Powergod - Bleed For The Gods - That's Metal - Lesson 1

Year of Release: 2001
Label: Massacre Records
Catalog Number: n/a
Format: CD
Total Time: 67:56:00

Powergod - a deserved metal name if ever I've heard [one]. Sounding very much like a modern day Accept they give us their third album - and it's a (metal) covers album.

There are many tribute albums, but it's very rare that a single band comes out with a tribute to many bands on the one CD. But here they are with 16 tracks with everything from Agent Steel, Stryper, Anthrax, Warlock, Yngwie, Manowar, Lizzy Borden, Chastain, and Metal Church. Everything from metal to thrash and back to metal again. And still there's more (why is that sounding like an "infomercial"?).

There are many positives on this disc. The first of these is that the band mix their "sound" (which is 80s traditional metal anyway) with the original tracks in a very balanced way. For example, the Anthrax cover "Madhouse" - the original is great and so is this cover. Manowar's "Kill With Power" is also another example. Secondly, vocalist of Powergod, President Evil (now there's a name to remember!) tries to imitate, in a good way, the vocalists of each band. Like the music, President Evil incorporates his vocals with that of the original vocalist. Thus, the album is not a straight translation but more of an interpretation. Surprises are everywhere - Stryper's "Soldiers Under Command," Lizzy Borden's "Red Rum," Nasty Savage's "XXX" is shit hot, as is Q5's "Steel The Light" and M.A.R.S./Driver "You And I".

16 tracks is a lot to cover and thus, there are also songs which don't cut it that well. Yngwie's "I'm A Viking," whilst very groovy, is lacking in the guitar department as well as being slightly bland, although you can almost see him ripping his guitar in all directions! (it has a very "fat" sound - hah-hah). Other not-so-notable's are Chastain's "Ruler Of The Wasteland" and Metal Church's "Metal Church." But the good outweigh the bad.

I should say that this is not an essential purchase. That said, it will appeal to those fans who want a different perspective on classic tracks and respected artists. For those who are new to metal then you may want to hear what all the fuss was about without having to purchase all of those artists.

Powergod will not be everyone's cup of tea. Especially those that view 80s histrionics as, well, history. But at just under 70 minutes with 16 tracks it's not out of the question either. Dare we await Lesson 2?

[This review originally appeared November 2002 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]

Tracklisting:
Lion's Roar / Bound To Be Free (by Savage Grace) / Bleed For The Godz (by Agent Steel) / Metal Church (by Metal Church) / Ruler Of The Wasteland (by Chastain) / Kill With Power (by Manowar) / Stars (by Hear 'N Aid) / Burning The Witches (by Warlock) / I'm A Viking (by Yngwie Malmsteen) / X X X (by Nasty Savage) / Steel The Light (by Q5) / Tor With The Hammer (by TNT) / Madhouse (by Anthrax) / Metal Merchants (by Hallows Eve) / Red Rum (by Lizzy Borden) / Soldiers Under Command (by Stryper) / You And I (by M.A.R.S/DRIVER)

Musicians:
President Evil - vocals
Riff Randall - guitars, bass
Hama Hart - drums

Discography:
Evilution Part I (1999)
>Evilution Part II: Back To Attack (2000)
Bleed For The Gods - That's Metal - Lesson 1 (2001)
Nemesis: Evilution Part III (2002)

Genre: Other

Origin DE

Added: January 17th 2005
Reviewer: Gary Carson
Score:
Artist website: www.powergodonline.de
Hits: 1920
Language: english