WARREL DANE — Praises to the War Machine (review)

WARREL DANE — Praises to the War Machine album cover Album · 2008 · Heavy Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
UMUR
Praises to the War Machine is the debut full-length solo album by Nevermore frontman Warrel Dane. I´ve followed Warrel Dane´s career since I saw the video for the Sanctuary song Future Tense on Headbanger´s Ball back in 1990. Allthough it wasn´t until Sanctuary disbanded and I heard Nevermore´s self-titled debut album in 1995 that I got really hooked on Warrel Dane´s vocal style, there was something about that Future Tense song and that angry yet very melodic sounding lead singer that captured my attention back in 1990. I´ve been a dedicated fan of Nevermore ever since the release of their debut album and remain a fan today, so checking out Warrel Dane´s first solo album was a matter of course.

So what have the man with the great voice conjured up for us here on his first solo album? Well as Warrel Dane is a singer more than a composer he has teamed up with Soilwork guitarist Peter Wichers who has co-written all tracks but three on the album with Warrel Dane. The last three songs are a cover of Lucretia My Reflection by The Sisters of Mercy, a cover of Patterns by Simon & Garfunkel and the last track on the album called Equilibrium which is co-written with guitarist Matt Wicklund ( Himsa, Sol Negro, God Forbid). Both Peter Wichers and Matt Wicklund handle guitars and bass on the album. The drums are played by Dirk Verbeuren ( Aborted, Scarve, Sybreed...etc.). With musicians as accomplished as those the musicianship on the album is of course top notch.

The production by Peter Wichers is very polished and professional. Too polished if you ask me, but that´s an aquired taste.

The music on Praises to the War Machine is heavy metal/ power metal. The focus is fully on Warrel Dane´s voice and vocal lines which means that there is next to no challenging instrumental parts on the album. Personally I sure do miss the fierce Jeff Loomis riffs and solos that makes the intrumental side of Nevermore´s music so rewarding. All songs are traditionally vers/ chorus build and they are instantly memorable with strong melodic choruses and hooks. This is the kind of album that is instantly enjoyable but quickly grows stale. It didn´t take me more than 3 or 4 listens before I started to find the music trivial. it´s really too bad because with a vocal capacity like Warrel Dane I had expected much more. Instead he has made the most predictable album he could. There are absolutely no surprises on Praises to the War Machine and I find myself disappointed.

Overall Praises to the War Machine is still a quality heavy metal album with a professional production, excellent musicianship and professional ( yet trivial) songswriting, so a 3 star rating is warranted.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Hin helga kvöl Atmospheric Sludge Metal
SÓLSTAFIR
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Cycles of Suffering Black Metal
BURIAL OATH
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Suns of Perdition - Chapter IV: To Shadow Zion Black Metal
PANZERFAUST
Buy this album from MMA partners
Facilis Descensus Averno Death Metal
SAEVUS FINIS
Buy this album from MMA partners
Merciless Crossover Thrash
BODY COUNT
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

DAWN OF REVENGE - Sanctuary [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Farewell [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Curtain of Death - [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Vengeance [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - I Need You [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 5 days ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed