Astral Doors - Evil Is Forever


Year of Release: 2004
Label: Locomotive Music
Catalog Number:
Format: CD
Total Time: 49:27:00

Where do I begin with Astral Doors? I could recite their history, but it might be more fun to read that on their website, as they bring the story of the band there in the vein of Rhapsody :). The album then? OK, Evil Is Forever is their second release. Don't be misled by their discography, as Cloudbreaker and Of The Father And The Son are the same album, but the first is the Japanese version.

When I played Evil Is Forever, I immediately noticed two things: Opener "Bride Of Christ" is very much in the vein of Dio and secondly the vocalist, Nils Patrik Johansson, sounded very familiar ? I heard him before ? and yes: Richard Andersson's Space Odyssey! And unfortunately he is not exactly my favourite singer. He constantly makes me feel he is trying to be more powerful than he in fact is.

On the good side, this is the only thing I don't like on the album. Musically it rocks. Ok, you cannot escape the comparison with Dio. But that aside, Evil Is Forever is an album filled with rock solid songs, great riffs and guitar work to lick your fingers at! The band has a fine rhythm section to serve as backbone for the sound. Guitarists Nordlund and Haglund work their magic, with harmonies, dark riffs and nice solos. Jocke Roberg has the task of bringing in the atmosphere in the music: dark and mysterious. He does that well, but manages to be almost invisible. Check out his organ parts in "Stalingrad": you hear him, but not too obvious.

Old fashioned heavy metal is what Astral Doors bring. Question is, which do you prefer: originality or a good, but familiar sound? With their second release, the band has grown and they bring quality music. If that is what you are looking for, check out this album. If you prefer original music, there still is no reason not to listen to Astral Doors, as they have similarities, but are no copycat and have enough of their own music to charm you.


Tracklisting:
Bride Of Christ / Time To Rock / Evil Is Forever / Lionheart / Praise The Bones / Pull The Break / Fear In Their Eyes / Stalingrad / From The Cradle To The Grave / The Flame / Path To Delirium / Another Day In Hell (bonus track Japan)

Musicians:
Nils Patrik Johansson - vocals
Jocke Roberg - keyboards
Joachim Nordlund - guitars
Martin Haglund - guitars
Johan Lindstedt - drums
Mika Itåranta - bass

Discography:
Of The Son And The Father (aka Cloudbreaker) (2003)
Evil Is Forever (2004)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin SE

Added: April 24th 2005
Reviewer: Marcel Haster
Score:
Artist website: www.astraldoors.com
Hits: 2709
Language: english

  

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