It's always nice to get a blast of old school metal every now and then, and that's exactly what's on the agenda here with Beyond the Omens, the full length debut from Chilean act Lucifer's Hammer. Finding their home on Shadow Kingdom Records, the band couldn't have found a better place to introduce themselves, as the label has long been delivering music that caters to classic metal fans worldwide. Love Iron Maiden, Omen, Warlord, Fates Warning, Satan, and Leige Lord? Well, the band obviously do as well, and Beyond the Omens will instantly take you back to the early/mid-'80s when Britain and the US were churning out some great new bands that injected new life into the genre. Just listening to those churning riffs and galloping rhythms on "The Hammer of the Gods" or the killer old school twin guitar attack on the instrumental title track, a tune that will instantly take you back to Iron Maiden's debut. "Dying" contains a great hook to go along with some crunchy riffing, and the headbanging tones of "Shinning Blade" are sure to resonant with anyone who craves no nonsense, vintage sounding metal. Other highlights include the tumultuous "Black Mysteries", with its soaring, high pitched vocals and complex guitar interplay, the Judas Priest influenced "Warriors", and the moody, slightly proggy title track.
The production on Beyond the Omens is definitely old school, almost as if it came out of a long lost vault from 1984, further adding to the enjoyment factor here. Without a doubt, this is a band that any fan of pure heavy metal needs to investigate.
Track Listing
01 The Hammer of the Gods
02 Lucifer's Hammer
03 Dying
04 Shinning Blade
05 Black Mysteries
06 Nightmares
07 Warriors
08 Beyond the Omens
Printer Friendly Page
Send to a Friend
