VOZ — Shadows of Death (review)

VOZ — Shadows of Death album cover Album · 2012 · Power Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
Time Signature
Coldness of metal...

Genre: US power metal

Featuring the likes of Shane French and John Teer as regular members and Pete Blakk and Dave Garcia as guest performers, it is no surprise that VOZ' debut album "Shadows of Night" is a massive barrage of US power metal with razor sharp guitars and plenty of references to traditional metal.

After the epic guitar-harmony-filled intro 'Shadows of Death', the album is kicked into gear through the aggressive 'Coldness of Night' which combines galloping guitars and almost thrashy riffage, a style which is continued in the following track 'The Happening', which also features some more groovy riffage, while tracks like 'Underworld', 'Run' and 'Witch Hunter' are heavier, but no less aggressive.

Bolstering the core line-up, Pete Blakk and Dave Garcia, as mentioned above, make guest appearances providing lead guitars, and, consequently, the listener can expect both technically advanced and frenzied shreddy soloing, while the rhythm guitars are massive, and drummer Jack Teer - true to the power metal ethos - delivers double bass drums galore. Morrie Vozdecky's vocals might take some getting used to, and might even be an acquired taste, as his singing combines a bit of Ripper Owens, a bit of Rob Halford, and a bit of King Diamond. I can imagine that some listeners might find the vocals too hysterical, but I like that uncontrolled aspect of Vozdecky's singing.

I think that many fans of aggressive US power metal will like the music itself, but the production is perhaps too raw and unpolished to many of the same listeners. Generally, it seems a bit thin and lacks a solid bottom, but at the same time, it definitely is refreshing with a raw-sounding release in a genre otherwise known for very polished productions.

A solid debut which shows a lot of future potential VOZ' "Shadows of Death" is a tour de force of all the virtues of US power metal and should appeal to fans of the likes of Cage, Iced Earth and Manowar.
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

Pure Negative Attitude Hardcore Punk
FREEHOWLING
Buy this album from MMA partners
Inequiem Hardcore Punk
CICADIA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Cemetery Symmetry Hardcore Punk
HUMBLE ABODE
Buy this album from MMA partners
Sadistic Memoirs Of A Psychopath Deathcore
CONSUME THE ASSAILANT
Buy this album from MMA partners
It Wasn't Supposed To Be Like This (Instrumental) Hardcore Punk
PULSES.
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

Galleons - Electric Emotions
GALLEONS
Bosh66· 8 hours ago
Galleons - Elsewhere (Official Lyric Video)
GALLEONS
Bosh66· 8 hours ago
Galleons - Neon Dreams (Official Lyric Video)
GALLEONS
Bosh66· 8 hours ago
Galleons - I Travel East As Fievel Goes West Pt. 1 - Official Lyric Video
GALLEONS
Bosh66· 8 hours ago
FREEHOWLING - SCARS FT. AARON MATTS (TEN56.) [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]
FREEHOWLING
Bosh66· 9 hours 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