Search - Cryonic Temple :: In Thy Power

A phenominal classic power metal album!!

Matt Stoessel | Tolland, CT USA | 11/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"see, this is what you don't hear enough of anymore. These songs are drawn out about a minute longer than they normally would be because the band KNOWS HOW TO WRITE ORIGINAL SOLOS. Too many of these new power metal bands just write monotonic bass lines and change it a bit, then call that their "solo." Where that is plenty good to have, its not good to drown entire albums with it. (For example, Moonlight Agony does a great job creating a proper balance of the 2.) Cryonic Temple takes back to 80's and early 90's metal. The music isn't anything groundbreaking; they took an older form of power metal and ...basically went in a time warp, wrote an album, then came forward 12 years and released it. The solos are modern and original, the keyboards never drown out the music but at the same time will please fans of atmospheric music. The vocals are far from a Timo Kotipelto; they're much more like the harsher "motorcycle metal" from the Judas Priest and Saxon era. Expect to hear lyrics in the vein of Manowar here. This is particularly evident in anthems like Eternal Flame of Metal.



Anyone who enjoys what power metal used to be NEEDS to get this album. Anyone who enjoys any kind of metal shy of doom metal and black metal SHOULD get this album. The symbolism is broad and anyone can enjoy the lyrics. Even death metal fans will find something they like on this album: Shark Attack.



wish I had time to say more about this album. Hopefully, it'll act as a turning point in metal and inspire more bands to play power metal the way it used to be. Don't get me wrong - I love Kamelot, Stratovarius, Shaman, Dragonland, etc.



hopefully I helped everyone realize that the "eternal flame of [true power] metal" isn't gonna go anywhere as long as bands like Cryonic Temple keep this good work up."

Great Album - 8.5/10

Eternal Jester | Missouri | 07/05/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Never having heard more than a soundclip or two of Cryonic Temple's previous works, Chapter I and Blood Guts and Glory, I wasn't sure just exactly what to expect from In Thy Power. Sure, I knew it was power metal, but that covers such a broad spectrum. With bands from Rhapsody to Cage getting stampled with the power metal tag, the genre has grown quite expansive. I also knew that Cryonic Temple claimed Sweden as home, so HammerFall, Lost Horizon and Falconer (amongst others), all came to mind, before ever hearing a note from In Thy Power.



Now, having heard a note (actually, having heard all of the notes, several times), I can say that Cryonic Temple easily stand-up with all of its Swedish brethren. In Thy Power will easily appeal to any fan of the aforementioned bands, but should also find a home amongst the patch-covered denim jacket crowd, as a 1980s true-metal vibe is laced throughout. I hear traces of German stalwarts Running Wild throughout several of the tracks, including "Mr. Gold" and "Shark Attack." And a dose of Iron Maiden's Steve Harris-style bass noodling can be heard on "Wolfcry." Fans of the old-school will find solace in the fact that vocalist Glen Metal (now that's just goofy), doesn't wail like a banshee as so many power metal vocalists tend to do. His voice is grittier, often compared to Steve Grimmett of Grim Reaper fame.



In Thy Power is not an album stuck in the past, though. There are plenty of modern power metal tracks, that give a nod to the old-school in spirit only. "When Hell Freezes Over" rages out of the gate with call-and-response style vocals. And "Travellers in Time" and "Beast Slayer" easily hold their own with the best of today's power metal bands. The album closes with the obligatory metal-hymn, "Eternal Flames of Metal," complete with sing-along chorus hyping what else? METAL! It's very cliché, but good nonetheless.



In Thy Power is in no way an original album, but then again, how many power metal releases can honestly claim originality? Instead, Cryonic Temple took a tried and true formula, added its own touches, and put out a fine album. And while I won't call In Thy Power essential, fans of power metal can't go wrong.



8.5/10



(If you manage to land the limited edition, you will get three extra tracks from some older recording sessions. Unfortunately, I wasn't that lucky.)

"

Good mix of old and new

Brent E. Johnson | Naches, WA | 08/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you can sucessfully mix in old school metal with new power european metal and make your own sound at the same time, I just might like you. And I like the mix here. Lots of Maiden guitar style mixed with some Sonata Artica sounds. I'm not sure what to make of the name,a little amused and a littled creeped out. Maybe that is the goal. Anyways, this is another quality release out of europe which is sad in a ways. With the airwaves here in the states full of muddy guitar and gutteral vocals, I long for a day that I can hear really quality metal played by masters on my local station. Such as Cryonic temple plays. Fists up."