MYSTIC PROPHECY – War Brigade review

 MYSTIC PROPHECY – War Brigade

Massacre Records

http://www.mysticprophecy.net/home.php

MYSTIC PROPHECY for me have always been a band that played passionate and sincere dynamic metal, but they didn’t manage to touch me musically. This was until they released their previous album under the title “Killhammer” which is an album that I still recommend to all of you. “War Brigade” is the successor of this very good release and I was really anxious to listen to it.

The new album starts really impressively with 2 songs that are well balanced between the melodic and heavy elements of the band’s sound and have this anthemic feel that you can find in bands like ACCEPT and JUDAS PRIEST. MYSTIC PROPHECY, though, on this album also displays other characteristics of their musical identity. There are a lot compositions that have this aggressive almost thrash metal approach and fit to the lyrical themes of the songs. Finally there are a few hard rockin’ moments too like in the song “10.000 Miles Away” (the most emotional song of the album) and the “Sex Bomb” cover.

In all this variety, Mr. Liapakis does a great job because he has this dynamic warm voice that can deliver from heavy/thrash metal to pure hard rock songs (the way he sings in the “Sex Bomb” cover reminded me of David Coverdale).

The new album continues from the point that “Killhammer” left us, but in my opinion it is a level lower from the previous release, because as the album moves to the end the compositions become too typical for the standards of the band. However, the fans of the band won’t be disappointed at all since it still is a good release.

Nick “Verkaim” Parastatidis