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A Tortured Soul: Lucifer's Fate

Heavy Metal

Rating: 4.5/5.0

Pure Steel Records/HRRL Records
www.myspace.com/atorturedsoulmusic
www.puresteel-records.com
Review: Craig Hartranft,  04.18.2010

If Mercyful Fate and Judas Priest had a bastard child, it quite possibly could be Milwaukee's A Tortured Soul. Mix in a little dark doom metal here and there, and you have their second release Lucifer's Fate, a behemoth of neo-traditional heavy metal that would make King Diamond smile (if he really could). And speaking of the Danish Dark Lord, vocalist Mike Black's six octave range is the real deal. Equally stirring is the searing guitar work from Nate Gorenc and Ryne Schultz, proving A Tortured Soul to be a true classic melodic metal machine. Better, there's a rhythm and precision throughout the arrangements and in the musicianship that makes Lucifer's Fate seriously efficient and entirely engaging. Songs like Dark Chapel, Fallen, Lucifer's Fate, or Ritual bristle with this engaging power, reminding of the character of Priest's Sad Wings of Destiny. Sometimes A Tortured Soul moves like a power metal juggernaut with Rust a perfect example, and also another example of Black's Diamond/Halford skill. Frankly, the only lackluster track is the finale, Winterkill, which seemed a bit confused and unremarkable. Regardless of this Lucifer's Fate is rather impressive, and some of the best New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal (NWOTHM) I've heard so far this year (and from America no less). Very recommended!

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

A Tortured Soul's Lucifer's Fate is rather impressive, and some of the best New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal (NWOTHM) I've heard so far this year (and from America no less).

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