The Awakening

Victorius is a power band from Leipzig, Germany. They play fast Power / Speed metal and sound wise are somewhere between Stratovarius and Stormwarrior. This album is the first big surprise of 2013 as far as I'm concerned. The album boasts 10 songs and there are no filler material whatsoever. Most of the songs are fast paced, with a couple of mid tempos and the obligatory metal hymn to close the album with style (and I suspect, their live shows as well). Guitar riffs, melodies and solos are some of the best I've heard for a while. The band is super tight and plays with passion and panache. Vocals are quite good though it's an area that I feel can still evolve in the future. But already the vocal melodies are brilliant and the choruses will stay carved in your brains for a while. Since all songs are excellent it's hard to choose favorites, but I guess I have a slight preference for Kings Reborn, the opener Age of Tyranny, the album titled The Awakening, Starfire, Through the Dead Lands, Black Sun and the neck-breaker, album closer & brilliant metal hymn Metalheart. But you'll soon discover that there is not a single filler or boring moment on that album ! If you want a surprising album of melodic Power Metal, search no more, Victorius' The Awakening is an amazing album (apparently the band's second, I will have to track down their debut) that is full of melodies (guitars & vocals) and great hooks and unforgettable songs to satisfy even the most critical fan of the genre. The band's moto when they started to play live gigs was : Power Metal is Alive ! I couldn't agree more with that statement when listening to these guys. They are simply one of the best Power Metal act I've heard since (the most likely defunct) Lost Horizon and I think the band is just starting to get their bearings too, so god know what the future holds. I look forward to listening more from Victorius (and wish more power metal bands would borrow a page or two from them). The Awakening was just released in Japan and will be release in march via Sonic Attack records. An early contender for album of the year 2013. Buy or be a fool forever.