I really want to like Gothic Knights, one of only a handful of American bands on Europe's premier power-metal label Limb Music Products. But does the world need another generic power-metal band singing about honor and glory and queens and warriors, oh my?
Well, considering the pedigree of Gothic Knights — even the name conjures stereotypes — Up From the Ashes is worthy of at least a little of your valuable attention. With a history that dates back to 1990 in Brooklyn, New York, and a list of current and past players that numbers no fewer than eight (including former drummer Brian Dispost, who left the band in 1998 after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis), Gothic Knights mixes old-school power metal — think Manowar and Virgin Steele — with a classical baroque undercurrent fueled by Paganini, Bach and Beethoven influences. Plus, Frank Gilchriest, who has also appeared on Virgin Steele's last few albums, holds the current drum slot.
Up From the Ashes, Gothic Knights' third album, overflows with the high-pitched wails (and shouts) of singer Rick Sanchez and heavy riffs courtesy of founding guitarist John Tsantakis. A guest keyboardist adds elements too frequently missing from much of today's power metal, and a solid rhythm section gallops at varying paces. Opener "Power and the Glory" is a post-9/11 anthem, and the entire last third of the album is a little less intense and more creative than the first two-thirds. And I would love to hear the limited-edition digipak of Up From the Ashes, which includes a cover of Duran Duran's "Hungry Like the Wolf." If Gothic Knights' version is a decent one, that alone would justify this band's existence.
Track Listing:
1) Power and the Glory (5:35)
2) Warrior of Faith (4:17)
3) Down in Flames (4:15)
4) Up From the Ashes (5:54)
5) Vampyre (6:38)
6) The Witching Hour (5:11)
7) Sleepy Hollow (7:02)
8) Guardian Archangel (4:43)
9) Heaven's Fire (4:44)
10) Dear Queen (6:48)
11) The 13th Warrior (6:14)
Total Time: 61:26
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