│║ Big Dumb Fun populated by largely mid-paced acts ║ │
│║ such Manowar, Hammerfall, and Dream Evil. This ║ │
│║ isnÆt a revolutionary approach by any stretch, ║ │
│║ but I find VhΣldemarÆs pairings of massive walls ║ │
│║ of power chords with anthemic gang choruses to ║ │
│║ be strangely satisfying and addictive, and at ║ │
│║ just under forty minutes it leaves me wholly ║ │
│║ satisfied yet consistently slamming the replay ║ │
│║ button. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ While most of Against All Kings opts for the ║ │
│║ reliably solid mid-paced approach, well-spaced ║ │
│║ spikes of speed keep the record engaging so as ║ │
│║ not to risk falling into a monotonous routine. ║ │
│║ ôOld KingÆs Visions (Part V)ö showcases Rage- ║ │
│║ esque riffage that flexes guitarist Pedro ║ │
│║ MongeÆs technical muscle and injects the ║ │
│║ proceedings with a shot of instrumental ║ │
│║ complexity, whereas ôHowling at the Moonö ║ │
│║ employs classic Helloween rhythms alongside ║ │
│║ catchy folk leads and a fantastic chorus to ║ │
│║ become one of my favorite tracks in the genre ║ │
│║ this year. Speaking of Helloween, ôWalking in ║ │
│║ the Rainö is an outright oddity in that in ║ │
│║ mimics that bandÆs modern sound with startling ║ │
│║ accuracy. IÆm not sure whether thereÆs a guest ║ │
│║ singer on this track, but if not, long-time ║ │
│║ vocalist Carlos Escudero does an excellent job ║ │
│║ of emulating the timbre and cadences of ║ │
│║ HelloweenÆs Andi Deris. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ EscuderoÆs snarling, gravelly delivery may prove ║ │
│║ too over the top for some, but I find his ║ │
│║ distinct approach an effective and charming fit ║ │
│║ for VhΣldemar, conveying lyrics about killing ║ │
│║ kings with all the veracity youÆd expect from ║ │
│║ your libertarian uncle who visits every ║ │
│║ Christmas. The refrains he delivers largely hit ║ │
│║ home û the choruses of ôHowling at the Moonö and ║ │
│║ ôEye for an Eyeö explode with power metal pomp, ║ │
│║ while the title trackÆs refrain soars with glam ║ │
│║ rock grandiosity û but others fall just a bit ║ │
│║ flat (namely that of ôThe Last to Dieö). Really, ║ │
│║ my musical complaints against AAK boil down to ║ │
│║ nitpicking, but the recordÆs sole pitfall lies ║ │
│║ in its production. This thing is fucking loud, ║ │
│║ and while the mastering gives VhΣldemar the ║ │
│║ ôlarger than lifeö sound they were probably ║ │
│║ hoping for, IÆd love to hear a decently dynamic ║ │
│║ version of it. The guitar and drum tones are ║ │
│║ appropriately thunderous, though, but the bass ║ │
│║ tone is fairly wimpy and the keyboards are ║ │
│║ largely pushed to the background. I appreciate ║ │
│║ VhΣldemarÆs guitar-first approach, but I found ║ │
│║ myself puzzled as to why they even keep a ║ │
│║ keyboardist in their employ when theyÆre ║ │
│║ relegating his audibility to the occasional lead ║ │
│║ or solo. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ After many, many listens, IÆm still uncertain as ║ │
│║ to why Against All Kings hooked me the way it ║ │
│║ did. ItÆs not inventive by any stretch, but ║ │
│║ VhΣldemarÆs totally unpretentious blending of ║ │
│║ heavy and melodic varieties of power metal is so ║ │
│║ catchy and rockable that, even as I write this ║ │
│║ review, I find myself being sucked back in for ║ │
│║ more. ItÆs a shame the production couldnÆt have ║ │
│║ seen a bit more dynamic breathing room, but as ║ │
│║ thereÆs a vinyl version releasing sometime in ║ │
│║ December, production snobs interested in the ║ │
│║ album may want to wait until then to pick this ║ │
│║ up. If youÆre a fan of this style of power ║ │
│║ metal, pick it up either way. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Tracklist ║ │
│╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════ │
│ │
│ 01 - Metalizer [03:28] │
│ 02 - 1366 Old King┤s Visions Part V [03:57] │
│ 03 - Against All Kings [03:58] │
│ 04 - Eye For An Eye [03:43] │
│ 05 - I Will Stand Forever [03:45] │
│ 06 - Vulcano [00:33] │
│ 07 - Howling At The Moon [04:40] │
│ 08 - The Last To Die [04:31] │
│ 09 - Walking In The Pain [04:25] │
│ 10 - Rebel Mind [04:44] │
│ 11 - Titans In D Minor [02:11] │
│ │
│ Total Length : [39:55 minn │
│ │
│ │
│ ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ ╔═════════════════════╗ │
│ ║ Greetings To: ║ │
│ ╚═════════════════════╝ │
│ │
│ Too all people who contributes to make this │
│ archive of good music in a exceptional conditions │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│■ ■│
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘