Davin Shankle is mostly known for being the guitarist of MANOWAR between 1988 to 1995- so what you hear on Kings of Metal is his doing.
Now that is indeed a good introduction, isn't it??
A melodic piece of metal with power accents and flowing guitars
- with malmsteenesque solos and a very good vocal line, wonderful ballads combineed with epic parts- a perfect recepy for good heavy metal.
The cornerstone in this achievement is indeed mister Shankle,who, besides being a killer guitarist also happens to be a very cultivated musician,
amongst other things he studied at the Roosevelt Music University in Chicago.
Together with him in this ambitious project is his friend Trace Zaber, a vocalist who can hold his own with pride against any big names in the genre.
Although not very known in Europe, Zaber is a local hero in the Chicago area, and listening to him will prove it to everybody.
Brian Gordon the bass player is considered to me somekind of a wonderchild in the international jazz scene, and his presence in the band delivers a certain type of balance that sometime metal bands lack, but he is also a good powerful bassist for this up and coming outfit>
Eddy “Shreddy” Bethishou is an extremely powerful and talented keyboard player, who brings in some interesting and unique harmonies.
As far as the drummer Eddie Foltz goes, he is rumouredto have been born with teh drumsticks in his hands- according to the NB website that is, and he delivers the goods on this album>>>
So, apart from mister Shankle, the rest of them are not very known names in the international metal scene, but this does not stop them from creating an album that is one of the best debuts I have seen in a while now>
The style, as stated before, is pure heavy metal, and considering mister S's background you will not be surprised to find some manowaresque rings to it, but there is nothing wrong with that, now is it>>>
But although at times- see "The tolling of the bell" the band can sound as solemn as manowar, the album is incredibly relaxed- 5 pro musicians getting together and doing what they do best,, and enjoying the hell of it
This is a high quality release that will definitely do well, as it has everything a good heavy metal album needs, and the adepts of the pure stuff will be very happy with it
8/10
Davin Shankle is mostly known for being the guitarist of MANOWAR between 1988 to 1995- so what you hear on Kings of Metal is his doing.
Now that is indeed a good introduction, isn't it??