Pelata
This one consists of all unreleased and re-recorded material. Opening track “Conjuration Of The Watcher” comes out of the gates at full speed. This is an energetic, up tempo tune with driving guitars and good vocal melody. “Annihilation” is a nice, intro-like track with some great acoustic work and nice synth layers. The “horns” pre-set on the keyboard almost kills it, but it’s saved by short track length. Another highlight is the high speed “The Succubus.” Good, speedy power metal here with a strong mid-tempo bridge.
This one had to have a clunker, and as soon as I heard the squealing tires at the beginning of “Hot And Wild,” I knew this one was it. This is Virgin Steele does KISS. Total party rock with DeFeis doing his best Paul Stanley impression. Like “Saturday Night” from Hymns To Victory, this type of song just seems so out of place amongst tales of noble savages and flame guardians. You can almost picture the smoke bombs and Maybelline abuse when this one plays.
There are a few other good ones here, like “Minuet In G Minor,” “I Am The One” and “Guardians Of The Flame,” all newly re-recorded.