[TRACK DETAILS & LYRICS] [TRACK REVIEWS]

[STORMRIDER]: Unmistakable shades of Hansi to open this masterpiece of a debut album - chanting accompanied with some crunching riffs...

[SNAKE-BOY]: An eerie chanting prepares us for what is to come. Already sounding "Blind Guardian'ish", this has the makings of something really good.

[STORMRIDER]: Unmistakable Jon Schaffer riffing!!! This could easily be an IE song! Now we realise what a good combo Shaffer's riffing and Hansi's screams are. Hansi's low notes in this song are very cool. I like the way the vocal melody in the chorus goes from high to low, great stuff! Definitely one of the albums top tracks for sure. Some nice bass bits in there also, such as at [1:00] to pick just one :) Listen to the high vocals at [1:50], I love the way his operatic vocals go on in the background. I really like the musical intro to the slow bit at the end. I love the way Hansi's vocals rise as the song fades out... "Eternal Hell"..

[SNAKE-BOY]: As we are blasted into Heaven Denies, we are immediately introduced to the "Iced Earth'ish" element, with that familiar riffing. Hansi's vocal and Jon's guitar is a marriage made in heaven! It's evident right from the first second you hear it. The beautiful interlude at [3:00] is unlike anything you would expect, and the elements of both bands can clearly be FELT, not so much as heard...

[STORMRIDER]: Galloping double bass drives this song along. Great drumming all round in this track. Unmistakable Kursch harmonies in chorus, very catchy, great riffing underneath this section, which is easy to miss so pay attention! More aggrerssion than we normally get from Hansi which is GREAT! [2:35 - 2:55] is good example of this. The chanting at the end provides a good intro to the following track.

[SNAKE-BOY]: Getting heavier, we can hear the union of these two great styles of metal unifying even more on this track. The great chorus abounds with the "chanting" that must surely reflect the Blind Guardian element, which works well [2:22]. At [3:50] till the end of
the track we get more of it, and it's GREAT!

[STORMRIDER]: Highlight of the album, and unmistakably one of Schaffers best ever tracks, in the Question Of Heaven mould. The slow intro played with acoustic guitars is intricate and beautiful, I like the lick at [2:23]. The sheer emotion of the storytelling drives the song forward where it begins surging to a climax at [2:58] where Hansi lets it all out. Realising the events that inspired the song and listening to Hansi's beautiful tale that encomapasses them is in itself an emotional journey. Never before has a song touched me on an emotional level as this one has, and that is the greatest compliment I could probably ever pay these musicians!
At [3:35] the band kicks in and we are greeted with some simple yet brilliant music which reminds one of similar passages in Question Of Heaven and Consequences. The vocals reach their ulitmate height at [4:04] with with spinechilling effect! The song plays out with some awesome soloing, listen to the way the lead follows the riffing at the [5:28 - 5:35],
absolutely aweseome stuff! Truly one of the greatest songs ever written!

[SNAKE-BOY]: This track has to be one of the most awesome songs EVER made! It's impossible to flaw! Everything about it is perfect. The acoustic intro fits amazingly well with Hansi's obscure pronounciation of words, and this ADDS to the feel of the track. The way this intro piece is sung right up to [2:58], where it gets heavier, the vocal sends pure chills down my
spine and until [3:35] where we break into the heavier rendition, it works so unbelievably well! If there ever was any doubt as to Hansi's ability as a vocalist, it would be ended with one
listen to this song.

[STORMRIDER]: Very Iced Earth'ish intro. This song took a while to grow on me but I assure you it was worth the wait! For me the highlight of the track are some of the vocal melodies, especially during the chorus. I really love the way Hansi sings the part around the [3:40 - 4-00], very BG'ish. Pay attention to the double bass in this part also, lovely!

[SNAKE-BOY]: Of particular note on this track is the drumming! Wow! Listen to what's going on back there. Something so often overlooked by people when listening to music. With so
much emphasis placed on the "almighty riff", sometimes the genius of the percussion section goes by unnoticed, which is a shame. Being a drummer myself, let me assure you that
Mark Prator is a VERY talented induvidual!

[STORMRIDER]: A very upbeat an unusual intro. This track stands out as being very different to the other tracks on the album. It is still a great song, but remains my least favourite on the album. Being a bassist, I have to metion the little bass bits that crop up between [2:05 - 2:35]. I bet Jon loved playing the bass on this album, especially prominent parts like that. I can just imagine him whacking the strings harder during that part to accentuate their presence in front of the guitars! Excellent :)

[SNAKE-BOY]: The intro to this track is spine-chilling yet again. The way Hansi sings it is so awesome, I simply cannot praise it enough! At [1:10] when we go heavy over that awesome riff... it is just too much! Overall the vocal delivery on this track in particular must be one of the highlights of the album. It's a total pleasure to listen to, and impossible to tire of. The
solo at [3:11] deserves a specific mention... Awesome! "Come join the path of glory..."

[STORMRIDER]: Intro with muted cymbal crashes induces instant headbanging! The chopping effect on the guitar and hi-hat which begins around [0:56] gives the sense that something is about to happen. I love the vocals are sung at [1:26]. At [1:40] we are blasted into a completely different Hansi style melody, very Blind Guardianish. This part (which is repeated throughout the song) is very catchy, be warned! After the slow bit we are blasted into a KILLER riff at [4:10]! The way Hansi times his vocals to coincide with the riff notes during
this sequence is just AMAZING!!! I just cannot hear that part enough times!

[SNAKE-BOY]: I particularly like the drums on the intro. The awesome riff is very catchy, and at [0:56] the hi-hat/vocal/riffing is amazing, and goes on until the chorus takes over at [1:38]. At [2:09] we can hear Shaffer-Riffing (TM) again, and it works so well! The way the part at [2:55] is sung must be heard! The part from [3:36] going into heavy at [4:09] is awesome!

[STORMRIDER]: The intro on this is great, the tune atmospheric and the vocals haunting. At [0:46] the track gets heavy suddenly, but goes straight back to the slow bit again. This part is my favourite part of the track, especially the way the verse between [1:00 - 1:32] is sung over the acoustic guitar. The way Hansi can change his vocal moods so abruptly is incredible and what makes him such a great singer! There is some killer riffing in this song, but it is so easy to overlook because of all the great vocal melodies and vocals! Same goes for the drumming, just listen to Prator throughout the track, especially the double bass rhythm during the chorus section which begins at [2:08]. Awesome stuff! The bridge at [3:05] is reminiscent of early IE, and the following "operatic" part is very catchy! Epic vocals and a warning at [4:29];
"Pay The Price For Ignorance!" Indeed...

[SNAKE-BOY]: Just listen to the "soft" way this is sung... Amazing! Going heavy at [0:45] reinforced by the great drum fills! Very cool "heavy" riff, and awesome double-bass technique. At [3:05] is a piece that would not sound at all out of place on an Iced Earth album. The "fade-out riff" on this track is very cool. Don't be suprised if it sticks in your head for days...

[STORMRIDER]: The staggered drum beat during the intro riffs is superb. Die hard IE affectionados will immediately recognise this opening riffing sequence from another track (did someone say Haunted House? :)) The effect of hitting you with a sudden unexpected crunch of heaviness over the mellow acoustic as at [0:48] and [0:59] is excellent! The acoustic guitar picks up the pace and Jon throws some cool bass licks in here when he can. If you listen VERY closely you will hear this lovely bass lick bing played underneath the riff at [1:42], man I LOVE that type of stuff! I know first hand how difficult it can be to place bass licks like that in predominently rhythm guitar orientated music, and "work". I quite like the vocal melody during the chorus part and the drums do some pretty cool things here also. Listen out for some of the well placed guitar "wails" around the [3:15 - 3:40], very cool! At the end of the track, the "haunted into" is mirrored again. Great stuff.

[SNAKE-BOY]: LIsten to the drum beat as the song starts! Brilliant! Going to a hauntingly quiet and atmospheric part as at [0:40] which is so well sung and well emphasized with guitars, it sends chills. The [1:10 - 1:31] part adds to the atmosphere and makes the logical transition to the "heavy" chorus so smooth. It's pure genuis! This is another one of those choruses that will stick with you. You've been warned... At [3:52] we go back to riffing again.... WOW! The exit of the song ties in with the intro... BRILLIANT!

[STORMRIDER]: This track has got to be my favourite track on the album and I cant ever get enough of it! The intro has that epic feel to it that makes you sense something wicked is your way coming! The vocal effects here are very atmospheric and suit the mood of the track, as does the cool acoustic. The riffing that kicks in at [0:40] and later again at [1:24] is KILLER, sheer power and groove! The drums provide plenty of power to go with it and we are left with some of the most awesome power metal ever written! I love the section starting at [1:55], Hansi sings it with increasing inflection and urgency, but the following riff sequence from
[2:24 - 2:55] is INCREDIBLE. I absolutely LOVE this part and it is for me the highlight of the album, not to mention one of Jon's best riff sequences EVER!!! The drums are also KILLER during this section, the slow galloping double bass has got to be heard to be believed! Fortunately the track slows down again similar to the intro sequence, so we have a chance to calm down before being wrenched back into the power at [3:33]. Hansi's vocals are awesome here. Around the [4:05] mark, Hansi's vocals double up in a higher pitch during the second rendition of this passage here, just listen to his voice singing "the bitter harvest of a dying bloom" at [4:18]. Spinechilling!!! If that were not enough, the song launches into another rendition of that cool riff sequence from earlier, which can only be a good thing! AWESOME! Pay attention to Prator belting the drums at [4:33]! Unusually, the track ends off with
another mirroring of the "haunted intro" from the previous track. Brilliant stuff!!!
Jon and Hansi really outdid themselves on this track, thats for damn sure!

[SNAKE-BOY]: Oh my god! This track has to be rated as one of the greatest metal songs I've EVER heard.. The effect on Hansi's voice in the intro that slowly fades away revealing his pure vocal is absolutely brilliant! At [0:39] we start kicking some ass, emphasized again by some great simple drum fills, till [1:25] where we get back into some heavy riffing. At [1:55] the double bass/riff that goes on here is staggering. The way the bass drum keeps a steady
ticking beat brings out the best in this riff with the vocal following. The way the vocals go higher over the main riff is really cool and is a great build to the harmonies at [2:30] (Listen
to what the bass drums are doing over this piece, so simple, yet so brilliant! Back to that great vocal at [3:00]with the effect, yet this time the effect slowly fades off Hansi's voice and into the rocking heavy riff at [3:33]. The power with which this piece comes in really just makes this section a masterpiece. The way the vocal is sung almost "by the way" over the riff, yet they enforce each other so well. Then at [3:49] we pick up that double bass again that brings out the chopping riff so well. The harmonising of guitars as this piece changes just rounds everything off perfectly. The quiet ending, [5:02], highlighted with power crashes, [5:12], is brilliant! This track is a definite must-hear and although it's near-impossible to "grade" the tracks on this album (as it's all one great masterpiece), I would feel confident saying this
track may very well be one of the best songs on this album as it's impossible to flaw.
Side-by-side with tracks like The Fiddler and My Last Sunrise.

[STORMRIDER]: The way the slow acoustic intro melts seamlessly off the end of the last heavy track is very reminiscent of the way Slave To The Dark melts into Question Of Heaven in the
IE Suffering Trilogy. As then, this definitely works here! There is some absolutely awesome riffing in this track to accompany Hansi as he changes his singing style effortlessly between melancholy and rage. Just listen to the vocal section starting at [1:28] Awesome stuff! During the section beginning at [2:05] some unmistakable Schaffer riffing is unleashed upon us! Excellent stuff! There is only one guitarist who plays like this! I LOVE the way Hansi sings the part at [3:12], going from melodic to sheer rage in a matter of seconds! BRILLIANT!

[SNAKE-BOY]: We start of slowly, but don't be lulled into a false sence of tranquility... Great opening vocal till [0:44] where we EXPLODE into an awesome killer riff. The transition beween these two bits is brilliant! We return to the melodic part, and the vocal with Hansi singing over layers of his own voice is chilling to say the least. [1:38] Power screams as only he can... But if you think that was power, wait till at [2:05] where we kick into high gear with one of the most awesome power riff over an awesome drum beat. Pay attention to the triplet bits on the bassdrum beneath the driving ride beat. [3:12] is a great demonstration of this beat with the riff and the vocal all coming together. [3:41] we start to taper down over a great "chanting" vocal melody repeating over itself till the end. A masterpiece! (and quite possibly my favorite track on this album).

[STORMRIDER]: More of an outro than an actual track per se, this chant winds the album down nicely and composure can now be regained...

[SNAKE-BOY]: The name says it all... Very nice, very atmospheric. A perfect round-off to the album.

[STORMRIDER]: An unusual choice for a cover version perhaps. Due to the simple musical structure of the track, it is not difficult for the band to make this song a million times better than the original. Nevertheless it is a nice novelty to add to the collection!

[SNAKE-BOY]: You thought it was over... A bonus track.. originally a song by Cream, masterfully covered here. I most definately prefer this version...

[STORMRIDER]: Not a lot can be said about this track apart from the fact that it is musically identical to the original version. Having heard the demo version also, the album version is
not the original one either but that is another story. It is the lyrics in this version that differ slightly, notably at the beginning. This gives the track a totally different feel, at least initially. I have to say that I prefer this version to the album version.

[SNAKE-BOY]: Starting off everything seems as per usual, but instead of the usual lyric that we're anticipating, we hear Hansi say "I've told this story many times..." immediatly it feels really strange, almost like hearing a different song. New words, beautifully sung by the master, till at [0:44] we hear the all familiar once again "Your kingdom will come..", but just as quickly we are in new vocal territory at [1:02], till [1:33] "For her glory.." we're back to the version we're familiar with, and matters rock along as before with the same exacting brilliance we are already familiar with. The track is not MUSICALLY different in any way to the "normal" version.