Reviewed by Nuno on 27 Feb 2009

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From an idea and then fixation, Henning Pauly (neo-prog metallers Chain mastermind) has been able to create something that simply seems to have been found in 2009 on one of those time capsules that are kept unopened for 25 years. Listening to this album is a very enjoyable experience, one that can easily put a smile on one’s face, for it really seems to be the discovery of some rare and hard to find 80’s metal album that got lost in time.
The characteristics, paroxysms and even clichés of the early to mid 80’s heavy metal (especially from the NWOBHM and its American counterpart) are to be found here in abundance and even the obligatory inclusion of some melodic and emotional ballads have not been forgotten.
With powerful riffs and guitar soloing that seem to come from different quadrants of that era, from Hair Metal to Glam, from pure Heavy to Hard Rock (Skid Row, Motley Crue, Diamond Head, Obsession, WASP, Ratt, Quiet Riot, Queensryche, Twisted Sister and so many others that really defined the genre) accompanied by a very “Iron Maidenish” drumming and attitude, the vocals also fit the scope (the power and the type of approach is the most commonly associated with “true” metal) to perfection and even the lyrics about true metal, dragons and ancient battles have not been forgotten to complement and complete the architectural framework of the original idea and put it into practice.

Overall this is an album that dares to go back in time and bring back to the frontend many of the “lost and outdated” components that made the delights of many of us (include me in that population). Listened to in the right mindset it does make your inner adolescent smile. A smile full of innocence and sincerity, like in those well passed old days, when we first explored the energy bursting and the emotional release that frank and honest heavy metal was able to induce in us.