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"War Is Hell" is the second full-length release (and to date the latest full-length) by St. John's, Newfoundlanders Category VI. Though the band is generally categorized as power metal, this album is more specifically classic metal with some additions of speed metal and power metal. The album sound and song styles are very true to eighties metal. It's perhaps Amanda Gosse's vocals that give this album a power metal feel. In an interview, the band members themselves affirmed my conclusion that this album strives to be more classic metal than power metal.
The positive sides to this album are that the band relentlessly thunders on, rarely slowing down (and no ballads), the clarity of all instruments in the mix, and the very successful capture of that eighties metal feel without being stuck in the eighties. Amanda's vocals have power and she belts out the notes. She does stick with clean, power metal vocals so don't expect any growls or shrieks from her. But she can hit hit notes and hold her notes as she expertly exhibits in the track "Mirror", lighting up the skies with three different lengthy notes between 3:07 and 3:42, the last one soaring way up there.
Guitarist Geoff Waye dishes out riff after riff of heavily distorted guitar chords. Growing up in central Newfoundland, there was not a lot of metal action, so he would drift over to St. John's and catch any bands that blew into town. He's committed to supporting the metal scene and keeps the spirit alive with his guitar playing.
Keith Jackman's bass is of the heavy chunky and clunky nature. It's not lost in the mix beneath the flood of guitar distortion and it stands out in the track "Arise" where it sounds a lot like John Wetton's bass in Kind Crimson's "Providence" on the "Red" album. It's also given prominence in the track "Crossing the Avalon" though that's more for melodic colouring.
The album is tight and the songs all quite strong. Special mention goes to "Strike of the Axe", "Full Metal Jacket", and the longer title track, though it's a solid metal affair throughout the album.
There's one thing about the album that stays my mouse from clicking on 5 stars. I'm not sure if its because the guitar sound is so rich in distortion it sounds potentially overdone. or if there's another reason. Something tempers my opinion. But basically this album captures a band with a clear focus and a lot of energy and a desire to make a heavy metal album that honours the classic sound.