Invictus
Virgin Steele
- Style
- Epic Heavy / Speed Metal "à la Manowar"
- Label
- Noise Records
- Year
- 1998
- Reviewed by
- Chris
/ 100
Olivier:
Killing songs: Every second of the whole record !
Do you know what happens when a mastermind decide to write a concept album
based on mythology ? Well, what happens is simple, rough and perfect. It's called
Invictus and the mastermind behind this unbelievable album is Mr. David
Defeis. And for me : that's the kind of album you only write once in your life,
like Hammerfall's Glory To The Brave or Edguy's Vain
Glory Opera. Anyway let's just say that the guy has earned my respect forever
with that album.
Imagine Manowar, imagine a much more developed song writing, a richer
sound and an exceptional vocal demonstration where David can sing quite aggressively
(à la Manowar) or can make his vocals as sweet as an angel voice.
The contrast and the vocal performance left me begging for more. The album is
pure jewel of melodic Heavy/Speed Metal reinforced by classical arrangements
then and there and a story that unfolds an excellent concept album. Guitar
riffs and solos will make you go crazy, the fierce and fast drumming will annihilate
your last resistance while you'll be under a powerful spell casted by David
Defeis majestic vocals. Killer songs after killer songs, the album flows like
a refreshing river in your brain, giving you the perfect balance between agressivity
and melody.
This is an album that belongs in your collection, it's pure, it's rough, it's....
well perfect ! From the first song Invictus to the last one, which is
a superb and long victorious metal hymn called Veni,Vidi, Vici (which
concludes the album in the best possible way) you get more than 76 minutes of
unbelievable music that you can play over and over again. A must have epic,
barbaric and melodic masterpiece. Thank you David for this incredible album.