1967/ 1976
Two unknown bands (for me) from Sweden, Freternia and Persuader in this split promotional Ep (with two demos and two albums tracks per band).
Freternia is a good 6 piece band with tons of Blind Guardian and Helloween influences. Certainly "Worst Of Enemies" is the more personal track from the album because "Guardians Of The night" start with a pure Helloween style and continue with a copy of Blind Guardian style. Extremely interesting is "Friends in Enemyland", the first of two tracks from their demo. This track is in Blind Guardian/ Helloween style but extremely personal because more neoclassical for arrangements and use of keyboards. As the same time the pasty sound mix transform this melodic Power Speed Metal song in a very aggressive track. Probably (but also no...) "Friends in Enemyland" is my preferred Freternia track in this Ep. Close the Freternia part the demo version of "Guardians of The Night" that present a line of arrangements more personal respect to album version.
Persuader is a 4 piece band, similar to Freternia but with more aggressive attitude. "Heart And Steel" is a great "Defenders of the faith" song. Personal because more close to Power Thrash with great bass line than double the guitars. "Heart and Steel" is a pure 80's song with 70's guitar solo also if in a la 80's Grave Digger style. "Cursed" is only more close to Accept(!). Extremely great is the great chorus and also the Thrash/ neoclassic soli are good. At the end "Cursed" is a great song for who wants to find the 80's style in a 90's band. "Escape", the first of two demo version songs, is a pure 80's Speed Metal song with Punk attitude but with pure Power Metal refrain and arrangements. Good is also the series of soli in Kai Hansen/ Helloween style. The demo version of "Cursed" close this Ep. Too similar to album version is better because the more pasty sound mix enhaces the jazzy rhythms and the thrashy parts.
In definitive this is only a promotional Ep. And this isn't good, because this is a good Ep that present two good bands. I prefer Persuader because too personal respect Freternia. Persuader, than, present a more 80's attitude and this is another winning element. Isn't good that two bands as these have passed without anyone noticed it...