"Infinity is forever,"
Seven Witches
' leader,
Jack Frost
, said by way of explaining the title of the band's disc, "And one, that's one more thing." One can only wonder if the band's amps go to 11, which is one louder than ten, isn't it? Forget about
Spinal Tap
; one listen to the disc would show that the amps go to 12, as the band proffers an old-school
power metal
attack that lies somewhere between
Jugulator
-era
Priest
and just about everything the legendary
Combat
label released in the mid- to late '80s, all pounding percussion and songs built on
Manowar
riffs, screaming solos, and ear-piercing vocals of the high-pitched variety. Drummer
Brian Craig
was in
Destiny's End
, vocalist
Wade Black
served time in the influential
Crimson Glory
, the disc was mixed by
Armored Saint
/
Fate's Warning
alum
Joey Vera
(who would subsequently join the band), and guitarist
is a
metal
mercenary whose grandest achievement was joining
Savatage
. Meanwhile, guests such as
Annihilator
Overkill
man
Joe Comeau
add vocals to a faithful version of
Grim Reaper
's
"See You in Hell"
and
mainstay
Jon Oliva
sings lead on
"The Burning,"
whose lyrics he penned. Obviously, the band's pedigree is beyond reproach, and neither is the group's fervor for meathead metallic meandering, cheesy warts and all. For modern-day adventists of this style,
Primal Fear
Iced Earth
offer far more in terms of innovation and songwriting ability than
, but they offer enough brawn that many of this niche market's devotees will overlook the lack of brains. ~ Brian O'Neill