HOLY DRAGONS – Civilizator review

HOLY DRAGONS – Civilizator

    Pitch Black Records

http://www.truemetal.org/holydragons/

Every country has its own metal heroes regardless of whether we know much or less about the scene. HOLY DRAGONS from Kazakhstan are the local heroes over there and have already released 13 albums with “Civilizator” being their number 14. So, we can talk about true veterans of the heavy metal scene.

I have had the chance to follow their career, at least the longest part of it, and also have in my possession some of their previous albums. It is a band that I respect for its true passion for heavy metal, but most importantly I appreciate their skills and I really enjoy their music.

HOLY DRAGONS who musically move between heavy and power metal, have a gift to sound traditional, keep their musical identity and above all they manage to sound fresh and different from album to album. For example in their previous release they had strong U.S. power/speed metal elements. Their new album entitled “Civilizator” can make you think of JUDAS PRIEST (after all they are the first ones that have used such titles). It is also a good hint for where the band moves musically with this album. The JUDAS PRIEST elements are obvious in the whole album along with some N.W.O.B.H.M. influences and IRON MAIDEN references. There are of course the European metal passages in the new album which especially the fans of GRAVE DIGGER and RUNNING WILD will appreciate.

Finally, from the little I can understand, I liked the theme of this album which has to do with civilization and the crimes that people do in its name (actually they baptize civilization their lust for profit).

Once again HOLY DRAGONS have released an album that stays faithful to their sound and yet is fresh and inspired. Check it out.

Nick “Verkaim” Parastatidis