┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│■ ■│
│ .-/ .-. │
│ _.-~ / ___ | ~-._ │
│ \:/ -~| / __/| .\:/ │
│ / || (:/:| \ │
│ / /\/| |:\___\| |\ \ │
│ / /:::|.::/:::/:.|:\ \ │
│ / /:::/ \\/:::/::/:::\ \ │
│ / .::\ \-~~~~-/\/:.. \ │
│ /..:::::\ /:::::..\ │
│ /::::::::- -::::::::\ │
│ \:::::-~ ~-:::::/ │
│ \:-~ ~-:/ │
│ METAL CLASSICS ARCHIVE │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ P R E S E N T S │
│ │
│ │
│ + Ostrogoth - Ecstasy And Danger - Full Moon's Eyes + │
│ │
│ │
│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Information ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Rls Date..2020-06-08 Encoder......LAME 3.100 ║ │
│║ Genre.....Heavy Metal Graber.......EAC ║ │
│║ Year......2002 Khz/Bitrate..44.1 / VBR kbps ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Ripper....Anthem Songs........13 ║ │
│║ Source....CD Covers.......Yes ║ │
│║ Url..http://www.ostrogothofficial.com ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Notes ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Artist : Ostrogoth ║ │
│║ Album : Ecstasy And Danger - Full Moon's Eyes ║ │
│║ Label : Mausoleum ║ │
│║ Cat.No : 251004 ║ │
│╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Description : ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ECTASY AND DANGER ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ A follow-up to my review of Ostrogoth's first release, ║ │
│║ "Full Moon's Eyes", this is the second part of my review of ║ │
│║ the band's early material. After the release of their EP, ║ │
│║ the Belgian guys of Ostrogoth did not fuck around, as they ║ │
│║ quickly went back in the studio to record what would be ║ │
│║ their first full-length album titled "Ecstasy and Danger". ║ │
│║ The album was released barely a year after "Full Moon's ║ │
│║ Eyes" in 1984, and feature eight tracks for a running time ║ │
│║ of 38 minutes. This album is probably the band's most ║ │
│║ popular one and is the first one to see their typical logo ║ │
│║ on the album cover. Compared to their first release, this ║ │
│║ album sounds a bit different, mainly because of the quick ║ │
│║ evolution in their overall sound. At first, they had a more ║ │
│║ speed metal vibe, but now what you can hear on this one is ║ │
│║ far more melodic and epic without making any compromise in ║ │
│║ the heaviness though. This album is pretty similar to what ║ │
│║ USPM bands like Omen, Savage Grace or the more underground ║ │
│║ Dark Age were playing at the same period of time. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Beside the little shift on the musical department, this ║ │
│║ album also has a significant change in the sound, ║ │
│║ production-wise. The biggest noticeable change is the more ║ │
│║ apparent bass in the music, which is a pretty cool thing, ║ │
│║ otherwise, I found the drums and guitars to be a bit less ║ │
│║ loud in the mix. However, it's actually not a bad thing as ║ │
│║ everything is still clearly balanced, just in another way. ║ │
│║ An improvement is also noticeable on the songwriting too, ║ │
│║ the tracks are longer and has more complex structures, ║ │
│║ which explains a less straightforward approach, unlike ║ │
│║ often seen in speed metal. Speaking of complexity and ║ │
│║ epicness, "Ecstasy and Danger" starts with the band's most ║ │
│║ popular song, which consist of nearly eight minutes of pure ║ │
│║ brilliance, and titled "Queen of Desire". This song really ║ │
│║ define the sound of Ostrogoth in overall, it has that ║ │
│║ catchy lyrics that follow the beat so flawlessly. Being the ║ │
│║ highlight of the album, it also has that famous epic part ║ │
│║ in the middle of the track that sounds smooth and melodic ║ │
│║ as hell. One thing for sure, having such track on the album ║ │
│║ is fantastic, especially when there are already so much ║ │
│║ variety on the album, just to say the least. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Among all the songs on this album, one of them is an ║ │
│║ instrumental called "Lord of Thunder". I'm actually not a ║ │
│║ big fan of this track, even though the musicianship is ║ │
│║ brilliant, there's nothing memorable unfortunately, thus ║ │
│║ making me skipping that one ahead when I am listening to ║ │
│║ the record. However, it's only a small part of the album ║ │
│║ because when you get to listen to the self-titled track ║ │
│║ "Ecstasy and Danger", you get a blast of energy in the ears ║ │
│║ with its evil vibe on it. Other definitive highlights of ║ │
│║ this album are "Scream Out" and "Stormbringer", both ║ │
│║ features mid to fast-paced beats and melodic guitar parts. ║ │
│║ Like most of their songs, they also has catchy verses and ║ │
│║ choruses, special thanks to singer "Marc de Brauwer" for ║ │
│║ his amazing voice and performance on these ones too! When ║ │
│║ listening this album in the order of tracks, it actually ║ │
│║ end in a rather unexpected way with the ballad "Do It ║ │
│║ Right". It's a decent song whatsoever, but definitely not a ║ │
│║ highlight, unlike the "A Bitch Again", which is a killer ║ │
│║ speed metal one, to tell you the truth. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Well, to sums it up, it's a really good follow-up to "Full ║ │
│║ Moon's Eyes" to be quite honest, it just shows a natural ║ │
│║ progression in their sound and I would put this album ║ │
│║ pretty much at the same level of intensity. If you liked ║ │
│║ the first release, you will definitely like this one too, ║ │
│║ and I think rightfully so. At this point of their career in ║ │
│║ 1984, Ostrogoth had yet to release anything bad, and it ║ │
│║ won't happen any time soon as their next record is also ║ │
│║ awesome, even if it's far less known. I really recommend ║ │
│║ giving "Ecstasy and Danger" a few listens if you like 80s ║ │
│║ old school heavy metal or USPM, you might find something ║ │
│║ very valuable on it. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ FULL MOON┤S EYES ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ One could say that back in the early 80s, the metal music ║ │
│║ was being exploited at its maximum in the UK with the ║ │
│║ NWOBHM. I kind of agree with such statement, but even back ║ │
│║ then, some countries had their metal scene. In Belgium, in ║ │
│║ that case, we have Ostrogoth, who in the 80s, was one of ║ │
│║ the first band to play such music in that country. Of ║ │
│║ course, there are some other bands too among them, like ║ │
│║ Killer, Crossfire or Acid. Formed in 1980, they released a ║ │
│║ few demos before being signed to their home country label ║ │
│║ "Mausoleum Records". Influenced by the NWOBHM, Ostrogoth ║ │
│║ played a very interesting form of metal in their first ║ │
│║ years, they kind of sounded like a mix of bands like Iron ║ │
│║ Maiden, Grim Reaper, Tokyo Blade with a touch of USPM that ║ │
│║ bands such has Savage Grace and Omen were playing. However, ║ │
│║ these guys were quite early, and pretty much helped ║ │
│║ innovating such sound to some extent. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ The first official release of Ostrogoth, called "Full ║ │
│║ Moon's Eyes" was released 35 years ago in 1983. What we ║ │
│║ have on this EP is four tracks and features arguably the ║ │
│║ best material from the band's career. Although it took me a ║ │
│║ while to finally listen to their records, it took no time ║ │
│║ to become one of my favorite bands of genre. You get pretty ║ │
│║ much everything in this album to make it a flawless gem to ║ │
│║ be quite honest. Firstly, you have the guitarists duet of ║ │
│║ "Sphinx" and "White Shark" (Both R.I.P.), that made ║ │
│║ outstanding solos and melodies like Iron Maiden or Judas ║ │
│║ Priest did. Of course, you also get a talentful singer ║ │
│║ nicknamed "Red Star" who has a unique voice tone that ║ │
│║ varies with high-pitched to a bit more harsh and even ║ │
│║ melodic as well. To make the EP even more enjoyable, the ║ │
│║ production work is amazing with its balanced instruments in ║ │
│║ the mix. Everything is easily audible and the sound has a ║ │
│║ bit of a raw feeling even if it's still very clean. The ║ │
│║ best new is that no tracks is actually bad at all. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ The opener of this mini-album is the self-titled "Full ║ │
│║ Moon's Eyes", which is also the highlight of the whole ║ │
│║ record. It starts with a medieval atmosphere introduction ║ │
│║ before turning into a speed metal riffing assault. This ║ │
│║ song is catchy as hell to with its pre-chorus and actual ║ │
│║ chorus, the lyrics and verses are easy to follow-up to, ║ │
│║ which is probably why It got stuck in my head. Basically ║ │
│║ the same applies to the following track "Heroes' Museum", ║ │
│║ which is another speed metal attack, but also contain a ║ │
│║ nice guitar solo and furious drumming, especially in the ║ │
│║ beginning before the vocals kicks-in. The catchiness of ║ │
│║ this EP is incredible, to me at least, a track like "Rock ║ │
│║ Fever" is just great with its fast-paced drums and the ║ │
│║ melody of the guitars and vocals. The only problem of this ║ │
│║ song is its short duration, otherwise, it's just perfect, ║ │
│║ to be quite fair. Despite the awesomeness of this record, ║ │
│║ the track "Paris By Night" is a little let down compared to ║ │
│║ the other tracks. This one is more slow-paced and does not ║ │
│║ have the same level of energy even if it goes crazy during ║ │
│║ a small part of the song¡. However, the vocals and its ║ │
│║ lyrics are still catchy and fits within the structure, ║ │
│║ proving that these guys knew how to compose great songs. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Overall, this release is exceptional and a must-listen to ║ │
│║ every fans of old school 80s heavy, speed or power metal. ║ │
│║ It's a unique release as the sound of Ostrogoth will vary a ║ │
│║ bit on their subsequent releases, such has "Ecstasy and ║ │
│║ Danger" or "Too Hot". Their sound will evolve even more ║ │
│║ into what USPM band did in the 80s, which is still a pretty ║ │
│║ damn cool thing for those that like this genre, and I am a ║ │
│║ part of them. Anyway, it's Definitely a band and a record ║ │
│║ to look up to if you don't know them, I really recommend ║ │
│║ you to give them a listen! ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Tracklist ║ │
│╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════ │
│ │
│ 1. Queen Of Desire 7:56 │
│ 2. Ecstasy And Danger 3:51 │
│ 3. A Bitch Again 3:49 │
│ 4. Stormbringer 4:35 │
│ 5. Scream Out 4:40 │
│ 6. Lords Of Thunder 3:29 │
│ 7. The New Generation 5:41 │
│ 8. Do It Right 4:20 │
│ 9. Full Moon's Eyes 3:52 │
│ 10. Heroes' Museum 4:03 │
│ 11. Paris By Night 5:53 │
│ 12. Rock Fever 3:17 │
│ 13. Ecstasy And Danger (Alternative Version) 3:30 │
│ │
│ │
│ Total Length : 00:58:56 │
│ │
│ │
│ ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ ╔═════════════════════╗ │
│ ║ Greetings To: ║ │
│ ╚═════════════════════╝ │
│ │
│ Too all people who contributes to make this │
│ archive of good music in a exceptional conditions │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│■ ■│
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘