Search - Hades :: Damnation

Great riffs, high notes, a great pure metal album

S. Queen | Niles, MI | 07/11/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I've heard people call this a speed/thrash album. That's mostly untrue. At its base, it's a traditional metal album. Most of the songs depend on heavy mid-paced riffs. And the songs are generally great. But if you're looking for innovation and originality, this is not the album for you. This album would've sounded right at home in 1989. If that sounds just fine to you, then get this album.As good as the music is, Alex Tecchio's vocal performance is generally the key to liking or disliking this album. I admit his performance is somewhat undisciplined; he goes from low notes to high ones seemingly out of nowhere. Personally, I enjoyed this because it added a measure of raw unpredictability to a metal CD that generally conforms to the rules of the genre. Needless to say, the use of high notes goes a long way to giving the CD it's dated feel. Again, that's either a blessing or a curse depending on your tastes.Overall, this is a solid, enjoyable disc. It's hard to compare it to other albums, but I'd say the album appeals to me in the same way Priest's "Painkiller" did. It's a traditional metal album with a little extra speed and heaviness. Definitely recommended."