users.telenet.be/
metaltoinfinity/
METALTOINFINITY.htm
Written by Stefan Sileghem
Last
Empire is a US Power Metal band in which I definitely believe since the
release of their self financed debut album back in 2003. As a five
piece, good oiled Metal machine - these Americans stole my attention
completely... damn right they even conquered my heart also. I was
totally hooked on Last Empire's way of music so called US Power Metal
brought on with an eagle eye of technical skills.
After
last Empire unleashed their debut album in 2003, to build up their own
studio became plan number 1 to realize back then. They had not the
intention built up a supersized kind of studio - the guys in Last
Empire knew their financial boundaries and with limited tools... next
plan to succeed was the creation of a brand new, second album.
Meanwhile, 8 new songs are ready to strike down all US Power Metal
maniacs - forget about the nowadays, trendy minded or mainstream Metal
scene... ''Heir To The Throne'', the new album from Last Empire comes
over the hill an overwhelming manner - powerful, very technical, over
the top skilled loaded... Last Empire have it in their might to rip apart many other so called Metal bands!
Original
members Pat Demartino (lead guitars), singer Brian Allen and Darius
Lindell (drums) still together as true believers of Heavy Metal – a
new bass player named Joe Preston (Melvins, High On Fire,..) teamed up
with them. What about a second guitarist? Well, many came on trying out
rehearsals for a while... due to unknown reasons to me, they
unfortunately left after all. Last Empire is still looking out for a
second axeman so spread the news around please!
''Heir
To The Throne'' immediately got me by the throat with the song 'Marked
For Death'... pure as can be US Power Metal from a very heavy calibre.
Magnificent guitar works, especially the solo tasks to speak to every
shredder's imagination! Also Brian Allen's vocal capabilities are very
rare - I mean, this guy has all the power deep within his chest / lungs
to offer nothing but awesome vocal lines. Very high pitched in the vein
of Bob Mitchell (ex-Attacker), Ski (ex-Deadly Blessing, Faith Factor),
Midnight (ex-Crimson Glory), Bobby Lucas (ex-Seven Witches, Overlorde),
etc ... such types of singing, yeah I really adore with all of my might!
Next
tracks 'Secrecy' and 'Enemy' destroying my speakers and I'm feeling
alright to the extreme - Last Empire succeeds completely drive me to
insanity with their awesome way of US Power Metal. Shivers down my
backbone with such a great singer and technical guitar shredder - I've
received the album today and I listened to all of the songs twice so
far... brothers and sisters in True Metal - THIS IS IT!
'The
Edge Of Doom' is acoustic an acoustic played composition and I'm not
very happy with this on but no problemo… I take it as some kind of a
moment of silence before the US Metal train rolls over the rails again
for another few songs bringing on several moments of pure satisfaction.
Watch out for 'Metal Might' - if you have survived this 'headbanger',
try to stay alert for the title track in hope you're provided with
enough oxygen to reach the final end with killer ones like 'Summon' and
'The Falconer'.
Shredding,
high pitched American Power Metal at its best... at Metal To Infinity
we reviewed a whole bunch of great US Metal efforts so far, the new CD
from Last Empire is next in line to ad to my personal 2009 list of
absolutely favourites. All is set up and done by the band themselves -
with a limitation of studio tools, the entire band just offered a very
worthy product to me. I like it, I praise, I never let go my passion
for US Metal - great effort all the way!!
As
depicted on the front cover of the CD (splendid cover art done by
artist Ben House)...''You have to fight for what it's true - in the end
you shall be rewarded with the ultimate prize''. Check out: http://www.myspace.com/lastempire and use your imagination regarding these words yourself! For
fans of Temple Of Blood, Fallen Sanctuary, Septer, Slauter Xstroyes,
early New Eden / Helstar / Seven Witches, Deadly Blessing, Destiny's
End,... I will play this silver disc over and over again the next
couple of days - that's for sure!! MY POINTS: 98 / 100