• New Music Reviews
• |
• Archives
• |
• News
• |
• Submissions
• |
• About
• |
• 
• |
• 

April 2024

• Vanden Plas: The Empyrean Equation Of The Long Lost Things
• Praying Mantis: Defiance
• King Zebra: Between The Shadows
• About Us: Take A Piece
• Blue Oyster Cult: Ghost Stories

March 2024

• Cruzh: The Jungle Revolution
• Whom Gods Destroy: Insanium
• The Prog Collective: Dark Encounters
• Lords Of Black: Mechanics Of Predacity
• Lipz: Changing The Melody
• The End Machine: The Quantum Phase
• Stargate: Escaping The Illusion
• Turbulence: Binary Dream
• Sonata Arctica: Clear Cold Beyond
• D'Luna: Monster
• Big Big Train: The Likes Of Us
• Benjamin Croft: We Are Here To Help

February 2024

• Traveler: Prequel To Madness
• Lionheart: The Grace Of A Dragonfly
• Honeymoon Suite: Alive
• Durbin: Screaming Steel
• Smoking Snakes: Danger Zone
• Revolution Saints: Against The Winds
• Striker: Ultrapower
• Show N Tell: The Ritual Has Begun
• Robert Hart: Circus Life

January 2024

• Corvus: Immortals
• Caligula's Horse: Charcoal Grace
• Grand: Second To None
• Neal Morse: The Restoration - Joseph - Part Two
• The Rods: Rattle The Cage
• Gotus: Gotus
• Metalite: Expedition One
• Cobrakill: Serpent's Kiss
• Jack Russell & Tracii Guns: Medusa
• Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 1
• The Grandmaster: Black Sun

[ More Music Reviews ]

Stonecast: Heroikos

Heavy/Power Metal

4.5/5.0

Facebook
Pitch Black Records
by Craig Hartranft
11.02.2013

France's Stonecast has something to brag about. At the 2009 edition in their native country, they closed Sonisphere after the 'Big Four' played. They didn't actually share the same stage with them; they merely closed the festival on a different stage later in the night. Yet, being in company of giants like Megadeth and Metallica, presents Stonecast with some big metal 'shoes' to fill with their second album Heroikos.

Stonecast: in black and white.

What you have with this recording is some traditional heavy and power metal, and a whole lot of potential. The arrangements are rather dramatic, thanks to some very strong lead guitar work, and some towering drum lines by guest, the well-known and talented, Kenny Earl aka Rhino (Angels of Babylon, Deathdealer, Manowar, et al).

For the guitar leads, you get a terrific one in the very first song, Jakuta, an epic song where the guitar soars above Rhinos thundering drums. Others come within Triumph and Of Fire and Ice, and one of things that makes Seb Casula's guitar sound so sharp is that they are juxtaposed against the bass and drums with equal clarity. (Production is at a premium here as well). Listening to the latter half of Gods of Dust, Stonecast made every effort to give Rhino room breathe. The latter third of the song is mostly bass player Lionel “Beev” Antonorsi and Rhino charging and pummeling away at a brisk pace. Another fine example of his skills comes within the true power metal song The Barbaric Rhyme, where his rhythm and pace keep the song raging.

But it's not all brisk heavy and power metal. Stonecast tosses in some lighter moments with the instrumental (mostly guitar) Elysian Winds, and the acoustic tales of Substance, Kings Unborn, and The Place, all very nice pieces. All in all, after several listens, I found Stonecast's Heroikos to be much stronger album than expected. This is quite entertaining melodic heavy and power metal, in the classic tradition, from a very talented band. Easily 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.

Stonecast's Heroikos is quite entertaining melodic heavy and power metal, in the classic tradition, from a very talented band.

Alphabetical Index

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 ]