Recent Reviews

April 2024

March 2024

February 2024

January 2024

[ More Music Reviews ]


Invictus: Eden
Invictus - Eden Album Art Work

Invictus: Eden

Traditional Heavy/Power Metal
5.0/5.0

Facebook
Iron Shield Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 15.01.2020 | Released: 24.01.2020

From the beer gardens of Bavaria, Invictus was born a mere two years ago. The metal quintet quickly dropped a three song EP, Burst The Curse, the following year, which led to supporting bands such as Jag Panzer and Visigoth in live sets. Now Invictus returns with their first long-player, Eden.

Invictus - Click For Larger Image

Invictus

Germany has long been a breeding ground for traditional heavy metal, and that's what Invictus delivers. Their interpretation of classic heavy metal follows the traditional formula. Invictus tunes are a strong mixture of NWoBHM metal, swift speed, and heavy rock groove. These things are powered by a hefty twin guitar attack for riffs and leads and a rumbling and ready rhythm section. Invictus doesn't skimp on the guitar solos either. They're abundant and fiery. On vocals Nicolas Peter has a strong, clean, and soaring voice. If you can believe it or not, he's not much a screecho metal screamer (which is just fine with me). Honestly, I think Peter may be one of the best new traditional metal vocalists I've heard in sometime.

For a sample of songs, Invictus puts the highest octane in the power metal tunes like The Hammer, The Garden Of Eden, Livin' In The Future, and especially Insomnia, which is pretty much a bullet train. Alternatively, the band can dial it back it for Empire or Through The Storm, which has fine bass and drum breakdown after the half, before leading to a guitar solo. Break The Chains, at less than three minutes, turns more upon heavy metal rock in its rhythm and groove. With Styx, you get a metal ballad which moves mostly by Peter's voice and acoustic guitar wrapped in a symphonic embellishment. Of course, it rises to a crescendo with an epic guitar solo.

All said, to begin the new year, Invictus' Eden is probably one of the best new traditional metal bands and albums I've heard so far. I'm sure there'll be more, but start your new year with this one. Easily recommended.


Another Dangerdog Music Review
Brothers Of Metal - Emblas Saga Music Review

Brothers Of Metal: Emblas Saga

Epic Power Metal
4.0/5.0

After the rousing success of their debut album, Prophecy Of Ragnarok, the mighty Swedish metal warriors known as Brothers Of Metal return with their second ... [ Read More ]



CraigHartranft.net - New fiction, crime fiction by Craig Hartranft

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

The Bottom Line

All said, to begin the new year, Invictus' Eden is probably one of the best new traditional metal bands and albums I've heard so far. I'm sure there'll be more, but start your new year with this one. Easily recommended.

Find A Review

Alphabetical Index

a b c d e f g h i j
k l m n o p q r s t
u v w x y z #
New & Notable
Read the Cruzh: The Jungle Revolution Album Review

Three years have passed since Sweden's Cruzh dropped their second long-player, Tropical Thunder, also introducing their new singer, Alex Waghorn. Now the band returns with The Jungle Revolution ... [ Read More ]