UMUR
"Personal Hero" is an EP release by German power/thrash metal act Subcutane. The EP was independently released in 2007 and was originally meant to be a promo to shop for a new label to release the band´s planned fourth full-length studio album with the tentative title "The Ghostship". That never came to be though as Subcutane folded in 2008 and therefore "Personal Hero" became their last release in their original run.
The EP features four tracks and a total playing time of 18:10 minutes. Stylistically there´s been some changes, but they were actually already initiated on "Shadoworld", as Subcutane have left most of their thrash metal roots behind (although the EP certainly still features heavy riffs) and now instead produce a heavy progressive power metal style. It´s not the most complex progressive metal, but it´s more in the aestethics department that Subcutane land in the progressive metal camp. There are some relatively technical playing on the EP, but it´s a means to an end rather than technical playing for the sake of it. If I have to make comparisons if would probably be to an artists like Engine (which features Ray Alder on vocals).
"Personal Hero" is a well produced release, and the sound production manages what the best sound productions do, which is to help make the material shine. Upon conclusion "Personal Hero" is probably the most well sounding, most well composed, and most intriguing release in Subcutane´s discography and it´s a real shame they disbanded just before they maybe could have produced something which made an impact. A 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is warranted.
