SPV

Kreator is one of the cornerstones of Thrash Metal, one of those go-to bands for anyone who is delving deeper into thrash beyond the Bay Area regulars. During the mid-90's Kreator went through an experimental period, testing the waters with several different styles that alienated much of their fanbase (I'll still defend Endorama to death though). At the turn of the century they returned to the Thrash fold and even if their return was a symptom of a greater Thrash revival (which I've long found redundant and irritating), they did deliver two powerful albums that belong right up there with their 80's classics. But Hordes Of Chaos, their newest one? Not so much.

Cruz Del Sur

Few years back Pharaoh released The Longest Night, a highly regarded album in the power metal field. Mixing powerful guitar playing, epic songwriting and the supremely underrated vocal talents of Tim Aymar, the album was a breath of very fresh air in a genre that was well past choking on an overflow of me-too worthless bands. The follow up had a lot to live up to, nevermind deliver anything in the league of By The Night Sky, the sort of epic power metal song that'll make you get on a steed and gallop into a forest to battle ogres.

Be Gone does this, and so much more.

The first thing of note is that this isn't actually a power metal album, not in the way that The Longest Night was. Instead, Pharaoh has delivered a perfect heavy metal album. Pharaoh has taken a much more intricate approach this time, much in the same way that early Dio, Fates Warning and Queensryche did. The songs are deceptively simpler in comparison to the grandiose nature of The Longest Night, but there's brilliant subtlety that becomes more and more apparent on each successive listen.