Released by: Massacre Records
Release Date: Out Now!!!
Genre: Power Metal
Links: http://www.mysticprophecy.net/
Line Up:
Roberto Dimitri Liapakis – Vocals
Markus Pohl – Rhythm guitar
Constantine – Lead guitar
Connie Andreszka – Bass
Tyronne Silva – Drums
Tracklist:
01. Ravenlord
02. Die Now
03. Eyes Of The Devil
04. Cross Of Lies
05. Hollow
06. Wings Of Destiny
07. Endless Fire
08. Damned Tonight
09. Reckoning Day
10. Miracle Man (OZZY OSBOURNE cover)
11. Back With The Storm (bonus track)
When you I think about power metal bands from Germany is hard to pin point one particular band that has lead the genre since there has been way too many bands from back in the early 80’s with such great acts like Rage, Helloween, Accept and Kreator just to name a few. But some of the newer breed if you may call them that is the veterans Mystic Prophecy, that could be closely compared in style to American power metal bands like Iced Earth for instance because of they’re similar style of riffing which I like to call “Pure Ripping Heavy Metal”.
If it’s one beef and a main commonality I hear from fan boys about this band and the genre is that it always sounds the same, which is true to a certain extent. But it you really think about it there’s not much you can do with the style at play, you have to keep it aggressive and able to maintain those trash metal elements without sacrificing substance. Whatever the reason I still believe that Mystic Prophecy is one of the most established power metal bands and they had release a steady back catalog of very good material that worthy of any loyal heavy metal follower to smash their brains into.
Originally the band featured the talents of Gus G before he left in 2005 to spend more time with his other band the excellent Firewind. But fret not because the outfit has established a more then capable shred master in Constantine in 2008. That along with the other half of the twin guitar duo of Markus Pohl, makes the band a formidable power force.
The new record follows all the same rules of power metal: You have one goal: be epic., in a power metal world, everything steel is good, and anything good must be compared to steel, you are not bound to sing about Satan, evil, and/or darkness. Okay forget that last rule because that’s a given. Alright on a serious note the music here yes is typical Mystic Prophecy, but who said that typical is crap? Is not and in when it comes to these dudes it works surprisingly well as they have shown over the years.
Epic choruses run above and beyond on songs like “Hollow” and “Cross of Lies” with a plowing barbaric riff that explodes with cunning conviction. “Eyes of the Devil” takes part in that “pure ripping heavy metal” club I spoke of earlier, with an Iced Earth-esque groove that is hard to ignore. The up tempo neck breaking twist in “Endless Fire” is another hot track and the monster drums are epic here. Constantine does a crushing job on lead guitars and lead singer R D Liapakis once more features his strong vocal pipes in the middle of this firestorm. Even the interesting cover tune “Miracle Man” by Ozzy sounds great and Constantine does his best Zakk Wylde impersonation on that killer midway solo.
If you had to contrast in styles I tend to throw these guys in the same category as the Australian metal icons Pegazus not necessarily with aggressiveness as the latter are more heavy metal laden, but they are another great band with a very good release earlier this year and have a big repertoire of albums that have manage to leave their sound untouched. Prophecy falls in place here along those lines, shredding grooves, heavy as hell drum kicks and your typical straight up metal ripping crunch puts the songs on a headbanging level. Mystic Prophecy are a band that knows entirely what they are and make no secrets to hide who they are and what they sound like, even if the music is to be expected.
Written by Denys
Ratings Denys 8/10
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