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Ancient Empire: Other World

Heavy/Power Metal

4.5/5.0

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Stormspell Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 15.06.2016

Out of blue. Caught by surprise. It happens every time I get pitched a traditional heavy metal band from my home country, America. Here's the thing. Classic heavy metal is buried so deep in the American music underground that it scraping through six feet of dirt just to reach the surface, and get a well-deserved resurrection. So, from Northern Cali, here's Ancient Empire with their second album, Other World. The band features vocalist and guitarist Joe Lizst (Shadow Killer, Hellhound, Rocka Rollas, etc) with Rich and Steve Pelletier , bass player and drummer respectively (Hellhound, Forgotten Disciple, Rapid Fire, more). And that's about all I know about the band. Don't even have a band photo to share.

What we do know is that Ancient Empire plays traditional galloping American power metal, infused with it's European counterparts, and offering sci-fi lyrical themes. Think Iced Earth to Blind Guardian, from California to Germany and elsewhere in the Old Country. Think also: "keep it true" heavy metal. And the galloping part is no bullshit either. This is mostly hard charging metal with strong riffs and a blazing rhythm section. The possible exception to the rule is the song The Forsaken, which offers some moderation in pacing, yet still gets frisky around the midpoint. After this, there's an abundance slick and sizzling guitar solos. Lizst is an accomplished metal guitarist. And he's also an accomplished vocalist. He sings clean and melodic, with enough gristle in his timbre for that metal edge. Overall, Ancient Empire's Other World is fundamental, keep it true, classic American heavy power metal in its purest form. The bands in Europe will have start looking over their shoulders. Recommended.

Ancient Empire - Fight Another Day

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Ancient Empire's Other World is fundamental, keep it true, classic American heavy power metal in its purest form. The bands in Europe will have start looking over their shoulders. Recommended.

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eviewing my archives, I was pleased to find that I have had the privilege to review every Lionville since their self-titled debut in 2011. Formed by Stefano Lionetti, a songwriter, singer and guitarist based in ... [ Read More ]